Watch Our Garden Grow
Baked at 420 is celebrating another year of yummy goodness. Rooted in the soil of our garden, our cannabis and hemp plants are all organic and pesticide-free. Each plant is grown in chicken manure and organic matter from our kitchen composting scraps and the only pesticides we use are lady bugs and daddy long legs, who take care of any intruders, such as mites and aphids.
We receive our plants from organic growers who have cloned and carried on the strains that we have depended on for consistency and quality. Each plant is carefully cultivated, planted, and cared for through all stages of growth. At the end of the harvest, our plants are cut and hung upside down for five to ten days, depending on the flower size. Ambient temperatures and humidity also greatly affect drying times. Higher temps and low humidity will hasten drying, so you want to be able to control the environment as much as possible. I dry my plants in a cool and dry location with an optimal humidity level of 50 percent and below. The optimal temperature for drying is 70-72 degrees F.
If you choose to use a dehumidifier, you don't want to pull all of the moisture from the plants. You only want to remove the excess humidity from the room, allowing the plants to dry out naturally. You also don't want fans blow-drying directly your flowers either, just a little circulation in the room is all you need. If you rush the drying process, the plant will create a harshness in the smoke, if that is your method of delivery. Hanging the plant whole and upside down forces a slower and more even drying over the entire plant.
Moisture within the branches leach water into the flowers until the capillaries begin to harden. The plant's tips harden first, cutting of moisture from the top buds, while the smallest buds at the bottom of the plant will continue to receive small amounts of water. This technique ensures all the buds are crispy and ready to be trimmed. There is still much debate over the choice to trim wet or dry; that is, either to trim the leaf from the buds right away when you harvest, or wait until the flowers are dried. I believe both options are reliable choices.
If you choose to use a dehumidifier, you don't want to pull all of the moisture from the plants. You only want to remove the excess humidity from the room, allowing the plants to dry out naturally. You also don't want fans blow-drying directly your flowers either, just a little circulation in the room is all you need. If you rush the drying process, the plant will create a harshness in the smoke, if that is your method of delivery. Hanging the plant whole and upside down forces a slower and more even drying over the entire plant.
Moisture within the branches leach water into the flowers until the capillaries begin to harden. The plant's tips harden first, cutting of moisture from the top buds, while the smallest buds at the bottom of the plant will continue to receive small amounts of water. This technique ensures all the buds are crispy and ready to be trimmed. There is still much debate over the choice to trim wet or dry; that is, either to trim the leaf from the buds right away when you harvest, or wait until the flowers are dried. I believe both options are reliable choices.
Oxidation of a plant, meaning the evaporation of essential oils, is what happens when you put dozens of scissor gashes into fresh flowers. Once the flowers have dried out, the capillaries that transport water through the plant also dry out. The same concept of capillary action applies here. The more access points you create for air, the quicker the plant will dry out. If you goal is smokability and the tastiest flowers, then you absolutely want to hang your plants whole and trim them after the bud is mostly dry.
During the drying process try and avoid squeezing the flowers and check the stems daily to monitor the level of dryness. The flowers should be crispy on the outside and you will start to be able to separate the flower from the stem by hand instead of cutting. Take into consideration that you will need time to chop the plants up and remove the flowers so leaves enough moisture in the flowers to make it through trimming. I've heard this process called, "Bucking the Flowers."
During the drying process try and avoid squeezing the flowers and check the stems daily to monitor the level of dryness. The flowers should be crispy on the outside and you will start to be able to separate the flower from the stem by hand instead of cutting. Take into consideration that you will need time to chop the plants up and remove the flowers so leaves enough moisture in the flowers to make it through trimming. I've heard this process called, "Bucking the Flowers."
I've had people ask if our chickens eat our cannabis plants and the answer is, I don't know because I have never given them the opportunity. I keep the two in their own designated places. There is not enough evidence out there to convince me one way or the other so I choose the option of NOT risking it...for the sake of my chickens AND for the sake of my plants. With this being said, anytime a chicken has "snuck" into my cannabis garden, they have not gone near my plants but do go after the any aphids or ladybugs that are living on the plant. I think the attraction of the insects is the draw and not the plant itself.
I have also been asked if my bees interfere with my cannabis and hemp plants and vice versa. I have both bees and cannabis together for the past five years and they appear to be co-existing quite nicely. The plants get pollinated and the bees don't appear to be high! There is an article floating around that I have been following about a French bee keeper who has been working closely with his bees and cannabis. I have posted a safe link here:
https://livelovefruit.com/cannabis-infused-honey-cannahoney/?fbclid=IwAR3tYbZ1PwiPUIvPZ9ww1evsvAqN4IJVRTn7KPf8lCor8BGOUtKvDuogSJo
We do however, infuse our honey with a tincture made from our cannabis and hemp plants that have a range of medical benefits due to naturally-occurring chemical compounds found within the plant. Terpenes, which provide tastes and aromas in weed and other plants, have properties thought to combat inflammation and fungal infections among other ailments. Cannabinoids, such a cannnabidiol (CBD), have been found to contain many healing properties, including pain relief, anti-convulsant, and studies suggest cannabis and CBD may even help combat certain types of cancer. Since legalization is still not Federally approved, there has not been enough research done to state any facts as of yet. The only facts we have I have is what my clients share with me when they have relief from chronic pain, less stress and anxiety, and get a great night's sleep. Those are the types of "facts" I can live with.
https://livelovefruit.com/cannabis-infused-honey-cannahoney/?fbclid=IwAR3tYbZ1PwiPUIvPZ9ww1evsvAqN4IJVRTn7KPf8lCor8BGOUtKvDuogSJo
We do however, infuse our honey with a tincture made from our cannabis and hemp plants that have a range of medical benefits due to naturally-occurring chemical compounds found within the plant. Terpenes, which provide tastes and aromas in weed and other plants, have properties thought to combat inflammation and fungal infections among other ailments. Cannabinoids, such a cannnabidiol (CBD), have been found to contain many healing properties, including pain relief, anti-convulsant, and studies suggest cannabis and CBD may even help combat certain types of cancer. Since legalization is still not Federally approved, there has not been enough research done to state any facts as of yet. The only facts we have I have is what my clients share with me when they have relief from chronic pain, less stress and anxiety, and get a great night's sleep. Those are the types of "facts" I can live with.
I have learned to infuse anything and everything in my dietary life so that in a moments notice, I can make a salad with some infused dressing, put a little infused coconut oil into my tea or rub it into my skin to eliminate itching and swelling. Using infused products on a regular basis does not mean you are "high" all the time. Micro-dosing has been shown to alleviate stress and anxiety and reduce swelling and inflammation.
Studies have shown that microdosing produces stronger therapeutic effects than larger doses of cannabis. Patients who receive the lowest amounts of cannabis tend to experience the greatest amount of relief. Everyone's body responds differently to cannabis, so the only way to calculate your ideal therapeutic dose is through trial and error. Start small and find a reputable cannabis expert who can guide you. There are many different strains and blends in the market today, so doing some research and finding what your need is personally and finding strains that speak to your individual needs.
There are many ways of delivery into the body as well, from smoking to tinctures, edibles, sublingual products like strips and tablets, to dabbing. The trends are ever-changing, so be sure to do your own research and always feel free to reach out and ask me any questions you may have.
Studies have shown that microdosing produces stronger therapeutic effects than larger doses of cannabis. Patients who receive the lowest amounts of cannabis tend to experience the greatest amount of relief. Everyone's body responds differently to cannabis, so the only way to calculate your ideal therapeutic dose is through trial and error. Start small and find a reputable cannabis expert who can guide you. There are many different strains and blends in the market today, so doing some research and finding what your need is personally and finding strains that speak to your individual needs.
There are many ways of delivery into the body as well, from smoking to tinctures, edibles, sublingual products like strips and tablets, to dabbing. The trends are ever-changing, so be sure to do your own research and always feel free to reach out and ask me any questions you may have.
Would you like to learn more about cannabis and how to grow or cook with cannabis? Please give me a shout out for article ideas. I always love sharing the process and how we have grown through this beautiful process of making our own medicine!
More articles will be coming in 2022 so stayed tuned. Keep on keeping on...it's high time to relax and heal from the inside out!
More articles will be coming in 2022 so stayed tuned. Keep on keeping on...it's high time to relax and heal from the inside out!
Photography by Melissa Spencer
