Friday 420 Podcast: Home Cannabis Cultivation

It was great to sit down with Ryan Parker on the latest episode of the Friday 420 podcast to discuss his journey from the medical cannabis days of Proposition 215 to his current role at Boveda . Ryan shared the fascinating origin story of the C-Vault, which his father developed after noticing his cannabis was drying out in a standard cigar humidor. This led to the creation of a stainless steel sto...

On this week’s Friday 420 , I sat down with Damian Michalski, Chief Cultivation Officer and Co-founder of Evergreen Medica to discuss why the transition to LED lighting has been secretly killing grower yields. Damian reveals that he’s seen up to a 40% increase just by following this one metric. Find out what rubisco is and how you can control your environment to grow your biggest crops yet. Get fu...

When he started Buttheadz Grow Shop in 2021, Erick Engelhart had a hard time finding someone who’d rent to him because the stigma against cannabis in Missouri was so strong. Today, their nonprofit Buttheadz Growers Club has donated thousands of pounds of vegetables to local food banks through their “Cans for Clones” program and community gardens. The club even hosts classes for the local Boy Scout...

On the latest episode of “Friday 420,” I sat down with Canadian cannabis genetics advisor and researcher Dwight Diotte for an illuminating discussion on the origins and evolution of autoflowering cannabis. Dwight has been breeding ruderalis plants for the last 40 years, and we covered everything from their geographical origins and unique growth patterns to the flavor profile and effect of a pure r...

For this special Friday 420 Christmas Edition, I had the pleasure of talking to three Emerald Triangle farmers to hear about their unique and festive 12 Jays of Christmas collaboration. This beautifully designed box is filled with 12 joints from 12 small-batch, craft cannabis farms that are part of the Humboldt County Growers Alliance - an organization that aims to spotlight the quality and herita...

This week, I sat down with the legendary Jorge Cervantes (George Van Patten), a man whose books have influenced generations of growers over the last 40 years. Jorge shared the challenges of self-publishing his first book, Indoor Marijuana Horticulture, in 1983, and the dangerous process of writing books on cannabis cultivation in the 80s and 90s, when government raids and customs officials banning...

I recently had the chance to sit down with Dominique van Gruisen , founder of Innexo , a research organization based in the Netherlands dedicated to deepening our understanding of cannabis cultivation. Dominique shared how they facilitate an exchange of knowledge through their regular “Acceleration Days,” where researchers, innovators, and industry professionals connect at their facility to share...

This week’s guest, John Bayes, AKA Green Bodhi , is a renowned cannabis breeder with over 2 decades as founder and owner of Green Bodhi Genetics in Eugene, Oregon. John has built a reputation for creating some of the highest quality strains in the industry based on a massive library of old-school genetics, with an emphasis on West Coast classic strains. John’s a world-class grower and brings a hig...

This week on Friday 420 we are honored to welcome to the show a legend in cannabis genetics, Scott Blakey, a.k.a. Shantibaba. Scott is one of the architects of the modern cannabis seed industry, founding operations like Greenhouse Seed Company, and Mr. Nice Seed Bank in the 90s in Holland. He applied his rigorous breeding methods to develop some of the first high-CBD, low-THC strains, effectively...

I had a great conversation with Max Majot, Technical Manager at Royal Queen Seeds , about the cannabis industry’s future, his take on interviewing Mike Tyson, and the major shift happening at Royal Queen Seeds from seed bank to seed producer. Max argued that while industrial production is necessary, the industry’s focus on metrics like high THC is a pitfall. We agreed the challenge ahead is ensuri...

I learned so much about magic mushrooms last week speaking with certified mycologist and founder of Mystic Fruits , Cody Reeves. We covered some great topics like strain specific effects, microdosing, and the various ways mushrooms are being used medicinally and therapeutically. Check out the full video to learn more about these fantastic fungi! Get full access to Homegrowers International at www....

I had such a great conversation last Friday with Judi Nelson and Walter Wood of Sol Spirit Farm . Here are a few things I learned about their organic, regenerative cannabis farm: * They met at a Jerry Garcia memorial and were inspired by their time as forest activists to live more sustainably. * They are unique in their use of Jadam Korean natural farming techniques, creating their own fertilizers...

I thought growing cannabis for 23 years was a long time, but it was so cool to sit down with someone who’s been cultivating it twice as long as I have! Tony Grech’s journey growing this plant began in San Francisco in the 60s when he picked up a copy of Bill Drake's "The Cultivator's Handbook." Here are a few other things we found out: * Tony’s been practicing organic, living soil cannabis cultiva...

I recently sat down with Guy Rocourt , the visionary behind Papa & Barkley and CLEA Midlife Wellness , for a conversation that challenged some of the biggest conventions in the industry. We dove into the art of making truly strain-specific edibles, including how to preserve terpenes and other compounds to create an infusion that tastes and feels like the flower it came from. The conversation took...

Last Friday, I had the honor of sitting down with a true cannabis pioneer, Farmer Tom Lauerman . We journeyed back to the very beginning of medical cannabis in the U.S., as Tom shared stories from his time co-founding one of the first medical collectives in San Diego in 1997. We learned about the high-profile police raid that shut down his collective in 1999, an event that, for many, would have be...

Last week, I had the pleasure of catching up with my friend and masterful home grower, Jim Berry , for a complete breakdown of his "HomeGrown Season 8." Jim’s growing style blends organic principles with high-tech tools, and he walked us through his whole process, from clones to supercharging living soil with a carefully managed regimen of salt-based nutrients and biostimulants. "I pulled almost e...

Indica vs. sativa? What defines craft cannabis? Last week, in my conversation with veteran cultivator and consultant Mike Bruno of Golden Ocean Solutions, we tackled some controversial topics in the cannabis industry. The conversation quickly centered on a crucial issue: the need for genetic diversity in a market saturated with high-THC candy/gas strains. We both agreed that the future is bright f...

Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dave Perkins , CEO of the family-owned brand Budularo, whose 3,000 sq ft greenhouse in Mendocino, California, specializes in growing long-flowering cannabis varieties. Dave’s passion for long-flowering cannabis was sparked by his father-in-law, Tony, a legacy grower with over 50 years of experience, who made a surprise appearance and shared the origin...

This week, my guest, Ras Ramon “Brother Ben” Adams, shared some deeply personal insights into the cultivation, preservation, and medicinal use of South African landrace cannabis. Here are just a few of the things I learned during our enlightening talk: * South Africa was the first country to outlaw cannabis 100 years ago. * Cannabis was probably brought to South Africa by the Phoenicians in the 10...

My talk with cannabis pioneer Kevin Jodrey last week started with a simple question—what makes high-quality cannabis?—but quickly evolved into a conversation about the very soul of the industry. Kevin directed cultivation for one of the first medical cannabis dispensaries in California in 2008. For him, it wasn't just about providing clean, effective medicine. He shared powerful stories of opening...

Last week, I spoke with Xavier G aya, principal consultant for Avitas Global , about the unique challenges of growing long-flowering cannabis varieties at home. These strains, with landrace lineage from equatorial regions like Asia, Africa, and Central America, are known for their vigorous, tall growth - adaptations for competing for sunlight in dense jungles. While these traits make them resilien...

Last Friday on our 4:20 Live, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Penny Barthel , author of "The Cannabis Gardener" and founder of the cannabis education company, " Wondering About Weed ." Penny's bridging the gap between mainstream horticulture and home cannabis growing, drawing on her lifelong passion for gardening to help others understand how to grow this beautiful, beneficial plant a...

I had an enlightening conversation last week with James Wormser, Director of Cultivation for Tower Three in Massachusetts, one of the few facilities in the US growing 100% organically in living soil beds. James shared some great insights into his production methods and the challenges and benefits of growing in living soil. Watch the full session! Homegrowers International is a reader-supported pub...

Last Friday for my Live Q&A, I had the pleasure of speaking with Brendon Roberts, author of “ Cannabis Development ” and former Director of Cultivation for Sugar Cane Cannabis in British Columbia. I began following Brendon a few years ago, immediately drawn to his inclusive and inviting communication style that seems to resonate with everyone, not just cannabis cultivators. I was equally impressed...

I had an incredible a conversation with Dominique van Gruisen , founder of the Dutch cannabis research organization Innexo. We talked about Dominique's research and personal experiences with cannabis cultivation, as well as the"no-veg" method (growing directly under a 12/12 light cycle from seed or shortly after cloning). Dom adopted the no-veg method early in his home growing days after encounter...