Shaping Fire

Much of the cannabis growing during prohibition involved forcing the plant to do our bidding. Now though, cultivators everywhere are spending more time listening to the cannabis plant and learning how to provide what she needs. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los talks with soil biologist Leighton Morrison about the geological source for today's soil, how we can replicate natural syst...

More and more "regular folks" are beginning to take interest in growing cannabis. Gardeners who love growing tomatoes are realizing that cannabis is just as fun and perhaps even more rewarding to grow. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los talks with soil science educator and long-time gardening columnist Jeff Lowenfels about the arrival of modern autoflowering cannabis varieties and ho...

The soil food web in living soil is something many of us are familair with. There is a similar web of life that occurs in water. With aquaponics, the beneifts of living soil get supercharged with the life force of the water food web! In this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los talks with Stever Raisner about the water food web, the science of blending the water and soil food webs and how this...

Cannabis patent discussions get people rowdy! And yet, getting fine details about existing patents is really hard. In this episode, Shaping Fire host Shango Los talks with plant scientist and patent attorney Dale Hunt, PhD, JD about the two most popular patents to hate by United Cannabis and Biotech LLC. We look at each in detail to better understand their specific claims and then discuss their le...

Animals play a significant role in our lives and they are family to many people. When we learn we can reduce suffering in humans using cannabis medicine, it makes sense that we would consider using cannabis to help our animals too. But there is scant research on using cannabis with animals and since they don't speak, we have to be extraordinarily cautious. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Sha...

For pretty much everybody in cannabis except seed makers, male cannabis plants are a scourge. For breeders, male cannabis plants are a joyful thing and essential to the advancement of cannabis genetics and the creation of regular seed. But for nearly all hobby, medical and commercial growers though, males are a threat. Feminized seeds have come a long way since their early days and on this episode...

Not too long ago, all cannabis business had to be done in the shadows. If you had developed a product for cannabis, you had to market it as something else, and then give a wink that it had "other applications" as well. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los sits down with Fritz Chess, founder of Eden Labs, to discuss what it was like to bring his ethanol extractor to market in the back p...

Autoflowering cannabis plants offer revolutionary new options for home, medical and commercial cannabis cultivators. This episode of Shaping Fire was recorded live on the main stage at Cultivation Classic in Portland. Join host Shango Los as he talks with author Jeff Lowenfels and Seth Crawford of Oregon CBD Seeds about the new wave of autoflower genetics and the extraordinary cultivation strategi...

The idea that cannabis enthusiasts are forever couchlocked is myth. We all know people who get high and get active. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los speaks with neurophysiologist Greg Gerdeman, PhD about the interplay between our endocannabinoid system and exercise, cannabis's ability to focus our efforts to reach training goals, and the possibility that the endocannabinoid system...

As cannabis freedoms expand across the globe, more and more cannabis enthusiasts are getting the opportunity to meet each other and learn each others' cultures and traditions around cannabis. Because access to technology, information and fertilizers vary greatly, cannabis culture is unique everywhere you go. In this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los speaks with Colin Bell, co-founder of Mam...

Sharing cannabis seeds is essential to the preservation of the plant and our access to it. Forces are gathering to make legal challenges to many of the present over-broad cannabis patents. While others are looking at ways the cannabis community can agree to informal, yet legally enforceable public patents to help defend heritage chemovars. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los speaks wi...

Historically, indoor cannabis growers relied on bottled nutrients and often hydroponics, but there is a new wave of indoor growers who are bringing the insights of living soil and polyculture to indoor cannabis. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los talks with cultivator Joshua Steensland about using robust microbe communities, wildcrafted nutrients and companion planting when growing c...

As new states begin to normalize cannabis, the latest phase of the cannabis industry is rapid brand expansion. There are many ways to crash your cannabis brand as you attempt to expand into other states, and perhaps new product categories, by working with corporate partners. Too many entrepreneurs take action based on their hunches and not factual knowledge. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host S...

Growing cannabis in greenhouses offers the best attributes of both indoor and outdoor operations. However, because it is a combined solution, it can suffer from the challenges of both growing methods too. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los talks with cannabis greenhouse expert Eric Brandstad about crop-saving techniques to rescue your greenhouse operation when it takes a turn for the...

Extracting cannabinoids with carbon dioxide has matured a lot over the last few years. Professional extraction teams have become far more versatile with the technology resulting in a much improved product. On today's episode of Shaping Fire, extractor Jeff Wilhoit talks with Shaping Fire host Shango Los about the evolution of CO2 extraction in the last five years, why CO2 dabs tastes so much bette...

Cannabis plants thrive on biological diversity that can meet all its nutritional needs. Well-made compost is not only alive with microbial and fungal activity, but it can be personalized to your growing region as well. In this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los talks with Colum Riley of Malibu Compost about the complex biology of compost, why using local microbes is so very important and how...

Selling cannabis seeds is a serious hustle. Like the fine artist painters of old, today's cannabis breeders are creating extraordinary cannabis strains, and at the same time being ingenious with their marketing and outreach. They have to be visionary with the genetics and still know how to crush social media in their own way. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los speaks with Eric Wimber...

Patients often try to save money or stay legal by using CBD from industrial fiber hemp but there is little scientific support for its efficacy when used alone. Now though, a new generation of plants exist that are closer genetically to traditional medical cannabis plants but are also legally hemp plants. These plants will remake the current CBD hemp market. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Sh...

Breathing is an essential part of enjoying cannabis and yet we rarely think about it. And for the most part, most of us trade partial truths and full-on myths when talking about how cannabis interacts with the lungs. On today's episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los talks with Robert Litman of The Breathable Body about the mechanics of breathing, what happens when we inhale cannabis, and best pr...

Korean Natural Farming is so hot right now. Probiotic farmers everywhere are learning KNF's exotic fermentation techniques to create their most thriving and potent plants ever. On this week's episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los talks with Korean Natural Farming educator Chris Trump about KNF fermentation recipes, the importance of abundant indigenous microbe communities in the soil and workin...

To a casual observer, the licensed cannabis market may seem risky but essentially orderly. Of course, this is a fantasy because anyone actually involved in the process sees first hand the turbulent interplay of regulators, license holders, and the ever-present, ever-adaptable black market. On this week's episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los speaks with Dominic Corva, Director of the Center for...

Have no doubt that agricultural and pharmaceutical companies are coming for your cannabis genetics. And while these mega-corporations are well-funded and focused on their goals, heritage cannabis growers and enthusiasts are disorganized, unfunded and believe in a wide array of patent law myths. On this week's episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los talks frankly with Reggie Gaudino PhD of Steep H...

As common as animal nutrients are for growing cannabis, many of them remain exotic to most growers. Worm castings are known to many but what about crab shell flour, soldier flies or sea bird guano. On this week's episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los talks with probiotic growing educator Tad Hussey about the usefulness and sustainability of a wide array of animal inputs.

The stock market is a moody beast. No matter how much insight you have or how many Fibonacci lines you draw on your charts, there are still innumerable pitfalls that can cross your path and ruin your trade. The risks involved skyrocket when you invest in a nascent industry like cannabis too. The rapidly changing market, lack of historical data and, of course, Federal cannabis prohibition all make...

Cannabis enthusiasts are waking up to the dangers associated with pesticides and both state regulatory agencies and consumers are looking for cleaner, pesticide-free products. At the same time, cannabis growers are migrating away from chemicals and instead are choosing beneficial insects to defend their cannabis crops. On this week’s episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los talks with Shane Young...