Overcoming "The Fear"

[Axldeziak]

Hello, I've been a lurker here for along time now and have learned tons thanks to this forum but this is my first post so please forgive me for being a "newb." If I may I'd like to ask a question that I haven't seen specifically addressed before. Essentially, how does one personally overcome The Fear and panic that comes from the desire to plant outdoors? That overwhelming sense of doom and feeling of "Oh fuck... Oh fuck... Oh fuck..." that arises when one even considers starting a hidden outdoor patch.

Many moons ago, when I was a teen and in my early twenties, I grew three separate years outdoors but never had The Fear back then like I do now. Maybe it was due to my ignorance as a youth but over the years I have seen So Many good people get screwed royally by the Blue Man that even scouting out a spot nowadays causes me to almost have a panic attack.

I know that to be in this game one has to have balls that hang in a cluster like grapes but considering my location (the good ol' boy, bible thumpin' south) I cannot help but become fearful at the very thought of getting busted.

What do you experienced outdoor growers do to keep your head? What is that essential element you possess internally to have the guts to get out there and fight the good fight by growing for the rest of us?

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

 

[.clunk]

Just walk in there like you own the place and nobody will fuck with you. Start thinking you're going to get busted and you will get busted.

For me it's as easy as that. The brain can do a great job of stopping any and all success in life if you let it. This applies to all kinds of stuff besides growing too..asking that girl out on a date, starting a new job etc.

By overcoming my fear I've managed to make great leaps and bounds in my growing career in the last few years, if I was still terrified of buying a bag of potting soil I'd still be stuck at square one, growing 5 plants and shitting bricks about it the whole time. This year I'm putting out nearly one hundred times that number of plants, maybe more and I'm more calm, focused and committed than I ever have been before.

Oh, and one last thing that's very important for me: Don't smoke dope while you're doing any sort of growing activity. I get really paranoid if I smoke before I go do work, much better to leave the joint at home and burn one down at the end of the day instead..

 

[Saul Goodman]

I'm new to outdoor growing so there is like fifty million bad case scenarios going on in my mind. Where I live there isn't a whole lot of police focus on busting outdoor grows, with all the farmland there is little room left to grow anyway. My main concern is hunters discovering my grow. We have whitetail, turkey and duck hunters coming out the ying yang. I put up trail cameras this spring and had a turkey hunter walk right through what was to be a future plot, he was trespassing. Wont be using that spot this year I guess. Sucks because I have permission to be there, yet these yahoos just mozy on through like they own the place.
I just try to keep a positive attitude and keep pushing forward with it. I'm keeping my expectations low for yields so i'm not let down if mother nature takes a shit or someone discovers my plot. Hopefully all goes well, good luck to ya!

 

[LazLo]

"Fear profits a man nothing."

Caution, not fear, is your friend. Don't be self conscious. Start with a small grow or several in different spots. Get comfortable with the area.

Remember the benefits of being a self provider. Number ONE for me is money!

 

[stratmandu]

...I'd like to ask a question that I haven't seen specifically addressed before. Essentially, how does one personally overcome The Fear and panic that comes from the desire to plant outdoors? That overwhelming sense of doom and feeling of ...

A little fear is healthy. Keeps you on your toes. But listen up: when I find a "good" spot - I know it almost instantly, and I get a nice feeling there. If a place has a bad vibe, I don't waste my time. I am also in a scary NO-MEDS-JAIL-FOR-YOU state, but I've been off the radar and buried in the noise, and it can be done. Just be ready to abandon everything at the first hint of danger. Take it slow.

 

[verticalgrower]

if i feel paranoid bout growing outdoors i just dident pick a spot far enough out. or im tending the garden at the wrong time. wear gloves dont leave any garbage or anything and work at night that sould make ya feel a lil better when you sleep at night.

 

[Ickis]

If you only plant 2 and 3 plants in an individual spots IN THE WILDS, even if you plant a hundred plants outside you have very slim chance of being busted. Most people you hear about getting busted are indoor growers. outdoor growers with huge plant counts in one area or people who plant in their backyards.

I am totally convinced that small outdoor plots are actually the safest way to grow. Especially if you predig the holes and then go back at night to plant the plants. Just take a shovel, pick and a bucket and dig the holes. If someone sees you just say you are digging worms, looking for rocks or arrow heads. The digging is when you can get seen and if you have plants there is no excuse. If you dig at night that is even better.

Your biggest worry using this method is rippers and mother nature. You would have to be really, really unlucky to get busted. They won't be setting up a sting or game camera for 3 plants in a patch. They won't be there at 2 in the morning when you go to check them or harvest them either.

Indoor gives me more of "The Fear" even though I know nobody knows but me. Shit can happen like random thieves looking for any place to rob a TV or computer, an unrelated to growing fire or whatever that is out of my control. And if they find my indoor they know it is mine. If they find an outdoor patch they don't know it is mine.

Seriously think about it. If you have "The Fear" about small outdoor you must not grow indoor. Small outdoor guerilla growing has the lowest "The Fear" factor of any method. It is the safest way to grow IMHO.

 

[bentom187]

do somthing else outdoors for a cover get out and enjoy the air, try jogging with your pet or go fishing ...anything.itll take your mind off of it and just minimize your risks go at times when you think the least people will be out like overcast days weekdays when people are working ect... your alot less likley to get stopped by LEO if you look like your just enjoying the outdoors.

 

[angel4us]

tie em down

tie em down

always follow these tips and you will be o.k.
ten yards between plants- eliminates a large green footprint from sky view of a patch
always tie em down. ive had 5 plants in one location about 20 feet between plants in a line . the 2nd and 4th plants were behind so when the 1st 3rd and 5th plant were 3-4 foot tall i tied em down -with whatever sticks &string , wire , bent welding rod. any way the smaller plants never got tied down so at harvest time they were like little 3-4 foot trees. well somebody spotted em from railroad track rightof way and stepped over 3 monster plants that were tied down over huge sq.footage area. thats what is also plus about tieing them dowm --larger light footprint-sq. footage of buds -think about it rather than a circle from above it is more like a rectangle .
and always leave no track . walk on toes the closer you are to plants being careful not to step on weeds or bigger ground cover minimizing trail every visit because no matter what your going to have to visit after every rain to reapply insecticidal soap- otherwise all is for naught if u get worms they eat up and destroy at least half the buds.
defoliate - dont be afraid to take off all big gorilla shade leaves . that is what people see from ground and airplane . we have police in ultralight who fly over my crops every year for last 4 years and they dont see em- i personnally watched em every year.do a search here on ic on defoliation and check out some really nice buds from top to bottom-i personnally havent gone full out like some threads ive seen but full scale research underway.....
MOST IMPORTANT- pick a fast flowering strain. dont even try long strain if you live north of central illinois. if you pick a 56 day strain (normal) then in central illinois that puts you at the first week of october. At which time the natural vegatation is gone totally brown so that 56 day strain is going to be lime green and stick out a mile away!!!!!!!!!! either go with early finisher like bogglegum or bc genetics like time warp. not to mention all above based on good weather , usually we are indulated by either frost or too much rain -leading to bud rot!!!!!!
and of course equally important COMMON SENSE . go only at night unless you have reason to be there like saining for minnows - fishing that sorta thing and then becareful and always remember
THE WOODS HAVE EYES

peace and pot

 

[bongcritter]

Sick post angel4us...thanks for that!!!

 

[Molson]

"The fear" dissipates the more experience you gain and the more time you spend outdoors in the woods. I laid in bed sleepless last night tossing and turning, ended up getting like 3 hours of sleep, out the door at 5, got to my plot... and you know what? I felt relaxed, like there was nothing to worry about. I had a completely legitimate reason for being where I was, the right gear, etc. I grow where others probably wouldn't (i.e. too close to developed areas, too dangerous, etc), it's a relatively small piece of woods, and there are cars going by regularly. The thing is, anyone passing by wouldn't think twice of a car being parked off to the side at this location.

You really need to think about it from a third party point of view. Because of course, YOU KNOW what you're doing is illegal, etc -- but how does it look from a third party? Being overly paranoid isn't good for you, the mental stress it brings, etc. The hard part is getting soil out there, digging your plots, transplanting seedlings, etc. The rest is gravy. Watering and Fertilizing? You're out there for 1/2 hour, 1 hour tops. Just passing through the woods, no tools on you, etc...

4 wheelers or dirt bike tracks near your plot? Grass being cut nearby? Still doable area... solution? Don't fucking visit your plants during times/days people will be out... simple. Memorial day is great for doing work. You know why? Everyone is off work, asleep in the morning, relatively low traffic on the roads, etc. LITTLE chance of running into anybody.

And "the man" isn't out there behind every tree waiting to get you. Find facts on your area, county. Look up eradication stats/efforts specific to your county. It might take a little digging.

Guerilla growing brings little risk. You just need to be smart about it. I like to work at dawn/sunrise. Where I'm at I can't bring lights in so working in the dark isn't really feasible. Plus I can't see shit at night... can't tell whether the coco coir is fully expanded... what strains I'm planting where, etc.

Just get ya head on straight the rest is gravy.

 

[Deft]

Go hike the area first many times, that way you can check to see if people go there. Pick a place no one goes ever but still has sun and moist soil. Stop every few hundred feet as you get close and "rest" so that you can observe your surroundings and take a minute or three to just listen, if anyone is anywhere close and has not seen you they will probably move and make noise or talk and be obvious.

As said people will ask you what your doing if they don't know you and you are in a remote spot, so it helps to actually hike that spot say to photograph the wildlife and scenery etc. Its Good practice to actually have a a hobby like birdwatching, fishing, hiking, rock hounding, etc so that if you are stopped with a backpack full of seedlings or potting soil by a suspicious local you can talk about your hobby.

Ultimately pick a spot where you can be completely alone with your plants and don't be stoned or reek of pot when you go.

 

[buddymate]

There is no fear and thats the truth,got a few hundred plants out at the moment,dont feel nervous at all,conquer your fears

 

[Axldeziak]

Thank you all for your replies and the great advice. I'll take it and make definite use of some of the suggestions.

I guess the biggest obstacle for me to overcome (besides the fear) is my location. Where I am is rife with hunters at certain times of year and there isn't much in the way of isolated woods because the farmers have parceled the entire area out. Not only that but hiking and such is just not done by people here, (I honestly have never seen an adult even wear a backpack in this area much less go for a nature walk.) Add to it folks here will call the blue man in a heartbeat over piddly shit. (There's been more than a few cases I know about where people where harassed for being in a field or the like because somehow that screams to these fools, meth lab!) It's a seriously fucked up mindset around here but with enough determination I reckon anything is possible.

So I'll keep scouting out of the way places, keep my head, and figure something out. Thanks again. You guys rock!

 

[verticalgrower]

bing map and google map sure can help alot looking around for a new spot to go check out in person or make sure theres nothing you have missed in the area when you where there in person.

 

[DaDank]

Extended Fear

Extended Fear

Definately felt the fear a few weeks back....
By the light of a full October moon, I harvested the 30 plants that I had left unattended all summer in upstate NY. Interestingly my spot was within about 50 ft of a road where cops certainly pass by several times a day. If only they knew...
Having completed my chop I was crossing that road with the black contractor's garbage bag filled with my babies when a car appeared. They no doubt saw me sprinting up the embankment on the opposite side of the road but they did not stop. Whew.
But it wasn't over...
Had a drive of several hours to get back home. Of course my heart beat a little faster whenever I saw a statetrooper. Especially when they were closing on me fast from behind as I carefully observed the speed limit. Nothing like seeing them zoom PAST me. Again Whew.

Then there are the moments at the rest stop when you see LEO a few cars over and, with great joy, you think, "If you only knew..."

Made it home. And came to a realization. If your car is in good repair (all lights (lic. plate especially) working) and you do not drive like an idiot, then you basically have nothing to worry about.

"Cept what to do with all that swell Spleef Mother Nature just gave you.
Can I get an 'Amen!"?

Maintain cool...always

 

[hamstring]

Hey future Guerrilla fear not.

First thing go over to the Security Forum and read for about 3 hrs just the "busted " threads. Then come back and tell me how many are about outdoor busts. You want some fear you will get it but not about guerrilla growing.

I'm not you or in your shoes so take this with a grain of salt as they say. I have never been in a town, city in the US where there aren’t outdoor people. You just said there are a lot of hunters right? These same people enjoy many outdoor hobbies so I doubt there aren’t any outdoor activities going on.

The key to not getting caught in my opinion has nothing to do with how you plant, spacing of plants etc in my opinion. Sure you may loose a crop by not following those good practices but that doesn’t put you in jail.

The key is to have a good enter and exit strategy where you fit in. Just don’t make something work it has to be there. Find a spot and scout for spots where you can park legally or bike in and hide your bike don’t stand out.


You’re in the plot once every two weeks for a couple of hrs (many variables). On the other hand you’re in the plot 24/7 when you grow indoors. Both have risks involved but to me outdoors is less risky getting caught but less chance of a harvest. Nothings free in life future guerrilla.

 

[Nicoli]

i found the perfect cover for my outdoors next year, i'll be the guy "fly fishing" down the streams so if you see me, don't worry, im just "fly fishing"..

last year the "bird watching" excuse didnt really feel that comfy.

 

[bugler]

You say you have permission to be on this property? Get it in writing, specifically saying you can do whatever your cover is. Really good "proof" of your cover. And it sounds like your cover needs to be hunting. I'm guessing your not a hunter and are thinking, "hunting in the spring and summer, I'll be arrested for poaching?!"

Hunters often spend time in the woods in the off season. Carry a tree ladder and you're scouting spots for your tree stand. Hell, put up a tree stand, not @ your grow but within binoc distance of it, great place to observe for safety if you're visiting in the day. Also, if others are trespassing, politely send them on their way. Hunters are territorial, and most who know they are trespassing will feel guilty themselves. Ask THEM why they are there! Even if they've seen your plants, they are already the criminals and therefore the most likely to take the fall, you're the innocent law abiding legal hunter.

NEVER carry a weapon in those woods though even if it seems necessary for hunting to work as a cover near harvest season. It's not, again, hunters spend a fair bit of time in the woods, baiting, setting stands, looking for signs of activity etc.

ALWAYS wear some blaze orange if visiting anywhere near dawn/dusk during season, last thing you want is to be shot tending your plants!

Look at the good old boys hanging out at the convenience stores at 6 am in hunting season. Dress like them, boots, camo coat, etc.

And to directly counter just the fear aspect, look at your worst case scenario. Even in the bible belt, first offenses for low plant counts are often not a life ruiner. Take GA for example, first offense, less than 10 pounds, probation, rehab, and loss of license for a while is common. Yes that would suck. But with small plant counts and safe practices it could be the worst case scenario, probably cost you about as much as buying that 10 pounds on the street would have, so with 1 successful season you've saved your legal expenses, any success after that is gravy....

 

[Skidbone]

I have grown small small patches outdoor in college in Humboldt Co., but this was my first real outdoor grow this year in the middle of suburbia. I was quite nervous going into it, I chilled through most of it, and then really started getting buggy as I neared harvest. We are on a 1/4 acre in southern California. I built property line fences, and used a full on cornfield to hide my patch of six females. By late September early August the smell was getting fierce. By late October I could smell it on the sidewalk out front. That wasn't even as bad as when it came to drying/curing and trimming. I probably wouldn't recommend growing that close to others again. I had some advantages, I have a CA State MMJ card and cool neighbors on one side, but on two sides, I had a lot of potential for problems. Mostly the ripoff. No dog that time, but I will get one next year. I understand "the fear" and I struggle with it from time to time. It is worse when I think about an organized ripoff, lowlifes barging in and putting my family in danger. I almost canceled trick or treat giving, because I didn't want to open the door to strangers. Good luck with your feelings, experience and a good security plan and stealth will cut the noids to a minimum.