Oaksterdam University. What do you think? Need Input.

[Peeping Tom]

I have been reading about Oaksterdam University in Oakland, CA for quite some time now. What do you guys think about it? Been researching on it but find peoples input is always the best solution. Is it hard to find a job after getting the certficate from this? School for growing pot. Doesnt get much better in theory but need input. Anyone attend or thinking about it, have any info at all. Thanks in advance.

 

[bentom187]

uuum im thinkin this is somthing he wants you to buy it, to hang on your wall just to say you went to a university if you open or join a shop.
my opinion there far more resourses from many peoples experience here ,than one mans ciriculum in his store.
plus its just advertising when you tell people about your "degree in MJ ".
plus this is free ,save your loot.

 

[Calimed]

Waste of money. You can get a Ph.D here for free.

A certificate from Oaksterdam won't do you anything in the industry.

 

[budbasket]

Do what I am doing and until laws get cleared out, go to a university, preferably an agricultural one, and get a degree in horticulture, agronomy, ag business, or any of the hundreds of related fields. It wasn't until I was in school that I found out about specific fields like oenology.
It kinda pisses me off that schools will push so hard for careers in 'normal' careers like wine production, ex, I have a study abroad opportunity to spend 2 months in France working for a vineyard. I am also going out this weekend with one of my professors to help a local vineyard harvest grapes. However schools completely ignore or are ignorant of the medical movement currently happening. There is absolutely no difference between what I have done/want to do with cannabis vs. students working for a vineyard....or shit monsanto, deer, or any of the hundreds of other ag companies that produce produce for our country.
It will not be until dispensaries, state grows, co-ops, or caregivers start hunting down workers at colleges instead of relying on "buds and acquaintances" to get harvests in, will we start seeing an actual progressing of the movement. It will all comedown to professionalism. I already have an associates degree, working on my bachelors, and am really encouraged with applying for grad school. I have committed myself to this plant and ideals and am not ashamed, I am only going to work harder to progress the complete backwards ass minded/uninformed people I am surrounded by. WTF; wheres the food without the farmer-basket

 

[Scottish Research]

Take the initiative. One has to be able to work without being old to do so.

ICMAG is Free. You can learn learn it here, and if you live in a Legal state go work for someone that is successful. You could be their assistant and you will learn a lot.

Save your money.

R.Fortune

 

[Hash Zeppelin]

If you are going to spend money, you are better off getting a degree in Botany at a credible university or college. Take some law classes too just to get legal perspective. Also talk to a lawyer that specializes in pot defense. Research their record too, if possible. Also research overall rulings of other pot cases in that lawyers district. If that lawyer wins his pot cases in an area that it is hard to do so in, then they know their shit.

I learned how to grow from a few friends, and OverGrow.com. My education still continues here on ICMAG. After almost 12 years of research, I still learn new cool things all the time. I feel lucky from all the help i received for free over the years, so I feel obligated to help spread the craft. I try to help out in the infirmary when I can, and encourage others to do the same. show patience with the new growers. things that may seem stupid and obvious to a trained eye may not be easily spotted by a new grower. When helping newbies the veterans need to remember to be specific, patient, and explain why. explain cause and effect. don't be sarcastic. show encouragement. don't bitch at them for not using the infirmary form perfectly.

 

[turtle farmer]

I went for the weekend seminar part 1 about two years ago.....we got to go into the grow lab on breaks,but if I remember,the lab is for the one day a week class... or part 2...
taught me lots of legal stuf,some great speakers,Ed Rosenthal,Dennis Peron,you got to ask some questions...didnt teach any growing in my seminar,but thats not why I was there....It did not help get my foot in the door at a club for a job or volenteering...
I thought I'd learn how to open a legitimate club in my area,quickly learned what moretorium meant....waqsn't a waste oif money,but not quite what I was expecting.
I'd rate the experience a 7 out of ten............spending a weekend in the bay is never a bad thing...peace

 

[PirateGodBuggy]

Waste of money. You can get a Ph.D here for free.

A certificate from Oaksterdam won't do you anything in the industry.

But I'm p sure nobody here would sit down and talk to you in RL. Well at least not right now.

 

[budbasket]

I had already been lurking on this site for a couple years before deciding to go to school, as far an cannabis growing, this site will offer a much deeper knowledge into the subject than a school will....but on this particular subject alone. That's because most of the big growers on here would be professors at schools in the subject if it was as widely accepted as say turf grass/golf course management.

Agriculture, specifically horticulture, which in itself if a field of hundreds of subjects is an extremely thorough science. This is why becoming a "master gardener" takes years and years of experience. Topics like horticultural pests and plant diseases are explained with such an amazing insight in basic classes and building throughout a hort students academic career. I don't know about anyone else but the only reason why I even bother too look stuff up in the infirmary on here was because I had already experienced the problem and was looking on how to resolve it.

I saw a post on here the other day about someone complaining about their outdoor garden having a pH problem and then mentioned pine forest around them. Pine needles are notoriously acidic and they fall off, it will rain, and the water leaches into the ground creating acidic soil. Because of a random piece of info I picked up in class one day I'll know to not plant in a pine forest or I might have pH related problems such a nute lock out. Or for all the BHO lovers out there at least a basic chemistry class so they have some experience with lab procedure. There would probably be less articles talking about the marijuana labs destroying suburbia. As i wrote that, I realized that there are a lot of dumb people out there, and it would still probably happen. Maybe just not as much.

My other option besides a 4+year degree was moving to a couple different med states where I have friends who would help set me up with everything. House, gear, strains, the works. The only problem with this is that the laws are changing weekly it seems and the laws that do exist are meant to confuse the shit out of everyone. How many growers are going to the cops when they get robbed? Its crazy, they patrol liquor stores AND pharmacys, whats the difference if its medicine or legal? I think we run into a problem with the this point right here. It can and should be allowed as both. Not many will admit alcohol as being a treatment for MS.

So I've decided to chill out in school for a couple years, have some fun, learn some cool stuff, and wait for the industry to become better regulated. I figure when our industry is accepted it'll be like any other profession in this country requiring a diploma showing you know what the hell your doing, so maybe I'll have a step up. If not, I can go do something I would still love to do like running an organic farm, opening a greenhouse, or jumping into floriculture. I love flowers, lilies and orchids are my favorites, it'd be amazing to be surrounded in fields by them. Perhaps California or Hawaii.

Plus I still will always have a personnel garden to keep me plenty supplied, and thanks to the amazing guys at the boutique n bay, we can get basically everything possible beside those "clone only" genes in clubs. My advice is go to school, get an education, and have a back up plan for if things don't work out.

I really need to find a good intern position in a med state. I just don't know how I can convince everyone where I am at, that working for a collective through an outdoor season is absolutely no different than going to France for the summer and working at a vineyard or traveling to the Super Bowl for free or work for any of the MLB stadiums over summer because you are helping with the turf. Its a mandatory thing to do before graduation so its good to find something you love. And there are so many cool opportunities, I just want one in a field that I am wanting to go into.

Another one is touring all the major greenhouses and garden through Europe over the Summer. The France thing is pretty cool though, I am definitely gonna check into it and talk to some of the people who have done it. A career in wine production would get me out to the wine country of California at least. I could handle that. And then possibly get a foot in the door with the local clubs or co-ops from there. Good luck with whatever you decide, just take your time, and make sure your going to enjoy it.-basket

 

[Peeping Tom]

Thanks for input on this and do agree. This was what i was thinking about all this. I guess my real question is how can i get employment in this industry..

 

[Peeping Tom]

Sorry let me rephrase that question. How can i get LEGIT employment in this industry...

 

[Jah Leon]

Legit employment in the industry would have to be in the medical states or applying to be a medical researcher or caregiver. It might require a degree but requires good network that trust you to get you inside the door.

I know because my degree will soon be completed in the field. It requires going for your masters and PHD for research and development. My goal is to continue for my masters but every plant to me has it purpose and is beautiful to grow. There is always more to learn

Oaksterdam and other colleges are just there to give you basic information on growing. There is more detailed information for advanced growers as well but like all schools its a place to build your network and make good contacts within an industry.

Bless; love and gratitude

 

[supermanlives]

my friend went for the hell of it . he said he didnt learn anything new. couldnt hurt any if your a newbee.

 

[soil margin]

I would vote waste of time. Learn online.

 

[Hash Zeppelin]

you can't

you can't

Sorry let me rephrase that question. How can i get LEGIT employment in this industry...

Until the federal government deems it legit you will never be 100 percent safe.

 

[SunshineDreams]

So the general consensus is Oaksterdam would help if someone didn't know where to start but as far as getting into detail, its not so useful?

 

[Anti]

Oaksterdam U is for people with too much money who want to be spoon fed information from someone who is earning a living spoon feeding information to people with too much money.

You won't learn anything there that you wouldn't learn here for nothing from people who are actively involved in growing themselves.

 

[Secrecy]

Re: Oaksterdam University. What do you think? Need Input.

Free education on growing websites, but reinforce basic growing knowledge by reading books.

Grow lore hard mode!

 

[supermanlives]

So the general consensus is Oaksterdam would help if someone didn't know where to start but as far as getting into detail, its not so useful?

yes. they also teach you about the legal aspects too. great for a newbee without any common sence

 

[Peeping Tom]

Even summer trim work wold satisfy right now. really just lookin for an excuse to get out west for a summer and a good summer job to start. not exactly something u can just go around asking about tho ya know?