bigbadbiddy
Active member
Howdy folks,
I am currently looking at plots of land to purchase and start a farm.
Climate comparable to California, clean ground water available (can drill a well on properties that don't have one yet).
The soil.... I haven't touched it yet and been there yet but from afar/pictures it looks like loam top soil with clay or loam/clay below.
So it should more or less be ideal and the area has been cultivated heavily for more than hundreds of years. Mostly fruits and vegetables but also tobacco and the like.
Now my question:
I have never grown outdoor and have never owned a farm. I do know I want to continue growing organically and doing so outdoors on a farm will grant me better success in that regard, I am sure. (I find that most issues with organic soil I had so far had a lot to do with small pot sizes).
What do I look for when I buy a farm with the intend to grow organic cannabis on it? What should I avoid like the plague?
Regarding the soil, I suppose I won't get around a soil analysis before signing a contract. Will have to see where I can do that or if it isn't possible locally, have to bring my own test kit somehow.
But what do I look for aside from overfertilization with chemical nutes in the form of salt buildups? Heavy metals? Anything else?
Like I said, ANY pointers or suggestions are welcome. Another thing that I was wondering about was whether it would be better to grow cannabis in the valley near sea level or halfway up the mountain at like 420 ft. or really up the mountain at like 1000 ft. ?
From what feedback I got so far, it seems everyone seems to prefer the valley for cannabis cultivation due to its earlier spring/later autumn as well as higher temps throughout the season and less wind and temp drops.
What I am most afraid of is basically buying a farm, then creating my organic soil mix, working it into the fields, growing for a season in the fresh mix and then having all kinds of issues once I start the second round because the fresh batch of organic soil is mostly used up and the soil below is basically clay devoid of any nutrients or microbial life and laden with salt deposits from decades of overfertilization with chemical nutes...
Another thing to possibly consider might be that some of the fields are used to cultivate rice.
On the one hand I think that is great news as I will probably be able to source rice hulls for my soil mix locally and for cheap. On the other hand: Shouldn't I avoid fields that have been used for rice cultivation in the past?
As those fields are flooded and chosen for their poor drainage, no?
I am currently looking at plots of land to purchase and start a farm.
Climate comparable to California, clean ground water available (can drill a well on properties that don't have one yet).
The soil.... I haven't touched it yet and been there yet but from afar/pictures it looks like loam top soil with clay or loam/clay below.
So it should more or less be ideal and the area has been cultivated heavily for more than hundreds of years. Mostly fruits and vegetables but also tobacco and the like.
Now my question:
I have never grown outdoor and have never owned a farm. I do know I want to continue growing organically and doing so outdoors on a farm will grant me better success in that regard, I am sure. (I find that most issues with organic soil I had so far had a lot to do with small pot sizes).
What do I look for when I buy a farm with the intend to grow organic cannabis on it? What should I avoid like the plague?
Regarding the soil, I suppose I won't get around a soil analysis before signing a contract. Will have to see where I can do that or if it isn't possible locally, have to bring my own test kit somehow.
But what do I look for aside from overfertilization with chemical nutes in the form of salt buildups? Heavy metals? Anything else?
Like I said, ANY pointers or suggestions are welcome. Another thing that I was wondering about was whether it would be better to grow cannabis in the valley near sea level or halfway up the mountain at like 420 ft. or really up the mountain at like 1000 ft. ?
From what feedback I got so far, it seems everyone seems to prefer the valley for cannabis cultivation due to its earlier spring/later autumn as well as higher temps throughout the season and less wind and temp drops.
What I am most afraid of is basically buying a farm, then creating my organic soil mix, working it into the fields, growing for a season in the fresh mix and then having all kinds of issues once I start the second round because the fresh batch of organic soil is mostly used up and the soil below is basically clay devoid of any nutrients or microbial life and laden with salt deposits from decades of overfertilization with chemical nutes...
Another thing to possibly consider might be that some of the fields are used to cultivate rice.
On the one hand I think that is great news as I will probably be able to source rice hulls for my soil mix locally and for cheap. On the other hand: Shouldn't I avoid fields that have been used for rice cultivation in the past?
As those fields are flooded and chosen for their poor drainage, no?