It’s been awhile since I shared a strain review on the site. Mainly because, a) I was pregnant for the majority of last year, and b) 2020. However, my relationship with the plant has evolved greatly, and for the better.

In accordance with my state’s law, I began growing my own plants at home this past summer and had two plants with beautiful yields and very powerful, healing highs. Watching the process of seed to sproutling, then developing beautiful green fan leaves during vegetation, flaunting their fragrant nugs in the late summer sun, through the end of harvest and curation, has made me appreciate the privilege of calling this my medicine.

The growing experience has also recalibrated my criteria for what good weed is— the most important markers for me are smell and sight, but mostly smell. I choose whatever my nose wants, and right now I’m enjoying sweeter terpene profiles, but sometimes crave a diesel or cheese smell. Though it was never very important to me, categories like Indica or Sativa, THC percentages etc. now have no place in my smoking preference. The best method for me is simply to trust my intuition in terms of what I’m drawn to.

I admittedly have no idea what strains I ended up growing, as they were gifted, but definitely noticed key differences between the plants. One was short and stocky, and produced very earthy and subtly floral nugs down the center of the bush. The other plant was tall and lanky and produced sweet and gassy nugs on nearly all branches!

In the middle of grow season, my family and I were forced to evacuate our home due to nearby wildfires and the need to protect our 4-month-old baby at the time. I feared my plants wouldn’t survive the ordeal or lack of attention for nearly two weeks. Much to my surprise these resilient plants chose that exact time to sprout nugs, giving me the best welcome home gift!

The connection I have with these plants is beyond those with my other houseplants (sorry, plants). At their full glory, my daughter enjoyed sitting underneath their fan leaves and enjoying the late summer weather together. We sang songs to them, repeated our morning mantras together under the rising sun, and talked/ babbled with them daily. Honestly, I felt sad to harvest them in October because I knew I would miss my friends.

In total I harvested maybe 10-12 grams, which is about half of my weekly consumption (!) so this is definitely for special occasions only. My latest session consuming my homegrown medicine was with my partner in a blunt as the clock struck midnight on New Year's Day. It felt right to end 2020 and start 2021 with the physical embodiment of one of my greatest successes of the year, while paying homage to all that we left behind.

I recently watched a short documentary about folks growing cannabis in the Congo and one man said “If you grow your medicine it will heal you,” and I truly understand the sentiment now. My flowers are the perfect high for me— aromatic, tasty, beautiful, easy smoke (no coughing or fire throat), and mild, gentle high.

I wish I had enough to gift some to all of my friends, but I’m hopeful for that in the near future.

Do you have experience growing/ making your own medicine? What tips and tricks do you have for others?

~ Kenya Ku$h ~