AutoFlower Cup 2021

More events that work to shape a responsible cannabis industry with act-local-think-global bones, please!

By Liz Grow

As a cannabis enthusiast and storyteller from Texas, I often have to travel far outside of my lone star landmass to find the best bud, most accomplished cultivators and take part in events that bring together the realest ones of the cannabis community. So in August, my husband and I attended The Autoflower Cup on the Hood Canal in Lilliwaup, Washington to learn about Autoflowers from the best, find adventure, and yes, to make new friends.

Although it might not look bad on a map, Lilliwaup is a bit remote and kind of a pain to get to; I knew we’d love it. Typically the more complex the travel plan the more dedicated and passionate the attendee, and this was definitely the rule at The AutoFlower Cup. We were surrounded by cannabis and mycology luminaries from the moment we checked in at Mike’s Beach Resort. Mike’s is a 1940’s scuba camp and it was every bit as awesome as that sounds - effortlessly vintage and seemingly grown into the surrounding prehistoric nature on the Hood canal.

The Glamping village we stayed in, with the exception of a few makeshift outhouse doors, was as-advertised - we had real furniture and outdoor living. Our tent, one of twelve, was a large hotel room outdoors, and each tent around us housed a couple or group spearheading real change & progress in the industry today. Our campsite was filled with “campers” interested in sharing ideas and new methods for progress. Rather than getting drunk and hoping our collected business cards don’t lost in the morning after airport shuffle, we shared smoke, s’mores, mushrooms, oysters, pancakes & waffles, seeds, more smoke, wine, DABS, chants, dances, victories, discoveries, still more smoke, and space for each other to be exactly who we were, in that moment.

Like any good party, the event wasn’t without its mishaps including tiny uninvited fires, power outages, paramedics, and a few more harmless surprises. Sadly, I missed the mushroom foray because I slept in, but I only have late-night conversations and dabs under the stars to blame.

An open-air vendor row was set up along the bank where vendors all seemed to be vibing and doing business effortlessly with “day campers” who came in for daily events. Each person we met felt authentically committed to responsible progress in the industry and had a real, deep love for the Autoflower cultivators. Oh that’s right, almost forgot; there were contests and people were victorious! The competition was secondary to the camaraderie.

The Autoflower Cup was much more than an experience to learn, but an experience to learn as a community, become fully immersed in the ancient natural surroundings, and feel at one with our tribe. To gawk together at the natural and sacred beauty surrounding us, and take in the deep wisdom of those humans you suspect might actually be cosmic travelers from another dimension, like our event creators Chef Sebastian Carosi and his fearless partner Carla Asquith. Together they dreamt about bringing the cannabis community at-large out of the dark and depressing conference centers and face-to-face with the abundance, beauty, and responsibility of the natural world,