the SEED TO SALE issue
Growing in a pandemic While many people are trying to find a way to keep their doors open, Cannabis growers like Frontier Farmers are waking up to business as usual.
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aklEAF.COM
Josh Hunter, manager and grower at Frontier Farmers in Palmer
Cannabis businesses are not eligible to receive financial aid from banks via the federal government, as they are still considered federally illegal. So, any expenses for these guys are coming out of pocket - at least for now. On a more positive note, Josh had a chance to talk with me about their YouTube channel and “Grower’s Guide” - a series of videos aimed at helping new growers understand Cannabis. “Growing weed is easy,” says Josh. “It will grow outside - but growing great weed takes skill, knowledge and experience. We’re not giving out all the “I RECENTLY MOVED into a house across from my grow secrets, but it should help people become more so I don’t go anywhere else really. It’s easy for me to wake happy with their products.” up and be in my own little bubble,” explains Josh Hunter, Frontier Farmers started these videos a few manager and grower at Frontier Farmers in Palmer. months ago and have built a small library in part“I go to work and come back home, outside of a couple nership with Michael C. Marketing. deliveries or paying bills.” With social distancing and federal “We have an awesome marketing guy that helps protocols for Covid-19 in full swing, Cannabis businesses us get out there in the market and produce our have been fortunate enough to remain open. Granted, there YouTube videos. He helped us to think outside the are still challenges. box, so we came up with these videos together. “Getting cashier checks, paying bills, and getting ahold of There are so many little parts to producing great “Cannabis businesses companies we need right now are just a couple problems,” weed such as curing, watering, nutrients, cloning, are not eligible to said Josh. choosing strains and more,” explained Josh. receive financial aid “Although, I have seen some great business changes to “We try to talk about what products we use, how from banks via the make things easier for us, like MEA [Matanuska Electric we use them and why,” Josh said. “We have a federal government, Association, Inc.], but it’s still pretty crazy.” Josh’s received lot of knowledge to share and we want people to as they are still considassistance when their payment system was in flux - but with a avoid all those problems.” ered federally illegal.” simple call ahead - he was able to pay with no problem. Josh plans on continuing to provide these invalu“All these government policies and protocols are crazy and changing able pieces of grow knowledge. “We hope to keep doing these really fast,” emphasized Josh. “We’re doing whatever we can to keep our videos and reach more people. With veterans out there needing people healthy, because we can’t afford to pay someone’s payroll for 10 care, new growers getting supplies in Alaska and a thriving Cannaweeks if they get sick. It’s a big deal and things are changing fast.” bis community, we’re hoping viewers take advantage of this.” F R O N T I E R FA R M E R S . C O M | Y O U T U B E S E A R C H F R O N T I E R FA R M E R S A L A S K A
MAY 2020
STORY by MICHAEL CONSALO for ALASKA LEAF
