13 minute read
The Emerald Triangle
MY JOURNEY AROUND THE U.S. CANNABIS MECCA
Vee Castillo
“In Humboldt County, California, the big business of legal marijuana brings in visitors from around the world. Some are never seen again.
This is the description used by Netflix in the Season 1 description of Murder Mountain; listed under crime TV shows instead of docu-series(SMH).
The series covered a specific story- a specific situation- and portrayed an entire county as murderous. They covered one story, on one mountain, and created fear. For many, this is the first they heard and learned about the area; and this introduction was horrible.
They shined a dim light on the issues that small craft farmers are dealing with, like regulations in the recreational/adult-use market. However, their focus shifted fast and violence became the focus of the whole series.
I vowed if, given the opportunity, I would visit the emerald triangle and show that Murder Mountain doesn’t reflect the entire community. Sure, bad things happen, but they happen everywhere. USANews, reports:
“According to police data compiled by VOA, homicides during 2020 were up by an average of about 40% over the previous year across the nine cities: Kansas City, Missouri; Chicago, Illinois; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; St. Louis, Missouri; Memphis, Tennessee; and Indianapolis, Indiana.”
The U.S cannabis mecca, known as the Emerald Triangle is the United States and cannabis industry treasure. It is sacred, with magical soil, growing some of the world's best cannabis.
The people there, many of them 3rd, 4th, 5th generation residents and farmers, are some of the warmest, most humble, most passionate about planet earth, people I have ever met. The people, the land, the plants, the redwoods, all welcomed me, hugged me, nurtured me, and educated me.
I journeyed up to the emerald one way, reflected and transformed, and left the emerald triangle a different person; better, wiser, and even more appreciative than ever for plantcannabis.
My Journey Up to the Emerald Triangle
I had been trying to get up to the Emerald for a year or more. I wanted an experience, so I wanted a tour guide. In2021, that happened; Lelehnia (Lele)Dubois, founder of Humboldt Grace, heard my request on Clubhouse and within a week, we were on the phone making plans for this amazing tour. Because of Murder Mountain, the announcement of my tour of the Emerald Triangle was received withfear:
In June of 2021, myself and 1st Lady of the West Coast journeyed up to the Emerald Triangle from Nevada, for a tour neither one of us expected.
Sure, we knew that we were about to witness magic, but we had no idea how touched we would be every day. Lele put together such a magical experience, one that should’ve been followed by Netflix.
The journey up was supported by journey sponsors: Sky High PEO, MyCureAll, Sunflower Spacecakes, and Kathleen Bryson- the tour homebase sponsor.
Arriving in HumboldtCounty- City of Eureka- The Homebase of the Tour
Arriving in Humboldt County was obvious because of the mystical redwoods. They stood tall, radiant, and bold, welcoming us to Redwood Highway, in the Redwood National Forest- home to the tallest trees in theworld. My Scenic Drives says:
“The Redwood Highway may seem like a misnomer at the beginning of the drive, but in 20- miles these giants will lure you out of your car for a closer inspection.”
They weren’t lying, the Redwoods, also known as giants, definitely lured me out of my car.
The journey up to the northern part of Humboldt county was beautiful. When we arrived in Eureka, CA at Kathleen’s beautiful home, we met both Lele and Kathleen in the flesh.
It felt like a reunion more than a meeting. Kathleen had a beautiful and comfortable space for us, with fresh cut flowers from her garden, and a written welcome note.
Eureka is described as: Real. Authentic. Different on the City of Eureka site and I have to say that I agree. It is the county seat of Humboldt county, it’s the heart of the Redwood Coast, and is most famous...not for cannabis, but for its unique Victorian architecture, creative artistic culture, one-of-a-kind shops, restaurants and artisanal businesses.
It was the perfect location for the homebase of the tour.
Photo by: 1st Lady of the West Coast
The Journey Through, and Tour of: Humboldt County
Humboldt county is known as Home to the Redwoods. When browsing the Visit Humboldt site, readers will notice tabs/pages for things to do like: Redwoods,beaches, hiking, water activities, leisure, towns, history, and tour guides. All of this exists in one county, I found all of these activities and then some. But the best part-CANNABIS.
Humboldt county is such a huge county! It can take 4 hours to get from the northern part of the county to the southern part of the county. The pacific ocean is magical and felt within the county- even when not close, the ocean is still felt in the air and soil. Humboldt county gave the experience of the tallest mountains I’ve been on, the stickiest sun-grown cannabis I’ve ever consumed, meeting OG’s, traveling some of the most rural areas I have ever seen, stepping foot on the original site of the Emerald Cup, my first experience getting a massage, then browsing the dispensary, with the ability to consume outside- all in the same place.
While journeying through Humboldt county, I met: Barrett Farms, 8-Mile Family Farms, True Humboldt, Sweet Leaf Compassion, Herb & Market, Sunbolt
Grown, Papa, and Barkley Social, Kiskanu Dispensary, and though not cannabis- Humboldt Soup Company sponsored a few meals while I was there.
All of these businesses, so gracious, so warm, so welcoming- opened their doors to us, fed us food from their kitchens, and gave us some of their beautiful cannabis- which doesn't get enough credit.
Owners of Barrett Farms, Photo by Vee Castillo
You see, the emerald triangle is home of the sungrown, home of greenhouse grows, home of some of the best cannabis one will ever consume.
It has all to do with their passion, the sun, and the magic of the soil, all coming together to grow us real cannabis. Many people know, many people don’t: indoor cultivation is a practice which attempts to mimic outdoor conditions. So while indoor is pretty and gets all the glory, sungrown is usually referred to as “ugly, dusty, burnt, and other disrespectful names. But, nothing grown from the soil with the help of the sun can beugly.
Sunbolt Grown @sunboldtgrown
A dry farm in southern Humboldt county. Sunshine Johnston is the owner and amazing cultivator of this company. She grows cannabis outdoors, with no water. The soil in Humboldt county is so magical, that cannabis can grow, thrive, and produce dank buds, with nowater.
This was a first for me for sure and I was so in awe at the pure passion and boss energy that radiates from Sunshine.
Sweetleaf Compassion @sweetleafjoe
Is a donation based charity organization that has been helping patients get their cannabis medicine since 1996.
The organization has been providing free medical cannabis to HIV/AIDS and Cancer patients in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, and throughout California.
Joe Airone, the founder and director, is filled with passion and goals for this community of people that can benefit greatly from medicinal cannabis.
Barrett Farms & 8-Mile Family Farms - @barrettfarms @8milefamilyfarms
Grow some of the dankest cannabis I have ever consumed! Trichome covered, thick dense nugs, raging terpenes, beautiful shades of green, cultivators full of passion; everything consumed was magical!
OG Kush from 8-Mile Family Farms and Kush Mints from Barrett Farms were so good to me and better than a lot of the indoor cannabis I consume.
Barrett Farms is a 95% solar farm that grows cannabis in living soil, and 8-Mile Family Farms is close to the Mad River, and sits on very green mountain, and just when you think you’ve made it to the top, there is another level to reach- to the point that it feels like clouds are floating just above the head.
Passion has a lot to do with the beauty of cannabis. They talked about the plant with so much honor and respect.
Owners of 8 Mile Family Farms, Photo by Vee Castillo
They talked about their struggles as small craft farmers in the new age of legalization.
They discussed everything they love- with a huge focus on the love of growing medicine for people, and everything that creates hardship- with a huge focus on multi-agency regulations and taxes.
True Humboldt @truehumboldt
was born from passion and Sequoyah is the fuel; this company offers sungrown cannabis, with the intention of preserving the heritage of Humboldt county.
Owned and operated by farmers, this company exists for farmers and for the ecoconscious cannabis connoisseur.
The story behind the launch was so inspiring and hearing Sequoyah tell it was so moving.
Papa and Barkley Social @papaandbarkley
Is such a vibe.
This is a cannabis brand, with its owndispensary, offering massage therapy, and an outside lounge area that allows cannabis consumption on site. There’s even a food truck onsite!
It was also great visiting
Herb & Market @herbandmarket
A woman owned dispensary in Arcata, CA- which is in Humboldt county. They hosted a Solstice celebration where I met so many members of the community, and they gifted huge bags loaded with local products.
I enjoyed visiting and touring
Kiskanu Dispensary @kiskanu
A flagship retail cannabis store, located in Eureka, CA .
They are family owned and womxn operated. It has the cutest set up, and offers THC and CBD products. Many of them, grown and made by KiskanuFarms.
Kiskanu gifted us some of their sungrown cannabis and my goodness- of course it was magical- it's grown by passion, and in magical soil.
Booney Acres Cannabis & Arcana Flowers, Photo by Vee
The Journey Through, and Tour of: Trinity County
The journey from Humboldt County to Trinity County was amazing. Picture roads that hug the mountains, creeks, and rivers down below, deep green and very dense nature all around, and of course, the excitement of knowing that the journey leads to...
Booney Acres @booney_acres
Before arriving, we made a stop at the Trinity River to take a dip. The temperature change is felt leaving the coastal side of the Emerald Triangle; it got a little warm so, this stop was definitely refreshing.
But it was more than that, it was spiritual. There is so much indigenous/ first people history tied to that river, in that area that we visited, that Lele educated us on. Like the Wiyot (indigenous/native people), being the original inhabitants along the river, before white settlers arrived.
The water looked and felt magical; there was needed stillness, and the sounds of the flowing water flowing- magical! We arrived at Booney Acres, a 600+acre oasis, built and occupied by homesteaders; where they keep it simple but there is nothing simple about the cannabis they grow.
I have never tasted cannabis like this- ever. Let me just say that sun-grown cannabis gets all frowns but MY GOODNESS- this must STOP. Booney Acres is growing magic! Sungrown- Terpy- Frosty- Tasty- Dank- AMAZING! Their Strawberry Jelly and Kombucha took my breath away!
The energy on the land was so healing; medicinal plants everywhere! This oasis has 7creeks, a pond, chickens, goats, pigs, and so much peace. I have never visited a place so magical, sowelcoming, so nurturing.
The lead cultivator was so passionate, and not just about cannabis, but about the sacred land that the farm sits on. His passion beamed from his pores and stars could be seen in his eyes when he talked about the plants: their beauty, theirstrength, their ability to heal.
In the same county, on the other side of the massive mountains, is
Sol Spirit Farm/ Sol Spirit Retreats. @solspiritfarm
This husband and wife team was something like a breath of fresh air; the farm and retreat offering one of the dopest glampingexperiences, was amazing!
The land that the farm and retreat sits on, is steps from the Trinity River-South Fork, where we spent a few hours dipping in and out of the river. Onsite, there is a pavilion made for kickbacks, socializing, and enjoying meals and sesh’s. We enjoyed a delicious vegan meal for dinner under that pavilion, with a group of people in various parts of the cannabis industry.
At that dinner, I met Aloha Humboldt, and Emerald Queen Farms. After that dinner, we were given an assortment of amazing cannabis grown by Sol Spirit Farms, in their beautiful greenhouses, that sit on the farm side of the property, behind the retreat area. They grow such fire- and with passion. That night, I showered in one of their fully functioning, outdoor bathrooms; equipped with a shower, sink, toilet, and fullprivacy.
I slept in a beautiful yurt, decorated with such class that one can forget they are in a yurt, in a bed that was raised off of the ground. It was beautiful to sleep like that under the stars in such a magical place.
Sol Spirit Farm cares so much about mother earth, they care so much about what they do and how it impacts the land, the soil. They care so much about what they give to the plant, because they are also giving to earth, and also giving toyou.
The JourneyThrough, and Tour of: Mendocino County
The journey to Mendocino County felt like we were driving towards “the city”. Mendocino sits at the bottom of the triangle, the county seat is in Ukiah, and this county is the closest to cities/metro areas like: Fort Bragg, Santa Rosa, andNapa. In Mendocino County, we visited Mendocino Generations, a strong alliance of sun grown, heritage cannabis farmers from all corners of Mendocino County.
Mendocino Generations @mendocinogenerations
We toured the
Arcanna Flowers @arcanna_flowers
farm, off-grid farming; grown with: integrity, love for the planet, soil, and the people. What a place, much closer to everything yet still felt like we were far away from everything.
I loved it here! There is family, history, passion, and peace throughout this place.
They were so welcoming,warm, and humble.
They showed us around the property and of course, thegirls. Sungrown of course, and dancing in the sunshine, the plants were just as happy to see us. We were given some of their amazing cannabis flower: Jedi Nights, Lemon Fire, and True Ryder. They were all so amazing, sodense, and terpy as heck!
Final Words
My Journey to the Emerald Triangle
was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. I didn’t experience hate, violence, or threats. I wasn’t scared, in fact, the entire vibration was one of welcome, and the energy that wrapped around me was one of safety. My experience of the Emerald Triangle was nothing like Murder Mountain described the area to be. I experienced so much community, so much support, which I should be fair in mentioning, Murder Mountain did capture a little of that.
These farmers/cultivators, homesteaders, and flower people were in such support of one another. I remember being asked “where tonext?”, and when I’d answer, the response being: “oh yeah I know them, those are some good folks, doing goodthings.”
One can even go through the comments of my social media posts and see cannabis businesses/farmers/cultivato rs, comment in support of one another. This is the story, the heartbeat, the pulse of the Emerald Triangle that wasn’t captured by Netflix on Murder Mountain.
Of course, the story captured was attached to someone's life and his story mattered, however, the image they painted of an area/ region based on one story, was horrible. Our mecca deserves nothing less than grace and gratitude when being talkedabout.
