Sun Grown Weed: What’s the Deal with Growing Cannabis Outdoors?
At Chalice, we believe all cannabis, whether indoor or sun grown, can lead to incredible cannabis. But as cannabis continues to expand and history continues to be written, we figured we'd get into exactly what makes sun grown weed cultivation different than indoor harvests. And while we were on the topic, we figured we could highlight some of the farms we work with today that are sun-grown and share how their farming practices, often regenerative agricultural practices, combined with their farm's location and soil, climate, sunlight, and moisture, influence the taste, structure, and overall effect of the cannabis they produce. Ready? We thought so.
Oregon's Cannabis History
Today, we are in a new era of cannabis. The history of our industry is continuously being written and rewritten every single day. After 100 years of prohibition and years of unregulated cannabis usage, the industry is inching closer and closer to the end of national prohibition. Oregon has played a significant role in cannabis' legal history in the United States. In 1973, Oregon was the first individual state to begin to liberalize cannabis laws through decriminalization. In 1998, Oregon, joined by Alaska and Washington, legalized medical cannabis. And in 2014, Oregon made cannabis fully legal for recreational use.
The Future of Growing Cannabis Outdoors
In this new era of cannabis, consumers are becoming more educated on cannabis, and, as such, the cannabis industry is starting to follow in the wine industry's footsteps. Namely, the concept of terroir and the importance of terroir are beginning to be discussed. If you drink wine regularly, you may be familiar with the term' terroir.' Terroir refers to a region's environmental factors that combine to give a plant its distinct characteristics. For example, sparkling wine is only champagne when produced from grapes grown in the Champagne region. Could our industry be inching closer to creating the 'champagne' of cannabis?
Cannabis Harvest and Regenerative Agriculture
A practice used in outdoor cultivation, "Regenerative Agriculture" refers to farming and grazing methods that, along with other advantages, reverse climate change by rebuilding soil organic material and restoring degraded soil biodiversity – resulting in both carbon drawdown and enhancing the water cycle.
Okay, but are there advantages to indoor cultivation?
Although sun-grown weed has its advantages, indoor cannabis cultivation has its own perks as well. Indoor growers enjoy the control they have both over the climate and plants. Techniques like adjusting the temperature can modify the color, taste, and smell of the cannabis plant. This process is identified as stressing it. Of course, altering and adjusting the temperature isn't possible for outdoor cultivation. Still, sun-grown cannabis is packed with flavor, intensely potent, and grown utilizing the best cultivation tool we have available: the sun. All of this to say, regardless of the method, both indoor and outdoor cannabis cultivation have their pros and cons.
Sun Grown Weed Cultivators at Chalice
East Fork Cultivars:
Located in the small town of Takilma and nestled between the East Fork's pristine waters of Southwest Oregon's Illinois River and California's Siskiyou Wilderness is East Fork Cultivars farm. Here they work on thirty-three acres, growing their USDA Organic Certified hemp and Sun+Earth Certified adult-use cannabis. By caring for their farm's soil, water, air, and surrounding ecology, East Fork strives to create a balanced and healthy ecosystem. Meshing together ancient practices with modern sustainable agriculture, they grow craft cannabis while positively impacting the environment. Oregon's Illinois River Valley's soil, combined with its unique, sustainable farming practices, ultimately gives East Fork's cannabis distinct qualities.
54 Green Acres:
Located in Southern Oregon, the sun shines brightly on 54 Green Acres with fresh water from the mountain creek that flows for an entire half-mile through the farm. The market leader in organically grown cannabis high in THC and terpenes, 54 Green Acres' bud is sun-grown from their greenhouses and gardens' genetics. Using regenerative farming practices that are strictly organic, 54 Green Acres is Certified Kind and tested for OLCC compliance. They raise their crops and animals using organic methods: fresh spring water, a clear sky, and bright natural sunlight. No pesticides or additives, only natural and organic nutrients, and fertilizer, are used in the soil or sprayed on the crops.
Green Source Gardens:
From the beginning of their farm, Green Source Gardens has remained faithful to its mission and passion for managing land, focusing on ecosystem health and well-being for all life. They consider themselves "stewards of the soil," nourishing the entire ecosystem to ensure the diverse inhabitants' vitality and rehabilitating the land in the process.
On an 80-acre farm in Southern Oregon, Green Source Gardens uses regenerative farming practices and is all about sustainability when cultivating their cannabis plants. They are free of pesticides; the only thing sprayed on their plants is water from the spring that sits on the property. They work symbiotically with nature, ensuring the best, most complicated, and diverse potential cannabis has to offer.
Phoenix Rising:
An award-winning sun-grown cannabis farm in Southern Oregon, Phoenix Rising farm uses regenerative farming and permaculture practices to make some of the best craft cannabis Oregon has to offer. Family-run, Phoenix Rising has almost thirty years of experience farming cannabis. With a focus on growing quality, high-grade flower, and connoisseur strains, they can thrive while making as little impact on the environment as possible. Clean Certified, Phoenix Rising farmers only uses composts, like home-brewed compost tea, on their flower.
Alter Farms:
Located near Rogue River and Grants Pass in Southern Oregon, Alter Farms is the epitome of a farm that cares about its flower quality. A regenerative, living soil cannabis farm with a telling motto: "sun, water, and soil," Alter Farms strives to leave their land healthier than when they found it and decrease their carbon footprint as much as possible. With rich soil, healthy forests, and fresh mountain water, the environmental conditions combined with sustainable farming practices produce some of the purest cannabis with the highest potency.
Rogue River:
A family-run farm, Rogue River Family Farm remains on the cutting edge of sun-grown cannabis, continually optimizing and innovating their farm to produce the most outstanding quality cannabis possible. Their plants are fed by the surrounding mountain's streams and have direct access to sunlight. Using sustainable and organic practices, Rogue River is a Certified Kind farm.