@fraying TIL! Thanks!
Second question: why do you grow outside instead of in a more controlled environment?
@evan oh I love growing outside. Plants are bigger, more productive, and the natural environment causes the plants to produce more terpenes, which is what you smell/taste in the final product. I think of what I grow like wine - the environment creates terroir.
Indoor growing is harder, more expensive, and produces a lesser product (imho). Plus I just find it less fun.
@evan That said, I’ve grown inside too and it has its charms. It’s a much more analytical kind of growing. Lots of numbers to track. Basically, you’re in charge of everything: light, temp, humidity. You’re playing god.
Growing outside is more improvisational. A lot of chaos to ride, which is challenging, but fun.
@fraying isn't there a much higher chance of losing the crop? Can you get crop insurance?
@evan Yup. Sudden weather can have terrible consequences - especially a hard rain near harvest. It’s happened! We’ve always gotten through it somehow.
I can get crop insurance now, but it’s calculated per acre and not worth it for the kind of small acerage intensive farming I do.
@evan one year the goats somehow managed to open a gate (I still don’t know how) and got into the hemp rows and ate about 30 plants in a few minutes. It was a disaster.
Luckily it was early in the season and some friends at another farm helped me out by giving me some starts. Those plants were about 2 weeks behind, so they were smaller, but it saved my butt.
@fraying but, OK, it's really good to hear. I guess it is a tradeoff, as with all things. Thanks for answering my questions!
@evan thanks for asking them! I love talking about this stuff.