There is one aspect of my job that I love beyond measure is that it gives me the opportunity to meet truly passionate individuals and groups, and let me underline a crucial point here, passionate entrepreneurs are often reasonable and progressive. These are actually three main traits that characterize successful entrepreneurs. The type of entrepreneurs that I have been meeting in the last three years shares this in common: they are very attune with their environment and the impact they have on the economy, society and environment, at any level. They are progressive, triple bottom line focused, social and environmental entrepreneurs, and one thing they will not compromise on is their values and code of ethics. I have discovered over this weekend this applies to organic medical marijuana outdoor growers as well.

Since the beginning of the year, I have been working with a company that is introducing a blend of naturally occurring bacterial enzymes that colonizes the rhizosphere of a plant acting both as a protective shield and intake regulator. Our first focus has been on organic farmers until someone got a hold of our product and tried it on medical marijuana and got the same amazing results organic farmers growing broccoli, mache or grapes have had: better consistency, higher yield, healthier plants, less water intensive (…). When a friend of mine told me about a group of organic medical marijuana growers in Mendocino county, I decided to head up there and meet the people who have been praised or vilified (depending on your understanding and view of the whole pot thing) for growing a plant labeled as an illegal substance by our Federal government but legal by our state if used for medical purposes, and who performed better in the last Californian elections than Republican candidates. I had absolutely no idea what to expect as I have more often heard people pointing to the unsustainability of a marijuana operation than praising its environmental and economic contribution. This weekend was the Emerald Cup, which celebrates the end of the marijuana harvest, much like any other county agricultural fair, said Tim Blake, the event’s host.

I have met as true as you can find organic farmers running local and family owned businesses engaged in conversation about improving soil fertility and water conservation, remediating clocked pipes, breeding species to increase the therapeutic effects of cannabis (look for the CBD project) or fighting this unusual and erratic caterpillar never seen before in these mountains without chemical pesticides. I have met “old timers” concerned with the possible layoff of seven sheriff deputies in a county badly hit by the recession, raising safety concerns since Mexican cartels started running illegal operations in the Redwoods. I have met community leaders sharing ideas to improve the economic output of the county. If it was not for the controversial weed they make their living on – which contributes for over half of the economy of the Emerald Triangle, any sustainability expert would look at them as … sustainability experts.

Their relationship with the county sheriff’s office is one that would inspire many environmental, social or human rights activists looking to bridge the gap between two enemies. A few weeks ago, Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman agreed to seven layoffs in his department, down from the 14 proposed by Mendocino CEO Carmel Angelo. Not so fast said Tim Blake, a medical marijuana patient and caregiver, also the host of the event and medical marijuana farmer. In an unusual turn of event – although Tim had been working on closing the gap between the Sheriff and the legal operations of the county – leaders of the medical marijuana cooperative, John McCowen Mendocino County Supervisor and the Sheriff’s office worked on issuing permits that allows farmers to grow 99 medical marijuana plants per parcel. “The permits avoid wasted law enforcement time on legal pot gardens, ensure that the gardens are not causing environmental problems and give the growers a measure of security from local authorities. The permits could add about $900,000 to the county ailing coffers”, John McCowen said. It could eventually save the jobs of the seven Sheriff deputies.

Finding outlets for their products has been difficult as like many organic farmers. Most dispensaries are in for the money. As a result the profession suffers from conventional growers and illegal operations that grow cannabis indoors or outdoors using chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and that focus on artificially increasing the potency of their crop, bringing the price per pound down and leaving a bigger carbon footprint. In dear needs of recognition and promoting their label, the Emerald Cup is the first step towards taking the market back says Tim Blake. Next is to promote their own label like “Mendo Farms Collective” and to demonstrate the healing effects of CBD in organically grown marijuana. With such a charismatic, visionary and well-intentioned leader, the tide is turning for these organic farmers who deserve to be praised for their contribution to the green movement (no joke intended). And if everything goes as planned, Tim might write a new song “I saved a sheriff.”

More here:
Area 101 … how to get there: About 30 miles North of Willits on 101.

http://theemeraldcup.com/

http://www.area101.org/

Press Democrat

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20101211/articles/101219902

Rolling Stone Magazine

http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/8813/52356

Cannabis Post

http://cannabispost.wordpress.com/2010/06/30/tim-blake-of-area-101/

And an account of the event by Jack Rikess

http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2010/12/inside_the_emerald_cup_americas_oldest_cannabis_co.php

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