Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/599676
f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 5 | 7 3 in a county that is over 70% privately owned, preservation of the land is of personal importance to the citizens of California's Humboldt County. If you've attempted to buy property in the lus- cious hills of So-Hum (South Humboldt), you've probably hit a roadblock. It's invitation-only in this tight-knit community of third and fourth generation farmers, who seek to preserve the essence of their culture around sustainable cannabis cultivation. There are an estimated 10,000 small cannabis farms in this region according to the Humboldt County Sheriff. Statewide, that figure is estimated at approximately 55,000 small farms, primarily concentrated in the Emerald Triangle (Humboldt, Mendocino, and Trinity Counties) with upwards of $12B in cannabis product leaving the region annually—largely untaxed, according to Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom. The exact production figures are unknown due to a lack of regulatory oversight of cannabis cultivation in California, an issue that poses many risks to the environment, economy, and public safety. With cannabis reform underway in California, policy initiatives seek to protect the environment, protect the small farmer, and encourage the illicit market to transition into a legal framework, whereby existing businesses can be regulated, taxed, and afforded the protections that legitimate business should have. Imagine owning a vineyard without crop insurance, transporting your product with the risk of being arrested, or operating your business on an all cash basis without access to a bank account. Today, these are the realities cannabis farmers face, forcing them off the grid and into the underground economy. They refer to themselves as outlaws, living outside of the law because the law is antiquated. To many of these farmers, cannabis is one of the many crops they cultivate—one that happens to have vast medicinal properties, recreational applications, and a lucrative price point. Seemingly regular folks, farmers from the Emerald Triangle are some of the most industrious and resourceful people you will ever meet. Off-the-grid farmers use solar-powered rainwater catchment systems to preserve the watershed and limit the carbon footprint of their farms. Organic gardeners strive for self-sustaining permaculture systems. Varietal cultivators master each terroir with detailed attention to microclimates, genetics, and tailored growing techniques. We embark on a private tour through the Emerald Triangle, guided by the pioneers of this next great American industry. (left to right) Nat Buttrick (Madrone California Collective), Kerry Reynolds (Cannabis Consciousness), Kevin Jodrey (Wonderland Nursery), and Mac Briggs (Off The Grid and Northern Nights), at Wonderland Nursery in Garberville, CA.