About our Claims
A Study of Bloom Times
When last Ed and I were together (September 2010) he stated that I possibly picked too early and that I should try a case study on longer bloom periods prior to harvest. I promised I would do this and did. It was my intention to make an honest assessment of what we are doing, as is a continual part of improving our program. We ran 2 separate tests; one test for a comparison of ours harvested at normal periods and late periods, one test for a comparison of ours verses others. Here are the results. We also have had time to back this by popular opinion with several of our contract producers, clubs and the patients who ultimately make the difference. We understand your results may vary.
Test of Time and the Patient
I selected a Sugar Plum, Oregon Pinot Noir, and Pit Bull to use for this controlled test. These are strains we and our patients are very familiar with. At week five in the bloom cycle all other plants were harvested except these. The selected plants were bloomed for an additional 3 weeks for a total of 8 weeks. The hairs at this time were totally curled over and the buds had a much thicker and darker texture. The crystals never turned amber, however did turn a bit milky. Additional portions of the plants were let go for another week, for a full 9 weeks. It was evident that the plant had finished any growing and was beginning to go into a decomposition state at this stage.
Results
Production on these plants showed to be up to an additional 1% of product, however in our end results the gain in product was not worth the loss in quality or type of medicine that is usually produced.
We grow medicine for our patients and they are the ones we count on to tell us our results. This is the biggest factor in our testing, assuring we are producing high quality medicine that is extremely effective through organic methods. We selected 12 patients whom were familiar with our medicine including taste, texture and affect. All of these patients were given samples marked with the strain name as we usually do. None were told they had been grown longer. This was a blind test for maturity.
Without exception all our patients immediately complained to us about the test product. Regardless of strain, every patient without exception told us on contact that the product was not the same. The complaints start with a huge change in the effect of the medicine from targeting a particular condition to just being a couch lock. The flavors went from refreshing, fruity and tropical to heavy and earthy, with less than characteristic notes. The once happy, upper, alert, pain relief was now sleepy, couchy and heavy with lagging side effects such as the hangover feeling and scratchy throat.
The results coincide with what we are teaching. The stage at which you harvest dictates the chemistry delivered to your end product. We like to harvest at the peak fruitation point of flowering. See our When is it time to harvest. We grow strict organic methods. We have created fast flowering genetics acclimated for North America in which cold does not slow growth. Our strains are unlike any other in the market for taste. They are consistent, bold, aggressive, tasty varieties that stand in a class of their own. We proudly stand behind our work and feel that we are offering new options to the fast evolving mmj industry.
Setting Standards
Our focus from the beginning has always been on our needs. This is a common approach to inventions. In our case we are un-inventing a lot of unnecessary stuff by providing simple solutions that have worked for us. There are many good methods of growing however we show you ours. We prefer the KISS method as patients need an easy way to be a successful farmer. We believe the next revolution of growing will be the simplistic approach.
Quality and setting standards is another goal of Stoney Girl. We have in place a verification system to assure the consumer that they have our genetics. In this day and age we see a lot of dishonest things going on. It is hard for the farmer to know that he has an authentic cutting of anything. We hear of our supposedly genetic cuttings going for over five hundred dollars in some places. These are not our genetics and we would never stand for that kind of business. We provide not only assurance of genetics but also assurance of quality of meds from farmers to consumer. Farmers who join our licensing program supply organic medicine at its finest. There is a huge growing demand for this type of quantified, qualified medicine.
All of our photos that are published are plants that are within the 5 week bloom range, most within 4. As you know they are photogenic at this stage, which is unlike other strains at the same stage. We do grow many strains always checking what is out there and always sorely disappointed. The latest test is the Chem Dog which is currently very popular here in the North West. See our Comparison below for more information.
How do we get the speed?
There are many reasons we can do a 9 week cycle; genetics, methods, environment, dirt and ferts, and practices. The following is an explanation of these elements.
Genetics
We do not use rudaralis or other auto bloom genetics. All our genetics start at a land race or a known base history level. We do not resource seeds from or to the commercial market. Our flagship for speed is the Berkeley, which has an origin in South American high mountains near the South Pole. This amazing plant bloom in as little as 28 days as there is a short season in the land of origin. Although fast this plant is highly medicinal and produces an abundance of crystals.
Our plants are acclimated for the North West, not Afghanistan. This means that our girls grow just fine right here in the US, in cooler temperatures. Our garden runs best at around 58 degrees. This is perfect temps for controlling mites and other environmental issues.
Can we improve genetics? Absolutely! American farmers have been doing this for years. For anyone to think different would be just plain ignorant. American agriculture has been improving crops such as corn, wheat, and every other commodity for centuries as has been shown by George Frisvold in his study Who Gains from Genetic Improvements in US Crops[1]. I recommend every developing farmer read this study. You may find a copy of this on our web site.
I guess we'll just have to wait to see your results. Already looking forward to it! Are your Stoney Girl seeds going in your DWC or organic garden?
. I'll be creepin...
