Alexis Burnett - Homegrown Cannabis: A Beginners Guide to Cultivating Organic Cannabis

Cannabis is one of the oldest known cultivated plants. Physical evidence of its use dates back approximately twelve thousand years. Cannabis is thought to have originated in central Asia, and humans have brought it to places around the world. It has worked its way into many different cultures and the lives of many people, used for everything from food, medicine, and building materials to spiritual rituals. For most of its history with humans, this plant has been revered, respected, and used without stigmas, skepticism, and stereotypes. In the last hundred years, however, things began to change. We moved into the dark days of prohibition, and this plant, at least in the West, and the people who used and relied on it had to go underground.

As we move into the world of legalization, we enter a time where many are being reintroduced to cannabis. As the laws change from state to state and country to country (with Canada being just the second country, after Uruguay, to fully legalize cannabis), more people can grow and use this plant without fear of being prosecuted.

When I was first introduced to cannabis cultivation, this plant instantly enthralled and enchanted me. I knew right away that I would work with cannabis for many years to come. Ive grown cannabis every season since that initial interaction, both indoors and outdoors. Through these growing seasons, I have seen it help hundreds of people. Although it was illegal to grow it at the time, I was willing to take this risk in order to better understand this master plant and all that it has to offer. I was interested in how to grow cannabis in a way that showcased its medicinal qualities, produced the cleanest medicine, and left the soil, the earth, and all of nature stronger and more vital as a result. There were many successes as well as many failures. I absorbed important lessons over all of these years. My understanding of this plant and how to cultivate it to its optimum potential has grown with each passing season. The times are changing, and as I reflect on the many experiences of the past, I also look forward to a brighter future where more people can grow and work with the cannabis plant.

I am proud that my hands can nurture this healing plant to produce bountiful, cannabinoid- and terpene-rich flowers that can change the lives of those they touch. Ive had a passion for sharing my experiences growing this plant with others for many years, and with cannabis now legal in Canada, I have begun to teach a number of courses on growing, medicine making, and the history of this fascinating plant, both online and in person. Ive outlined much of the information in this book and hope that you will take this knowledge and share it far and wide as we all learn to grow, care for, and work with this important healing plant.

Why grow cannabis? Well, if it is now legal to cultivate this plant where you live, why not? By growing cannabis yourself, you can be sure that your plant has been grown without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers. It will also save you money. Buying cannabis from a dispensary or another government-regulated store can be expensive, but it can be grown outdoors, under the sun, using organic and regenerative principles (see page ix), harvested at the optimal time, and cured to perfection for just pennies a gram. Plus, cannabis is such a stunning and spectacular plant that it will add grace and beauty to any garden.

With laws on using and cultivating cannabis changing, there has never been a better time to learn to grow this plant at home and in your backyard gardens, especially if you are a medical cannabis user. If you grow cannabis at home, you can choose the cultivars that best suit your condition and produce the effect that you are looking for. Your homegrown cannabis has the potential to be far superior to anything you could buy, and you can be sure that it has been grown with love and care and in a way that is respectful and in balance with the natural world.

So, grow your own cannabis, be proud, and take your health and enjoyment into your own hands. Your experiences with homegrown cannabis will allow you to develop a relationship with this plant, one that will last a lifetime. And you will enjoy the feeling of empowerment that comes with a successful harvest.

This book is for the beginner to intermediate grower and has been written with a focus on organic and regenerative growing practices. I have designed this book to guide you through the growing process from seed to harvest and to show you how you can grow your own top-quality cannabis at home step-by-step.

Although I will cover the basics of setting up an indoor growing space and share tips for indoor growing throughout the book, this book will focus mostly on growing your plants outdoors under the sunwhat we in the cannabis community affectionately call sun-grown. I will show you ways to grow cannabis outdoors, whether you live in an apartment building in a major city and grow your plants in pots on your balcony or in a rural environment with space for large beds. I have outlined a strategy to achieve results that you can be proud of and supply you with clean, organic cannabis.