Founding Member Challenges | Week 4

[marc_seedsman]

A big thank you to everyone who took the time to share their “Biggest Challenge to Date”

It’s been great to see so many honest experiences, and it’s clear that a lot of us can relate to many of the challenges shared. Whether you’ve already overcome them or are still figuring things out, every post helps others learn and grow too.

We really appreciate everyone contributing and supporting each other in the journey

Week 4 Founding Member Activities - Share your story.

Challenge 1: Post your Grower Story

Create a new Thread/Topic here (not under this post) with your story. The below questions will help prompt some answers to write down. Don’t worry about your story needing to be written like a copywriter, we’d just love to hear your background and experiences.

What We’re Creating

A series of real stories from growers about how cultivation fits into their lives and what it gives them beyond the plants themselves.

We are not looking for technical grow advice — just your personal experience and reflections.

Questions to Guide You with your story

Try to answer as many of these as you can — they’re prompts to help shape your story.

1. Your Starting Point

• When did you first start cultivating at home?

• What was happening in your life at that time?

• What drew you to it?

2. Your Experience

• How does cultivation fit into your routine (morning, evening, weekends)?

• What does that time mean to you?

• How does it make you feel?

3. What It’s Given You

• Has growing changed anything about your mindset or habits?

• Has it helped with stress, patience, creativity, or focus?

• What have you learned about yourself through cultivation?

4. Choosing Seeds

• What matters to you when selecting seeds?

• Why did you choose Seedsman?

• How does having reliable genetics influence your experience?

5. Reflection

• In what way has cultivation enriched your life?

• What would you say to someone considering starting their own journey?

6. Share some photos of you on your journey.

Go ahead and create your topic, but beforehand watch this how to video for how to add some styling to your posts (if you want to): Styling Instructions

[KevinandMitch]

My story is pretty straight forward, I hate weed, like with a passion. Can’t stand the smell, the smoke, all of it. Kids were punished for smoking it, you name it, I was that parent. At some point my youngest child’s psychiatrist said, off the record, that she didn’t think it was bad for my child to use it (teenager) that it probably helped with her anxiety, depression, bipolar etc. The new rule became not at the house. I had always been an avid gardener, I grow almost all of my own food. Vermont makes somethings a bit tough to bulk up on. My kids are all now adults, the one still heavily self medicates along with all of their medications with weed. You can grow a certain amount as a backyard grower in VT. A friend mentioned how much they were making by just growing and wholesaling. With our property taxes doubling, inflation and what not, I though why not? I am a gardener. I found Seedsman, it wasn’t who was recommended to me, but I liked the website, the about us. I picked auto feminized so I didn’t have to cull males, or basically do anything. I picked the strain with the highest THC content. I grew it just like my tomatoes. They took off, I learned real fast about caterpillars and mildew. I lost a lot of product to them. BUT I learned. I grew just over 3 lbs in the end, learned about drying, trimming, jarring, moisture packets, burping bottles, etc. I didn’t feel I had enough to sell to the wholesaler. But I gave out some great gifts ;-p I also could provide my child and some friends with excellent homemade organic product. This year I selected the same seeds, but now know I can get to grow two cycles increasing my yield. I then found another strain that specifically focus on mental health. I ordered that too. And then came the free seeds. I am doubling my ground garden to grow more. I grow hubbard squash, watermelon, winter squashes, in between all the weed, I have mammoth sunflowers and corn that grows around it, hiding my goal, it’s a happy little family. My kids laugh that I grow weed, I remind them I am still just the gardener. I still hate the smell of the plant. May this season be a better cash crop. I want a nice green house, LOL.

[Growandgrind216]

Thank you for sharing

[Riz]

Started cultivating abouy 2 years ago currently a full time homegrower. Started due to a need for a hobby that I can find interest in been a smoker for as long as I can remember and initially was gonna grow shrooms… did not happen rather fell in love with home growing as being fed up of quality weed available at the cost. Luckily I won a Seedsman comp got a lot of seeds which eventually pushed me to invest in a grow setup and started of this journey

Another main reason has working in the corporate industry and that toxic environment just had at my end for a while. My amazing partner and love of my life support me to invest full time in growing and to find myself.

It’s been stressful not having a lot of connection but building and getting where I am now was a challenge that I am enjoying and down for the growth I have gained.

I am currently at home so I be spending all my free time checking on them babies growing never knew my thumbs were this green. I have learned a lot of patience and am learning so much about me and the plant through this journey.

That just a Lil som about me happy to be part of the community. Still new to this and looking forward to this adventure

[Stemsnapper617]

Started in the yard- failed

Grow in the cabinet- failed

Grow in a shed - did ok

Shed with a tent and environmental control.
SUCCESS!!!

Get that fresh air!

[Stemsnapper617]

Also this has been a 30 year endeavor

[freebird919]

Did 28 yrs in L.E. in the ADK’S near you. Now with debilitating R.A. Long time veg & flower grower (pro landscaper) and decades of compost/vermicompost. Love your story. I’m so concerned about the pests, mold and etc. you experienced. Any pointers from your experience for help please?

[Davidvowels]

**I first started cultivating cannabis at home when I go out of the Marine Corps back in 2013. at that time of my life I was suffering from combat PTSD. From the war in Afghanistan in 2010. I didn’t feel like I had much purpose to anything and not very much interested or Excited me.when I started growing marijuana I felt like I had purpose again. I loved everything about it. The thing that drew me to it, the most was the fact that I could create my own medicine which helped with my conditions. Cultivation fits in to my every day life.it is the first thing I do when I get up and the last thing I do before I go to bed. Cultivating cannabis. Makes me feel like I have purpose and that I’m able to create something good. Cultivating cannabis has changed my mindset from day one I’ve learned a lot about the plant and have created plenty mistakes and learned that there’s always room for improvement. Growing cannabis has gave me plenty of patience because every grow is different what I’ve learned about myself through cultivation is that things can go wrong and they usually can be fixed or corrected it so nothing is as bad as it seems. What matters most to me when picking seeds is good, potent genetics. The reason I choose seed men is cause I can count on them to give me quality seeds and an affordable price and get plenty of freebies, which makes it even more worth it. Having reliable genetics from seed man makes the journey more reassuring for a good harvest on harvest day. Cultivating cannabis has gave me purpose and joy in life. My advice to new growers who’s just starting the journey or thinking about starting the journey of growing cannabis. I would say always do your research and always keep an open mind because there’s always something to learn. Here are some pictures of my grows, but my most recent pictures were lost because my phone was destroyed.

[Phoenix]

Nice I am a veteran to i just started micro dosing mushrooms for my PTS and depression and it better than any medication the VA gave me. Let’s talk some time brother. God Bless

[Davidvowels]

OK, thank you

[tom_seedsman]

Thanks so much for sharing. We d love photos if you able to share - cannabis and other plants/crops. Best Tom

[Kaw900r]

Some pics frommy last harvest a couple months ago

[Smokeout81]

Hey hey…lil late but I got into growing for medical reasons and hunting it down for mids if that …been smoking since 14-15 lol I been around it my entire life since born but it does so much good for everyone and it calms my mind just being in my tent. It’s better than any other stuff or prescription bs they throw u on….but yeah it’s made everything better and it leads to places like this and meet grow homies and homietts lol always good to have grow buddy’s. I will say if in non legal state just be careful n zip ya lips and have fun. Ohh been doin my thang 4/5 yrs if not 6ish. In coco/perlite.

[Whiteybulger652]

I first started cultivating at home fairly recently. Even though it feels new in practice, it’s something I’ve been interested in and around for most of my life. I’ve been a fan for about 25 years, so it was never really unfamiliar territory—just something I hadn’t personally taken the step into until now.

At the time I started, life felt like it was in a steady but reflective place. I’ve got more responsibility now, more awareness of health, stress, and how I spend my time. It wasn’t a sudden decision so much as something that had been building in the background for years. I think what really pushed me was wanting to understand the process myself instead of just being on the outside of it.

What drew me to it was a mix of curiosity and appreciation. There’s something about taking a hands-on approach to something I’ve respected for so long. It’s not just about the end result—it’s the patience, the attention, and the routine of it. It gave me a sense of connection to something I’d only ever experienced passively before.

In terms of routine, it naturally fits around mornings and evenings. I’ll check in at the start of the day and again when things slow down at night. It’s not something that dominates my schedule, but it’s become a consistent part of it. That time feels grounding—almost like a reset. It pulls me out of whatever stress or noise is going on and brings me into something more simple and present.

How it makes me feel has honestly been one of the biggest surprises. It’s calming in a way I didn’t fully expect. There’s a patience to it that you can’t rush, and that alone changes how you approach your day. It’s also made me more observant and a little more disciplined without feeling forced.

It has definitely shifted my mindset. I’m more patient in general, more aware that good things take time, and less focused on instant results. It’s also helped with stress—not in a dramatic way, but in a steady, grounding way. I find myself thinking more clearly and reacting less quickly in other parts of life. I’ve learned that I actually enjoy routine and responsibility more than I thought I would when it’s tied to something I care about.

When it comes to choosing seeds, what matters most to me is consistency and trust. I want to know that what I’m starting with is stable and reliable, especially while I’m still learning. I chose Seedsman because of its reputation and the variety available. Having access to reliable genetics makes the whole experience feel more predictable and less stressful—you’re not guessing as much, you’re learning.

Looking back, cultivation has added something meaningful to my life. It’s given me a hobby that feels both productive and personal. It’s something that keeps me engaged, teaches patience, and gives me a sense of progress that isn’t tied to work or obligation.

If someone was thinking about starting their own journey, I’d say don’t rush it. Take your time, respect the process, and focus on learning rather than results at first. If you approach it with patience and curiosity, it becomes more than just a hobby—it becomes something that genuinely changes how you think and move through your day.

[queenofbliss]

so enjoyed reading this - welcome @Whiteybulger652 and thank you for sharing your insights and reflections on growing, they really resonated - look forward to sharing more and growing together in this cool community

[Fritzbotanicals]

I had to wipe away a bit of drool just bow after seeing these beauties lol

[Smokeout81]

Some land and shipping containers! I’d be down…I agree shii looks sweet! Let’s get some land lol partners !?

[Fritzbotanicals]

Even at this stage they are so mesmerizing to look at. The symmetry in my head forms almost a kaleidoscope effect. I love this plant in all its stages lol

[Psychocook]

Stated growing 6 years ago when we bought our house. For the first five years growing was done outdoors but one fifth year lost half my crops to budrot abd aphids so switched to indoor. Main reason for growing was to save money but it has turned out to be a fun hobby that I enjoy doing. I usually tend to my garden twice a day. Once after the lighting opens for watering and once in the afternoon just for routine check up. I grow in coco coir and hand water so monitoring humidity is key. I use feminized seeds and found that Seedsman has good stable genetics from reputable seed breeders. Growing turned out to be one of my favorite hobbies abd I find it very rewarding and relaxing. I you are thinking of starting your own do it! Keep it simple and listen to your plants.

[SweetsensiWA]

Welcome! Good advice, keep it simple. Pay attention to your plants.