1. My Starting Point
My cultivation journey began with medical legalization in Ohio. I was exhausted from the endless pills — the side effects, the fog, the feeling that I was treating symptoms instead of actually healing. When cannabis became medically legal, I was grateful, but access was a whole different story.
Dispensaries were few and far between. I drove almost two hours for those first visits, waited in long lines, and paid prices that were completely unsustainable. My insurance had no problem covering pain pills, but cannabis — the one thing that actually helped — wasn’t even a consideration.
I couldn’t afford to medicate consistently, and certainly not at the level my body needed. That’s what pushed me toward growing. I started researching & growing about a year before recreational legalization, trying to take control of my own health in a way that was sustainable and empowering.
2. My Experience
My experiences are directly shaped by the people I surround myself with. The growers in my circle — the ones who show up, share, learn, and grow alongside me — they’re a huge part of why I’ve become the grower I am today. It’s not just me in a tent or a room with plants. It’s us.
Cultivation makes me feel present, capable, and part of something bigger than myself. The plants teach me patience — but the people teach me purpose.
3. What It’s Given Me
This journey has given me far more than medicine — it’s given me people. Real people. I’ve traveled across the country and met growers I once only knew through screens. I’ve sat with them, smoked with them, laughed with them, and finally got to say hello in person after growing (community & plants) together online.
Our trip last summer — over 4,000 miles — was one of the most impactful experiences of my life. Seedsman provided genetics that we shared as gifts and giveaways along the way, and those seeds became little bridges between communities. Every stop, every handshake, every shared moment reminded me that what we’re building isn’t just a hobby group. It’s a network of growers who genuinely care about each other.
Hosting grow‑alongs became one of my biggest passions. I’ve done quite a few now — some structured, some loose — but all full of connection, learning, and joy. Growing cannabis taught me consistency and trust in the process. But growing community taught me who I am. It showed me that cultivation isn’t just about plants — it’s about people, support, and shared growth.
4. Choosing Seeds
If I’m being honest, genetics have sometimes picked me. Because everyone knows I love to grow — and especially grow along — I’ve built up a nice seed collection over the years. I share from almost every strain I’ve ever grown, and at this point there are far too many seeds and not nearly enough days left in my lifetime to run them all.
Do I still buy more? Oh yes. That itch never really goes away. I’ve picked up genetics at events, a few grow shops, and now I get mostly through Seedsman. I do a lot of giveaways, so I’m always watching for deals.
Seeds aren’t just genetics to me; they’re stories, connections, and opportunities to grow with others.
5. Reflection
Cultivation has enriched my life in ways I never expected. It helped me take back control of my health, but it also helped me build a space where people feel safe, supported, and inspired.
If someone is thinking about starting their own journey, I’d tell them:
Start where you are. You don’t need perfection — you just need curiosity and the willingness to learn. The rest comes with time.
6. Photos - They exist in shorts/reels/videos & lives
YouTube & Instagram are where they are recorded.
Growandgrind216 (both platforms)
