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THIS JUNE SAW THE FIRST EVER TRADE SHOW HELD IN LOS ANGELES. THE VENUE WAS THE LA CONVENTION CENTER, RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE STAPLES CENTER, HOME OF THE FAMOUS LA LAKERS BASKETBALL TEAM AND RECENTLY, THE SCENE OF MICHAEL JACKSON’S MEMORIAL.

The event was put on by leading American pot activist Todd McOrmick and Brian. The hall was divided into two sections - the under 21’s and over 21’s. In the under 21’s sections there were various clubs activists, clothing and paraphernalia... from the UK there was Amit from PureSativa hemp clothing and ourselves, promoting both Weed World magazine and the upcoming UK Hemp Expo. High Times magazine were also in attendance, and also Adam Sagemaster of TH Seeds was there promoting their Hemp Hoodlambs.

In the over 21’s section was were the seed and nutrient companies. Europe was represented by “the King” Arjan from Green House and also local boys Don and Aaron

of DNA Genetics. Both were handing out merchandise only, as sale of seeds are illegal in the US. Out of the

nutrients stands, the biggest was by Canadian fi rm Advanced Nutrients, led by frontman Big Mike

Strementhis. On the smoke side, the only fl avour in California is Kush, regardless of which type, (o.g., sfv , 818, La, platinum, purple). It was all

Kush and it was amazing! Such a deep hashy medicinal taste. It was so cool to get to try

all of these fl avours!

On the celebrities front, there was our good friend Woody Harrelson, as well

as comedian Bill Myer. From the music community there were the Beastie Boys, rapper Xzibit and stoner favourites, the Kottonmouth Kings.

All in all, the fi rst LA THC Expo was a success and the surrounding area had

enough facilities like restaurants, clubs and bars. It was a good

time for all! Smoking was kept quite held down, so

there were hardly any problems at all.

SEE YOU IN LA NEXT YEAR!

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Welcome to Old School Brain

Dump, an exclusive series in

Weed World Magazine that

will crawl into the minds of

some of the most influential,

enlightened, and intelligent

voices within the cannabis

culture.

The Rev is an Oregon-based cannabis breeder and medicinal gardener who has been in the business for nearly forty years. Having learned the trade in the 1970s in Northern California, The Rev has experience with nearly all types of cannabis gardens, from outdoor guerilla grows to indoor automated hydroponic systems (many of which were his own design and installation).

Although he got his start using hydroponics and synthetic nutrients, The Rev is now dedicated to a fully organic system he calls True Living Organics. He is an outspoken advocate for the genetic and organic purity of medical cannabis, claiming he’s learned to produce yields and potency nearly equaling those of synthetically-fed hydroponic environments - but with what he considers to be superior quality.

In my travels, many people inquire as to the most amazing herb I’ve sampled. To this day, it’s a toss-up between a South African sativa-dom called Voodoo (that I obtained in 2004 at Da Kine in Vancouver, British Columbia) and a four-way cross from The Rev he calls Blue Rhino 1947 (Blueberry x White Rhino x Peak 19 x AK47). I don’t know how the Voodoo was grown, but the Blue Rhino 1947 was nurtured in a True Living Organics environment.

To that point in my life, I had believed indoor hydroponics to be the gardening system that, on average, produced the best herb. But the work of old school organic gardeners from America’s West Coast, such as The Rev and Bushy Old Grower, has convinced me otherwise.

-- Gooey Rabinski, freelance writer, May 2009

The Rev’s

Tale...

For about the fi rst ten years of my gardening career, I always grew outside, from seed, using some synthetic fl owering nutes in the ground. I also ran stealth grow sheds with translucent roofs. My ignorance at producing large organic yields was addressed through the use of synthetic nutrients, but at a cost to the quality of the fi nal product (compared to pure organic environments).

True Living

Organics

Defined

If you focus, fi rst and foremost, on the health and happiness of your soil’s microlife, you’re using a system I coined and energetically endorse called True Living Organics. True Living Organics, or TLO, is a 100% organic and mineral-based grow system featuring zero - and I mean zero -synthetic nutrients.

A few philosophical assumptions are incorporated into the True Living Organics school of thought. First, this system assumes that the best way to optimize the health of a cannabis plant is to ensure the vitality of its root mass. In a truly organic environment, the healthiest root balls and rhyzosphere (the soil area

Nature’s Organic Litmus Test

When I get called to the grow room of a fellow gardener to examine their soil quality in an attempt to improve it, one of the fi rst things I look for is earthworms. Chances are, they aren’t present. But dig it: certain highly benefi cial bacteria are present only in soil containing living earthworms!

Just because soil contains earthworms doesn’t ensure that it’s been optimized. However, the presence of the wiggly dudes does guarantee that the soil provides a basic foundation that will support healthy organic plants (given that above-ground conditions don’t introduce too much stress). Earthworms are like your canary in a coal mine: if present and abundant, they signal healthy soil capable of producing excellent cannabis from solid genetics.

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immediately surrounding the roots) are fully void of synthetic nutrient salts. This isn’t because I’m a fanatical purest; it’s simply Mother Nature’s rule. Like gravity and math, we can’t prefer things to be different from what they are.

TLO focuses on two areas within the soil environment: 1) soil life (earthworms, soil mites, and other relatively large shredders of organic matter) and 2) microlife (bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and protozoa) and their symbiotic relationships with each other and the plant.

Supernatural

All organic growing systems must consider soil microlife within their dynamics. TLO, however, enhances soil life to supernatural levels. I consider this style to be the apex of techniques for producing a fi nal product that’s fully connoisseur quality.

Organic gardening is more complex than synthetic growing, to be sure. TLO is, likewise, more complex than standard organic growing. The initial investment for organics is signifi cant, but the supplies last a long time. Thus, over the course of a year, the per grow expenses for an organic garden will be, in my experience, less than with synthetics.

Pros & Cons

One advantage of organic gardening not offered by synthetics is the ability to recycle your soil. If properly maintained, soil can be recycled literally forever. Much like a fi ne wine (if you know what you’re doing), your soil will actually get better with age as more dense, insoluble elements fully break down, becoming available to the plant roots.

One disadvantage of organic grow environments is the space required. This is especially pertinent in TLO, which requires dedicated work spaces for mixing soil, concocting teas, collecting organic matter, and preparing soil additions. I’ve personally dedicated half of a 12’ x 12’ room just for organic soil mixing, recycling, and storage.One disadvantage of organic grow environments is the space required. This is especially pertinent in TLO, which requires dedicated work spaces for mixing soil, concocting teas, collecting organic matter, and preparing soil additions. I’ve personally dedicated half of a 12’ x 12’ room just for organic soil mixing, recycling, and storage.

Smoking well-grown organic herb speaks volumes for the quality that TLO can produce. It just doesn’t get better, in my humble opinion. Synthetically grown herb simply can’t compare to the elegance of good organic cannabis. When growing organically in containers, it’s imperative to never use synthetic nutrients. Anyone who argues against this is simply misquoting others or ignoring the hard facts. There’s a massive amount of scientifi c data regarding the detrimental effects of synthetic salts on microbes and other soil life (such as earthworms) that form the basis of any good organic soil environment. If the microbial life in the soil mix is killed off, all life up the line will suffer.

Synthetics

Defined

When used in conjunction with good genetics, synthetic nutrient grow environments can produce large yields of fi ne herb. Based on ease of automation and relatively fast crop cycles (especially when cloning is employed), synthetically-fed hydroponic grow environments are a favorite of large-scale cash croppers and small grow-your-own gardeners alike.

If you’re inclined to go the synthetic route, set yourself up with an indoor hydroponic or easy-to-fl ush soilless container-based grow environment involving all synthetic nutrients. You should also consider common-basin fl ush-and-drain hydro systems. I highly recommend using a high-quality nutrient and very few, if any, additives. And never forgot to fl ush for at least 10 days at the end of the fl ower cycle.

In an apartment or limited-space garden, or if you’re a cash cropper, synthetics are a great way to grow. Small areas can be accommodated via some innovative valve work involving PVC piping and quality garden hose. For many growers, hydroponics and/or soilless container grow environments based on synthetic nutrient cycles (typically weekly feedings) are the most practical route. However, if quality is your number one goal, and you love to grow as much as you like to smoke, organics is the only route. Nothing else is as elegant.

Don’t believe the urban legend regarding perpetually small yields in organics. With a bit of experience and accumulated skill, organics can produce yields nearly equaling those of the best hydro operations. Just don’t mistake quality for quantity…

Hold the Additives, Please

If you’re using a complete synthetic nutrient system (available from many commercial hydroponics companies), have faith in the synthetics designed and balanced by agro scientists. You should recognize that you may harm your garden with powerful additions that you assume will improve your plants based only on marketing hype, urban legends, or hearsay from unreliable sources. I suggest a complete nutrient system from a brand name that’s aimed at cannabis gardeners.

Trial and error can teach you to tweak your synthetic nutrients for greater advantage, but this is a slippery slope if you don’t understand the collateral effects of additions (especially true with enzymes, hormones, and acids). If you use hard tap water, look for liquid nutrients formulated specifi cally for hard water and you’ll rock!

>>

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Pros

Excellent quality in the fi nal product.

Ability to recycle soil.

Top-shelf quality in the fi nal product.

Excellent yields, potency, and fl avors.

Ability to recycle soil.

Space required to work and mix organic matter.

A bit costly up front, but greatly reduced

per-grow costs in the long run.

Potentially steep learning curve.

Must own a good soil testing pH meter.

It’s fairly common--especially when recycling your soil--to experience

unfavorable pH drift.

Can result in fast production.

If your environment is tuned, you can take advantage of better

yielding genetics, such as AK47 and Northern

Lights #5.

Fairly unforgiving to mistakes. A simple water pump failure or errors in

nutrient ratios and pH can spell a fast death for plants.

Harvested plants, even of different strains, may

acquire a common fl avor due to synthetic nutrients.

Large yields. Simplifi ed via a good

three-part liquid synthetics program. Flushing is critical for smoking quality (especially fl avor).

Ability to use chlorinated city/tap water.

The way to go with container-based synthetics, in my

opinion. Simple and effective, use a 30/70 perlite/vermiculite ratio.

You must thoroughly fl ush your containers at intervals throughout the grow and for the last 10 days of fl ower (this is

imperative).

This was my favorite cannabis growing style for many years; it works

well if you fl ush properly. This system can be implemented in

a small apartment without raising much

suspicion.

Space required to work and mix organic matter. A bit costly up front, but greatly reduced per-grow

costs in the long run.

Must own a good soil testing pH meter.

Organics

True Living Organics

Synthetic Hydroponics

Synthetic Soilless

Cons Note

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