Sonoma Valley Cannabis Farmers Thrive with Successful Crop
- Marley Lovell and Ben Blake, co-founders of Esencia Gardens, recently relocated their cannabis growing site from Mendocino County to Sonoma Valley due to its more temperate climate that promotes the growth of cannabis plants. The duo specializes in breeding cannabis strains that can withstand changeable weather and stand out in a market increasingly standardized by regulations.
- Erich Pearson, a veteran in California’s cannabis industry since the late 1990s, manages a cannabis field in Sonoma Valley and acknowledges the initial risk due to the region’s established wine culture. However, Pearson claims attitudes towards cannabis farming have changed over the years. His larger company, SPARC, grows, processes, and sells cannabis products in the Bay Area, and he hopes to include his farm as a tourist attraction in Sonoma region.
- The weather conditions in Sonoma Valley that produce world-renowned wines, according to growers, can also yield award-winning cannabis. Cannabis crops have a relatively short lifecycle, planted in early summer and harvested in mid-autumn, with cuttings saved from hardier plants to jump-start the next season’s crop. Both Esencia Gardens and SPARC are looking to share their unique Californian cannabis stories with the rest of the country and the world.
Sonoma Valley Fosters Award-Winning Cannabis as Well as World-Renowned Wine
Hidden amongst iconic vineyards in
Sonoma Valley, an unexpected three-acre cannabis farm thrives. The area’s climate, perfect for wine-making, also breeds award-winning cannabis. Marley Lovell and Ben Blake, founders of the highly-acclaimed
Esencia Gardens, recently relocated their cultivation site from Mendocino County to Sonoma’s cooler climate. They believe this move will be significantly advantageous for their crops.
Cannabis plants flourish in temperatures in the 80s and low humidity levels, typically planted in early summer and harvested mid-fall. Lovell and Blake use cuttings from hardy plants to jump-start their crops each spring. Esencia Gardens specializes in cannabis strains resilient to volatile weather and capable of standing out in a homogenizing market. Their unique products, backed by Blake’s genetic sciences expertise and Lovell’s cannabis industry knowledge, have won over 20 awards.
Not far from Esencia sits another cannabis field led by Erich Pearson, a veteran in California’s cannabis industry since the 1990s. Despite initial resistance from the region’s established wine culture, Pearson notes a significant attitude shift towards cannabis farming in recent years. Pearson’s company,
SPARC, grows, processes, and sells cannabis products in the Bay Area. He envisions his farm as an attraction for tourists, much like a winery, in the near future.
Lovell shares similar aspirations for Esencia Gardens, expressing a keen interest in sharing their story and unique Californian product with the rest of the world.
—
Read More Cannabis News
Leave a Comment