Living the Dream: Chris Butler

Work never stops for the cannabis farmer, and now that spring is here, we’re moving at full speed. We have clones ready to be transplanted, compliance tasks to complete, an off-grid solar project we’re working on and a fall harvest to start planning. With all these activities requiring our attention, practicing efficiency is how we keep our heads above water.

Because we’re a small, family-owned, craft cannabis farm, we have to think smart to keep up with increasing demand. We only cultivate on a single property, enabling us to focus on sustainable cultivation and quality over quantity, two values we are determined to maintain as we evolve. But, if we wish to sustain a space in this competitive industry, we also have to continue advancing our operations by identifying ways to increase profitability while keeping costs down. One way we’ve recently approached this is by cultivating a fresh-frozen run through the winter months.

During a period when our cold-frame greenhouses and outdoor spaces are unusable due to local weather patterns, our climate-controlled greenhouse can be utilized. Assigning this time of limited cultivation activity to a low-production-cost alternative — like fresh-frozen product production — offers an additional avenue of profit when that space would otherwise be vacant.

Right now, with everyone around the farm working to meet deadlines and stay on schedule, efficiency is even more critical than ever. It’s easy to fall into the mindset of “just get it done,” but that isn’t always the best approach. It’s in the moments before we tackle the next agenda item that we must stop and ask ourselves, “Is there a simpler way for me to approach this task that doesn’t compromise our quality standards?” Efficiency and sustainability often go hand in hand, and because working with our earth is so important to us, we don’t take efficient practices lightly. This is why we send soil samples to the lab for analysis before each cycle, why we regularly inspect our irrigation lines and why we use a grid system to scout for pests.

By building our soil correctly, we maintain water retention and encourage beneficial insects to break down organic material into easily absorbed nutrients for the plants. By inspecting our irrigation system, we avoid wasting water through broken lines and ensure each plant is watered equally, increasing our likelihood of a quality yield. By using a grid system to scout for pests, we not only save ourselves time for other tasks, but we’re also able to employ smart-spraying, a method that limits the amount of natural pest repellent used.

Efficiency is the foundation of our success. If we’re not efficient, we’re not our most productive selves, and while some tasks may take a little extra time up front, our additional efforts save us time, resources and energy in the long run.