Experiencing The Community Of The Emerald Triangle

When I cruised north down the US 101, I passed the “Welcome to Mendocino” sign and immediately thought about how it described the area I was approaching and all that makes the county so special: “Wilderness, wineries, and waves.” But what about weed?

As I swerved and steered along the mountainous highway, the string of tall redwood trees lining the coastal range greeted me as I entered my new surroundings.

This wasn’t quite the scenic view I had been used to driving around in Florida, where I couldn't find a mountain or Douglas Fir tree in sight no matter how hard I looked.

Yet in the Golden State, I knew this would be a common visual that complemented the picturesque beauty that Northern California was known for.

The only impressions I ever really had of this area and the Emerald Triangle as a whole were from cannabis journalism, insightful Vice TV documentaries, and true crime podcasts. Above everything, I knew this place was the “mecca” of cannabis and home to some of the most renowned legacy growers and cannabis legends in the country.

Around the end of April this past year, I arrived in Mendocino County ready to commit to being this season’s cultivation intern on the Swami Select farm. Their beautiful cannabis farm was surrounded by a sea of tall trees, a vast meadow, and the multiple sounds and chirps of wildlife all around. It was located around 2,500 feet up on a mountain outside of the small town of Laytonville.

Even if I wasn’t sure exactly what this whole new experience would entail, by the time I turned off of US 101 and began off-roading up the bumpy gravel road of Bell Springs, I knew I was in for an unforgettable and eye-opening experience.

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I took on this internship opportunity for a few reasons. First, the insatiable desire in my heart to travel and visit a new place was growing louder and louder. I was ready to excuse myself from the everyday mainstream noise of my hometown.

Second, I was ready to learn more about the cannabis plant, beyond the copy-and-paste blogs and articles I’d read online. This is what also inspired me to become a student of the Ganjier certification program. I yearned to gain a better well-rounded education of cannabis no textbook or article could replicate.

Finally, I took on this internship because I knew that the only way to learn more about cannabis would be to fully immerse myself in its culture and “roots” (pun intended). The Emerald Triangle is famously known for its legendary, quality sungrown weed cultivated in the beautiful climates of Mendocino, Humboldt, and Trinity counties.

I had always known that way before cannabis legalization made any news headlines, Northern California was the paradigm for all things involving the world of weed.

Seasonal workers and “trimmigrants” would come to get lost in the woods each season to cultivate, harvest, and trim down cannabis plants taller than you can imagine – a (true) folktale experience passed around (like joints) by both stoners and sobers alike.

The Emerald Triangle is home to arguably some of the best weed in the world, with cultivators who have covertly supported their families and lifestyles through its “illegal” cultivation and distribution to tokers all around the U.S.

As Swami would put it to my parents when they came to visit the farm, “We put a joint in every college dorm across the country.”

However, I think what a lot of us have never really sat and realized, including myself, was what exactly this region of the Emerald Triangle truly represents.

Northern California cannabis is way more than just peace and pot-loving hippies (although, that is a very big and prideful part of it). Every welcoming community event, friendly person met, and incredible farm tour I experienced throughout my time in Mendocino proved this to me.

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Once I was feeling settled at my new home on the top of the mountain, it didn’t take very long for me to realize why this area was so favored and renowned for its cannabis cultivation.

The lower humidity, temperatures, and cool springtime breeze made the climate impeccable for the plant’s growth cycle. Chilly nights and long, dry summer days allowed the cannabis plants to bloom to their full essence and potential.

Regardless of the breathtaking valley views, incredible climate, and distinguished terroir, what I learned really makes the Emerald Triangle so special is the sense of community.

There is a peculiar type of energy around the Emerald Triangle community that can’t necessarily be put into words but is apparent in the crisp, fresh coastal air. There is this silent mutual understanding shared among the community about the land, the plant itself, and its newfound legal industry.

When it comes to the land, I learned the Emerald Triangle community cultivates with care, respect, and compassion toward the environment they’re in.

This goes as far as farming methods used - whether it’s cannabis, squash, or even roses. Many farmers choose to cultivate plants and crops with a more regenerative, sustainable, and beneficial approach to the land. Their dedication as stewards of the land undoubtedly shows in the overall preserved beauty and essence of the surrounding forests, valleys, and mountains.

By having a more dialed-in, deeper connection between the Earth and plants through these farming practices and efforts, I truly believe this is a facet that many of these larger, more corporate, indoor cultivations severely lack.

Additionally, the love and passion every resident, farmer, and member of the community have in honoring and cultivating cannabis plants goes far beyond the plant’s THC content or indica/sativa classification.

It’s a collective love for the medicinal and therapeutic magic this plant offers to each of us, and it’s what has inspired farmers to continue to grow, respect, and share this plant medicine.

These legacy growers and local farmers put hard work, heart, and soul into everything they do - which is highly evident in the quality of their cannabis flower and final products.

This love and passion for the plant is what stood out to me at every communal event I attended - each seed swap, farmer's market, and even the Mendocino Farmer's auction, was filled with likeminded and open hearted people who encouraged one another with zealous praise. Community members all gather to honor, appreciate, and celebrate the small triumphs and results from the fruit of their neighbor’s labor.

This love and respect for nature, the plant, and one another are what sets California’s sungrown cannabis apart from any other corporate, flashy weed brand we see on the market today. If anything, this respect never wavered when legalized, but their efforts, dedication, and advocacy for the plant quadrupled in power.

As the cannabis industry and culture continue to grow and thrive across the country, I have hope for this Northern California community. From a consumer and cannabis lover’s standpoint, what it is going to take is matching this same love and respect the Emerald Triangle has for the cannabis plant and applying that directly to the brands and products we shop, value, and support.

So far, it’s been proven nothing can stop this Emerald Triangle community from sharing the powerful energy, love, and respect that flows among the redwoods. We must plant these seeds of support and respect for the plant and the community that has made it what we know it as today.

As a Florida native and naive Californian in cannabis, I am forever honored and thankful to have been a part of such a loving, respected, and warm community in the Emerald Triangle.

When my time on the farm had ended and as I took my last drive down Bell Springs Road, I smoked a joint, looked out into the vast valley of mountains and trees, and became excited to pass on the valuable love and insight I gained from my connections within this community.

As I passed by the “Welcome to Mendocino” sign, I reflected on the incredible views of waves, the rich experience of wineries, and the endless wildlife spotted over the course of my six months spent. But what will always be in my heart about Mendocino isn’t just the weed, it’s the community that grows it.

Cereda - Sunbolt Grown

“Sunshine Cereceda is a second generation ganja farmer. Sunshine and I grew up together working to save countless old growth forests in Humboldt and supporting the fight to protect Native lands and community. She is a second generation ganja farmer that never believed the hype.” - Aiyana “Floreterna” Gregori

More at sunboldt.com

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