Sensi Magazine - Emerald Triangle (March 2019)

EMERALD TRIANGLE

THE NEW NORMAL

3.2019

LIKE A LOCAL Amazing Area Airbnbs

PAINT THE TOWN Eureka’s Street Art Scene

OLDSCHOOL FLAVOR

Meet the Management at Deo’s

A CLASSY BRUNCH Eat up at Campground

sensimag.com MARCH 2019 3

4 MARCH 2019 Emerald Triangle

sensimag.com MARCH 2019 5

LOVE LOYALTY AND EXCELLENCE IN CANNABIS

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ISSUE 2 // VOLUME 1 // 3.2019

30

TRUE COLORS Eureka welcomes street artists

FEATURES 34

SP EC IAL R EP OR T

The Strain Game

When it gets down to it, strains aren’t the best way to let customers know what they’re getting.

40 Beauty in Imperfection

Confessions of a Wabi-Fraudie, or Pay No Attention to What’s Under the Stairs.

24

STAYCATION Vacation Rentals at Home

every issue 09 Editor’s Note 10 The Buzz 14 NewsFeed

A GROWING ECONOMY

18 LifeStyle

BRUNCHING AT CAMPGROUND

20 TasteBuds

20

LOCAL FLAVOR Dining at Deo’s

KICKING IT OLD-SCHOOL

24 TravelWell

STAY LIKE A LOCAL

30 AroundTown

OFF THE WALL

48 The Scene

EMERALD TRIANGLE LAUNCH PARTY

50 HereWeGo

MINDFUL MEDS

Sensi magazine is published monthly by Sensi Media Group LLC. © 2019 SENSI MEDIA GROUP LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

sensimag.com MARCH 2019 7

sensi magazine ISSUE 2 / VOLUME 1 / 3.2019

EXECUTIVE FOLLOW US

Ron Kolb ron@sensimag.com CEO, SENSI MEDIA GROUP

Tae Darnell tae@sensimag.com PRESIDENT, SENSI MEDIA GROUP

Alex Martinez alex@sensimag.com CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

sensimediagroup

EDITORIAL Stephanie Wilson stephanie@sensimag.com EDITOR IN CHIEF

Nora Mounce nora.mounce@sensimag.com MANAGING EDITOR, SENSI EMERALD TRIANGLE

Leland Rucker leland.rucker@sensimag.com SENIOR EDITOR

Robyn Griggs Lawrence CONTRIBUTING EDITOR sensimagazine

Dr. Angie McCartney COLUMNIST

A RT & D E S I G N Jamie Ezra Mark jamie@emagency.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Rheya Tanner, Wendy Mak, Josh Clark em@sensimag.com sensimag

DESIGN & LAYOUT

BUSINESS & A D M I N I S T R AT I V E Lelehnia DuBois lelehnia.dubois@sensimag.com PUBLISHER

Tad Sarvinski tad.sarvinski@sensimag.com Shannon Golightly shannon.golightly@sensimag.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Amber Orvik amber.orvik@sensimag.com Agricultural Tessng Data, Analyycs Machine Learning ArrďŹ cial Intelligence

CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR

Andre Velez andre.velez@sensimag.com MARKETING DIRECTOR

Hector Irizarry distribution@sensimag.com DISTRIBUTION

M E D I A PA RT N E R S

@talisman.analyycs @talismanalyycs WWW.TALISMANANALYTICS.COM EUREKA CA, HUMBOLDT COUNTY, USA

8 MARCH 2019 Emerald Triangle

Marijuana Business Daily Minority Cannabis Business Association National Cannabis Industry Association Students for Sensible Drug Policy

editor’s

EMERALD’S SHAPES

AND COLORS

ADVISORY BOARD Coldwell Banker Sellers, Sandi DeLuca // REAL ESTATE

Canna-Envy //

NOTE

So many types of people call the Emerald Triangle home: farmers, fishermen, hippies, artists, lumberjacks, lib-

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ertarians, grandmothers, and children. The famously forested re-

Forever Found //

EMERALD TRIANGLE CULTURAL EXPERT

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gion is the native home to over a dozen culturally distinct Indigenous tribes including the Yurok, the country’s largest federally recognized tribe. Since “pioneers” first arrived in droves in the 1850s, the region’s history has been shaped by violence, hardship, and the resource-extractive economies of mining, timber, fishing,

Humboldt Redwood Healing // Humboldt SWAG //

COMMUNITY

BRAND MANAGEMENT

Kathleen Bryson, Attorney // KC Financial Services //

LAW OFFICE

and cannabis cultivation. The measurable degree of fortitude required to call the Emerald Triangle home has engendered the region’s independent spirit and DIY ethos. After traveling through rugged country for hours upon hours from the nearest city, the

ACCOUNTING

rewards of life in Humboldt, Mendocino, and Trinity counties are

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truly priceless. Growing your own food and self-employment are

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Mountainwise Farms // Redwood Roots //

TOPICALS

DISTRIBUTION

metrics of success; walking along an empty beach or beneath the ancient redwoods is part of daily life. The allure of the Emerald Triangle’s secret paradise is unalterable—a fable rooted in reality.

While the legalization of recreational cannabis has brought unprecedented change to the region’s economy—and slowly, our cul-

SoHum Royal // MIXED LIGHT FARMING

ture—the Emerald Triangle’s world-famous cannabis industry is now

Southern Humboldt Business & Visitors Bureau // TOURISM

persists today) has always stirred up intrigue, but legalization has

Sunnabis //

SUN GROWN CANNABIS

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CO2 EXTRACTION

a shareable experience. The illicit history of the black market (which unwittingly emerged as the platform to both raise environmental standards and share stories once kept under lock and key. It’s an exciting time to take a peak “behind the redwood curtain” of the Emerald Triangle and get to know our people and our place.

I am honored to announce my role as the Managing Editor of Sensi Emerald Triangle. A Northern California native, I have lived in Eureka for nearly seven years and written countless stories about our artists, makers, festivals, culture, and characters. I am thrilled at the opportunity to share the diverse voices and perspectives from across our beautiful counties with national audiences.

We hope you enjoy. And look out for the April Issue—we have so much more to share!

Nora Mounce

M ANAG I NG E D I TO R

SENSI EMERALD TRIANGLE

sensimag.com MARCH 2019 9

Equity “RE-CENTERING” BY JOHNATHON DESOTO

Art &

“Art isn’t just about beauty; it provides a public space for people to talk about things that matter,” explains Humboldt County visual artist Jonathan Desoto. As one of the co-founders of Artists Dismantling Capitalism (ADC)—the second annual conference was held in Arcata this February—Desoto wants to bring attention to the market value of art in a capitalist economy. Rather than trying to separate artmaking from capitalism, the conference is actually designed to help artists gain recognition within the current economic system. And no, not with certificates and likes on Instagram, but with good old-fashioned dolla dolla bills—the kind you can exchange for dinner and rent. Locally, it’s a matter of pride that more artists (per capita) call Humboldt County home than anywhere else in California. The frequently published statistic is a feather in the cap of large companies trying to attract employees to the Emerald Triangle and retailers who benefit from upticks in tourism and the local arts scene. But for the artists actually putting Humboldt on the map as a cultural hub? They’d like their cut too, please.

Fellow ADC organizer and Humboldt theatrical artist Ruthi Engelke uses a participatory model known as the Theater of the Oppressed to create performances that address power relationships head-on. A spirited 10 MARCH 2019 Emerald Triangle

former public-school teacher, Engelke wants to motivate artists to get vocal about their needs and rights.

“It’s about unrecognized labor,” says Engelke. She explains that while capitalism is “a giant monster,” it’s the only monster we have to serve artists. In order for art—undeniably, essential—to receive appropriate equity within a capitalist system, the leaders of ADC are working to shift public perceptions of art on the marketplace.

As a result of the inaugural ADC conference in 2018, Societies for Poetic Action, a co-founder of ADC, pre-

BENCH PHOTO BY LEON VILLAGOMEZ

Humboldt Artists Speak Up

sented a critique of the City of Eureka’s strategic arts plan to city council, including ideas for artists and studio subsidies. (In the past year, two out of four of Eureka’s art galleries have closed and a third is scheduled to close this summer). ADC members have also formed the Humboldt Artists Guild, a networking group for professional artists. Desoto explains that artists have always maintained unique and complex relationships to support one another—it’s nearly impossible to create art alone. He believes that along with formalizing such networks, other industries can also learn from the resourcefulness of artists, who have lived with less for years. “Now we want people’s time and work and labor to be honored,” explains Desoto. In his own art practice,

“THE FEMINIZATION OF FRANK” BY JOHNATHON DESOTO

Desoto uses woodworking techniques to create harmonic tableaus of shape

At ADC, artist BIANCA LAGO leads a workshop called “Conversations About Power,” focusing on signs of abuse, what consent looks like, and how to set healthy boundaries.

and color. As a politically conscious artist and an entrepreneur, Desoto strives for a balance of beauty and content throughout his work.

While working to inspire social change and policy reform, Humboldt artists are going to keep making art. It’s a way of life, without compare, for many living in the Emerald Triangle. But through Artists

Dismantling

Capitalism,

Humboldt artists are gathering their voices, knowing that only art has the power to change the conversation.

–Nora Mounce

Search for Artists Dismantling Capitalism on Facebook to learn about future workshops, skill shares, and events.

ask for us at your local dispensary www.mountainwisefarms.com @mountainwisefarms

sensimag.com MARCH 2019 11

YOGA VIBES A new Arcata yoga studio wants everyone to move and shake.

Going to a new yoga class is like opening a box of chocolates–you never know what you’re gonna get. An umbrella term, yoga in the Western world indicates a huge range of physical and spiritual practices. Where one person unrolls their mat to slow their breath and soothe a troubled mind, their neighbor might seek relief from chronic sciatic pain. Similarly, yoga teachers lead practices that might not appear even vaguely related. Chair yoga, goat yoga, elevated yoga…the flavors are endless. But there’s been a good deal of criticism for a specific kind of yogi, those who might be just a touch Type A and patronize their local studios for heart-pumping, sweaty workouts. It’s understandable: Yoga has traveled across continents and centuries from ancient India, where devout practitioners sought to align their consciousness in reflection of a higher power. Considering its collective sanctity, I agree that pumping reps of “yoga push-ups” is a touch gauche.

Living here and now, I’ve always found the history of yoga fascinating, but never a justification to argue about the right and wrong kind of yoga. In France, where shame is not a patriotic value, there’s an expression, être bien dans sa peau, meaning “to be good in your skin.” Yes, please. However you arrive, the 12 MARCH 2019 Emerald Triangle

yoga that feels good for mind, body, and spirit (entirely up to individual interpretation) is the yoga for you.

This “you do you” vibe is the inspiration for Humboldt’s newest yoga studio at the corner of 6th and H Street in Arcata, Vibes Yoga. Local yoga teacher Alexandra Rose opened the light and airy studio last September, supported by a crew of experienced and beloved yoga and Pilates teachers. Entering Vibes on H Street, new students are welcomed by the lobby’s minimalist yet feminine décor. The requisite rack of yoga apparel is worth a second look; a well-curated selection of crop tops, flowy pullovers, and leggings are designed to keep feel-good-in-your-own-skin feels going after class. Soft and urban styles in a multitude of flesh tones from Joah Brown and Avocado, both made in LA, are particular standouts. A small shelf of crystal-charged water bottles and spa products round out the amenities—anything to keep your vibe alive.

Throughout the week, Rose and her teachers lead a range of classes from heated Pilates barre to pre-natal yoga to vinyasa flow, a high-octane style popular throughout the West Coast. The Vibes teachers aren’t afraid to turn the music UP and get students moving. Modifications to protect fragile hips and knees are offered throughout each class. But even better, the studio’s friendly and open-minded vibe encourages questions—and even the occasional shriek or catcall—especially during challenging, high-intensity classes. In particular, Rose and some of her teachers are certified in branded style of yoga known as Buti (yes, it’s from SoCal) that uses beats and twerky dance moves to get bodies out of their comfort zone and sweating. At every class, women of all shapes, sizes, and ages—and guys, too!—do the “Buti shake,” one of Buti founder Bizzie Gold’s signature moves. At Vibes, the teachers flow and shake with their students, often shouting out with joy, and encouraging everyone to share in the good vibes of yoga by any name.

–NM

sensimag.com MARCH 2019 13

{newsfeed }

by N O R A M O U N C E

A GROWING ECONOMY

The cannabis industry spurs job growth in Humboldt County.

14 MARCH 2019 Emerald Triangle

California’s legal cannabis industry continues to make headlines up and down the Golden State. While the passage of Prop 64 unleashed major changes for cultivators, the legal industry has quickly expanded into traditional sectors of the economy, creating a host of new opportunities for job seekers in accounting, legal services, and human resources. At the national level, Zip Recruiter

HPRC

"Cultivating Well Being Since 1999"

PHOTOS BY LEON VILLAGOMEZ, COURTESY OF PAPA & BARKLEY

reports the cannabis industry is adding jobs at a rate that outpaces both tech and healthcare. According to ZipRecruiter data, the total number of cannabis industry job posts increased by 445 percent in 2017, compared to an increase of just 18 percent one year prior.

In the Emerald Triangle, the black market has dominated the local economy for decades; even disparate businesses have difficulty estimating how much of their profit revenue can be tracked back to cannabis dollars. Given the huge sphere of economic influence, fears continue to swirl that legalization will even-

Humboldt County's Longest Operating Cannabis Dispensary

tually lead to a devastating fallout for rural Emerald Triangle communities dependent on cash. Though government regulations bring huge environmental benefits, the roughly 30 percent state tax rate is setting up traditional farmers for a hard go. Armed with legitimate bank accounts and social media fluency, new investors have jumped into the legal industry, renting commercial buildings in urban zones and industrial parks across California. Suddenly, the geographic

In House Product Lines Exceptional Staff Service Oriented HPRC Arcata 980 6th St. Arcata, CA

www.HPRCHumboldt.com A12-18-000025TEMP sensimag.com MARCH 2019 15

virtues that made Humboldt an ideal location to covertly

by Adam Grossman and Guy Rocourt, Papa & Barkley has

grow marijuana have become major hurdles for logistics

earned both local and national accolades for setting high

and distribution.

standards in the new cannabis industry. “We work with

In the Humboldt County seat of Eureka, city officials are

local farmers with generations of experience growing this

well aware of the challenges facing the region’s world-re-

amazing flower in the richest possible natural conditions,”

knowned ag industry. In response, they have hit the

explains Grossman. “We feel privileged to be in Eureka and

ground running. Since 2017, the city has granted over a

try hard to represent Humboldt’s unique quality of life.”

hundred licenses for cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and retail, representing 60 unique businesses.

As a leading cannabis company in the legal era, Papa & Barkley know all eyes are watching–especially in Hum-

“Since we started processing licensees, cannabis has

boldt County. Senior Project Manager Michael Kraft ex-

brought in $450,000 to the city,” says Lane Millar, Eureka’s

plains that Papa & Barkley is excited about providing more

deputy director of development services. “The industry is

jobs for locals–and good ones, too. “As we grow, our equip-

more than paying for itself.”

ment and processes will become more sophisticated,” says

Typically, Millar’s office doesn’t track job growth, but

Kraft. “We’ll also need to hire employees that already have

given the swift and radical changes in the cannabis in-

experience with these new and improved tools. All of this

dustry, city officials are working to understand the needs

means our pay scales will likely rise.” Papa & Barkley made

of the community. Millar explains that Eureka wants to

its first hire in late 2016 and now employs over 70 peo-

partner with local cannabis businesses in order to gen-

ple. As Papa & Barkley expands into its new manufacturing

erate local revenue and industry that benefits every-

facility on the southern edge of Eureka, Kraft projects the

one. “We want to showcase Eureka as a good place to

company will continue to grow its workforce.

do business throughout California,” says Millar. Based on

With a background in human resources, Kraft saw a notice-

city data, Millar projects that cannabis licenses alone will

able uptick in new cannabis industry jobs in his previous role at

bring more revenue to Eureka in 2019 than all non-can-

Sequoia Personnel Services, a Eureka staffing agency. Much

nabis business licenses combined. “That’s pretty signifi-

like himself, Kraft points out, many professionals are entering

cant and why we want to support the cultivation commu-

the cannabis industry for the first time. “You don’t have to be a

nity,” says Millar. Overall, he estimates that somewhere

cannabis user or have previously worked in a cannabis indus-

between 150 to 300 new jobs have been created in Eure-

try to get on board with Papa & Barkley,” explains Kraft. “But

ka thanks to cannabis industry growth.

you have to buy into our mission and values.”

Papa & Barkley is a Eureka-based cannabis company

As a company, Papa & Barkley sends team members to

that produces extracts, topicals, and tinctures designed

volunteer at local community events each month. Current

for relief from everyday aches and pains. Founded in 2015

partnerships include Food for People, Humboldt County’s

16 MARCH 2019 Emerald Triangle

SUNNABIS FARMER’S RESERVE PREMIUM EIGHTHS AND PRE-ROLLS food bank, and Papa & Barkley also sponsors the Humboldt Crabs, Arcata’s farm league baseball team. This March, a Papa & Barkley crew will dress up and jump into the freezing waters of Humboldt Bay as part of the annual Perilous Plunge, a fundraiser for the Redwood Discovery Museum. “We take pride in our

Collaborating with Seed2Soul distribution to bring only the best craft cannabis from our farm to you.

hyper local community efforts,” explains Kraft.

Further north in Arcata, Dark Staffing Solutions is a full-service cannabis staffing company that helps local job seekers connect with cannabis companies like Papa & Barkley. Owner Jaymi Dark explains that most job openings are related to cultivation - garden managers, manicurists, and production workers – but she’s also placing controllers, accountants, executive assistants, and drivers. “It’s everything you can think of,” says Dark.

With her own background in human resources, Dark seized the opportunity to leverage her own skills to support for Humboldt County’s cannabis community.

“Humboldt County has never gotten enough recognition for all our successful start-ups,” says Dark. “We’re killing it up here.”

In 2018, Dark Staffing Solutions placed more than 300 employees. Dark reports that at least 75 percent have direct experience in the cannabis industry and at least 50 percent of her job applicants live in Humboldt County. She explains the skills required aren’t much different across traditional sectors. “These jobs require the ability to work hard and dedicate yourself,” says Dark, who places the most candidates during the seasonal peaks in farm labor. In response to the fear that mom-and-pop cannabis farms are an endangered species, Dark explains that she hasn’t observed job loss, but a shift. While compliant farms

We believe that only cannabis grown with conscious choices results in superior product. Our multi-generational small family farm cultivates energetically dynamic plants utilizing regenerative agriculture practices so the flower that comes from fl our farm is of exceptional quality as well as maintaining minimal environmental impact. (Basically we care about our planet and our product so you can feel good about loving our flower!)

can no longer depend on the inflated margins of the black market, many farms are rapidly evolving to meet the demand and needs of the legal industry. “We can hardly breathe during the busy season,” Dark explains.

As the “matchmaker” between cultivators and job seekers, Dark is impressed with how the community continues to adapt to the economic shift. Only in her second full year of business, Dark expects to place even more local job seekers in 2019. While hourly wages may never match black market payouts, industry employees and professionals are enjoying unprecedented job security and stability on Humboldt County’s world-famous cannabis farms.

www.sunnabis.com Instagram: @HumboldtsFullSunFarms sensimag.com MARCH 2019 17

{lifestyle }

by N O R A M O U N C E

BRUNCHING AT CAMPGROUND Arcata’s favorite “live-fire” restaurant now serves brunch—set your alarm and get a table.

Nothing is more restorative than brunch, the darling of

On hearing that Campground, Arcata’s newest “live-

Sunday mornings, a meal bookended by bacon and strong

fire” restaurant, had started serving brunch, I didn’t need

coffee. Though often used to remedy a well-deserved

convincing. Since it opened in late 2017, Campground has

hangover, a queasy stomach and foggy brain aren’t the

quickly become a destination eatery in Arcata, a meaning-

best circumstances to navigate a crowded room of hungry

ful compliment in a college town with vegetarian leanings.

people. A better approach is to give brunch proper respect:

Boldly showcasing an Argentine-inspired menu (read:

Show up at a decent hour and don’t expect to eat your

beef) with luxurious glampy décor, Campground has also

body weight in flapjacks (just like Ben & Jerry’s can’t mend

gained traction for an ambitious cocktail menu that blends

a broken heart, carbs cannot “soak up” alcohol). Instead,

old-timey spirits with unexpected bedfellows. Try the Ea-

give classy brunch a try. Rather than crawling back in bed,

gle Scout, $12 (pisco, roasted beet puree, rosemary-gin-

you’ll return to the joys of weekending fueled with cre-

ger honey, and lemon) for her and the Campfire, $12, (Jap-

ativity after enjoying a well-proportioned, elegant meal. If

anese whiskey, smoked lapsang tea, simple syrup, and

only you knew where to go…

lemon) for him. Sitting at the bar with a smoking cocktail in hand, it feels only natural to sit around telling campfire stories with friends.

Knowing the talents of Campground’s head chef, Michael Aguilera, my boyfriend and I put our weekend to-dos on hold and arrived at Campground as they opened their doors at 10 a.m. on a Sunday morning. With diner mugs full of black coffee, we considered the virtues of avocado toast on Josh Fox bread with mushrooms, miso butter, poached eggs, and micro-greens, $15, versus the buttermilk fried chicken and waffles with chili-honey maple syrmousse, asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms, soft-cooked egg, arugula), $15, and duck hash (chard, sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts, duck fat roasted potatoes, and fried egg), $18—waffle on the side—we distracted ourselves with people watching, resisting the temptation to order a green Bloody Mary, $12, (smoked tomatillo mezcal). Across the

18 MARCH 2019 Emerald Triangle

PHOTO BY NORA MOUNCE

up, $20. Settling on the breakfast flatbread (goat cheese

Whenever I go camping, the food is always memorable. Even a humble cup of soup and grilled sausage pack more flavor and richness than expected.

Spanish-tiled dining room, a large family took turns holding the baby to make room for refills of bottomless coffee and sides of caramelized bacon. Past the open kitchen and gaucho-style grill, couples cozied up behind tall leather booths over seasonal mimosas, $8, and churro waffles, served with berries and dulce de leche, $12. Amidst the steady hum of cracking eggs and conversation, we both resolved to make more time for brunch. And soon.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMPGROUND

Whenever I go camping, the food is always memorable.

Even a humble cup of soup and grilled sausage pack more flavor and richness than expected. Is it the smoky accents?

The cold night air? The good company? Whatever the mix, Campground owners Pam and Dan Willey seem to understand the secret magic of meals eaten around the fire.

Blending the coziness of your favorite flannel with honest ingredients and a stylish execution, Campground serves up the sweetest of memories every weekend for brunch.

sensimag.com MARCH 2019 19

{tastebuds }

by N O R A M O U N C E

KICKING IT OLD-SCHOOL

A fancy word coined by French sociologist Pierre Bour-

all about keeping it old-school—with just a few new kicks.

dieu, habitus refers to the tastes and preferences one ac-

“Same ingredients, different Deo’s,” explains Juliana Gil-

quires from the social world. For example, Bourdieu would

man, Sandoval’s mother and business partner. Standing at

argue that your fondness for bluegrass music and habit of

4’9”, Gilman wears her short grey hair in stylish pixie cut ac-

playing soccer for exercise is a product of nurture, not na-

cented by sparkly cat eye glasses and a pair of standard-is-

ture. (Imagine the research Bourdieu could have done with

sue Cal Fire yellow work pants (good for absorbing mustard

dating profiles!) But the theory of habitus is particularly

stains). Like her only son, Gilman had a long career in the

apt when it comes to food. Do we order our sandwich with

forest service; her commemorative retirement boot hangs

whole-grain mustard just because the little beads of vin-

next to the register, along with an assortment of Cal Fire

egary taste are our thing? Or is that preference—whole-

helmets and memorabilia. When he worked for Cal Fire,

grain over bright yellow French’s—a reflection of our unique

Sandoval often cooked for his crew, learning how to keep

and complex backgrounds? This is not a conversation Joe

an orderly kitchen, work ahead, and be just a little OCD–just

Sandoval of Eureka shies away from. As the newest owner

like his mom, he explains. Sandoval also spent a lot of time

of Deo’s, an old-school sandwich shop tucked between a

thinking about how to serve his community in an authen-

dive bar and a skate shop in Henderson Center, Sandoval is

tic and positive way. When Deo’s Sandwich Shop popped

20 MARCH 2019 Emerald Triangle

PHOTOS BY NORA MOUNCE

At Deo’s Sandwich Shop, it’s in with the old and the new.

up for sale, Sandoval—who lives just two blocks away— jumped at the chance to knit his various passions together.

“Deo’s is all about community,” says Sandoval.

On any given weekday, Sandoval works the sandwich shop’s tiny kitchen, carefully toasting sliced bread and Dutch crunch rolls; heating piles of roast beef, pastrami, and mortadella; and layering the salty meats between slices of pink tomatoes, piles of shredded lettuce, and thick smears of yellow mustard and creamy mayo. He doesn’t pause to weigh out each portion–the sandwiches are generous–especially the BLT, which Gilman claims is her specialty as the “proprietary bacon fryer.” “Where else can you get an egg salad sandwich?” asks Gilman. “Or liverwurst?”

Regular customers having been coming to Deo’s for decades. Taking over, Sandoval made sure to preserve Deo’s original bones, but has slowly snuck in changes here and there. Bright abstract paintings by local artist Arta Marie Powers hang in the small dining area, and Sandoval’s menu options include gluten-free bread, tofu, and occasionally, vegan soup and raw cheesecake from Foodwise Kitchen in Arcata. He also keeps up with tradition, servicing the slider window to Dave’s Place, a local watering hole that shares a wall with Deo’s. During the day, the bartender often pops her head in through the window to chat while waiting for her turkey on rye. On occasional Friday nights (follow Deo’s on IG or look for the open window from the bar), Sandoval offers a late-night menu of corndogs, loaded tots, and grilled cheese for the crowd at Dave’s.

sensimag.com MARCH 2019 21

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Deo’s Sandwich Shop opened in Henderson Center in the 1970s. The old-fashioned business district isn’t one you can find on Google; only locals know the retro collection of businesses as Henderson. Sandoval loves the diversity of the neighborhood. His favorite Mexican restaurant is a block away, the Little Japan Marketplace sells an array of hard-to-find staples just down the street, and the neighborhood pet store and toy shop go back generations. Taking over at Deo’s—a Eureka legacy for many— Sandoval says he was careful not to “kick the personality out of the place.” On the walls, a few photos hang: One is of Sandoval and his mother, maybe twenty years ago, and

Taking over at Deo’s— a Eureka legacy for many—Sandoval says he was careful not to “kick the personality out of the place.” in another, the smiling faces of an elderly couple, longtime regulars. After the wife passed last year, Gilman says the husband still likes to come in and visit. “Sometimes he orders a sandwich, sometimes he doesn’t,” she adds.

“I love how Eureka is gentrification-proof,” explains Sandoval as he wraps up an Italian hoagie and passes it off to his mother. On the wrist of Sandoval’s sandwich slicing hand, a tattoo reads Juliana. On her forearm, one of her own illustrations—an ode to her son—is inked into her skin. “I can’t imagine working with anyone else,” says Sandoval. “We do things the same way.”

Whether your tastes run old-school or gourmet, everyone can appreciate a tidy kitchen, a generous sandwich, and smiling faces that feel like family. sensimag.com MARCH 2019 23

{travelwell }

by N O R A M O U N C E

STAY LIK E A LO C A L

24 MARCH 2019 Emerald Triangle

A seaside view from Seagull’s Bluff in Trinidad

PHOTOS COURTESY OF REDWOOD COAST VACATION RENTALS

When visiting Humboldt County, try using Airbnb to book a unique lodging experience. It’s a foolproof way to get a glimpse of what life is really like in the Emerald Triangle.

It’s rare for an idea—something truly unique and brand

Many of us know the story from here. In 2015, Time

new—to take root among the customs and exchanges of

magazine named Brian Cheskey as one of the most in-

daily life. Like waking up on one side of the Atlantic and

fluential people alive. Today, his estimated net worth is a

making coffee, while the opposite coast starts the day

cool $3.7 billion.

with tea, habits take centuries to solidify into recogniz-

Opinions about Airbnb—the home-sharing platform

able building blocks of culture. Yet novelty is exactly what

that allows you to “see the world through a local lens”—

grabs our attention. And it’s certainly the beating heart of

are as common as aspiring Airbnb hosts. The tech giant is

a magazine like Sensi. If culture didn’t ebb and flow, pre-

the second-highest valued startup in the United States;

senting itself in contentious scenarios and questioning

putting up $31 billion a year is certainly going to draw

our worldview, would we care? It’s hard to write stories

some critics. Among the many grievances lobbed against

about the same old ways.

the my-home-is-your-hotel biz are that they inflate local

In 2007, the seedling of a bold new idea was planted

housing markets, commodify neighborhoods, and can be

by a couple of college friends struggling to pay rent in San

a general pain in the ass. Nevertheless, Airbnb is now used

Francisco (of course they were). The same year, I was fin-

as a noun and a verb and doesn’t show any sign of disap-

ishing college across the bay at UC Berkeley. Taking my

pearing soon. Since it launched a decade ago, millions of

sweet time, I graduated a year behind my roommates

people across the world have used Airbnb to experience

and was finishing my last semester while living in a tiny

an authentic, unique sense of place, bypassing the generic

studio in an Art Deco apartment building in Oakland for

monotony (and costs) of a motel room, to stay like a local.

$700 per month. My apartment was only a few blocks

I first used Airbnb in Sonoma County in 2011; the trip

from both Lake Merritt—a touch sludgy, but still idyllic—

is still listed on my profile. A two-room cottage built from

and the Ruby Room, a deliciously dark dive bar where I

corrugated steel panels, my host described the acco-

turned cocktails into water for my 23rd birthday. Despite

modation as “a peaceful retreat inspired by Renaissance

the awesome neighborhood, I found the rent too high and

architect Andrea Palladio’s villa.” It was nothing short of

escaped the Bay Area a few weeks after graduation.

incredible. From the bedroom, outfitted with a king-size

It certainly hadn’t occurred to me throw an air mat-

bed and a terra cotta dual-head shower, we climbed a tiny

tress on my floor and welcome overnight guests to off-

spiral staircase to the kitchen; cooking dinner and drink-

set costs. But this move—one that continues to shape

ing local wine while listening to Van Morrison, we were

the very definition of travel and culture today—is exactly

wrapped in a panoramic view of grapevines and the Pacif-

what Airbnb founders Brian Cheskey and Joe Gabbia did

ic. I’ll never stay in a motel again, I thought to myself.

in San Francisco. Their novel idea didn’t exist in a vacuum;

Soon after I settled in Humboldt County and fell in love

Cheskey and Gabbia were graduates of the Rhode Island

with the historic architecture, working-class diversity,

School of Design (RISD), both talented designers, and were

and edgy beauty of Eureka. A seaport city built from old-

soon joined by Harvard pal Nathan Blecharczyk. Putting

growth redwood planks in the Victorian era, Eureka was

their tech chops together, the trio cemented a key ven-

once slated to become the Golden State’s capital. Today,

ture capitalist, and by 2008, the founders had launched

the repeated downfall of multiple resource-extractive

AIRBEDANDBREAKFAST.COM .

economies has left Eureka with a number of troubles and sensimag.com MARCH 2019 25

Rustic settings at Beach Barn in McKinleyville 26 MARCH 2019 Emerald Triangle

Coastal settings at Seagull’s Bluff in Trinidad

the lowest real estate prices on California’s coast. On the

commonly, “Do you hear people having sex?” Yes, all kinds

upside, the economic landscape has attracted a diverse

of people, and “no comment,” I would reply.

community of artists and musicians who favor Eureka

Memorable guests include a German clairvoyant who

over San Francisco and Portland for the better balance of

insisted on “healing” Lula after was she was paralyzed by

culture and livability. Still, the town is quite literally over-

a slipped disc while defending her honor against a cranky

run with old Victorian homes begging for an infusion of

chihauhau. Lula started walking a few days later. An ex-

TLC (read: thousands of dollars).

cop in town on a security gig did spot-on presidential

In late 2013, I fantasized about taking on such a project;

impersonations on my (rebuilt) front porch for an hour.

seemingly overnight, I found myself in escrow on a pretty

I helped a Swedish man bring his bike up the staircase

lady built in 1900. Her peeling paint was a pale green color

after he arrived beyond exhaustion from riding through

you could barely call mint; the front porch was crumbling,

fierce winds up and down the hairpin curves of Mendocino

and evidence of the previous owner’s cigarette habit lived

County’s Highway 1. A couple from New Zealand spent a

in every wall. My husky/shephard, Lula, was the only one

week upstairs on their first trip together since they start-

helping me pay the mortgage, so we hardly needed three

ed dating at age 65. Another pair parked their Harley Da-

bedrooms and a second floor. The upstairs had a private

vidsons in my backyard and sat drinking red wine on my

entrance, along with hookups for gas and kitchen sink,

patio in Eureka’s 65-degree sunshine.

functioning almost like an apartment. I remembered my

I’ve hosted visiting professors, college parents, trav-

vineyard getaway in Sonoma and thought to myself, may-

eling nurses, honeymooners, and tourists from Japan,

be I’ll do Airbnb?

Tennessee, and Amsterdam—all here to experience the

Five years later, I’ve hosted more than 900 guests at

beauty and culture of the Emerald Triangle. I’ve called the

‘Lula’s House,’ and welcomed travelers from 17 different

bartender down the street to turn on the Giants game for

countries. Friends and family were shocked. “There’s tour-

visiting fans; on Monday nights, I message guests to tell

ists in Eureka?” they asked. “Who stays there?” And most

them about “polenta night” at our neighborhood wine bar; sensimag.com MARCH 2019 27

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Ourdoor bliss at Seawoods Cottage

and I’ve guided countless dog owners to the right trails to enjoy a redwoods romp with Fido (most local state parks prohibit four-leggeds). I’ve gotten my fair share of complaints about thin walls, ants, and the homeless rifling through my recycling bin out back—this is real life in our community. But despite a handful of requisite horror stories (bodily fluids happen) and the endless toilet scrubbing, laundry, and DIY repairs, I’m amazed at the thanks I receive, over and again, for sharing my home. In five years, I’ve welcomed countless families, lovers, baby boomers, marathon runners, millennials, Europeans, dogs, and cannabis-friendly travelers (no smoking indoors) off the beaten path and into the heart of my beloved community.

What can I say? It’s been nice.

Humboldt County encompasses 4,052 square miles and contains a multitude of diverse microclimates and disparate small towns. Beyond Eureka, Airbnbs have popped up in elegantly repurposed carriage houses in Ferndale, urban lofts in Arcata, redwood cottages, and stunning homes with expansive views of ocean beaches in Trinidad. Each month, more and more people try Airbnb for the first time, seeking more charm and authenticity in their adventures.

A brand-new 3 bedroom/2.5 bathroom home has been customized for family fun in McKinleyville. The Beach Barn is complete with a hot tub and fenced yard—bring the family dog! Beautifully built and stylishly decorated, this eco-cool home is a perfect base camp for your trip to the redwoods and Humboldt County.

3. The View at Snug Alley Old Town Eureka // $124 per night

Enjoy your vacation in a plush townhouse situated in the heart of Old Town, Eureka. This brand-new 2 bedroom/1 bath accommodation offers truly high-end design in an urban setting with local art, beveled subway tile, Carrera Marble countertops, redwood walls, and a functional flow with all the necessary essentials. Relax in the living room accented with original old-growth redwood floors and a 1960s Record Console - records provided!

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Trinidad // $270 per night Magical ocean views, beaches, and the redwoods await from this newly remodeled, magnificent home on Driftwood Lane.

With 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, you can bring a group to enjoy the open concept design, accented by skylights and full wall of ocean-facing windows that bring the outdoors in. This beautiful seaside home immerses you in the natural beauty of Trinidad and California’s Northern Coast.

5. Lula’s House

Eureka // $75 per night Enjoy historic Eureka from a lovingly restored Victorian built in 1900. An informal duplex, each floor of this home includes its own kitchen, bedroom, and full bath. Cook dinner on the Wedgwood stove or soak in the clawfoot tub! Lula’s House is a charming and centrally located home-away-from-home to end your day of Humboldt adventures in style. sensimag.com MARCH 2019 29

by N O R A M O U N C E

OFF THE WALL Eureka shines bright with street art.

30 MARCH 2019 Emerald Triangle

“THE SHANTY HOEDOWN” MURAL BY DAVE VAN PATTEN

{aroundtown }

“Eureka has always been home to many artists and pieces of public art, and we hope the festival helps celebrate this.”

—Jenna Castos, Eureka artist

In Humboldt County, it’s hard to find someone who isn’t an artist or a musician of some stripe. Creativity is both the fruit and labor for many who call California’s redwood coast home. But the artistic tradition can be tricky to pinpoint when passing through on the Highway 101 corridor that cuts through Eureka. The city has long struggled with how to improve the visual narrative for passing travelers–Eureka is an industrial city—and share the heritage of the arts with the outside world. Suddenly, in August 2018, it seemed to happen overnight when a flock of artists descended on Old Town Eureka and started painting. Street murals went up on historic walls, lighting up back alleys, and splashing bright colors across the sides of brick and mortar businesses. The arts literally came alive in the streets. After weeks of hard work, organizers celebrated the colorful occasion with the first annual Eureka Street Art Festival, sharing the vibrancy of the community for the world to see.

“Eureka has always been home to many artists and pieces of public art, and we hope that the festival helps highlight and celebrate this,” explains Jenna Catsos, a local artist and key organizer of the event. The second annual Eureka Street Art Festival will take place from July 27 PHOTOS (RIGHT) BY LEW BUCKNER

through August 3, 2019, focusing on another worndown neighborhood of downtown that will benefit from color and light of murals. “Areas that used to be dark and a bit seedy are now walkable and inviting, encouraging folks to get out of their cars and explore Eureka,” adds Catsos.

In 2018, the festival brought together 24 local and regional artists, who collectively beautified Eureka with 22 new pieces of public art. Works included classic North Coast sensimag.com MARCH 2019 31

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imagery like Dakota Daetwiler’s rendition of the Madaket,

nightscape on the Buhne Building, followed by an abstract

Humboldt’s own local “cruise ship,” which has docked at C

exploration of hot pink by an expressionist painter known

Street since 1910. Blake Reagan’s creation was a crowd fa-

as Mr. Jago. Both murals still grace the Old Town landscape,

vorite inspired by the late Billy Holiday; the singer croons

providing a fascinating urban juxtaposition to the grassroots

on the side The Speakeasy, a New Orleans-themed cocktail

Eureka Street Art Festival. Those who believe that discourse

bar surrounded by psychedelic pops of color from Reagan’s

is the goal are happy to see more street art on deck with

signature “wall flowers.” Illustrator Dave Van Patten also

the upcoming 2019 Street Art Festival. “Our goal is to create

used the side of a local watering hole as a canvas for his

intentional, accessible art that enlivens public spaces and

Diego Rivera-esque narrative mural titled The Shanty Hoe-

stimulates community revitalization,” explains Catsos.

down. Running the entire length of an old parking lot, Van

At Eureka’s Visitor’s Center, housed inside the lobby of

Patten’s colorful work of art is now a destination—visitors

the Clarke Historical Museum since 2017, Visit Eureka

enjoy searching for the beloved face of David Bowie amidst

director Alanna Powell has watched street art transform

Van Patten’s busy scene of characters and political intrigue.

the look and feel of Old Town. “The new public art adds vi-

Locals insist that street art isn’t just about entertaining

brancy to the city that tourists really notice,” says Powell,

tourists–it’s for the community. And nothing like public art

who also serves as executive director of Humboldt Made,

gets people talking. In 2017, two new commissions stirred

a non-profit that advocates for makers and entrepreneurs

up local controversy when the Black Faun Art Project Group

across the county. “The more art and artists we can sup-

sponsored two different well-known UK artists, each with

port in Eureka, the better.”

international followings, to paint murals on historic Old Town buildings. Dan Kitchener re-created a busy Tokyo city

To learn more, follow #EUREKASTREETARTFESTIVAL on social or visit EUREKASTREETARTFESTIVAL.COM

sensimag.com MARCH 2019 33

When it gets down to it, strains aren’t the best way to let customers know what they’re getting.

by L E L A N D R U C K E R

34 MARCH 2019 Emerald Triangle

A CURIOUS CONSUMER ENTERS A DISPENSARY LOOKING FOR

just the right strain

TO EASE BACK PAIN AND GET SOME SLEEP AT NIGHT. “WELL,” SAYS THE BUDTENDER, “WE’VE GOT CAT PISS, PURPLE MONKEY BALLS, AND GREEN CRACK.” WELL, THAT HELPS.

Strains are all the currency in legal cannabis today. Before legalization, you mostly just bought pot, in a plastic bag, with no name attached. (Well, maybe “this is some good shit, man.”) Legendary strains like Acapulco Gold, Panama Red, and Colombian were sometimes around, but those names resided mostly in popular songs and conspiracy theories about cigarette companies taking over the cannabis business.

Today it’s a whole different ballgame. A popular website for information is Wikileaf, whose Strain Library includes thousands of names—Arcata Trainwreck, Orange Creamsickle, 707 Headband, Afghan Cow, Afghan Diesel, Afghan Haze, Afghan Kush, Afghan Skunk, Afghani, Afgooey, Willie Nelson, and Willie Wonka among them— catalogued according to their popularity, common uses and effects, time of use, and percentages of THC and CBD. But does Green Crack, for instance, affect you like, well, environmentally sound cocaine that you smoke from a glass pipe? What does Cat Piss smell like when you burn it? And the Purple Monkey Balls. … Do we even want to go there?

“There’s a strain called Grandma’s Breath,” says Dave Malone, breeder and co-owner of Green Dot Labs, a top Colorado-based extract brand. “The culture finds this fascinating and will embrace that,” he says. “But to the mainstream, they see something like Green Crack and say, ‘I don’t want this.’”

Strain summaries are pretty general and anecdotal in nature. Arcata Trainwreck “is particularly effective against pain, migraine, and nausea.” Green Crack gets its name from cannabis aficionado Snoop Dogg, “Although some still prefer the name Cush to sidestep any unwanted cannabis stigma, the love for this fruity and earthy strain is unanimous.” Cat Piss has a “pungent stench” and consumers either “love it or they’re not fond of it at all.” (There’s even an indica called “Sensi Star” that is 20 percent THC that “smells of a coniferous forest and a citrus lemon” and has been called a ‘one-hit quitter’ and recommended for those with a high tolerance that caught my interest.)

Though it doesn’t track particular strains, consumer trends and marketing data firm BDS Analytics collects and studies data around cannabis legalization. As sales of flower cannabis have lost market share to concentrates, edibles, and vape products, cultivators, brands, and dissensimag.com MARCH 2019 35

36 MARCH 2019 Emerald Triangle

pensaries are increasingly naming new strains to try and

va or indica. (Ruderalis, or hemp, is the same plant bred

differentiate and brand themselves. The company has

for minuscule amounts of THC.) Sativa plants are gen-

seen an explosion in the number of named strains avail-

erally considered tall and skinny and known for their

able. Its database contains more than 41,000 strain names.

seed, fiber, and flowers. Sativas are generally associated

Those numbers, say Greg Shoenfeld, VP of Operations

with activity and creativity, while indicas are thought to

and BDS’s lead analyst, tend to imply that custom names

be bushier, smaller plants and related to relaxing, couch-

could be assigned to strains regardless of genetics, and

lock, sedating effects. And most plants these days are

that, in fact, many of the strain names are of the same or

hybrids, or mixtures of various cannabinoids, especially

similar genetics. “Whether those strains are unique or

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, and CBD, or cannabidiol.

not is a valid question,” he says.

Wait, isn’t cannabis just cannabis?

Researchers have identified more than 100 different chemical compounds known as cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, but the only ones that have been studied ex-

Though nobody knows for sure, most historians date

tensively are THC and CBD—the first identified and most

cannabis and its cultivation back to central Asia at least

prevalent substances in cannabis plants. But cannabis also

6,000 years, and the plant has migrated around the world

produces about 100 terpenoids, or terpenes, which are bred

along with humans over the centuries. It is mentioned

for the fragrances they produce, and we’re just starting to

in every culture, and used as an industrial agricultural

learn how cannabinoids and terpenes work together. But

product for fiber, medicines, and food as well as in reli-

the emphasis today remains mostly on how THC and CBD

gious ceremonies.

perform in combinations together and separately—high

Humans have been cultivating and breeding plants for certain characteristics, and with cannabis, different strains

THC/low CBD, low THC/high CBD and equal mixtures—but nothing for all those other compounds in the plant.

were developed in different geographic areas, climates,

Complicating this is the fact that cannabis, for the

and altitudes. Cannabis spread to western and southern

most part, has been illegal, and grown illicitly, without

Asia and the Balkan and Caucasus mountains, and these

much regard for keeping track of ancestry or lineage,

strains, the result of escaped, or feral, cultivars (plants

and you’re left with a lot of confusion.

grown by selective breeding) were domesticated and bred to survive in local conditions, some for their psychoactive qualities and others for their hemp fiber and seed.

Dispensaries generally define cannabis as either sati-

What’s in a name?

Back in the early days of Napa Valley’s wine industry, legendary vintner Robert Mondavi was producing an sensimag.com MARCH 2019 37

38 MARCH 2019 Emerald Triangle

incredible sauvignon blanc at his Napa estate. A world-

rietal difference that would objectively suggest how a

class wine, he was sure, but at the time, sauvignon blanc

strain might react. “A high abundance compound in a

was about as popular as merlot is now. Meaning, it was

plant, such as THC or CBD, isn’t necessarily responsible

totally unpopular. No one would buy a sauv blanc. So he

for the unique medicinal effects of certain strains,” says

called it a Fumé Blanc, and voila! Everyone would drink it.

Elizabeth Mudge, one of the authors. “Understanding the

There’s some of that going on in the marketing of canna-

presence of the low-abundance cannabinoids could pro-

bis today. Every grower, business, and dispensary is trying

vide valuable information to the medical cannabis com-

to distinguish their products from everyone else’s. There’s

munity. It’s a high-profile, complex plant.”

plenty of competition out there. “It’s a completely arbitrary

Botto says that consumers are already figuring this out as

marketing ploy to give consumers brand equity into that

we wait on more research and information. “Nailing down

strain,” says Malone about how strains are marketed. “Peo-

all those differences is what is happening,” says Botto. “It’s

ple find additional value because they can associate it with

hugely important to be able to map terpenes to systems.”

the memory of music or an image that will trigger that product. It’s a lifestyle, and people gravitate towards that.”

Since there are no real testing standards in place yet, many facilities are only looking for certain compounds,

But research indicates that these terminologies might not

like THC or CBD, which means the results can be unreli-

be as accurate or helpful as we might think. “A lot of people

able. “What they say about a strain is not necessarily true,”

talk about indica and sativa,” says Paul Botto, CEO of Lucid

says Vergara. This is really problematic for medical pa-

Green, an app that lets

tients, she adds, since

consumers

ex-

they rely upon accurate

actly what compounds

know

information to get the

are in their cannabis.

results they need.

“But they are too broadly characterized: sativa as uppity, indica as couch lock. But some indicas with certain terpenes behave like a sativa.”

Dr. Daniela Vergara is an evolutionary biologist

“If you’re in a bad

“Our end ocannab inoid sys different tems are . It’s incu mbent o find wha n you to t makes you feel better.”

—Dr. Dan iela Verg

researching cannabis ge-

ara, Unive rsity of C olorado

mood,

cannabis

can

make it worse. If you just won the lottery, it will make you feel so much goddam better,” says Malone. “It’s the subjective

nature

of

everything. Our endo-

nomics at the University

cannabinoid

of Colorado and founder/

are different. It’s incum-

director of the nonprofit

bent on you to find what

Agricultural

makes you feel better.”

Genomics

systems

Foundation. She says that the current method of determining

Vergara suggests that consumers need to demand

how people might react to a strain is the best we have right

better information. “Don’t be guided by what people tell

now. But her research suggests that just because a cannabis

you,” Vergara says. “Tell them, ‘Show me the terpenoids.

strain in different dispensaries has the same name—Blue

Show me the cannabinoids.’”

Dream, for instance, is a popular strain in Colorado—it doesn’t

As consumers become more informed and begin to de-

necessarily mean they are related. And she has found that

mand better information about terpenes and the way they

the characteristics we generally distinguish as indica or sati-

react with cannabinoids, says Schoenfeld, “It is likely that

va don’t necessarily apply to all plants.

they will be less discerning about the strain name and

She points to “The Genetic Structure of Marijuana and Hemp,” a 2015 Canadian study that found “a moderate

more interested in the cannabinoid and terpene profile of a particular batch and how it might benefit them.”

correlation between the genetic structure of marijuana

That might make that trip to the dispensary a lot differ-

strains and their reported sativa and indica ancestry

ent when you stop in looking for something to relax after a

and show that marijuana strain names often do not re-

long day of work. “We have a special today on a flower bud

flect a meaningful genetic identity.”

with limonene-plus and touches of myrcene and caryo-

A 2017 study at the University of British Columbia also suggests that there really isn’t that much of a va-

phyllene.” Not as exciting as those Monkey Balls, perhaps, but all in all, probably a more satisfying experience. sensimag.com MARCH 2019 39

Confessions of a Wabi-Fraudie, or Pay No Attention to What’s Under The Stairs.

by R O BY N G R I G G S L AW R E N C E

40 MARCH 2019 Emerald Triangle

I had so much shit I got rid of most of it Wabi-sabi me?

When I started writing about wabi-sabi, right around

say vinyl planks); rice paper, not glass. Wabi-sabi cele-

9/11, the Japanese philosophy of finding beauty in im-

brates cracks and crevices and rot, reminding us that we

perfection had a serious underground following, but

are all transient beings—that our bodies, as well as the

most people still thought wabi-sabi was that spicy green

material world around us, are in the process of returning

stuff you eat with sushi. Marie Kondo was, like, 10.

to the dust from which we came. “

Wabi-sabi was a great umbrella for a lot of conversa-

Well, you can see. This didn’t land all that well in the forev-

tions I was enmeshed in as the editor of a green lifestyle

er-rich, forever-young early aughts, which launched the Kar-

magazine: simplicity, the Slow movement (starting with

dashians and eventually crashed into the Great Recession.

Slow Food and evolving into Slow Everything), reduction, recycling, reuse. It was still pretty early for a lot of those conversations in 2001, though, and it was early for wabi-sabi in America, too.

In those first few months after the planes hit the towers,

A Simple, Unpretentious Oasis in an Extravagance- and War-Weary World In 2011, while Americans were still smarting from the financial meltdown four years earlier, I wrote a follow-up

my agent and I and a handful of people in publishing were

book, Simply Imperfect: Revisiting the Wabi-Sabi House,

pretty certain Americans would retreat and nest, plant

for a small, progressive Canadian publisher. I didn’t get a fat

Victory gardens, and live more thriftily, as they always had

advance. But it seemed like the time might finally be right

during times of war. I got a fat advance to write The Wa-

for wabi-sabi, and I wanted to see it have its day. If everyone

bi-Sabi House just as Americans—at the directive of Pres-

embraced it, we would have a completely different world.

ident George W. Bush, who told them it was the patriotic

Wabi-sabi was born from the Japanese Tea Ceremony,

thing to do—embraced easy credit and went shopping. My

a simple Zen ritual for making and sharing a cup of tea

book wasn’t the runaway bestseller we thought it would be.

that warlords in 15th-century Japan turned into a means

Wabi-sabi—if you’re being real about it—is a tough sell for

of showing off their immense wealth through gaudy Tea

Americans. An ancient philosophy with roots in Zen, it’s

houses full of gilded imported goods. The wabi way of Tea

about revering austerity, nature, and the everyday and ac-

(wabichado) grew out of a backlash to that, championed by

cepting the natural cycle of growth, decay, and death. A re-

a master so powerful his style is practiced to this day. Sen

action to the prevailing aesthetic of lavishness, ornamen-

no Rikyu’s quiet, simple Tea ceremony, with tea served in

tation, and rich materials in 15th-century Japan, wabi-sabi

locally fired bowls and flowers in fishermen’s baskets, was

is the art of finding beauty in imperfection and profundity

what everyone wanted. Wood, bamboo, and hospitality

in earthiness, and revering authenticity above all.

were in; porcelain, lacquer, and pretension were out.

“It’s everything our sleek, mass-produced, technol-

Japan had just gone through several centuries of war and

ogy-saturated culture isn’t,” I wrote in The Wabi-Sabi

extravagant consumerism, and Rikyu’s Tea ceremony pro-

House. “It’s flea markets, not warehouse stores (today I

vided the simple, unpretentious oasis that society craved.

would say Amazon); aged wood, not Pergo (today I would

For wealthy merchants and shoguns, it felt like the ultimate sensimag.com MARCH 2019 41

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42 MARCH 2019 Emerald Triangle

Great Uncluttering Advice (If You Follow It)

Here’s what I had to say about uncluttering in Simply Imperfect: Uncluttering is common sense; there’s no magic to it. All the experts offer the same basic advice, in one form or another. It goes like this:

luxury, the epitome of high art. For peasants and commoners, it made the art of Tea accessible. Preparing and serving the bitter green tea became a means for everyday samurai, who had few material comforts, to escape for a moment and share a ritual. Ichigo, ichie, or “once in a lifetime,” is perhaps the most important tenet when learning the art of Tea. We never know what might happen tomorrow, or even later today, but right now we can stop for a cup of tea.

Wabi, the name for Rikyu’s style of Tea, was often used by poets to evoke melancholy. One of my favorite

• Don’t try to unclutter your entire house at once. Start with a drawer or a shelf and move to problem areas (such as the garage or basement) once you’ve had some smaller success.

descriptions of it is “the feeling you have when you’re

• Maintenance is key. Spend 15 minutes per day cleaning up daily detritus before it becomes overwhelming.

up with wabi, but conjoined it takes on an entourage ef-

• Take everything out of a drawer or closet and spread it out in front of you. You’ll eliminate more and organize what’s left more efficiently if you can see it all at once.

(This also gives you a chance to clear out the dust and run a damp rag over the surface.)

and rust; the enchantment of old things; appreciation for

• Mark four boxes or bags “Keep,” “Give Away,” “Throw Away,” and “Hold for One Year.” (The last one’s for items you don’t need or use but just can’t bear to part with yet. If you haven’t touched these things in a year, their time has come.)

• If in doubt, throw it out. Give it to Goodwill or any of the charitable organizations who send trucks around to collect it. Or give it away on Craigslist. Nothing moves faster than the stuff in the “Free” listings.

• If you can’t find a good home for something, it’s time to say farewell.

• Get rid of two items every time you buy a new one.

waiting for your lover.” It evokes a little monk in his torn robe, enjoying a night by the fire, content in poverty. No one’s quite sure how or when the word sabi got hooked fect. Meaning “the bloom of time,” sabi connotes tarnish dignified, graceful aging. Wabi-sabi, then, is a philosophy that reveres age, imperfection, and natural order.

We don’t practice Tea in this culture, though, and it can be hard to see how it translates for 21st-century Westerners who drink lots of coffee. Like all good philosophies, wabi-sabi gives us a launching point toward thinking about what matters. To practice it, or to become what is called a wabibito, means living modestly, satisfied with things as they are, owning only what’s necessary for its utility or beauty (ideally, both).

But What’s Under Those Stairs?

Both of my books have entire chapters on the importance of uncluttering and how to do it. I’m something of an expert. Unfortunately, they both have chapters on

• Keep like items with like: cups, baking goods, candles, etc.

decorating with salvage and flea market finds and how

• Allow only three items on each surface.

to find them, so I’m something of an expert on that as

• Cover only one-tenth of a table; use objects of differing sizes.

well. These areas of expertise don’t play nice together,

• Just say no to refrigerator magnets. They encourage clutter.

• Keep windowsills clear of knickknacks and potted plants.

• Use baskets and bowls to collect mail, pens and pencils, loose change, and all the other odds and ends that collect on counters and tabletops.

as you can imagine.

I wrote Simply Imperfect post-divorce, after I’d moved into a townhouse and left most everything behind. Looking back, I’m hilarious. “Living in a small space keeps me from acquiring things,” I wrote. “Except for storage, my

• Storage is key to containing clutter. Storage areas should make up at least ten percent of your home’s total square footage and be placed so that you can store items where they’re used. (If you can’t get rid of the stuff, hide it well.)

little house has just enough of everything.”

• Furnishings that do double duty as storage help minimize clutter. A wicker chest holding blankets can serve as a coffee table in the TV room; a small chest of drawers makes a great end table.

of crap to build up. When the space became impene-

I was so smug and such a wabi-fraudie, hiding everything under the stairs in the basement.

My townhome had a terrible little crawl space, far too deep and narrow, that encouraged layers upon layers trable, I would stand in the doorway and throw stuff in.

The woman I bought the house from warned me about it during the closing. She’d thought she could show the house furnished until she looked in there. When it came time for me to sell the place 10 years later, I felt her pain. sensimag.com MARCH 2019 43

BooneyAcres@gmail.com www.BooneyAcres.com LCA18-0002181

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Live Wabi-Sabi

Without Buying Anything Wabi-sabi is the design trend of the year. Everyone from NBC News to Rachael Ray is talking about it (and if it’s on Rachael Ray’s site, can it still be cool?). It doesn’t seem like most of the media get the philosophy at its core, though, because a lot of them use it as a basis for featuring new products that consumers should buy to get the wabi-sabi “look.” Here are a few tips on getting to wabi-sabi without buying a bunch of shit, lifted from Simply Imperfect.

• Next time you sweep the floor, CONSIDER IT A MEDITATION. Opt for the broom over the Dirt Devil when possible.

• OFFER EVERYONE WHO COMES TO VISIT A CUP OF TEA. Serve it in pretty cups with something sweet. If no one comes by, enjoy a cup of tea by yourself in the late afternoon.

• KEEP ONE VASE IN YOUR HOME FILLED with seasonal flowers, branches, or grasses, ideally picked within a mile of your home.

• TAKE A WALK EVERY DAY. • LEARN TO KNIT OR CROCHET.

• PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR DAILY BREAD. Is the food you’re eating in season, and is it available locally? The meals you choose and prepare connect you with the earth’s cycles and where you live, and you’ll live a healthier life. Buy food from your local farmers’ markets and ask the produce manager at your grocery store where different items came from.

• When you’re invited to someone’s house or even to a meeting, BRING A SMALL GIFT—nothing extravagant, just a small gesture (homemade jam, apples from your tree, or a luxurious bar of soap) that lets them know they’re appreciated.

“Where the hell has all this stuff been?” everybody asked

hit the road in her van 10 years earlier and was starting

as I unearthed bins and boxes of my memorabilia, my

over again. I gave her all the bedding, too. When it was all

kids’ art projects, photo albums, toys, sports equipment,

over, I felt like I’d had an ayahuasca-strength purging.

appliances, file cabinets, record albums, CDs, books, dish-

“Clutter smudges clarity, both physically and meta-

es, phones (four of them!), textiles, dog beds, jars, tools, old

phorically,” I wrote in Simply Imperfect. “Things you’re

paint, door, light fixtures, screws, nails (so many screws

holding onto because they were expensive, because

and nails), and assorted other crap I had tucked in there

they were gifts from your mother-in-law, or because you

and forgotten about over a decade. “In hell,” I would say.

might need them some day are all just getting in your

Clutter Smudges Clarity

way. In a wabi-sabi home, space and light are the most desirable ornaments.”

I spent a solid three months clearing out that town-

I bought an Airstream with brilliant space and light,

house, most of them under the stairs. I dumped a camper

limited but efficient storage; no room for furniture; and

truck and several carloads of stuff at Goodwill and left

no basement. After all these years and all these words, I

weekly loads for the Vietnam Veterans Association. I

might finally be a wabibito.

had a garage sale and got depressed watching no one

If not, I can always find a bed on Craigslist.

want my gorgeous coffee table books and pink midcentury nesting ashtrays, even for a dollar. I got tired of being rejected by my son when I texted, “Sure you don’t want those red dishes from your childhood?”

Some people wanted my shit. It felt good to give away an Eastlake chair I tripped over in my bedroom for nine years to a furniture refinisher who understood its value and could give it the love and attention it deserved. I sold my daughter’s bed to a woman who had gotten rid of everything to sensimag.com MARCH 2019 45

46 MARCH 2019 Emerald Triangle

sensimag.com MARCH 2019 47

SENSI LAUNCH PARTY & 2018 EMERALD CUP

The Sensi family and cannabis industry creatives came together to celebrate the launch of Sensi Emerald Triangle before the 2018 world-famous Emerald Cup. Northern California’s premier cannabis destination, the Cup is dedicated to advancing sustainable outdoor cultivation and honoring master cultivators. Surrounded by new PHOTOS BY JAMES REA

faces and old friends, we had a great time celebrating craft cannabis and the establishment of a brand-new voice in the Emerald Triangle.

48 MARCH 2019 Emerald Triangle

Sensi Launch Party Where: Sally Tomatoes, Santa Rosa When: December 13, 2018

The Emerald Cup Where: Sonoma County Fairgrounds When: December 15, 2018

sensimag.com MARCH 2019 49

{HereWeGo }

by N O R A M O U N C E

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binoids, naturally occurring compounds in cannabis sativa that bind to endocannabinoid receptors in the brain. With its strong psychoactive abilities, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, is the best-known cannabinoid, but it doesn’t operate alone. In recent years, a proliferation of research has focused on cannabidiol or CBD, a potent compound that acts on the body without altering your headspace—in other words, no high. Synergistically compounded with other healing herbs, CBD is the therapeutic backbone of many of

Founded by two herbalists and friends, Humboldt Apothecary offers a variety of therapeutic tinctures designed to support optimal wellness. During its first few years of business, the women-owned company operated under California’s medical marijuana regulations put forth

by Proposition 215. Today, any Californian over 21 can purchase Humboldt Apothecary’s herbal tinctures from select dispensaries, choosing from formulas designed to promote rest, relaxation, and mood.

“We see cannabis as a super food or nutritional support, rather than a drug,” explains Humboldt Apothecary co-founder Gillian Levy.

When considering adding cannabis to your personal medicine cabinet, Levy stresses the importance of understanding the endocannabinoid system, which helps to regulate intestinal function, glucose metabolism, and stress response.

If the term sounds familiar, you’ve probably heard of canna50 MARCH 2019 Emerald Triangle

Humboldt Apothecary’s tinctures.’

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“Our ‘Relax’ tincture is a really wonderful antidote to general anxiety. You can micro-dose with 5 or 10 drops and really feel the benefits. You’re taking this for radiant and vibrant health and we really aim to deliver that,” explains Levy. Formulated in a 3:1 CBD to THC ratio, each dropperful of ‘Relax’ contains 6.3 mg of CBD and 2.1 mg of THC. New users can start by micro-dosing with even smaller quantities of cannabinoids by consuming their preferred herbal tincture drop by mindful drop.

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