The worst part of growing is growing alone

[dustydundee]

Not meant to be a sob story, but I've chatted and talked with over the years some great folks I have met online here and other places who have given me great tips on growing. Without some of those tips I've gotten right here, I would not be have the grower I am. But the fact remains, I still grow alone. I dont have anyone in my orbit that grows that I can share strategies with and have fun growng with. Really kind of sucks where you have one of those hobbies that would really benefit from team participation, but its not something you can talk about at work either. When I go back to work on Monday and my boss asked me what I did this weekend, I always struggle, cause I can't tell him I replanted 4 clones and harvested a lb of four gorrilla glues either. So, I tell him something else that is trivial and we move on.. In any case, was wondering how alone I am in this field of cannabis growing. Do you most of you grow alone, by yourself? Do you have relationships with other growers in your community that are accessbile to you to you for advise and support? How do you all work on your skills to get better at the next round?

[golfnrl]

Nope. All alone. I have a couple of family members that know I grow but they don't and we don't talk about it. None of my friends grow that I know of. Everything I know I learned here.

[GrowNinja]

Hello !!

I live in a country where growing cannabis is " sort of allowed ", heavily regulated and strict laws. But is frowned upon by the general public. There is a lot of recreational use and medicinal is starting to pick up.

I doesn't bother me though, as I find peace in tending to plants and my insatiable curiosity is being fed by every new step or hurdle to jump.

The one thing that has helped me be at ease with all of this is journaling. I have a post here where I upload photos and share.
And I have a notepad in my computer where I write all that comes to mind regarding the plants. So I don't carry all my weed thoughts all the time with me.
Everything, from colour to development, to watering, to smell, to changes and light and feelings and thoughts and expectations, etc etc.

Enjoy your grow !

[Gingerbeard]

I am surrounded by wannabe dope growers. Folks who ask how to do this or that but never do anything. They are curious about what I do. I've even given seeds to a couple people before requiring they have houseplants before trying to grow weed. I know there are dope growers in my community, but I don't know any of them.
Marijuana is legal in California, so I don't have to worry about the legals. Unfortunately, there will always be and everywhere be people who suffer from extreme cases of self-righteous indignation. The worst are people who have never been around weed but know all about it. The prohibitionists will fall by the wayside as they did after the 21st Amendment.
In the end, sometimes we have to respect others more than they respect us. We have to wear the clothes that suit the climate, so to speak.

[Ckbrew]

All by myself. There are a few people who know and who I could call on to pinch hit if I was not available to tend the garden, and a few that I give seedlings to. Better to keep it on the down low even if it is legal. There is always someone willing to take advantage of a situation. I know there are other growers in the neighborhood because I can smell their dank. I'm sure they can smell mine. Just best to keep it quiet.

[BlueRondo]

I laughed at the comment about the boss, or most anyone.... I just give them some boring household chores story while I sang "Big Rock Candy Mountains" in my head. My early excitement to discuss gave way to the better advice given above. Loose lips...
That said, it is a drag to not have someone to discuss face to face.

Just gotta bear the cross in your happy spot.

[Gingerbeard]

You are getting a thumb for the BRCM mention. Gonna have to Pandora up O Brother Where Art Thou and get my hillbilly on.

[BreezyGreens]

I have one meatspace friend who grows, which is nice, but absolutely, yes, it is lonely!

It's legal where I live, but I don't want to become a target for anything from judgement to theft. The local dispensary hosts high yoga, but no garden club.

[BlueRondo]

That song stuck with me from Better Call Saul, during my first outdoor grow. The friends I grew up with during the late 70s 80's that haven't smoked in a long time can't get the memory of that crap, from then, out of there minds and don't realize the exponential advance in quality. Or the others that still think it's taboo. Self-righteous indignation, lol.

Even the wife, until she started gummy therapy and one hitters before bed. But now ..... I have an inside grow tent. Patience worked, just like growing bud.
Thanks Dr Chong!

[Bluey]

Hey dustydundee

Lots of growers around me but apart from sharing weed from time to time go it alone.

You could show your grow in the time to show your grow thread or if your keen start your own grow journal thread which is a great way to share.

If it is legal where you are you could join an interest group, if not you could join a legalise it group and volunteer for the cause. There are plenty of places it is illegal but you'll find plenty of grass roots movements including political parties that support decriminalisation and plenty of growers connected to those movements.

[Pyrokill]

I find myself super excited about tent events and I also have basically no one in person to talk to as well. I found that one of the engineers at work grows but the conversations are just a couple sentences and pictures and we move on.

My buddy went from excited to see what I have going on to not caring quick. My wife seemed interested but I have found she has no interest in talking about it. So I get excited and have no one to talk to also. This site is awesome but I'm looking for locals in real life. A/S/L?

[GrowNinja]

I can relate... I have a very curious disposition and my sense of wonder is always ON. I get really excited when something happens or I discover some development with the plants ( and not only weed, but my plants in general ) but I realized people don't care as much as I do and... that's okay really. More weed for me. For my relatives and friends is more about smoking weed and relaxing and less about growing the plant and the processes that lead to that smoke. The metaphor i'd use It's like when the carpenter wants to show the owner how the joints and framing is done, but the owner just wants the project done and the house keys in their hands.

[Cougar672]

I first came to the GWE forum to learn, but I stuck around to have a weed growing community in my life. I don't chime in often but I read a lot of the posts and would be happy to sit, smoke and chat with any of the regulars on here.
After I started growing I discovered a "hydro" store close to me that I would go to to talk about weed growing with the staff and other customers. It was pretty cool. I didn't think much of it at the time, but after the store closed I found i missed it.

[Bowhunterwoody]

Funny, sounds like my scenario exactly. Even the hydro shop closing.

[Cougar672]

That'd be a weird coincidence if it was the same shop🤔

[User420111]

I understand where you're coming from. I also get that feeling, sometimes. But you got to look at it from the positive side too. Nobody knows what you're doing. I always keep my grow ops a secret anyway. I mean, total secrecy. My kids that live in the house with me don't even know what goes in in that locked room. Because you want to know why? Word gets out, sometimes people get stupid. I've seen people's home get invaded because they bragged about how much bud they just harvested. Not everyone needs to know your business. Just my opinion

[Rwise]

I agree with what you are saying and add, I have the reputation of being the crazy ass long hair with a big gun and a sharp shovel.

[Bluey]

Yes for this approach. I've doubled down on sharp shovels, a pruning saw and other self defense equipment!

[MoparViking]

Just found this place. Looking forward to learning from everyone here. Growing was recently legalized here in Maryland so I gave it a try for the first time last summer. I had a blast with it! Two of my cousins grew as well. We were constantly bouncing ideas off each other and helped each other on our harvest days. It was a blessing to be able to talk to people you can trust. I put two photos in the ground, Blue Dream and Acapulco Gold and a LSD 25 Auto in a pot on my deck. IMO things couldn’t have went better for me.

[Bowhunterwoody]

Welcome. Nice job!

[Bluey]

Congrats and welcome. Love those two trees in those raised garden beds. If only my outdoor grows looked like that. After growing outdoors for 30 odd years not once did I produce anything looking as good as those two, especially in early flower stage. Awesome stuff!