The Hobby Grow Podcast

Episode #29: Closet Grows, Raids, and Hobby Breeding with Bronson of Cyclone Gardens

This episode we are joined by Bronson from Cyclone Gardens [https://www.instagram.com/cyclone_gardens], a longtime home grower and breeder whose cannabis journey stretches from early closet grows in Texas to creating standout hash genetics in Colorado. Bronson has spent years refining his craft through trial and error, old-school forums like Overgrow, commercial nursery work, home breeding projects, and an obsession with finding unique terpene profiles that stand out. I asked Bronson to join me today to talk about: * Learning to grow on the Overgrow forums in the early 2000s * Working in Colorado’s early clone nursery scene * Why he ultimately left commercial cannabis behind * Home breeding projects and hunting through his own genetics * Creating standout strains like Rum Runner * The realities of getting raided as a grower in Texas & Colorado * As well as his advice to new growers looking to improve their craft Get full access to The Hobby Grow at benowens.substack.com/subscribe [https://benowens.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Episode #28: Cooking With Cannabis with Jarod Farina (aka Chef Roilty)

This episode we are joined by Jarod Farina, aka Chef Roilty [http://dinewithroilty.com/], a cannabis chef who went from making hash in Florida to building one of the most unique infused dining experiences in the country. Jarod’s journey runs through underground hash competitions, home grows in Colorado, and eventually into fine dining kitchens including time spent staging at Joël Robuchon Restaurant Las Vegas. I asked Chef Roilty to join me today to talk about: * How winning an underground hash competition launched his cannabis career * His evolution from BHO maker to home grower to full-on chef * How cannabis and culinary worlds overlap more than people think * Lessons from working inside a Michelin-level kitchen * How he automated his grow and left it for a full month * Why most edibles miss the mark and how to do them right * As well as his advice to home growers and cannabis creators looking to level up Get full access to The Hobby Grow at benowens.substack.com/subscribe [https://benowens.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Episode #27: Inside Europe’s Cannabis Underground with Fernando (aka HedonistGrower)

This episode we are joined by Fernando Lazcano Tortosa, better known as HedonistGrower [https://www.instagram.com/HedonistGrower]. Fernando is a legacy grower with roots in Spain’s underground scene, scaling from guerrilla grows to 100-light operations supplying cannabis clubs, before stepping back and shifting into education, community, and a broader European perspective on cannabis. I asked Fernando to join me today to talk about: * His journey from early guerrilla grows to running large-scale operations in Spain * How the cannabis club model actually works in Spain vs. Germany * The reality of legalization in Europe and why it’s not what people think * The current state of homegrow, genetics, and hash culture across Europe * Where the European market is behind and where it’s catching up fast * As well as his advice for growers thinking about entering the industry Get full access to The Hobby Grow at benowens.substack.com/subscribe [https://benowens.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Episode #26: IPM For Hobby Growers with Zac Ricciardi

This episode we are joined by Zac Ricciardi, National Cannabis Specialist for BioSafe Systems [https://biosafesystems.com/] and my co-author on all things Clean Growing [http://cleangrowing.us] & Clean Growers [http://cleangrower.com]. Zac and I met through his IPM work, and he has spent years helping growers prevent problems before they start. We dive into what that looks like for hobby growers trying to keep a clean, healthy garden without overcomplicating it. I asked Zac to join me today to talk about: * How hobby growers can build a simple, practical IPM routine * What to do before and after visiting other grows * Why clean habits matter more than most growers think * How to avoid bringing pests and disease back home * Why genetics can be one of your best IPM tools * How environment and plant selection affect pest pressure * As well as his advice to other growers. Get full access to The Hobby Grow at benowens.substack.com/subscribe [https://benowens.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Episode #25: From Making Hash to Breeding for It with Terp Fountain Genetics

This episode we are joined by Terp Fountain Genetics [https://www.instagram.com/terpfountaingenetics]. Terp Fountain is a grower, hash maker, and breeder focused on solventless-first genetics. We originally connected at Indo Expo through his solventless diamonds, and this conversation gets into how years of making hash shaped the way he hunts plants, makes selections, and now breeds for the traits he actually wants to smoke. I asked Terp Fountain to join me today to talk about: * How making hash first changed the way he hunts plants * Why he started breeding for hash instead of flower * What he looks for when phenos hit the wash * Why he culls hard, including runts and weak performers * How endgames differ as a grower, hash maker, and breeder * What makes a plant worth rerunning, keeping, or crossing * As well as his advice to other growers. Get full access to The Hobby Grow at benowens.substack.com/subscribe [https://benowens.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]