About 5 days a go, I shared that I am in the process of exercising my Canadian right to grow my own medicine as a medical cannabis patient. I have been using cannabis to treat a disease called Multiple Sclerosis since 2008 and this harmless plant has put my autoimmune disease into remission.
Starting the process was a historic day in my life and what this really means to me is... freedom.
I will no longer be forced to buy the cannabis plant medicine, that my body needs through a government facility that is over-charging and gouging people through a monopoly that is trying desperately to be secured.
In a peaceful way, by exercising my right to grow, I am adding my voice to the growing number of other Canadian medical cannabis patients who have also decided that the current model, a monopoly on the sale and distribution of cannabis, doesn't work for them either.
As this new licensing is in process for me, @knarly327 and I decided to build our very own grow room and we haven't wasted any time.
Only 2 days after my paperwork was filed, we found some gently used growing equipment advertised for re-sale in our area. We'd been researching what we would need for quite some time and when this little package of hardware was listed, we jumped at the chance to go and look at it and we decided to buy it.
Here's what we bought, second hand for $210 Canadian:
- a cool tube 600 watt light with a digital, dimmable transformer;
- a metal halide bulb; (not ceramic)
- a high pressure sodium bulb;
- a 6 inch fan with a charcoal filtre;
- a 600 watt dimmable transformer;
- and a variable speed controller.
Then we bought "new" heavy gauge 6mm plastic that is black on one side and white on the other. The white will let us use more of the available light from the light itself. Plus, we bought an 8 foot length of aluminum duct work so that we can vent any smell that might be left after passing through the charcoal fitre and the heat outside. In the winter, we will vent inside to recapture the heat and keep the plants more comfortable in their remote location.
Here's the stages of our build so far:
Freshly dry-walled and light coloured painted walls with new electrical outlets, wired in. We also have access to a "spring water well" in this corner. In addition, we also have access to a complete reverse osmosis system and are collecting rain water, on-site too. This will give us complete control over the ph of the water that we are using to water the plants with.
Installing the heavy gauge 6mm plastic in order to get the most we can out of the 600 watt light.
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Then, a small shelf was installed that's 1 foot deep by 5 feet long. This will accommodate 3 seedling trays that are 10 inches deep by 21 inches long. Each tray can hold 24 seedlings, giving us room for 72 seedlings at any one time if we want to.
Next, the light was installed.
The floor was marked to determine the exact centre of the light, using a plumb-bob. This will provide a guide for the ultimate plant placement. The light is rated for a 4 foot by 4 foot growing area. Hopefully it will accommodate 6 plants...four for sure.
The fan is now in place, along with the transformer and the speed controller.
The charcoal fitre was next to be installed and it will be ducted outside through a 6 inch dryer vent for summer-time operation when extra heat is an issue. In the winter, we are going to duct inside to re-capture some of the heat when it's minus 30 below and the heat generated could be used.
Here's what the set-up looks like from a different angle.
Lit-up! (Yahoo!)
In stage two, walls will be made with 2 by 2 (s) ripped from 2 by 4 (s) and covered with the same heavy gauge 6 mm plastic. A doorway will be made at the front.
It's very cool and I can't tell you how excited I am to be able to be growing for myself.
To have control over how my plants are cared for and what they are fed provides me with an incredible amount of piece of mind and relief.
Considering that, 4 of the government sanctioned growers have been caught red-handed using ban pesticides on their plants, in the last 3 months. It's made already sick people, even sicker and there is currently a class-action law-suit filed. I feel like the only people that you can trust right now (in the Canadian Cannabis industry) are people who you know really well, personally... and yourself.
I welcome your comments and I invite you to follow me on my journey.
~ Rebecca Ryan
What a delight! Can't wait to see your progress ☺
Thank you @dozjia!
Great job on your setup Rebecca!
I grew in Colorado, so my recent move to Hawaii has me missing my girlfriends! 💚
Have you decided to grow in soil, or coco?
And which nutrient line are you planning on using?
I suggest 3 lines for their ease of use.
All of these are what we call "grow by number, where you follow a schedule and have different " recipies" with each feeding. You cannot screw them up!
Botanicare is awesome, cheapest, and the simple choice for beginners.
Canna is complex but completely developed for marijuana, and it yields very well for the cost.
And last House and Garden, which was developed out of Ansterdam for marijuana is the most complex, but it has never disappointed.
And remember to flush either regularly, but for sure the last week of grow, with clearex and lots of plain ph water. :)
Last, in my opinion, from my grow I was able to grow great veg plants under 600 watts, but when flowering, I had only two under each, and was still needing more lumens.
With your cooltube, I think you might have smaller buds still. I recommend to lollipop more of the bottoms out, and this also helps keep buggies away also.
I know a preferred hoods for temp control, but 600's are best with just simple reflectors, and no glass over them.
And last, for your ms control, I suggest master kush or another similar very high indica plant for the better pain reliving qualities.
I wish you tons of luck!
And my only other tip is to only water plants when the topsoil is dry so you don't rot out their roots.
Next year July Canada gets their recreational for anyone over 18, and I expect that to be a game changer, the world over!
I hope my migraines get a nice cbd hybrid indica strain and a place to plant it, as a gift to celebrate!
Tell those ladies I miss em, and I send Lots of love!
Take care!
--Fry
Oh Fry, I can't tell you how much I appreciate your comments.
I am growing in soil to start.
The nutrient line is Dutch Nutrients (Organic)
Good to know about the lumens...we really want to get into led lights but just didn't have the finances right out of the gate.
I agree. My body does really well with heavy indicas.
I am concerned about the roots so thanks for the tip on the watering frequency.
Thanks again, I greatly appreciate your interest in my small grow project and your fantastic advice. I feel like I am completely surrounded by wonderful teachers. ;)
Glad to help! I consider my time in Colorado's industry as my schooling! ;)
I'm not sure on red lights, but spectrum is important. I am going to use a magnetic "old school" balast and ceramic bulbs when I start growing again, because the spectrum doesn't have a couple of peaks, it literally goes straight across the whole spectrum where every bit can be used.
Again, stuff I saw and didn't see in the dispensaries there. :)
I followed you, so I can give more tips if I see the place down the road to help again.
I am very much a patient advocate, and activist who cares. :)
Lastly, youtube has thousands of videos, and google searches always point to info in books, free of charge!
Enjoy your garden!
Plant lotsa smiles! =D
Thank you @unfaakinreal. I really do appreciate your help and opinions. I am watching lots of growing videos and using Jorge Cervantes' Cannabis encyclopedia...It's like the bible of cannabis. LOL!
That is just awesome! I'm envious(unfortunately living in a non 420 friendly area) and looking forward to future pictures.
Thank you @sighmanjestah! I will do my best to keep everyone updated as I go...
If anything, it's interesting to see the whole spectrum...from little "do it yourselfers" like me to the big commercial grows with 100s or 1000s of plants. ;)
Good for you. It's coming along nicely. Glad to hear that you are making progress in acquiring your freedom. I totally agree that the only people you can ultimately trust are people you know personally and yourself. The stigma around cannabis is being dulled and the more that people exercise their right to cultivate, where legal, the more the effect will spread. Keep up the great work.
Thank you very much @whotiewho!
Big smiles, all the way around @clayboyn!
Cool. Wish i could do that.
I wish everyone was free to do so too. I wanted to for years and through many hoops jumped...it will soon be a reality, for me.
Thanks for commenting. I have followed you @funkit!
No problem. There will be upvotes comming your way. Wish you the best.
I look forward to following your progress. I think growing your own does give you control over healthy plants.
Thanks so much for your support and comments @katdvine. I really appreciate it and am really relieved to have gained control. Now, I just have to transfer my gardening skills to growing herb. ;)
I am also hoping that one day this will also be possible for me.
I wish this for you too @katdvine! I think once Canada legalizes on the recreational as well as medical next year it will create a domino effect and we will see other countries follow Canada's example.
(Canada is currently following both Colorado's and Californian's lead from the USA.)
I know that Australia and Germany are not far behind Canada and I can't imagine that Ireland will be too far behind either.
Congrats and good luck with this adventure as I am sure it will be a great one!
Look forward to updates on it.
Thanks for sharing and Steem on :)
Thanks so much @jcsteem! It has and will continue to be a challenge with a steep learning curve, I think.
Congratulation and good luck for the best.
Thank you very much @how2steemit!
Congrats! Good luck with your project!
Thanks so much @rangertx! I love the gif. ;)
Keep up the good fight @rebeccaryan, looks great.
Thank you very much @macstyly!
I had a friend that had a grow room I couldn't believe how fast they grow amazing:-)
Yes, I keep reminding myself...this is a weed that likes to grow vivaciously. It can grow 13 feet tall and 3 feet wide if you let it. Some day, I will let one grow to be a tree...lol It's important to have goals. LOL!
Thanks for commenting @realdeal!
Welcome to Steemit! I have followed you. :)
Thanks:-)
You are most welcome.
Wow! You're making fantastic progress. It looks great!! I m so happy to see you reclaim the freedom to care for your own body as you see fit. Rock ON...you have many people supporting you.
Thank you so much @tamaralovelace! I feel the love for sure. ;)
Welcome to Steemit!
(I have followed you.)
hanks so much for the welcome!! and the follow too LOL
That looks like a really good setup. Well done.
Wow! You got a lot made in a short period of time! :o
There is no rest for the wicked...lol!
(I'm just joking...)