Cali growing and the state of the state..

[Z-ro]

AMEN. I ALWAYS hand trim, whether its a lb or 100 lbs. just comes out better and i hate the feeling that i may beat the hell out of this beautiful flower that just took me months to grow....

Like a person hand trimming wont beat the hell out of it?? With their grubby fingers and gloves touching the nug dozens of times as they roll it back and forth through their hand?? Ive see trimmers take the very best weed and turn it into generic 'mcnuggets' so over trimmed you couldnt tell what it ever once was.

 

[huligun]

This one lady I know totally Over Trims her bud tops. She is making sure the best of all the buds ends up in her stash. I don't want weed that she has trimmed anymore and it is great weed. You look at the big buds and see she cut so deep in the top she has taken the best of the bud.

 

[MMAjay420]

This one lady I know totally Over Trims her bud tops. She is making sure the best of all the buds ends up in her stash. I don't want weed that she has trimmed anymore and it is great weed. You look at the big buds and see she cut so deep in the top she has taken the best of the bud.

i have had buds like that too and yeah you CAN over trim no matter what you use but when its me and a few select others trimming, i make sure they know what they are doing, i am a firm beliver that its better to under trim than over trim, that way you can always go closer if needed

 

[SeaMaiden]

Like a person hand trimming wont beat the hell out of it?? With their grubby fingers and gloves touching the nug dozens of times as they roll it back and forth through their hand?? Ive see trimmers take the very best weed and turn it into generic 'mcnuggets' so over trimmed you couldnt tell what it ever once was.

No, they won't. I've not seen a trimmer do that, but with a machine it's guaranteed. With a trimmer all it takes is a talk. Then, if they don't do things your way, they can hit the highway.

Someone mentioned loss of smell and that's the third time I've heard that. Twice before some friends of mine, who are proponents for machines, have mentioned a serious lack of scent.

 

[Z-ro]

OK well then SM you and I live in two different worlds because every trimmer I have ever used over/under trims, takes huge chunks out of the bud(lack of attention) or fingers it to death. Talk or no talk, they do it the way they are used to and can get the most done plain and simple. I cant even begin to count the trimmers I have had, paying out 10-20k in labor cost for trimming is just another session among the several I have per year, seen more than my fair share. You cant always just say my way or the high way either, workers are in high demand especially in the fall and sometimes you just have to live with it and be happy its even getting done.

 

[SeaMaiden]

I'm curious, do you notice a difference depending on the sex of the trimmer? I've found I really prefer working with other women. They handle things far more delicately and are far less likely to be so insistent on doing things their way. The last male trimmer I was using was very good, but he had problems so I'm no longer using his services. But before him all the other males did exactly what you're describing, which is why I don't work with them anymore. I also couldn't get them to separate the sugar leaves and 'hashable' trim (what gets donated first for oil and such) from the main stems, branches and large spent fan leaves.

Once I find someone I like working with, I do my very best to keep them. Conversely, any person or business I have serious problems with that find no resolution are no longer part of my repertoire.

Clearly, though, with the volume you're processing and the problems you say you've had with humans, it's a better trade off for you to go with a more reliable machine than with the human factor.

 

[kmk420kali]

Someone mentioned loss of smell and that's the third time I've heard that. Twice before some friends of mine, who are proponents for machines, have mentioned a serious lack of scent.

I believe it is from having to put it through wet...and then dry it--
I am a big believer in drying plants whole...then trimming-- But yeah...when it gets too big, you have to adapt--

 

[MMAjay420]

I'm curious, do you notice a difference depending on the sex of the trimmer? I've found I really prefer working with other women. They handle things far more delicately and are far less likely to be so insistent on doing things their way. The last male trimmer I was using was very good, but he had problems so I'm no longer using his services. But before him all the other males did exactly what you're describing, which is why I don't work with them anymore. I also couldn't get them to separate the sugar leaves and 'hashable' trim (what gets donated first for oil and such) from the main stems, branches and large spent fan leaves.

Once I find someone I like working with, I do my very best to keep them. Conversely, any person or business I have serious problems with that find no resolution are no longer part of my repertoire.

Clearly, though, with the volume you're processing and the problems you say you've had with humans, it's a better trade off for you to go with a more reliable machine than with the human factor.

I was lucky enough to be a part of a grow a few years ago where the guy managed a few night clubs as well as a bikini bar. Most of those girls smoked as well so when we had to round up 6 more trimmers, lo and behold, i had 6 gorgeous women there smoking, trimming and keeping a big old kool-aid smile on my face for 2 days.....ah the good old days, lol... now in retrospect, i kick my self in the ass for not taking any pix...

 

[GanjaRebelSeeds]

Like a person hand trimming wont beat the hell out of it?? With their grubby fingers and gloves touching the nug dozens of times as they roll it back and forth through their hand?? Ive see trimmers take the very best weed and turn it into generic 'mcnuggets' so over trimmed you couldnt tell what it ever once was.

True,although proper management of trimmers and they should be trimming it exactly as you want.

 

[420mike]

I work a day job as well as my grows. The last 10 years in Oregon we always had an outdoor crop ontop of the indoor grow. Many a night and weekend have been sitting around with friends trimming by hand and shooting the shit. Trim parties are a great excuse to get together and just hang. I have a friend who uses a trim pro and I am kind of embarassed for him because the quality of his smoke is so much better that how it looks. I like to trim tight and have pretty buds. Whats the use of all of that work that we put into a grow if we are just going to short cut the end? No thanks.

 

[greenmatter]

you'll get my fiskars when you pry my cold dead hands off of them!

i hate trimming with a passion, but i still do it by hand. faster is not always better IMHO ...... but i don't do 200 pounds at a time either so i don't need a machine

 

[DreamsofTesla]

Folks keep trying to fool me, challenging me, if you will, to say which are the machine trimmed buds are which are hand trimmed. Seriously? I don't even need to get out my loupe, I can spot it a mile away. And I ask the very same questions, Why on earth would someone spend all that time and money to harvest trichomes, and then knock 'em all off?

I'm also a believer in spreading the love and prefer to hire trimmers when and wherever I can. We do have that luxury in California, so I'm all about enjoying a little luxury.

Hello, complete noob here

Can anyone post pictures for comparison purposes?

I'm just doing my first dinky little grow right now, but I suspect I would make the world's greatest trimmer. Just sayin'!

<3 Tesla

 

[DreamsofTesla]

I've found I really prefer working with other women. They handle things far more delicately and are far less likely to be so insistent on doing things their way.

You know, it's funny you say that. I'm a woman, and the thought of hand sculpting buds for hours on end and being paid for it sounds like heaven on earth to me. Combination love of fine needlework and OCD I guess.


I've also stopped going to nail places where they have men doing the mani/pedi. I find that they chop my cuticles all to shit, and I can repeatedly pull my hand or foot away in obvious pain without them changing their speed or force. It's like they think they're sanding a piece of wood or something. I've never had that with a woman.

<3 Tesla

 

[SeaMaiden]

You know, it's funny you say that. I'm a woman, and the thought of hand sculpting buds for hours on end and being paid for it sounds like heaven on earth to me. Combination love of fine needlework and OCD I guess.


I've also stopped going to nail places where they have men doing the mani/pedi. I find that they chop my cuticles all to shit, and I can repeatedly pull my hand or foot away in obvious pain without them changing their speed or force. It's like they think they're sanding a piece of wood or something. I've never had that with a woman.

<3 Tesla

I still find it creepy to have a man do my nails, especially my feet. It's too... sexually charged. And yeah, I've seen them work, they're choppers, not artists.

One of my best trimmers used to be a hairstylist. Unfortunately, the flake factor fu was just too strong and I could not continue to work with her.

 

[CanniDo Cowboy]

Damn. It's getting worse every friggin' year. What the hell is up with Cali growers? I have been a Cali grower for 28 years (not necessarily consecutive) and this shit is ridiculous. Now, I don't know that it's Cali natives or green rushers but I don't really care. Just let me say this....


Just because you thought you were some kind of badass with a name and you went out got yourself a shiny, brand new Trimpro, it does NOT make you a "trim pro". From what I've seen in my corner of NorCal, it more like makes you an ass hat retard.

Jesus. You guys are fantastic growers. You spend thousands pre-season amending your spot. You spend countless hours prepping. A lot of you are growing 5 lbs plants and some even more. Then, when it's time, FAIL! What's the fuckin point??? Do you just give up? You chop your plants, throw them into the garage and a couple weeks later you beat them against the side of your shiny brand new Trimpro for a minute and call it good? Then you have the audacity to demand top market value??? What the fuck is wrong with you???

Big boy dollars is for big boy weed. Buy some goddamn scissors and pay attention!! At the beginning of the season it was a source of comedy to watch you get all fucking butthurt when you asked for top dollar and got shot down. Now, it's just old. I've never seen it this bad. Ugliest fucking weed ever. No pride at all. No respect for the plant. No respect for anybody. It's completely meaningless. Just cash out and go home, right? If I EVER tried to pass off product that looked like that, I would probably chop off my own dick and wear it for a forehead ornament just so everyone would know what they were dealing with...

K. Sorry. Rant over..

LOL pard...No reason to get all worked up over something that was inevitable to begin with...By that I mean, it had to happen. Its how ANY industry evolves.

It's the "Made In China" theory. First: discover or create a product, 2nd: manufacture it in a high quality setting, 3rd: once it develops a solid reputation for quality, find a 3rd world country in which to mass produce cheaply, thereby sacrificing the higher quality factor for mass sales. In other words, I can sell you one pair of hand made boots for $500.00 and make a profit of $150 or I can go to China, Guatamala, Mexico etc , set up a factory using machines and semi trained, dirt poor locals and turn out 100 pairs of boots a day, at a profit of $50.00 each. But, hi-tech machinery is the key.

While the hand made pair of boots will still be in demand for those who wont settle for less, affordability always plays a part for those who will. Henry Ford proved it a long time ago. Weed isnt any different. It is also an industry. As such, the larger it grows (no pun intended) , the more diverse production methods become, thereby creating different quality levels. Every level finds its place in the market: hand trimmed, machine trimmed, indoor, outdoor etc. IMO, as trimming machines become more acceptable in our marketplace, the end result will be similar to the boots made in China. It may be just "pretty good" or it may be total crap but reflective pricing, like in any industry, will eventually catch up to the lesser quality.

Meanwhile, the little guy, turning out his hand-trimmed, higher quality product will still have his place in our highly competitive and always changing market. Yea, he may have a tougher row to hoe having to compete against a cheaper, bulk processed product but as long as he maintains that higher quality, the market demand will be there. IMO, similar to the auto sales market where these days, selling Cadillacs and Honda Civics from the same lot is not unusual, growers who grow both high quality and a lesser quality bulk product will do fine, all things considered. As any business in a highly competitive market learns very quickly, diversity can be the difference between living high on the hog in the penthouse or just hangin out in the outhouse. CC

 

[stasis]

Trimpro, First used it at end of the first Harvest of a greenhouse 8 years ago. Partners brought it over for prelim-trim and people finished up the buds.

Was surprised to find as stated above, tons of pure unprocessed kief. What a waste., although I enjoyed it.

Most trimmers don't listen. They remember what was told to them for about 5 minutes and then go back to the same behaviour.

No drinking at a trim. People get loose, buds disappear. Too much talking.

In fact, if One can't trim and talk at the same time, then no talk.

There is no such thing as a "Trim Party." Anyone believing that is a fool. It is hard detail work, which requires concentration. Not a party atmosphere, except at breaks, and after work.

I trim as much as I can on my own, pacing myself, and drying out a portion in paper bags after hanging. To get to when I can. Trimmers are a liability.

 

[theJointedOne]

LOL pard...No reason to get all worked up over something that was inevitable to begin with...By that I mean, it had to happen. Its how ANY industry evolves.

It's the "Made In China" theory. First: discover or create a product, 2nd: manufacture it in a high quality setting, 3rd: once it develops a solid reputation for quality, find a 3rd world country in which to mass produce cheaply, thereby sacrificing the higher quality factor for mass sales. In other words, I can sell you one pair of hand made boots for $500.00 and make a profit of $150 or I can go to China, Guatamala, Mexico etc , set up a factory using machines and semi trained, dirt poor locals and turn out 100 pairs of boots a day, at a profit of $50.00 each.

While the hand made pair of boots will still be in demand for those who wont settle for less, affordability always plays a part for those who will. Henry Ford proved it a long time ago. Weed isnt any different. It is also an industry. As such, the larger it grows (no pun intended) , the more diverse production methods become, thereby creating different quality levels. Every level finds its place in the market: hand trimmed, machine trimmed, indoor, outdoor etc. IMO, as machine trimmers become more popular, the end result will be similar to the boots made in China. It may be just "pretty good" or it may be total crap but reflective pricing, like in any industry, will eventually catch up to the lesser quality.

Meanwhile, the little guy, turning out his hand-trimmed, higher quality product will still have his place in our highly competitive and always changing market. Yea, he may have a tougher row to hoe having to compete against a cheaper, bulk processed product but as long as he maintains that higher quality, the market demand will be there. IMO, similar to the auto sales market where these days, selling Cadillacs and Honda Civics from the same lot is not unusual, growers who grow both high quality and a lesser quality bulk product will prosper. As any business in a highly competitive market learns very quickly, diversity can be the difference between living in the penthouse or...the outhouse. CC

Well put. I see the industry similar to Wine also. You can get a jug of Carlos Rossi, a box of wine, one buck chuck....or you can have a nice expensive bottle of Stags Leap or Chautuenuf de Paupe....This model is already existent in our industry. The best goes for far more than the rest...

Nice to see you around CC, hope you had a nice winter and have a great 2013!

 

[nvthis]

LOL pard...No reason to get all worked up over something that was inevitable to begin with...

I readily agree that Trimpros are here to stay. My gripe was with growers feeling like there Hondas are Bugatti worthy. It gets quite annoying after a spell... Also, please note at the end of my post where I mentioned "Rant over". That generally indicates that my degree of worked up-ness has come and gone quite a few posts back.....

 

[kmk420kali]

I readily agree that Trimpros are here to stay. My gripe was with growers feeling like there Hondas are Bugatti worthy. It gets quite annoying after a spell... Also, please note at the end of my post where I mentioned "Rant over". That generally indicates that my degree of worked up-ness has come and gone quite a few posts back.....

Fuck that man....get worked up...stay worked up!! This is Heart Attack worthy!! Lol!!

 

[tngreen]

great thread, hopefully we see things settle and clear quality segments emerge. I agree with what has been said regarding there will always be a place at the top for quality. Just maybe not a ton of it.