Moving across country... How to bring genetics with me?

[hush]

It's starting to look like I'll be moving to Oregon soon, if I get this job I applied for... How can I bring my genetics with me safely across the country?

So far all I can think of is bringing a large picnic cooler with me, with ice inside for refrigeration, and transporting the genetics as cuttings, inside of plastic baggies. People say cuts keep for weeks in the fridge, so that's where I'm going with that. But then I would have to have multiple cuttings of each of my mother plants, for redundancy, in case some don't arrive alive.

Any suggestions? Have you ever done this before?

 

[OGShaman]

Good question. I would definitely plan my route accordingly, like don't drive through Texas with that. Trafficking across state lines would suck.

Do you really have anything you can't live without or that can't be replaced in Oregon?

 

[Bud Green]

If you're driving a small U-haul truck, it shouldnt be a problem.
Just pack your ice chest all the way up in the front of the truck's box, with all your shit piled up on top of it...Pack all your bongs and grow lights under everything else too... And just drive safely and don't look suspicious...

 

[Piff Rhys Jones]

Mail the cuttings to your new address.

Peace

 

[hush]

Good question. I would definitely plan my route accordingly, like don't drive through Texas with that. Trafficking across state lines would suck.

Do you really have anything you can't live without or that can't be replaced in Oregon?

It's not that I can't, it's just that it took so long to find these keepers! I really feel like this could be done safely. And yes, we are avoiding Texas like the plague it is.

If you're driving a small U-haul truck, it shouldnt be a problem.
Just pack your ice chest all the way up in the front of the truck's box, with all your shit piled up on top of it...Pack all your bongs and grow lights under everything else too... And just drive safely and don't look suspicious...

That's what I'm thinking. We are both straight-looking, professional types and we don't do crazy things or drive fast or anything like that. I think it should be do-able.

 

[Corpsey]

I have had great success with cuttings just in a plastic bag in the fridge, so I assume a cooler with ice would be sufficient. They go into stasis, and 1 week is no problem like that. I have done 4-5 weeks with a small percentage failing to grow roots.

 

[z-ro]

That is exactly how I brought all mine. Careful about entering California too the have an ag checkpoint to make sure you're not bringing foreign pests and disease. Once you get there cut the bottoms and soak in cup of water and they will be good to go. Don't make direct contact with ice and make sure you have more than enough just in case a few don't make it.

 

[resinryder]

They make a cooler that plugs into a cigarette lighter to keep cool. That would keep you from having to deal with water and stopping for ice along the way and maintain a more constant temp.

 

[michaelswines]

Tissue Culture. No room for pest or diseases...it is time that our industry implements this system...enough is enough, the powdery mildew epidemic in Colorado and California is just awful. Especially if the patient has a compromised immune system.

 

[RetroGrow]

Yup. Tissue cultures. Mail them.

 

[Jhhnn]

I think your plan would work, particularly if you wrap the baggies a towel to keep away from direct contact w/ ice.

I have no personal experience, however.

Dunno where you live, but I-80 keeps you out of the really stupid places into Utah, then jogging north avoids CA Ag stations at the border.

 

[Jhhnn]

I wouldn't use tissue culture unless I'd done it before, made sure my techniques would work.

 

[Wiggs Dannyboy]

If you do use the cooler method, don't use ice, use these instead:

Ice packs for coolers:

https://www.google.com/search?safe=...nk_qsrb...0...1.1.49.img..0.8.485.rpdf5iUCZso

Make sure you get a cooler that does what it is supposed to, not all coolers are equal:

http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Cooler-Reviews

If you use most of the space of the cooler to hold a bunch of these and don't open the cooler on the way, the inside temp will be very cool when you get to your destination. Put your genetics on the bottom of the cooler with a strong supporting piece above them to hold the ice packs (cool air sinks).

I did this for a bunch of seeds and weed that I brought with me cross country a few years ago, and I spent about 3 weeks on my road trip, and unfortunately I did my trip during a terrible heat wave that affected the entire country, I doubt you will experience as much hot weather as I did. My cooler was way in the back of a Uhaul trailer I was pulling, and when I opened it up the air was nice and cool...maybe around 55 to 60 degrees F. I didn't spend a lot on my cooler, got a highly rated Coleman if I remember correctly and got it cheap at Costco.

 

[armedoldhippy]

man, a cross country trip would be stressful enough for me without worrying about a dog smelling my bongs or cuttings. on the other hand, I doubt seriously that they are watching for folks smuggling drugs from here in the east out to the pacific northwest. hell, that is where most of the good shit COMES from these days...kind of like smuggling cocaine INTO Peru. no one would suspect a thing, LOL!

 

[stihgnobevoli]

yeah i would worry more about state troopers trying to steal all my cash travelling east to west or south.

also...i can't stress this enough.

DO NOT SPEED FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA!!!!

 

[Jhhnn]

Much better than ice, & cheap in the long run-

http://www.uline.com/BL_2158/Cold-Packs?keywords=gel packs

They can even become a nuisance if you order frozen fish food in bulk. Schmooze the pet store- I suspect they just throw 'em away.

 

[RetroGrow]

I don't like any state troopers, regardless of location. You have to ask yourself the question: can I do the time if caught? You are talking a federal offense. Not worth it, IMO. There's tissue culture. They are selling kits in hydro stores which make it simple. If you don't want to go that route, you can leave the cuttings with a friend and have them Express mail it to you when you get an addy, or just mail it to yourself. Chances of being caught that way much smaller, IMO.
Not worth federal prison, IMO. You also can replace any genetics. Don't risk your freedom on the highways, the single most dangerous place to be, where the cops rule, but they don't always play by the rules. Don't gamble with your freedom. Take it from me or anyone else on this site who has been incarcerated. It ruins your life in many cases. That record follows you everywhere. Can't get a good job. Can't vote (I know, I know), can't own dispensary, not that this is an issue for most of us. Just sayin'.. Don't gamble with your freedom.

 

[hush]

You guys are correct. It's a risk. I suppose I'm going to think about it. I can leave the plants with a family member and have them mail cuttings to me I suppose. That's not a bad idea. I just need to think very hard about who would be most trustworthy one. This has been helpful to me. I appreciate everyone's input. Please keep it coming. Plus rep to all of you.

 

[stoned-trout]

dry ice coleman extreme cooler...done it a few times... pack it well and toss some fish on the top... I even got searched once and the cops didn't even try to go beyond the fish layer lol....the cali ag peeps didn't search my uhaul last time .. just made me open the back and looked in asked a few questions and I was on my way.....

 

[RetroGrow]

You guys are correct. It's a risk. I suppose I'm going to think about it. I can leave the plants with a family member and have them mail cuttings to me I suppose. That's not a bad idea. I just need to think very hard about who would be most trustworthy one. This has been helpful to me. I appreciate everyone's input. Please keep it coming. Plus rep to all of you.

USPS will even pick up packages for delivery, so no one needs to be on camera going into the post office. And, you don't have to put all your eggs in one basket. You can send in multiple packages. Get a PO box on the receiving end if you don't want them coming to your address. They need a warrant from a judge to go into your mail, unlike Fed Ex or UPS, who have the right to inspect all packages. Express mail is one day delivery, so they won't be exposed to "the elements" for long. Also, consider buying a cheap DVD player. Take the screws off, open it, and you will see plenty of open space in there. Put cuts in ziplock bags with moisture, then place in DVD player. Replace screws. Then vacuum seal the entire player, put back in original box, and seal it back up. Then ship the DVD player, or other suitable object that can be vacuum sealed. No way they are going to get a warrant from a judge to search a DVD player (which they can see with their x-ray equipment) that hasn't been hit on by a dog (yes, the Post office uses dogs). Dogs can't smell through the vacuum sealing bags. A good vacuum sealer is a necessity anyway. Post office never going to ask a judge for a warrant without probable cause, which they won't have. Just remember to wash your hands after handling cuts and before touching packing materials. This method is basically foolproof.