Vintage Colombian

[red rider]

Finca 1

Finca 1

Here's some pictures from yesterdays visit. I was talking too much to take many pictures. It was a little cloudy but perfect temp like 18c and no humidity. Nice and breezing in the little valley, warmed up quick when the sun peaked out later in the afternoon.

The trees really put out a beautiful smell that drifts right up to the spot on top of the hill where the greenhouses will be located.
We are right at 2,200 meters of year round spring, feel really positive about this place.

red rider

 

[Miraculous Meds]

After what seems like a lot of BS we are finally getting somewhere. I was at the finca all day yesterday with the greenhouse guy and the owner of the finca and my investor. Only takes a couple weeks max to build the three greenhouses we need but they have to put up fences and security as well as processing buildings and my house.

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I am so excited not only to start this project (which are my projects)but also to get out of Bogota. I've been living and working in one of the investors houses in the "rich" part of town for the past couple months. I don't like being around all these rich snobby people and all the pollution and noisy traffic. The house is super nice and I've got the whole place to myself (except the mean cleaning lady that comes once a week) but I would much rather be in a tent on the finca. I'm also getting good dog, (I stopped looking for a woman, too much drama) I haven't had a dog around since I've been in Colombia.

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So as soon as we actually have some buildings, I'l get more pictures.
But for now I'm just chilling out in the big house.


red rider

Looks like a little slice of heaven. Glad to see your on your feet and getting ready to hit the ground running. Dog over woman equals less drama, but the dog doesn't keep you warm in the bed at night. Well, for most people.

 

[red rider]

I tried an early but well dried University Mangobiche yesterday afternoon. I didn't take a picture because after I pulled all the seed out it looked pretty mangled. I've grown and of course smoked a good bit of the Mangobiche before and really liked it but it didn't hit very hard and was mostly for mornings only. However this Mangobiche kicked my ass, I just had a big lunch and took the afternoon to chill with a movie. This MB has a really different taste and smell, very sticky despite the lack of visible trics. The burnt taste isn't sweet, kind of like wood/incense type flavor going in and green herb on the exhale. Not super tasty, might get better with a cure. Harsh expansion on the lungs, made me cough. I didn't feel anything at first, maybe for 5 or 10 minutes and I though was weak as hell. Then I started feeling like a wave building and bam, it hit me, almost made me feel uncomfortable like a dab does sometimes. But it leveled out real quick I was met with a steady euphoric rush, I was really surprised as I was expecting a totally different effect.
The bad thing was after an hour it put me to sleep and I woke up feeling thick headed. I tried it again this morning and no sleepiness at the end and not as clean as I like it.
I have no idea what plant this really is, I had 10 of them in flower but only two true females (this was one) and not one true male. Since I can't get any more of this particular plant from the university, I pollinated the two females with a couple Bangi Haze males I had. So I'm waiting on the license so I can grow out 100 or so legally and see what we got. The finca is ready but can't grow any plants there until we get the license, this month they tell me.

red rider

 

[therevverend]

There's a lot of foreign entrepeneurs here in Antioquia, but it baffles me that most of them come here with the purpose of growing indicas and 8-week indoor hybrids in greenhouses. RH is way higher than 60% during most of the year and the temperature, at least in my small personal greenhouse at 1500 m a.s.l, is consistently higher than 32 celsius during the day. It's like they are totally oblivious of basic cannabis botany. No to mention the high, year-round pest and disease pressure. They don't seem to understand that the plant of choice in the tropics is a... tropical sativa. Why do I even have to say "tropical sativa"? Well, they are convinced that an 8-week indoor plant is a sativa.

Red Rider's answer, cheap labor and quick profits, is the best answer. Why mess around with a 16 week flowering time and a 4-6 month Veg when you can start clones indoors, put them in greenhouses in the tropical sun to flower for 8 weeks, then turn them over quickly. Plug in the dehumidfiers and go. The sunlight should be so intense you don't even need to Veg the plants and you don't need light Dep because of the short days. It's a commercial growers dream.

To make it that much worse the tourists expect good pot to be what they expect good pot to be, like the stuff they smoke back home which makes for a quick turnover. Then they can brag to their friends when they get home they smoked, 'Killer Jamaican bud!'

As far as dealing with the native pathogens and pests, we (myself and some guys from the national university) are currently exploring not only resistant varieties but also employing native effective microorganisms to counter balance. Combined with no till soil the plants I'm growing now are 100% pest and pathogen free (without using any pesticides or fungicides ever) and no fertilizers. I still have a long way to go but now I'm backed by people with not only money but by folks that believe in me and my dream. Also I don't even want to try to grow anything below 1,500 meters, as I've always felt high altitude cannabis is more complex and unique

Always a pleasure to read your threads and see what you're up to. It's a dream for a lot of people to do what you're doing, awesome you're able to take a shot at it. I know people running legal grows in eastern Washington, even though they're running thousands of plants they don't use pesticides of any kind. All their pest control involves using biological methods, using predators and such to devour the mites and other parasites, in a region where broad mites are ubiquitous. It's great how far we've come in that regard and glad you're getting dialed in on it.

 

[Rico _El_Guapo]

Why mess around with a 16 week flowering time and a 4-6 month Veg when you can start clones indoors, put them in greenhouses in the tropical sun to flower for 8 weeks, then turn them over quickly.

Well, in most cases, the 16 weeker will be a monster, those sea of greens would look miniature.

That being said, the work and the yield, side by side would really show results. I know some outdoor sativas could get a bit whispy.

Redrider- that place looks intense. Good on ya.

 

[red rider]

Zipacon

Zipacon

It is true about the foreign investors here, gigantic warehouse grows. Every bodies so excited to be working legally in cannabis they don't see themselves being exploited. And these are young educated people not poor peasants. Not my concern at the moment but on the list. I have my own battles going on with my company. So I went to go talk to some lawyers and more "investment" people yesterday. Long boring beating around the bush till I got really tired of it all. I don't want to be a big production company and I won't budge on my cultivation methods or ethical practices. Blah blah and they all agreed with me once they heard the whole story. The money, I have very few needs, I plan to grow my own food at the finca (Zipacon) and I carry no debt so I need very little. However I have kids and an ex that do need money for a decent life and education so I made sure to get more than enough money for them.But when I was in that office yesterday looking at all these fancy dressed up (I was as always in jeans and flip flops) and I know none of them had ever even gotten high, all drooling over the potential money to be made it pissed me off. It put me in a bad mood and I was not very friendly, I was going to walk a couple times. Anyway I feel we have everything worked out for the moment.
I've got to go Monday for a check up with a camera up the you know what, to make sure my bladder cancer is gone (I know it is but) so I'm stressed. They will sedate me but still wearing on me and I just want to be done with it all. Last week got into an argument with the young chemist expert.Long story but this guy is really smart and even teaches at the university but he has no knowledge of plants and 0% experience with cannabis. But he has this know it all smart ass attitude that just rubs me the wrong way. It was almost a fight last Saturday as the dude comes to my house and start demanding I do this that or the other. I so I threw out of the house by the scruff of the neck. I was shaking with anger and threatened to kill all the plants and leave, like a little kid. Big dramatic day, but I calmed down and got back on track after talking the my business partner.
Anyway just waiting on Monday so I can get this damn medical thing over with and get back to work.
Thanks so much for the comments, your advice and support is the world to me, sorry about the rant. The best is yet to come and my overall confidence is strong. More to come.

red rider

 

[Illuminate]

Good luck hermano.

 

[Nordic Stoner]

It is true about the foreign investors here, gigantic warehouse grows. Every bodies so excited to be working legally in cannabis they don't see themselves being exploited. And these are young educated people not poor peasants. Not my concern at the moment but on the list. I have my own battles going on with my company. So I went to go talk to some lawyers and more "investment" people yesterday. Long boring beating around the bush till I got really tired of it all. I don't want to be a big production company and I won't budge on my cultivation methods or ethical practices. Blah blah and they all agreed with me once they heard the whole story. The money, I have very few needs, I plan to grow my own food at the finca (Zipacon) and I carry no debt so I need very little. However I have kids and an ex that do need money for a decent life and education so I made sure to get more than enough money for them.But when I was in that office yesterday looking at all these fancy dressed up (I was as always in jeans and flip flops) and I know none of them had ever even gotten high, all drooling over the potential money to be made it pissed me off. It put me in a bad mood and I was not very friendly, I was going to walk a couple times. Anyway I feel we have everything worked out for the moment.
I've got to go Monday for a check up with a camera up the you know what, to make sure my bladder cancer is gone (I know it is but) so I'm stressed. They will sedate me but still wearing on me and I just want to be done with it all. Last week got into an argument with the young chemist expert.Long story but this guy is really smart and even teaches at the university but he has no knowledge of plants and 0% experience with cannabis. But he has this know it all smart ass attitude that just rubs me the wrong way. It was almost a fight last Saturday as the dude comes to my house and start demanding I do this that or the other. I so I threw out of the house by the scruff of the neck. I was shaking with anger and threatened to kill all the plants and leave, like a little kid. Big dramatic day, but I calmed down and got back on track after talking the my business partner.
Anyway just waiting on Monday so I can get this damn medical thing over with and get back to work.
Thanks so much for the comments, your advice and support is the world to me, sorry about the rant. The best is yet to come and my overall confidence is strong. More to come.

red rider

don't let these nerds get on your nerves man, gotta be cold and calculated

 

[red rider]

Thanks for the encouragement, today I've got to go have a cystoscopy and had a bad night, no sleep. It is a really quick procedure and I've done it before but the waiting is killing me. I have some really good CBD dry sift and double strength CBD oil and it helps but Valium would be better.
In other news I've got huge investment capitol to work with now but I really can't focus and it's frustrating. And now looks like I'm going to visit LA and work with some folks up there. Then there's talk about Peru, it was a big meeting yesterday and really with they would have waited. It's getting complicated and all I really want to do is grow some plants.
Again thanks to all who read my words.

red rider

 

[red rider]

Rancho Del Torro

Rancho Del Torro

The life here is relaxed and the mornings I find spectacular as the sun burns off the dew on the grass. At 2200 meters, it's a good bit warmer than Bogota while still being cool in the evenings averaging 19 Celsius (all the time). Water comes from a spring as well as rain collection. My finca is part of a big cattle ranch where they breed and raise champion Spanish fighting bulls for sport (which I despise). It's part of the culture so I endure but the ranch is really nice and the owner although rich is a real rancher. He's a really nice guy and interested in growing cannabis, he didn't want to smoke any but took some CBD oil I had. I like it here and I see the future here.

This past Monday I went back to see if my bladder was tumor free and got another one. Not cancer but another tumor forming where they removed the first one last July. It's a pain in the ass cause I have to have the surgery again but at least it's not cancer. It will be months before I will have the finca set up so I'm going to focus on my health here In Bogota till I'm right. I hate going to the doctor.
Feeling super motivated dispute it all and loving every minute in Colombia.

red rider

 

[red rider]

Colombian bubble hash

Colombian bubble hash

After de seeding Mangobiche #4 (one of two that wasn't hermied) I made an attempt at ice (wet) hash. Although dirty it's like puddy and hits really nice.

I like it, the Colombian "effect" is there for me with a heavy, calming sensation, that is up and down at the same time. Very euphoric but not couch locking till the finish where it's a little sleepy. Much stronger than the flower of course with a somewhat dulled taste compared to the bud.

I'm really not a bubble hash fan, I prefer dry sift but this is a nice change and keeps me calm. Still waiting for the licensing.

red rider

 

[mr.brunch]

Very nice ++

 

[Speula]

Always a pleasure to read .. keep up the great work

 

[red rider]

SMG 07

SMG 07

Little history, this is a SMG plant I grew out in Bogota in 07. Took six months from seed no lights just in a sunny spot on the patio. Finished with great taste and moderate potency.

This is one of the native Colombian varieties we are very interested in and working on now. However don't want to jinx anything but looks very promising.

The company (part owner now) is on the final stretch to getting fully licensed and legal. I know we got it, just waiting through the formalities and now it's the rainy season so construction is stopped at the finca. Also have a green light to start setting up the canna hotel I've been wanting for ever. Scouting locations now for a super cool finca for the hotel. I hoping next year to be operational at both fincas.

red rider

 

[Raho]

Little history, this is a SMG plant I grew out in Bogota in 07. Took six months from seed no lights just in a sunny spot on the patio. Finished with great taste and moderate potency.

View Image

View Image

This is one of the native Colombian varieties we are very interested in and working on now. However don't want to jinx anything but looks very promising.

The company (part owner now) is on the final stretch to getting fully licensed and legal. I know we got it, just waiting through the formalities and now it's the rainy season so construction is stopped at the finca. Also have a green light to start setting up the canna hotel I've been wanting for ever. Scouting locations now for a super cool finca for the hotel. I hoping next year to be operational at both fincas.

red rider

Congrats on the ownership stake Red!
So happy for you that you haven't compromised your ideals/vision to placate the business side.
You must be very good at explaining the value of native Colombian treasure that so many are eager to abandon in the chase of fast money. It is clear that your partners respect you.




How's the bladder doing ?


I can't see those pics you mention above from '07 FYI . . .

 

[red rider]

Finca

Finca

Congrats on the ownership stake Red!
So happy for you that you haven't compromised your ideals/vision to placate the business side.
You must be very good at explaining the value of native Colombian treasure that so many are eager to abandon in the chase of fast money. It is clear that your partners respect you.




How's the bladder doing ?


I can't see those pics you mention above from '07 FYI . . .

Thanks Raho, we still have a long way to go, but moving forward none the less. I was at the finca yesterday to watch them break ground for the greenhouses (three in all). It's the rainy season till May but was a super nice day yesterday.

Man when I see how big this operation is I get excited, I've never had the opportunity to grow this many plants (legal too). The investor lady was so happy yesterday she hit a joint for the first time and loved it. It was a good day yesterday.
I've got another bladder surgery this Friday (the 29th), so I'm going to be pretty much out of action for about 10 days. It's a pain in the ass all these doctor appointments and exams (two blood draws this year, 4 last year) but I have to do it. Right when the work really gets interesting, I have to deal with these medical issues. The good thing is I've got a lot of support and money so I hope it all passes quickly.

No idea why you can't see the pictures, I loaded them the same as always and I see them. I'll try to reload.

red rider

 

[herbgreen]

hoping the very best for your surgery....quick recovery and god bless

Looks like a dream project in the works!

show 'em how its done......

 

[bigherb]

I’ve been posted for the ride . I’m glad to see things are moving forward . Hopes for a quick recovery


Best wishes brother with everything

1luvbigherb

 

[red rider]

Finca house

Finca house

Thanks so much for the encouragement and kind words.
Tomorrow is the day for surgery and I'm making arrangements to spend a few days with my kids and ex. Even though we are separated the ex helps me with all the medical stuff and she wants me to stay at her house in Pipa (two hours from Bogota) while I recover. I have a lot going on at my house with my plants and I hate leaving them even for a few days. Really don't need anyone to look after me but if I stay home the investor wants to get a nurse to stay with me and I can't tolerate some stranger in the house. So I'll go to Pipa but I will be monitoring well I'm gone.
No THC for me for the next few days but I've got a lot of CBD flowers, hash and oil to calm the nerves and pain as the doctors here prescribe nothing for that. Positive.

We have a huge house on the finca the owner said I could use as a hotel for canna guests. Needs a lot of work but could be a fun project.

Anyway I'm just waiting to get this medical stuff finished so I can really get going on many projects. But first a week in Pipa.

red rider

 

[Thcvhunter]

Thanks Raho, we still have a long way to go, but moving forward none the less. I was at the finca yesterday to watch them break ground for the greenhouses (three in all). It's the rainy season till May but was a super nice day yesterday.

View Image

Man when I see how big this operation is I get excited, I've never had the opportunity to grow this many plants (legal too). The investor lady was so happy yesterday she hit a joint for the first time and loved it. It was a good day yesterday.
I've got another bladder surgery this Friday (the 29th), so I'm going to be pretty much out of action for about 10 days. It's a pain in the ass all these doctor appointments and exams (two blood draws this year, 4 last year) but I have to do it. Right when the work really gets interesting, I have to deal with these medical issues. The good thing is I've got a lot of support and money so I hope it all passes quickly.

No idea why you can't see the pictures, I loaded them the same as always and I see them. I'll try to reload.

red rider

Comgratulations.
Im excited for ya