The big issue with cannabis growers, especially on the larger end of production, is the damage that can be done to the environment. Understanding the growing process and what you can do to reduce your footprint, through sustainable horticulture and organic growing, is a very important part of cannabis cultivation. As a community of growers adopting environmentally friendly gardening practices, any steps we can take to make our gardens a benefit to the planet rather than a detriment are steps in the right direction. Below, we will discuss some common methods you can implement to grow sustainably. We only have one planet and we all need to do our part in reducing our impact through sustainable horticulture, organic growing, and responsible gardening practices.
WATER CONSERVATION METHODS FOR SUSTAINABLE HORTICULTURE
One of the largest areas of consumption in the garden, particularly in organic growing, is the constant supply of clean water for our plants. During the summer months, we see this demand increase. Adopting sustainable horticulture and gardening practices, we can put protocols in place to ensure we get the most out of the water we are using for irrigation, minimizing our ecological footprint.
The first step toward using less water and embracing organic growing is the introduction of mycorrhizae to your root’s rhizosphere. This symbiotic fungus will allow your cannabis plants to feed and drink more efficiently, a cornerstone of sustainable gardening practices. Utilizing rainwater recovery for your growth represents a significant move toward water conservation in sustainable horticulture. Collecting rain via roof gutters to feed large reservoirs can significantly reduce your reliance on well or public water sources, a practice that is both eco-friendly and integral to organic growing.
In areas like Oregon, where rain is plentiful for most of the year, sustainable gardening practices like rainwater harvesting allow for complete reliance on rainwater, aligning with organic growing principles by reducing dependency on treated water sources. The legality of rainwater recovery varies, highlighting the importance of being informed about local laws to ensure your gardening practices remain sustainable and legal.
Incorporating water recovery methods in your grow not only conserves water but also embodies the principles of sustainable horticulture by reducing waste. Systems that capture equipment runoff (like dehumidifiers and air conditioners) for reuse in the garden are exemplary of organic growing, ensuring every drop of water serves a purpose in nurturing the garden.
This approach to water conservation, rooted in sustainable horticulture and organic growing, not only preserves vital water resources but also supports a holistic, eco-conscious approach to gardening, where every practice is aligned with the principles of sustainability and organic cultivation.
Another method of water recovery is making sure your equipment runoff (dehumidifiers, air conditioning, etc.) also run back into your tank for filtering. A large amount of this water is wasted in runoff and can absolutely be used in the garden again and again. You will be surprised to see how much water even just one dehumidifier sucks out of the air. Using these methods you will see a dramatic decrease in water being pulled from your well or out of your tap.
LIGHTS AND POWER TO RUN THEM
The largest drain on electricity in your space will be lighting and air conditioning. There are many ways to mitigate the use of this electricity. The most obvious is growing outside or in a greenhouse. The most environmentally conscious way to grow, in regards to lighting and cooling, would be an outdoor grow, because the sun and fresh air are all you need.
Hybrid indoor grow spaces are also an amazing way to grow plants. A good example would be using a sealed greenhouse and running lights only when the sun is not giving you the desired output. This method can be used with great success for producing indoor quality flower with a much smaller impact on the environment. The sun is your primary lighting source for the majority of the year. When the sun goes down or the cloud cover is not letting the sun through, you black out the space and turn on your lighting grid. This will dramatically reduce the time your lights are running and help with keeping the heat at a reliable temperature.
Also, choosing what type of lighting you are using is important. LED lighting can use as little as half the required energy of other options. Also, LED lighting runs cooler than other lighting options, requiring less electricity for air conditioning. Using the hybrid indoor grow and utilizing LED solutions will dramatically cut your energy use.
Another thing that you can do, property size willing, is use solar panels or wind-generated energy. This will save you money and help save the earth. Using non-renewable energy resources is hard on the environment. If at all possible, use as much renewable energy as you can.
NUTRIENTS / SPRAYS IN THE GROW SPACE
There are so many different nutrients available that it can be hard to know what is commonly considered good or bad. You need to do research on the line or supplements you are using and know how getting them to you has affected the environment. Generally, getting OMRI-certified organic nutrients is a good start but even then, tread with caution. Where were these products sourced from? Are these products sustainable for the environment? Answering these questions is important for proper nutrient and supplement use. Feel free to reach out to the manufacturers. If they can’t come back with direct answers, maybe that is not a product you should continue to use.
You can also go even further and create a living soil solution for your garden. Well-maintained living soil can be used time and time again and gets better with every use. By creating this life in your garden you can cut out the need for most nutrients and supplements. A good place to start research on this topic is the book True Living Organics by The Rev, or by reading Teaming with Microbes by Jeff Lowenfels and Wayne Lewis. These will start you on the path of independence from bottled nutrients and leave you creating an ecology that will benefit the environment.
With regard to sprays for molds and insects, long story short, do not use them if at all possible. There are so many other methods for dealing with these issues than the quick fix of spraying your plants with possibly harmful ingredients. Most pest problems can be dealt with by introducing predator insects into the garden. There are many resources for learning about beneficial insects and most grow stores carry them. Powdery mildew can be combated with a hydrogen peroxide mix or even by using a formula called L.A.B.S., which utilizes milk. A little research goes a long way in helping you deal with issues in your garden, without resorting to the dreaded sprays.
WHAT NOT TO USE IN YOUR GARDEN
Walking into a grow store and seeing all of the nutrient options can be a daunting task. How do you choose what is right for you? A baseline determination between synthetic and organic nutrients can cut the options for you fairly quickly, aligning with sustainable horticulture and organic growing. Many synthetic nutrients include petroleum ingredients or byproducts and require machines to create them, which consumes a lot of energy to produce. The runoff from these products is also known to damage soil ecology and existing ecosystems, contrary to gardening practices that prioritize the environment. Further, much of what goes into creating a synthetic nutrient is non-reusable. This is not to say that organic nutrients come with no cost to the environment. Composting manure comes with its own carbon footprint. For example, bat guano may need to travel large distances to reach your grow. As always, make sure to ask the company you are buying it from if it is sustainably produced and what impact their method of production has on the environment. A good option for the smaller home farmer is to create organic nutrients at home. Run a compost pile, create worm beds for nitrogen-rich castings, while reusing and recharging your soils. Many of the components from an organic grow can be used again, embodying principles of sustainable horticulture and organic growing.
Another good step to take in determining what to use in your grow is to read the list of ingredients in your products. If the product is full of names you cannot pronounce, it might not be good for use in food or cannabis production. I would never spray my cannabis with something that may remain in the final product or change chemically when ingested or altered by combustion. A lot of times people see cannabis like they would a strawberry but fail to realize that a strawberry can be washed. You cannot take a cannabis plant and rinse it off before use. It’s better not to introduce anything harmful into your garden. With the immense amount of options on the market, research is key. A good resource is the OLCC and the Oregon Department of Agriculture websites. They have a list of all sprays and nutrients that are allowed to be used on an OLCC farm. Cross-referencing those products with data available on the manufacturer’s website can help you learn exactly what is in the many available products, reflecting conscientious gardening practices.