Hey Roseman, same here. Since about January we have been concentrating on implementing our new Medical Marijuana Law. Part of the problem with that has been the board of the group. They have been busy listening to folks from California that want to open 'co-ops' here, I am not fond of that idea.
They lost their focus which was supposed to be to help patients and the result is that patients and caregivers have been getting arrested, and their equipment and money taken, their lives torn apart, business as usual.
They decided I don't know enough to teach anyone how to grow, said I never presented a lesson plan, I told them you just follow a journal, its not rocket science, you plant a seed and watch it grow, takes at least 12 weeks before you harvest it. If you have a class every week for 12 weeks, that is affordable for average folks like me, then you will have a lot of participation. Instead they spent their time bringing Oaksterdam here a few times a year, $200.00 and you have to buy the book, for a seminar. Our classes cost a total of $125.00, $15.00 registration which covers the first class, and then $10.00 a week as you attend class. Many of our patients can not afford a car, let alone a trip to Ann Arbor.
The way I see it, rollitup is one of the best forums for learning from others, the only think missing is the 'hands on' with an experienced grower. Under our Law I can legally possess marijuana plants. When I am ready to take clones, I stick that mother in the car, take it to the class room, show how to take a clone and place it....... then hand the student the blade. Only one student lost the clone, pretty good success rate for someone that didn't submit a lesson plan.
That class includes planting germinated seeds. One of our growers brought a male and female plant, same strain, just to show them, talk about a good picture and you know how we like pictures.
I remain totally convinced this is the right way to do this with the Law we passed, the problem for the MMMA is that their meeting are open to the public, they can not legally do this type of class at those meetings.
Our group, the Jackson County Compassionate Care Club, will be starting to work with the master growers in our group, we need more people holding classes to try and fit with patients schedules, I would like to see classes being held four days a week.
It really isn't about the growing though, it is about growing the medical marijuana community. See, other than the boards, and our local hydro shops, we don't normally talk about growing much, never know who is listening. For our classes you must be a qualifying patient or a registered caregiver, it is not a public meeting. Somehow the advice you are giving has a little more meaning if the students can taste what you produce, not sure why?
We pay our instructors weakly, and I do mean weakly, they might get enough to pay for their gas, pay for their materials and buy lunch. Their is no better feeling then seeing someone you have shown what to do succeed, I don't think its about money. Its about getting Medical Marijuana to patients for the least possible cost and that is for them to grow their own. What we provide is a place to discuss what they are doing, openly face to face and pain free. VV
Ok, I guess if you put old men on the radio
. Master chief 