Hello growers. We are, as usual, back with another interview, but what makes it so special is that we spoke to Guru @LegacyMarketFarm who has taken his passion to grow cannabis to another level! From battling medical conditions to saving his crops during a sudden power cut, this man has come a long way! We hope his words inspire you to follow your dreams and never give up.
1. Question: Hello LegacyMarketFarm! We are very excited to conduct this interview today. Your profile tells us a lot about your skills. Can you tell us a bit about yourself? What does your name stand for?
Answer: Hello everyone! I’d like to start with a huge thank you to GD for giving me the opportunity to air my views. I’m pretty excited about this interview and hope that it inspires someone.
My name's Andrew Leckie, and I'm currently 36 years old (as of today). I live in Enderby, British Columbia with my wife, our little one, and my dad. Our company, Legacy Market Farm, is a nod to our background in the cannabis industry. More like a representation of our roots in this burgeoning industry.
The term "Legacy Market" refers to the pre-legalization era of cannabis. Our name symbolizes the fact that we’ve been around a long time cultivating cannabis and that we learned to do it in the Legacy scene when people placed more importance on the quality and reputation of a company — a belief that coincides with the virtues of our company too. We've been around for a while and learned to cultivate in that environment, so we wanted to honor that legacy with our company name.
2. Question: Why did you start cultivating cannabis?
Answer: Now, you may be wondering why I got into cultivating cannabis in the first place. Well, it all started when I was 19 and received an ACMPR. I began having seizures and was diagnosed with epilepsy. I had trouble finding designated growers who could supply me with high-quality cannabis on time, and some even stole from my allotted amount. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and started growing my own cannabis. I fell in love with it instantly, and have been doing it ever since.
3. Question: How has cannabis helped you?
Answer: Cannabis has been a game-changer for me in so many ways, and I will try to touch on them all here. First and foremost, it has helped me control my seizures completely. Before cannabis, I was taking dival-proex, which made me feel like a zombie and caused digestive issues and debilitating pain. Luckily, my neurologist was open to the idea of cannabis and signed my papers.
But beyond that, cannabis has helped me in so many other ways too. Growing it is incredibly therapeutic for me, and it's opened up new avenues in terms of work and people I've met and learned from. I'm so passionate about growing that my job will never feel like work, and that's the holy grail of the work industry. Not many people are lucky enough to enjoy their careers, so I’m incredibly grateful to be working in this industry.
4. Question: Do you remember how and why you started using Growdiaries?
Answer: So, about a year and a half ago, my company started using Growdiaries — maybe a bit less than that. Since we're a registered business, we wanted to secure our name on Growdiaries as soon as we got it in the Canadian business registry. We created an account immediately and started using it to introduce ourselves, showcase our past work, and demonstrate what we're all about.
Our ultimate goal is for people to see how we grow our cannabis and even learn how to do it themselves. When our product hits the shelves, we want there to be a strong demand for it, and we want our customers to know exactly how it was grown. Transparency and honesty are the two core principles on which our company was founded, and we believe that these values will set us apart from other cannabis producers here in Canada.
5. Question: What do you love about Growdiaries?
Answer: In my opinion, GrowDiaries is exactly what the cannabis community needs. It provides a platform for a free flow of ideas and information, which is essential for the growth of this industry. Compared to other crops, cannabis production is still in its infancy, and I believe that's because the growing culture has always been very secretive.
Breaking through that culture can be challenging, but even when you do, there's a lot of misinformation, Bro-Science, and myths that make it difficult to learn the complete production process from seed to harvest without picking up some incorrect information along the way. This is where GrowDiaries comes in, as it allows growers of all skill levels to share ideas and information. Whether it's learning what not to do or discovering something new, there's always something to gain from others' experiences.
The beauty of GrowDiaries is that it enables growers to learn from one another. I don't believe in the term "master grower" because I don't think any single person could ever master the art of producing cannabis all on their own. With so many variables in the growing process, it's crucial to keep an open mind and continue learning from others' experiences. Once you shut yourself off from other people's ideas or experiences you stop growing, pardon the pun.
6. Question: Do you train your cannabis plants? If yes, can you describe one technique that’s easy for even beginners?
Answer: If you're a beginner grower who’s wondering about training your cannabis plants, I would say the easiest technique involves three simple steps. First, when your young cannabis plant starts developing its first lateral branching directly under the apex growth, you want to perform F.I.M. (F*CK, I missed - can I say that here?). This involves removing the top of the plant, which will stimulate it to produce two new tops.
FIMming is very similar to Topping where you cut off the tip of the main stem as soon as it grows a few nodes. No matter what method you choose, the idea is to grow several colas rather than letting the plant grow one main cola. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing to have several colas, but the plant will also grow to its maximum potential this way.
Cannabis plants are very apex dominant, meaning they put a lot of energy into the development of top growth. By removing the top, the plant will redirect its energy to the vertical growth below where the top was previously forming. This is an effective way to encourage growth in the desired pattern.
Next, we follow up with three-timed defoliation techniques, which we call the SCHWAZZE. We do this in week 3 of veg, week 1 of flower, and at the start of week 3 of flower before day 21. By removing unnecessary fan leaves, we redirect energy flow in the plants to encourage growth in the desired direction. It also opens up the plant's lower growth to more light penetration and higher PAR numbers, which is beneficial for the plant.
These steps are straightforward and can be achieved by any grower, and the best part is that the more you practice them, the better your results will be. This is a surefire way to increase production per plant, whether you're growing a sea of green or a screen of green (SOG or ScrOG) setup. We want to focus on growing buds worth trimming and going to market, so stripping away the lower growth and forming more tops per plant is beneficial to us as commercial growers, but it’s also fantastic for any home grower.
7. Question: Are you a DIY person or do you purchase most equipment, including nutrients?
Answer: Oh, that's an interesting question. It is awesome thinking of certain ways to do things DIY, but it’s a little difficult for us when it comes to producing cannabis. I mean, it's great to come up with creative solutions and build things yourself, but when it comes to making the best medicine possible, I believe it's important to use the best equipment and materials available.
It’s important to go the extra mile to produce medicinal products that are worth and safe to consume. Of course, it's possible to build things yourself, but in my current situation, as we move towards commercial craft production, I don't have the freedom to spend time building equipment.
However, I do enjoy designing solutions to problems that haven't been solved yet. For example, when I was apprenticing with another grower, we had to dry 3500 plants slowly. So, we used two 8x40 sea cans with 2x 3-ton A/C units and 200-pint dehumidifiers in each sea can. We then lined the sea cans with trellis netting from ceiling to floor to hang all the plants on.
At the time, there was simply no other way to solve this problem and dry the flower as slowly as possible. Now custom-built solutions are available, but we didn’t have many options at that point. Since then, we have scaled down the process by teaching people how to use their grow tents to dry the very same way.
To reiterate, I still enjoy finding new and innovative ways to solve problems that haven't been tackled before. And even though we have come a long way, there is always room for improvement and new solutions. In the end, it's all about producing the best possible buds so everyone can enjoy them.
8. Question: Can you describe a few things you do (DIY) that perhaps saves money?
Answer: When my wife and I first took over as live-on-site managers and growers for a 200-light facility, we never expected to face the biggest power outage in the history of the Shuswap area in just our first week. The site did have a backup generator for a hospital, but unfortunately, the owner had put off setting it up. So my wife and I had to make a crucial decision: we had to keep the plants from being forced into early flowering or becoming hermaphroditic.
Our solution was to use two lights per floor to keep the rooms awake and run the lights 24/7, as we were still in the early vegetative stage and this would keep the light cycle from being interrupted too much. But the challenge was that we only had two small 5,000W gas generators to power the entire facility and still had to run the big Quest 500s, one per floor. This meant we had to stay up 24/7 for a week straight, topping off the generators day and night and taking shifts to make sure they didn't run out of fuel.
The grower would show up on-site to deliver more gas, and we would all assess the situation. It was a grueling week, but when the power finally clicked back on, we were overjoyed. I can't tell you the number of happy dances that went on, haha!
Later on, when we had plant tech crews from the area come to do the defoliations and harvests, they were all surprised at the crop. All other growers in the area had lost their crops from the power outage, as so many of them were remote growers without people on-site in the Legacy Market.
9. Question: Can you name a few growers who have inspired you here? What do you like the most about their growing style?
Answer: Sure, I'd love to share my thoughts on some growers who have inspired me! Before I do that, though, I want to give a shoutout to the people who helped me get to where I am today. Specifically, I want to thank the person who tutored and apprenticed me, as well as the owner of the 200-light facility who gave me the opportunity to learn.
This man has a master's degree in horticulture and has been growing cannabis for 25 years, which allowed me to learn how to approach growing uniquely from someone who truly understands plant biology. If it weren't for these two people, I wouldn't be here doing this interview or creating tutorials, or working on launching our company to market. I won't mention their names, but they know who they are, and I am incredibly grateful for their support. Thank you, guys!
Now, coming to the growers who have inspired me on Growdiaries. I want to highlight those who truly know their craft, regardless of their popularity or number of likes. The first grower who comes to mind is @Handmade_BrianG. He does fantastic work and has a deep understanding of the craft. I highly recommend checking out his diaries and giving him a follow.
Another grower who impresses me every time is @PapaNugs. He consistently produces high-quality buds, and I have a lot of respect for his knowledge and expertise. Finally, @Staresatplants is another grower who deserves more recognition for their fantastic work. These are just a few examples of growers who are incredibly skilled but may not receive as much attention as they deserve.
There are many more growers like this on Growdiaries who know their craft and grow at a high level, but may not have as many followers or likes as others. These are the growers I want to highlight in a separate series on our YouTube channel. If I have missed any growers here, I apologize but I want you to know that I have a deep respect for your work. Keep up the fantastic work, and I look forward to seeing more from you!
10. Question: Is there any strain you grow in particular? Would you recommend it to beginners?
Answer: In my opinion, when it comes to growing cannabis, I believe that the strain you choose to grow is not as important as how well you grow it. Of course, some strains may be easier to grow than others, but I think that beginners should focus on learning the fundamentals of growing before getting too caught up in which strain they want to cultivate.
However, that being said, I do think that picking a strain that you are passionate about can help motivate you to put in the time and effort needed to grow it properly. So, if you're just starting out, I recommend selecting a strain that really excites you and that you're motivated to see through to harvest.
Ultimately, as you become more experienced and confident in your growing abilities, you can start experimenting with different strains to see which ones work best for you and your growing setup. But for beginners, I believe that the most important thing is to focus on learning the basics of growing and putting in the time and effort to do it properly.
11. Question: What are your favorite strains, and why?
Answer: MEAT BREATH. This is going to be my #1 strain every single time for its unique terpene profile & its extremely heavy-hitting effects. If you can source the seeds or clones, GROW IT.
12. Question: Who are your favorite breeders?
Answer: Charles Scott
13. Question: What type of nutrients do you use to grow cannabis?
Answer: That is going to be a combo of a few different brands. We use Green Planet, NPK Raw, and Gaia Green for our soil amendments. Also a singular General Hydroponics product (RapidStart).
14. Question: What was the latest strain you grew?
Answer: Blue Dream Auto (FastBuds)
15. Question: What was the latest strain you smoked?
Answer: I think it was some type of Gelato.
16. Question: Any tips for our readers to enjoy cannabis more? Perhaps, concentrates, gummies, etc?
Answer: Grab yourself some Legacy Market Farm product when it is available near you! Kidding, (Sort of)!
Firstly, I would say that patience is key when it comes to growing cannabis. You will get what you put into it, so investing time into understanding what effects you are looking for can be very rewarding in terms of the experience you have. The more you conduct research, the better your experience will be. Many people avoid cannabis because of bad experiences, but if you really take the time to understand what you need and use it, it will be much more rewarding.
It's also important to make sure you are learning the correct information when it comes to growing cannabis. With so much content available, it can be easy to learn the wrong way of doing things. It’s getting better now, but there are still many people putting out information that can mislead new growers. So, take the time to do your research and study the plant's life cycle and biology.
Always remember to keep learning and trying new things. While it's important to have a solid foundation in the basics, experimenting with different techniques and approaches can help you achieve even better results. Just remember to keep things realistic and based on sound scientific principles. Never become stagnant in what you do.
Another important tip is to let your buds ripen fully before harvesting. Don't harvest early, as this can result in a less bountiful harvest that doesn't have the same quality as store-bought cannabis. You’ve invested so much time, money, and effort into it, so don’t let it go in vain by chopping the plants early. You’ll enjoy the buds more if you let the plant grow to its full potential. At the end of the day, you want that smell, smoke, and taste like high-grade store-bought cannabis, and not home-grown larf.
When it comes to extract production, it's important to take your time and use high-grade solvents while following all the proper safety procedures. The quality of your starting material and the solvent you use can make a big difference in the final product, so put in the effort to get the best results.
Ultimately, I think the key to enjoying cannabis is to keep an open mind and try new things within the realm of realism. Experiment with different strains, consumption methods, and products to find what works best for you. And most importantly, always prioritize safety and responsible use.
I think that is it for now in terms of words of wisdom!
