Understanding how these soil tests are performed and what numbers you should be using is really important. Some numbers on these tests don't work for potting soils. Agronomist and Author Bill McKibben takes us through the Logan Labs tests and shares what you need to know when using a soil test with potting soils. SPOILER: It's not the same as agricultural soils and not all the numbers are accurate! https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-61

This episode is a bit different than my other episodes. With the upcoming Biocontrols Conference in Portland, Oregon next week, I wanted to interview a couple speakers and key attendees prior to the show.  I caught up with Suzanne Wainwright Evans, to talk a bit about the cannabis aphid. I also interviewed John Sanderson who is a professor of entomology at Cornell University with over 30 years of experience in pest management experience on greenhouse crops. Ronald Valentin, the director of technical business for Bioworks, and Justin Magill, head grower at Legit Farm North.

There's been little to no research on what nutrient disorders look like when analyzing leaf tissue on cannabis. Paul Cockson shares his recently published paper on the subject from North Carolina State University. https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-59

Why do we grow the cultivars (strains) that we do? There's a lot of mythology surrounding potency and the cannabis experience. Learn how scientists are using data to help determine why certain cultivars are more popular and how high THC is a product of prohibition and not enjoyment. https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-58

Deron is a horticultural scientist and the Director of Plant Science at Flowr in Kelowna, BC. He was the first person in North America to earn a PhD with research focused on cannabis production. Dr. Caplan has written and published several  peer-reviewed articles on cannabis production, focusing on irrigation, growing media, fertilization, and propagation. He has testified on cannabis production before the Canadian Senate’s Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry and has provided expert commentary on cannabis for a variety of media outlets, including CBC, Nature, and Rolling Stone Magazine. https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-57

Certifications within the Cannabis industry are a lot more complicated than one would think at first glance. Andrew Black is the Certified Kind Founder and Director. Andrew spent the past 11 years working for Oregon Tilth, one of the nation’s most trusted organic certification agencies. Andrew has worn many hats in organic certification, including Farm Program Manager, Inspector, Final Reviewer, Latin American Specialist, and Certification Officer. Andrew has inspected hundreds of farms and food processing facilities in the United States and Latin America and has made certification decisions for hundreds more.  https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-56

This week’s podcast is with David Bronner, CEO aka Cosmic Engagement Officer for Dr. Bronners, the top selling brand of natural soaps in North America. Not only do they make the best soap, but they’ve dedicated themselves to advocacy around our food supply, regenerative organic agriculture, animal welfare, fair labor practices, and responsible integration of cannabis and psychedelic medicine into American and global culture. In my opinion, this is one of the best examples of how a company can operate ethically and sustainably in today’s society and it was an honor to spend this time with David. I could spend the entire podcast just talking of all the amazing thing Dr. Bronner’s has done for the community and it’s employees, but the main purpose was to discuss their partnership on the Sun and Earth Certification for cannabis and the non-profit David has helped in establishing called Brother David’s.   https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-55

I sit down on the other side of the microphone this week with John Z and cover a wide variety of listener questions ranging from soil microbes to compost teas to re-amending living soils and much more.

Colin Bell is the Co-founder, co-inventor and Chief Growth Officer at Growcentia, parent company of Mammoth. Colin completed his Ph.D. in Soil Microbial Ecology in 2009. As a Research Scientist at Colorado State University, Colin published dozens of peer reviewed publications that were focused on elucidating microbial mediated processes that enhance plant growth. Colin left his academic position at Colorado State University in March 2015 to launch Mammoth, a young company in the Ag-Tech sector that develops microbial biostimulants to sustainably increase plant yield, and all natural biocontrol products to prevent pests. Their first product, MAMMOTH P® is a beneficial bacterial bloom stimulant that targets phosphorus cycling to maximize both quality and yield in cannabis plants.

My podcast this week is with Justin Magill. Justin is an owner and head grower for Legit Farms, a legal cannabis company in the recreational market here in Washington State. I wanted to do this podcast because Justin has been growing in Living Soils longer than anyone else I know and he was instrumental in helping me in testing out various ideas around soil mixes, soil testing, and re-amending in beds. https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-52