Professional Documents
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Soft Secrets U.S.A. - 01-2011
Soft Secrets U.S.A. - 01-2011
Welcome to new
Medical Marijuana
readers and old fans
Doctor ›› 31
“HOW TO MAKE WATER HASH” 12 “SOIL AND HYDROPONIC GARDENING: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?” 14 “GROWING MEDICINE FOR FREE” 28
9
busy sending out roots to go look for it. The it over your garden. Add a bit of lime and
deeper the better. This is what produces blood meal and you have the perfect soil.
the loveliest plants. The roots go off in What I also use sometimes is Osmocote, a
search [of water]; they are active and go total fertilizer used in the garden industry
deep into the ground. that works for a good five months.
This is a granule that lets its nutrients
The main tap root gets into the loam layer, slowly dissolve, with nutrients in a 14-9-15
which is usually found at a depth of 20 to NPK ratio. It’s very good for using when
30 inches. This loam has such a compact making up the soil for tub-grown plants,
structure that water is trapped here for a for weed you want to grow on a balcony,
long time. With many other soil types this for example. But not for indoor growing,
is not the case, and water runs easily away, because the majority of the nutrients will
so that in a dry summer you are forced to only become available when the indoor
give water to your plants. Luckily we have plant does not actually want any more
that loam layer, which works as a buffer. nutrient, after eight weeks of bloom and
Loam is even finer than clay and has the shortly before harvest time.
same buffering qualities [regarding] nutri-
ent salts. As well as this loam holds water Nor should you use dry cow dung, not
for longer than clay, for example, or just directly at least. It’s fine to use as a prepa-
sandy soil alone. Of course you don’t want ration for a nice garden next year... or for
too wet a summer though, otherwise the the years thereafter, because it will be a
water has trouble running off. Then you get good five years before it has been totally
puddles lying around on the surface, and removed from the soil. Then the fresh cow
this is not good. dung is actually a bit better for being taken
up immediately thanks to the presence of
Clones urea (urine).
I do not use seeds, only clones. [In the win- The best option then is to mulch your gar-
ter] we keep the mother plants in a green- den in advance in order to avoid having to
house ‘round at a friend’s place, where add extra nutrients during the growing pro-
we use extra light to create a constant 18 cess. Then you can pretty much leave the
hours of sunlight each day. (They need that plants unattended for the whole summer. If
in order to be able to remain in the vegeta- you do it well, you will end up barely being is used. In order to fill your pots you can spring, have all their moisture dried off
tive stage.) Also, then we know that soon able to squeeze through the plants, even [most] easily use the complete mixes from them thanks to the blowing of the wind
after winter the whole field is going to be with one plant per square yard (three feet the grow shop, or even put together your through and around them. This of course
own recipe based on compost made for gives mold less chance of establishing a
TAKE THE USED-UP SOIL FROM INDOOR GROW-OPS, geraniums. [Other options are] a compost
that you dilute by a couple of percent with
foothold.
EITHER BY YOU OR FRIENDS WHO GROW INDOORS, AND clay mixed into it, or an ordinary compost
with clay and some lime mixed in, to get a
Yield
The yield varies. If the plants stay short,
DUMP IT OVER YOUR GARDEN. ADD A BIT OF LIME AND neutral pH of 6.8 to 7.0.
In order to get relatively good plants then
are put in late and the summer is a bit dry
throughout, then you have to reckon on
BLOOD MEAL AND YOU HAVE THE PERFECT SOIL the [capacity] of the pots must be of 20 about 6.4 to 7 oz. per plant. That is actu-
liters (5.3 gallons) or more. ‘The bigger the ally very poor. But if everything works well
filled with female plants; we don’t need to by three feet). Just let nature take her course. better’ also applies in this case. A cement during the summer you can easily count
do any further checks on them. tub is ideal. Do make sure that whatever on double that. I reckon 17.6 oz. a plant
At the end of the winter we clone the After the harvest I, first of all, leave the size you use... has good drainage by, for is possible, certainly if you give the plants
mother plants and at the same time make ground to rest for a while and just do example, filling the base with hydro-gran- a bit of space. At the most one plant per
new mother plants. From these plants we nothing. In November [or] December I rake ules or perlite. Your babies will not like wet 1.2 square yards, but preferably 1.8 square
eventually take the clones we need, as well it totally clean and spread some manure feet at all. They don’t like it in the country- yards per plant. Actually it’s the same story
as those [that] we share with a couple of around.... Preferably I’ll leave the roots from side and they won’t like it at your place in when growing indoors. If you give them
other farmers. We plant these around mid- the previous crop in the ground too, for the the city, either. enough soil, it’ll turn out alright.
May outdoors. nitrogen, but because of the annoyance of
legal evidence we no longer do that. Double Powerplay is actually... very easy The loveliest plant that I ever had gave me
If you want to grow for several years after In the spring I give the soil a good turning- [to clone], certainly when grown in soil. 26.5 oz. (ca. 1.7 lbs.) of fantastic weed. In
each other in the same place then you over. Then it is clear how nice and granular Particularly with clones, the plant reacts general, you can reckon on – with a bit of
have to make sure that the soil is adequate- and healthy it is. Sometimes I toss some better to soil than rock wool. The rooting knowledge and understanding of the soil
ly compensated. Your soil gets increasingly pigeon guano around for the large quanti- takes place twice as fast. (Certainly, when and your garden – getting 14 oz. off each
depleted of nutrients so you have to pro- ties of lime it contains. That keeps the soil there’s a dry springtime you can run into plant without any problem. On a balcony
cess the soil and enrich. The best way is nice and neutral. The majority of weed problems when using rock wool, because it is certainly possible to get 3.5 oz. per
actually the classic way, fresh cow dung farmers – if they want to go the ‘whole the moisture from the rock wool is sucked plant. At least if you take it a bit seriously,
spread over your growing patch before the hog’ and really do things right – spread calf into the soil rather than vice-versa.) What’s that is. But whatever the pot, tub or vat you
beginning of winter. manure, cow manure and horse manure more, the plants just take off... which can choose to use, it can never be as marvelous
I am fortunate in having a stall with a few together. Everything from a dairy farm. My quickly make up a week’s difference. It’s as as the yield you can get [from] growing in
goats, chickens and pot-bellied pigs. I mix brother also experimented for a couple of if the rock wool plant has difficulty in get- real earth. That has, I reckon, mostly to do
their manure up with some bird guano years with digging rabbit droppings into ting used to the soil. You can get very nice with the moisture-holding qualities of the
that I get from a couple of friendly pigeon his garden. His plants were more than ten clones off the mother plant, but sadly not soil. You simply cannot imitate that. The
enthusiasts, and then just leave it to fer- feet high! Thanks to the high concentration many of them. self-regulation of the plant is maximized
ment. Preferably for three years, so that it of nitrates they shot up like rockets. We had by this ability.
breaks down nicely. You have to look at to saw them down! ([Unfortunately] the I prefer to plant the clones in the wind.
it as everything that [you] fertilize today buds also grew upwards into the air and so Between the rows in maize (Indian corn) The best thing you can do is take a sample
is not going to do its good work until a the eventual harvest was, sadly, no bigger fields is ideal. Both the planting and the of the soil in your garden – before you
year later. That changes the structure and than usual.) harvesting of the maize take place at the are due to set out on your grand, weed-
the biological life of the soil. The ground same time as the weed. By the constant growing adventure – and have it analyzed
becomes more grainy, and just better for Pots movement of the wind, the roots devel- at a laboratory in order to know how things
the purpose we have in mind. For pots on balconies in the city it is, of op a good firm grip and you get a nice sit in your garden and what you can expect
course, a bit harder to make use of the pun- sturdy plant. The plants are woodier, and in the coming years. Not everyone is so
Another possibility is to take the used-up gent ‘brown gold’ from a dairy farm. So too, it does look as if they are better able to fortunate as to have such good soil in their
soil from indoor grow-ops, either by you guano – whether Peruvian seagull poop fight off diseases as a result. An additional plot. Now there is something I believe we
or friends who grow indoors, and dump or bat shit – can stink quite badly when it advantage is that the plants, especially in have been very lucky with.”
10 INTERVIEW
GOT ATTITUDE?
What we need to make water hash is that the vegetation is emulsified. If you
a bucket with a volume of about 20 let this happen you will pollute your
liters (4.4 gallons), a set of ice-o-lator hash, meaning it will be less pure. It is
bags or bubble bags, a food mixer, some also worth noting to make sure that
leaf waste, ice cubes and ice-cold water. the speed of the mixer is set to slow
The colder the water the better, as the or medium and not let it run on high
crystals more easily break loose when speed. Once again, we are not aiming to
they are agitated. For that reason it is a beat the marijuana into a puree.
good idea to put a few large plastic bot-
tles filled with water into your freezer By observing the color of the water you
an hour and a half before you are set to can see how large your yield is going
make the water hash. Mind that you do to be. The darker gold-brown the water
not leave them in too long or the water turns, the more crystals there are in it.
will freeze. By mixing for too long at too high a
speed the chlorophyll from the leaves
Fill the bucket with the ice cold water will be released and you’ll get a green
from your bottles, topping it up with coloration.
ordinary tap water. Place the sieve with
the smallest holes in first, as this is the In order to give the crystals that have
one that will be catching your THC crys- been beaten free some time to settle
tals, and then the sieve with the larger and be caught, you are best off letting
gauge. You can add some ice cubes now the mixer rest for a few minutes every
too to the water, then start adding your half hour. If the mixer is running con-
leaf trimmings, then throw some more stantly you can get a suction effect that
ice cubes on top of these. The idea of the lifts the crystals back upwards to be
ice cubes is that they make the water as mixed up with the leaf waste again.
cold as possible so that the crystals that
come into contact with them will more Your choice of bucket should prefer-
easily be knocked free of their vegeta- ably be a deep, elongated one so that
tion. In fact, you probably don’t need the the loose shaken crystals can sink deep
ice cubes if you can make sure that your enough so as not to be whisked back
bucket is about 80% full of water out of up once the mixer is switched on again.
the freezer. This water is so cold it will A broad, shallow bucket is not recom-
hurt your hands if you keep them in it mended; not that it will do any harm,
for more than 20 seconds. Ice cubes melt just that it will take a lot longer to wait
really quickly thanks to the churning of for the crystals to be gathered.
the food mixer and they will last longer
if you use them in this way. The first time you make water hash will be
a pleasure and an experience in itself. Just
We are now ready to start mixing. Since like a gold prospector you will taste the
the mixing of the leaf trim will take a joy of hauling your sieve to the surface
good hour and a half or more you need and beholding your treasure. But once
to build yourself a system whereby you the novelty has worn off it will become
can fix the mixer in place so that it can just another tedious chore that eats into
operate without you having to hold onto your valuable time. That is why it is handy
it the whole time. There are so many to rig up your mixer to a time switch that
ways of doing this that I will not go can be programmed with the number of
into it in detail, except to say that what- minutes to run. With this you can set the
ever way you choose, make sure that the mixer to switch itself off for a few minutes
mixer is firmly kept in place. every half hour and then automatically
switch itself back on to continue mixing.
There are several attachments you can Then you do not have to rush back to your
use for the mixing. Just make sure that mixer every 30 minutes. But to reiterate:
the one you use does not have any make sure that you have 100% confidence
sharp edges on it; an attachment you that the mixer is secure.
use for beating eggs or whipping cream
is ideal. We just want to make sure After a period of time you will be ready
that the crystals are beaten loose, not to remove the sieve and harvest your
13
crystals. We take the first sieve – the one Gently press the crystals together while The difficulties in making water hash mold and even if the hash seems dry
with the leaf trim in it – making sure that they are in the sieve. You can use a hand are mostly to do with drying it out. I and smokable, bear in mind that there
no leaf matter falls into the sieve with towel or kitchen roll when doing this to have noticed that if you just lay it out is still moisture in it that can result in
the crystals. Squeeze the majority of the absorb most of the remaining moisture in the open the hash will become hard mold damage when stored for a longer
moisture out of the vegetation and lay out of the wet hash. Once this is done sooner. The really good quality water period. It will only take about a month
the sieve down gently somewhere clean you can spread the sieve open on a clean hash should easily become knead-able – without exposure to a source of heat
and out of the way. We do not want to surface of a nice, level table. We can now from the warmth of your hands or from – before your water hash has fully lost
get the underside of the sieve covered use a credit card or something similar to sitting in your pocket for a short period all its moisture.
in dirt or dust before we put it back in scrape the hash together into a single of time. Even though the freezer has
the water. Take the sieve with the crystals pile. Gently scrape together all the crys- removed a lot of the moisture there is So to wrap things up, various types of
out and hold it up, with a firm grasp. All tals from the sieve and press them once still some left in the hash. What works Cannabis make various types of water
for me is to put the water hash I have hash. Some Cannabis varieties maintain
SOME CANNABIS VARIETIES MAINTAIN THEIR TASTE in a plastic bag and let the remaining their taste when they have been made
moisture evaporate, while especially into water hash, while others lose their
WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN MADE INTO WATER HASH, WHILE in the first few days, opening the plas- flavor. With one variety you can make
tic bag and wiping away the damp better skuff and so should use a pol-
OTHERS LOSE THEIR FLAVOR before closing it again. In this way it linator, and the other is better for water
can take up to a week before the bag hash (some are good for both of course).
the water will slowly dribble out, but the again with your bare hands to press out gets damp again. Should you forget to It’s up to you to test things out for
crystals can slow down this drainage. To the excess water. To get every last drop open and wipe, then your water hash yourself, and do not forget the higher
speed the process up you can hold the of moisture out of the hash you can stick may become moldy. This is not really a the quality of your leaf trimmings (i.e.
sieve bag with one hand and with the it in your freezer for a night. The next day problem if you smoke the hash within a the more THC in them), the higher your
other, squeeze gently downwards on the all the moisture will be drawn out as a week or two, but if you wish to store it yield of hash will be!
sieve. After a couple of minutes most of layer of ice on your water hash and this for a longer period then you will need
the water will be out. can simply be rubbed off. to keep a continuous check on it for Good luck!
14 SERIOUS GARDENING
Mountainhigh
on tour
Cones The ready-to-use, pre-rolled the taste sensation of pure cannabis. Fairs and trips Sydney or
sleeves; the standard in Dutch coffee Mountainhigh has always embraced this Vancouver? Medicinal use or recreational?
shops. Already for 16 years they have product and is one of the biggest dis- The two brothers serve the global market.
been having a big impact with Cones tributors in Europe. Their products are available in all four
around the world. And now Cones are corners of the earth. And they export just
In this Soft Secrets there is an Mach 6 The quickest joint filling
available in handy Blister Packs for con- as readily to Nigeria as to America. That’s
machine in the world! This electrical
sumers. Do you sell King Size papers? why you’ll also bump into Mountainhigh
advert in which Mountainhigh Then you can sell Cones as well! wonder mill fills and compacts hun- at all the top fairs.
is looking for distributors. dreds of joints per hour. Developed
Blunt Wraps The popular fresh- by two Dutch brothers, the owners
But where do we know packed tobacco leaves with the deli- of Mountainhigh, Martin & Arthur van Do you want to become a distributor?
Then make contact and take a look at all
Mountainhigh from again? cious taste. For ultimate enjoyment and den Berg. the products at: www.mountainhigh.nl
“HOW TO MAKE WATER HASH” 12 “SOIL AND HYDROPONIC GARDENING: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?” 14 “GROWING MEDICINE FOR FREE” 28
18 INTERNATIONAL GROWERS
Gold, Colombian Punto Rojó, Brazilian yet spiritual; these paradoxes are cer- – and searching through seed catalogs large population of plants. The second
Cabeça de Negro (Black Head), Angola tainly present in the herb. After growing – I’d gathered together an assortment aspect is the frequency or occurrence
Red, Colombian Black, a few Thais, a Sri and trailing my first landrace varieties of mostly tropical heirloom varieties, of the genes, particularly the desir-
Lankan, some wonderful Paraguayan I found that they had so many distinc- landraces and in-bred lines (IBL). able ones. When I say ‘desirable’ I don’t
landrace and a very old un-worked tive qualities. I was stunned to see that necessarily mean potency, flavor, bag
Vietnamese line. herb of incomparable quality has been Which strain(s) do you prize most appeal, etc. I’m mostly referring to what
in existence for thousands of years. In and why? makes the line unique. Since the female
I also have a Burma Jam female that many instances it is nature that helps That’s a hard one because there’s a few offspring tend to mostly resemble the
was the only plant that germinated people lucky enough to live in certain strains that I couldn’t live without that I ovum donor, I select one very desirable
from some 25-year-old seeds. At this sweet spots to breed some of the high- could replace easily; then there’s a few female for representation of each phe-
moment my main breeding indica is the est quality herb available. This is what that I love slightly less that could never notype. Then I pollinate with a larger
Parvati. It’s as close to being a perfect motivates my collecting. be replaced. Right now the WAMM amount of males, with a good level of
pollen receiver for landrace hybrids I’ve Malawi is very high on my list, simply hardiness and disease resistance being
seen. It has a huge variance of acces- Has securing landrace genetics from due to the fact that it’s a Malawi inbred the main selection criteria.
sory cannabinoids, so when it is used in across the globe become a hobby? to finish in a temperate climate. It has it
a landrace cross, the accessory cannab- Yes, very much. If not a hobby, then a all: painkilling properties, anti-anxiety, The most important part of preserva-
inoids of the female are usually carried way of life! I’ve filled a kind of niche mood enhancement and it is simultane- tion is to use any opportunity to return
to the F1. Dr. Greenthumb’s Kashmir, in my community where about 20% ously energizing. The Zamals and Zamal the landrace to the region of origin. At
Pine Tar Kush and Deep Chunk are also of the people who smoke what I pro- x Parvati, when grown properly, make the very least try to distribute tropical
being tested for breeding qualities. As duce are those that had long given the highest quality herb possible. varieties to the tropics if at all possible.
you can imagine this is a lot of work. up on Cannabis because what’s com- Returning an indica to an appropriate
Thankfully my wife and best friend are mercially available has no appeal. We The Ghanaian is an all-round fantastic environment is tricky since North India
into this as much as I am. Right now, have this product in the States from herb that is one of my most potent yet and Afghanistan are difficult places to
I’m looking into a new greenhouse Canada, which is the blandest product incredibly natural strains. Ghana has a get to. Fortunately some parts of North
facility and hopefully I can find some- one could imagine. close relationship with some countries India and Pakistan – at least from what
thing that fits. in the West that have a strong African I hear – are quite welcoming and it
When and why did you start breeding influence, like Guyana and Jamaica. It’s seems quite possible to return some of
How and why did you gather all these your own seed lines? a very natural earthy herb with strong these lines to their home.
strains together? When I first started breeding I didn’t Malawi and Congolese influences.
The obvious answer is preservation have a choice because I was growing Last but not least are my two favorite What projects do you have planned
and that is a large part of my motiva- from unlabeled bag seed. I wanted to Mexicans: the Acapulco Gold and the for the future?
tion. However, since reading Terence make more seeds many times but I Oaxacan Pelo Rojo. I believe the high I’m working on bringing the Brazilian
McKenna’s The Archaic Revival I’ve been couldn’t be certain what the males were. of these two cannot be improved upon. Seed Company back. We need more
breeders in the sweet spots, where
What advice would you give to fellow the environment produces amazing
WHAT I LIKE THE LEAST ARE THE DUTCH INDICA breeders of landrace genetics? Cannabis with little help from man.
If you’re a person who wishes to see In Brazil we can maintain the African,
TYPES. IT SEEMS THAT ALMOST ALL OF THE ABILITY TO a line preserved contact Rahan over Mexican and South American genetics
PRODUCE ACCESSORY CANNABINOIDS HAS BEEN BRED OUT at www.strainguide.overweed.net. The
site is mostly in French; however, Rahan
without worrying about changing the
lines to the degree that, say, an indoor
OF THE MODERN INDICA GENE POOL speaks English also and there should
be enough English on the site to find
or temperate latitude grower would.
“HOW TO MAKE WATER HASH” 12 “SOIL AND HYDROPONIC GARDENING: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?” 14 “GROWING MEDICINE FOR FREE” 28
20 INTERVIEW
An American in Amsterdam
Established in 1995, Nirvana Seeds has become one of the leading the Positronics seeds, and when Wernard bumpy road. But we’ve really worked on it,
went out of business Mau set up Nirvana, hired some actual scientists to work on it
cannabis seed breeders in the Netherlands. Originally from the US, in 1995. for us, and it’s now going well. We have all
Buddy currently manages Nirvana from the wholesale shop in central our strains feminised.
Amsterdam. Soft Secrets caught up with him there to discuss the Is Amsterdam still considered a leading
centre for seeds? Are feminised seeds the future?
company’s new strains, and how the seed business has changed with In my view, we have coffee shops here There’s a market for it, but there will
increasing professionalization and globalisation. By Jules Marshall and that’s the ultimate test of a strain, always be a market for the natural seeds,
because it can be evaluated in a relaxed we’re finding, because some people like
way and there’s pricing on it an open to breed, others don’t like the way the
Soft Secrets: How did you get involved Can you explain how a new variety is market instead of a black market. Things seeds are treated with chemicals. Thy-
in the seed business? made? just go way quicker and are done more sodium something and silver nitrate, very
Buddy: I moved to Amsterdam 12 years Usually through friends or ourselves, they properly in an open market. poisonous. It just about kills the plant but
ago from Germany – my wife and I had give us a seed and we grow it out, mix with In Spain, people are growing weed in their it forces her to ‘hermaphrodite-ize’ and in
been coming here every weekend to one of our males. If it’s tasty, we market it backyards all over, but there’s no control of the flowers there are no male chromo-
party - and it was a coincidence I got into as an F1, otherwise we backcross it five the quality. It’s just ‘grow it ‘n’ sell it’. Here, somes. That’s the theory but there has to
this business. My first apartment was just times to stabilise it. the coffee shops won’t buy it if it’s not be lots of testing. You can’t just take any
a few doors down from the old Nirvana good. And there are so many drug tourists plant and do it. You first need a thorough-
shop, so it was pretty much the first And how long does the whole process here, it all adds up to intense evaluation ly tested female; she can’t be hermaphro-
place I went to. Being an American it took from planting that first seed to selling its of the strains in Amsterdam. In Spain, dite on her own in order to be a candidate
about 8 months to get a work permit and genetics on the market take? it’s mostly Spanish people smoking their for the chemicals. It came from Dr David
during that time in the grey area I had to weed, so there’s not much feedback. Wasson, who did hemp research, living
make a living, and that’s when I started F1s are easy; a few months. Stabilised stuff with the Hayes brothers (and now lives
growing; I had to eat! I had no plans to can take a year or two. Amsterdam, just like it has traditionally in Amsterdam). He did the first research
grow grass and the coffee shop I was been with flowers and vegetables, is a 20 years ago. He’s also done research on
growing for, they knew Mau (owner and How important is backcrossing? central moving point. male seeds – that is, making a male plant
founder of Nirvana) and when I got my Very, because then we can use it for breed- Yes, plus there’s Schiphol airport; that’ll produce female seeds. He’s something of
a mentor to me; was at his house a few
weeks ago discussing the science of it all.
AUTOMATIC STRAINS ARE A SORT OF A HEADACHE WEED. THERE’S A PRICE TO PAY
What’s the use of all males?
FOR AUTO-FLOWERING – THE HIGH’S NOT AS CLEAR AS IN THE OTHER STRAINS It’s very useful, as it’s hard to know what
the male plant is, it doesn’t produce THC,
SOFI number (entitlement to work – ed), ing later. F1s you can’t breed with; they never go away. There’s more weed in other but if you can treat it with chemicals and
he was looking for a new manager and I create totally unstable offspring. places but here will always be a more dis- get buds, you have some kind of idea what
got the job. I’d never grown before; I read criminate place. qualities it has.
High Times and always had the intention What are the highlights from Nirvana
to grow. So I just read all the books and that have sold well or that readers might Some of the Californian pharmacies You also sell auto-flowering seeds – a
really got into it. have used? seem to have a very different way of more recent innovation?
We’ve won awards for Crystal, Master Kush looking at the product; checking for Yes, another new trend which I person-
How many staff do you manage? and our Royal Flush since I worked here. fungus, doing microscopic analysis – as ally don’t like, because it contains ruderalis
4-5 full time packing seeds, and maybe 20 a result of it being seen as a medicinal genes, which forces it to flower automati-
independent growers we work with. We How was the company originally set up? thing. They’re treating it almost like a cally but also contains lots of CBD and
keep a mother room and the contractors Mau used to work for Wernard (Bruining) pharmaceutical, offering a wide range CBNs; it’s sort of a headache weed. There’s
do all the growing. We do our own devel- at Positronics, the first grow shop in of cookies and sweets and butters for a price to pay for auto-flowering – the
opment and testing. Amsterdam, probably all of Europe. He did non-smokers. Do you think the relaxed high’s not as clear as in the other strains.
smoking laws here means there’s not
been same pressure to innovate, qual- What are the advantages?
ity control? The strains grow well in extreme Northern
That’s true, but America…I don’t agree (and Southern) latitudes; Denmark,
with that whole ‘medical’ angle. Everyone Sweden, Canada – they can plant in the
I know smokes because they like it, not backyard and harvest before the first
because they’re sick! And I don’t like the frost. If you live where it’s temperate, you
idea of having to fake to get a prescription. shouldn’t grow it.
Did you see the recent South Park, How has the Net changed the seed
where they opened a marihuana dis- business?
pensary in town (Medicinal Fried It revolutionised the business, begin-
Chicken)? Stan’s dad gives himself can- ning probably 8-9 years ago. Gypsy
cer so he can use the place. Nirvana seeds direct in England started
I haven’t seen that episode, but the whole the whole thing. Before that, people
approach in the US is contradictive; it’s a would drive to Amsterdam or answer
medical store but the dispensaries have the ads in the few weed magazines
pool tables. I’ve never been to a chem- there were at the time. Since the Net,
ist that has a pool table, y’know? But I business has exploded 10-fold, for sure.
guess it’s a scene we have to reckon with It’s just too easy – seeds are so small
because it’s gone crazy there. they are considered letter post.
When did Nirvana first develop femin- But do you still have to take precautions
ised seed? sending to other countries?
BUDDY IN FRONT OF HIS SHOP IN AMSTERDAM. 6-7 years ago, we had about six strains, but You can pretty much pop it in an envelope.
it was the early days of female seeds and a In most countries they cannot be legally
21
will come in with their billions and take it sell seeds because they said it was the
over. So long as it’s in a grey area, these big job of Spanish distributors.
companies will not touch it. I hope it stays
decriminalised and not legalized. So with acceptance comes a new set of
problems?
One thing that struck me was the rela- Sure; there are people coming out of busi-
tive freedom in seed breeding; breed- ness school and getting into this business.
ers have been quite generous in the College graduates running head shops
past about exchanging germ lines. You and distribution centres now. It’s getting
don’t get this in the over-patented reg- tighter. Which is good, as it was a bit
ular agribusiness. sloppy in the beginning.
Exactly. It will be in the hands of the big
guys and the small guy would be squeezed And the pioneers are retiring now, hav-
out. The price would go down and it would ing done their job.
In case you aren’t familiar, Don and during your visit. Due to the fact that DNA
Aaron, founders of DNA Genetics, have respect international drug laws, many of
been growing ganja since the late 80’s their customers originate from countries
in Hollywood, California. You can read where it would be illegal for seeds to be
that story and check out full menus for shipped, such as the US.
DNA and Reserva Privada strains on their
website, www.dnagenetics.com. What Americans and Canadians do make up
we’d like to show you is the latest look a large percentage of foreign tourism in
inside their lovely shop, centrally-located the Netherlands, especially regarding the
and simple to find when you next visit Cannabis scene in Amsterdam, and it’s
Amsterdam. Tucked into a side street – but comforting for some to know that not only
easy to walk past if you’ve just sampled is English spoken in this shop, but North
some of the local coffeeshop delicacies American-English at that. Something
– the DNA shop is a welcoming, efficient else that might annoy the Europeans but
establishment destined to be a popular pleases those from ‘across the pond’ is the
stop on many tourists’ travel itineraries. strict pure-only policy in the shop. That’s
correct: Pure joints and bongs only! In our
Upon entering this chilled-out location post-tobacco-ban world most of us relish
your eyes are subconsciously drawn to the ability to smoke a joint mixed with
whatever it is that you have been crav- nicotine, but the guys are sticking to their
ing: expertly made glass bongs (beauti- roots on this one.
ful works by Sheldon Black), trendy DNA
label gear (keep an eye out for a new The DNA strains reflect the proprietors’
clothing line styled by their friend Remix), origin as well: West Coast, fruity, resin-
assorted smoker accoutrements and of ous genetics imported from sunnier
course seeds, as it is a seed shop. The DNA climes. These varieties were all quite
seed shop. new and exciting when thrust upon the
Dutch scene over the past few years,
The two guys relocated from ‘Hollyweed’ as Aaron reminds us of the legendary
to Amsterdam in 2003 and opened their LA Confidential, Sour Diesel, OG Kush,
business on the Sint Nicolaasstraat in #18 and Lemon Skunk. Personally the
2005. Aaron points out that what sets Cannalope family and Chocolope (a.k.a. exception. “I think it’s good for the growers trolled [mini-] helicopters with noses on
them apart from the competition is the D-Line) have always satisfied my sativa- but if you ask me, if I had to run anywhere, them, they send out letters to everybody’s
information. “There aren’t so many places loving palate, but the old-school indicas I’d be grabbing my regular seeds. Then house asking you to snitch on your neigh-
where you can just come and buy seeds ReCon and RockLock have a special place I’d be able to make more, since I wouldn’t bors, even if they just smell Cannabis....
right after testing the product in one of in my heart as well. necessarily have the equipment to make But I can do my business here, which is a
the coffeeshops. I’d rather we give you the feminized seeds wherever I go.” great thing. If I ever got caught for doing
information and then send you to one of It’s only fair to ask one of the owners something I’m not a ‘criminal’; I’d have to
these places where you can actually try what he likes, and Aaron’s pick was the This sort of honesty currently runs at pay a fine or something like that. But the
the product... and then buy the seeds if Sleestack. I have to admit, I’d forgotten a high premium in an industry that is more pressure [the government] puts [on
you like it. I’d rather give you information about that crystal-covered treasure, with not completely legal in the Netherlands. the industry], the worse it gets.”
than just sell you something.” glittering buds and a super sweet smell. In order for DNA to continue offering
He defends her honor: “Personally I would Californian genetics and flavors to our In comparison, it seems that the US –
This is an approach to business that really have to say the Sleestack is one of my... low lying, sun-deprived country they especially California – is becoming as pro-
works. As fans of their famous varieties holy grail strain[s] because the resin it pro- must continue surfing the fine line gressive as the Netherlands is conserva-
range in age from 18 to 80 and come from duces is just so, it’s just covered with resin. between holding a legitimate business tive. Aaron keeps things in perspective.
all walks of life, the shop remains popular I wouldn’t give it to just anybody to grow permit and specializing in a product “...There are pros and cons to both places.
with an international following of grow- out for crops, but it’s good for hash pro- whose origins lie in dark, illegal locations. The biggest thing is, it’s not easy to grow
ers, likely to stream in and trade stories ducers. The way the hash comes off the Well, not dark exactly but certainly not over here. You really have to be a Dutchie
plant but it doesn’t clump together. It acts spoken-of in most settings. Aaron men- to not get caught. Someone who’s grown
dry. And the taste and flavor and the room tions this as one of the largest hurdles up in that town, who can grow their 100
smell... it’s a winner if you’re a hash smoker.” encountered by business owners in the lamps and not get caught because they
Cannabis industry: grew up with all the cops. The cops will tell
With such success at producing memora- them, hey we’re going to come and get
ble, stable genetics, what tricks do DNA still “People come to Amsterdam from abroad you, and [the growers] close everything
have up their sleeves? Their most notice- and they think it’s just ok for us to make down.... Then they fire it up again the next
able innovation, keeping them at the top our seeds and grow weed, and for cof- week. That’s the way it works out here.”
of the industry, would be the introduction feeshops to sell. Well it’s not. It’s ok for Let’s hope Mother Nature keeps deliver-
of the DNA Genetics Feminized line. While us to sell seeds and trade in seeds; it’s ok ing those precious seeds.
the growing community is divided on the for coffeeshops to sell weed, but it’s not
issue, no one can argue that the success- ok to grow our own seeds and it’s not ok ›› www.dnagenetics.com
ful seed companies are the ones who can for coffeeshops to grow their own weed
ARON (AT LEFT) AND DON SHOW OFF adapt to the needs of their customers, or [obtain] the weed. And now there are DNA Genetics
A PRECIOUS HIGHLIFE CUP withholding judgment and reserving their police helicopters with forward-looking Sint Nicolaasstraat 41
opinions for their own gardens. Aaron is no infrared cameras, there are remote-con- 1012 NJ Amsterdam
28 MEDICINAL MARIJUANA
His office was just down the street from or a skin rub. There are multiple meth-
a good sized shopping mall, in a normal ods, it just depends on the needs of the
office complex. It did not appear out of individual. mothers carry pills in their purses that if can cause them to overproduce perox-
place with the more “mainstream” nearby dropped and picked up by a small child idasions, and burst themselves. It can
businesses and offices. The sign on the Why you think it’s important that could be lethal if eaten. Cannabis pre- have an effect on length of remissions
window reads simply “M.C.N.C” with his Medical Marijuana remains a Medical sents a bigger threat as a choking hazard in advanced cancers. Contributory assis-
name and phone number. Inside, the option? than anything else if it is unintentionally tance to other medications, and may help
waiting area is similar to many other doc- It isn’t a cure all, but it is a wonderful ingested by a child. with extended cancer remissions.
tor’s waiting areas, save for a sign pro- adjunct to a number of different ailments.
claiming that marijuana is not used on Many of the current treatments involve What difficulties do you see in using Don’t be surprised if you see cannabis
the premises. continuously increasing the dose as the Medical Marijuana as a Medical option? become a much more significant medi-
Every day our bodies suffer an ever- camps out in the fat cells like an unwanted
increasing onslaught of mild toxic sub- party guest. Even if you stopped consum-
stances, ranging from the air we breathe ing Cannabis tomorrow, it would take up
to the plastic wrappers that contain our to a year for the body to rid itself com-
food. Although the amounts are small pletely of all the toxins. Luckily there are
and quickly dealt with by a healthy ways to speed up the process.
immune system, not all the toxins leave
the body. It’s this accumulating cocktail The first step is to begin by flushing the
of chemicals and heavy metals that can system with water, the solvent of life.
cause the immune system to slow and Start each day with a large glass of luke-
eventually expose the body to a variety warm water containing a few drops of
of ailments. Warning signs are frequent fresh lemon or cranberry juice. This will
colds and infections. cleanse the intestinal tract and kill bacte-
ria. Drinking a glass of water every hour
If you are a regular Cannabis user there is through out the day should become a
an added pressure. The last ten years has regular habit.
seen a marked increase in the strength
of the marijuana supply. Nowadays, it is Along with the water take vitamin C
quite common to find weed with THC lev- (1000mg of the non-acid ‘Ester C’) daily;
els of 10% or more and some ice hash con- combining it with 100mg of alpha-lipoic
taining up to 50%. Fun as it is, Cannabis acid should do the trick. This will not only
use affects the immune system and pro- eliminate stubborn toxins and clean up grass juice being the best. Although most you the hint of smoke that you crave;
longed exposure to these levels – without free radicals, but also protect the body fresh juices are beneficial, carrot, apple if you simply can’t give up smoking
detoxification – can layer on even more from the damage they cause. These and parsley are especially cleansing; altogether, suck in plenty of cooling air
pressure. As the immune system main- should be taken on an empty stomach celery juice is particularly useful in the with each hit.
removal of heavy chemicals. Use organic
fruit and vegetables whenever possible Ingesting (eating or drinking) Cannabis
INDULGING IN THE WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE THAT IS and treat yourself to a good juicer. has still got to be the cleanest and most
economical way. The body absorbs
CANNABIS IS NOT A BAD THING; HOWEVER, AS FAR AS THE Another useful aid to elimination is green everything, giving a longer lasting and
BODY IS CONCERNED, THC IS JUST ANOTHER TOXIN tea. Drink as much as you like: the more the
better. It is a powerful antioxidant and a fast
more intense high – but be sure you
to get the dosage right! Half a gram
fix when you’re feeling down. Dandelion of hash or a gram of weed per serving
tains the whole body and keeps every- along with that morning glass of water. tea will clean the blood, parsley tea will should do the trick. There are plenty of
thing in balance, a break down here can Another useful substance is noni juice, a remove heavy metals and chemicals and Cannabis cookbooks out there educat-
lead to serious health trouble. Tahitian fruit that has deep cleansing abili- la pacho tea will tone up the whole show. ing medical- and recreational users.
ties and also helps with the elimination of
The secret is to create a continuous pro-
cess of bodily elimination. Using herbal
free radicals. Try to find the pure variety. ALTHOUGH MOST FRESH JUICES ARE BENEFICIAL,
teas, a healthy diet and supplements, Toxins in the fat cells need something CARROT, APPLE AND PARSLEY ARE ESPECIALLY CLEANSING;
combined with light exercise, will improve more to shake them free. Lecithin, which
the quality of your life and the quality of comes in numerous forms, combined with CELERY JUICE IS PARTICULARLY USEFUL IN THE REMOVAL
the high from your favorite herb. dandelion and milk thistle form a pow-
erful combination that flushes out the OF HEAVY CHEMICALS
Indulging in the wonderful experience liver and gall bladder. These are especially
that is Cannabis is not a bad thing; how- good after alcohol use. Other aids are light exercise and fresh air Alcohol: we all know how much damage
ever, as far as the body is concerned, THC – ride a bike or take a walk, for example. it does. If you drink and smoke weed,
is just another toxin. When finished work- Freshly made juice is also another won- If this is too much for you then I suggest always be sure to smoke first in order to
ing its magic, it doesn’t leave, but rather derful aid to cleansing the system, wheat- regular visits to a sauna instead. A good avoid the ‘technicolor yawn’. Hangovers
sweat expels the toxins out through the can be avoided by drinking a glass of
pores of the skin rather than loading it water before you go to sleep. Taking
all onto the liver. homeopathic aconite or a 400mg milk
thistle capsule before you go to bed will
It is also important to cut down on the also the keep the men with jackham-
intake of toxins. Watch what you eat and mers at bay.
drink and make sure your weed is the
best quality available, free from pesti- If you have never experienced a thor-
cides and chemicals. oughly cleaned body, then you have no
idea how good it can make you feel. If
Then there’s smoke. Sucking 400 degree you have done it, then perhaps it’s time
of heat into the lungs is not something to do it again.
you can do indefinitely and remain
100% healthy. So perhaps it’s time Remember, use drugs wisely and
to think about alternatives. A vapor- responsibly; don’t let the drug use you.
izer will deliver a satisfying taste with It’s all about mind set. The body is the
a cleaner more energetic high, without vehicle that transports us through this
the accompanying carcinogens. If you reality. If you can become more aware of
still need a bit of smoke, a glass vapor- its needs, it will serve you well. Maintain
izing pipe heated by a flame will give the vehicle; stay clean!
STRAIN REPORT 33
Jorge’s Diamonds #1
from Dutch Passion
DIAMONDS ARE A GROWER’S BEST FRIEND
If a worldwide well-known, highly successful Cannabis cultivation author
stakes his good name on a new Cannabis strain, the quality of the outcome
is particularly interesting – after all, the name shall stand for a high-quality
product. Would Jorge’s Diamonds #1 really prove to be a diamond treasure?
Words & Pics: Green Born Identity – G.B.I.
34
Ruderalis 101
Ruderalis Indica, as the name implies, is
a cross between ruderalis and an indica
hybrid that originated from Hungary and
the former Soviet Union. The producers
advertise this strain as being a fast and
early bloomer that is still a potent hybrid.
Text: Markus Berger / Photos: Sensi Seeds
It is still a moot point whether the genus Ruderalis is short and stocky with a maxi- for rituals, and that still happens today in With the other early bloomer, Ruderalis
Cannabis consists of three differing mum flowering height of between two- parts of Russia and Mongolia. Skunk, great care was taken to maintain
Cannabis types, or one type with a vari- and five feet. In comparison with Indian the original characteristics of the ruderalis
ety ranging from it. Such differences in hemp (indica) ruderalis has very small, Cannabis ruderalis as Folk strain. This hybrid is also exceptional from
opinion are also held with regard to plants short leaves, hardly any branches and pro- Medicine its primeval origin in that it is able to flow-
such as Datura (Thornapple), Lophophora duces one small, firm flower right on its In both Mongolia and Russia, Cannabis er automatically, regardless of daylight
(Peyote) and some fungi in the Psilocybe main growth stem. The seed casing shows ruderalis is widely used as an antidepres- hours. It will just start when it reaches a
family. Cannabis expert Mathias Bröckers a difference in the outer covering tissue, sant. A Mongolian bagashun or a Russian certain age. For this reason both strains
declares, “it is only recently that science which appears wrinkly and almost spotty. mumio are tonics against any and all dis- are very popular as a beginner’s plant.
makes premises of single types from These seeds are usually smaller than their eases and ills. They are probably created One of the more exquisite sorts from Sensi
which variations develop. This can be sativa counterparts but are still larger than out of a mix of ruderalis, juniper berries Seeds is the Fourway – made up of 25%
seen with regard to differences in cli- those of indica. and bat guano. The Mongolians identify each of indica, ruderalis, Northern Lights
matic conditions for the wild growth of Traditional nicknames for ruderalis two strains of Cannabis: Cannabis sativa, and Skunk #1 – perfect for either indoor
Cannabis ruderalis compared to the resin are Anascha, Konopli, Mimea, Momea, which is usually used for its oil; ruderalis or outdoor cultivation.
rich Cannabis indica.” Mumeea, Penka, Penscha, Ruderalhanf, is usually used for its psychotropic side
“HOW TO MAKE WATER HASH” 12 “SOIL AND HYDROPONIC GARDENING: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?” 14 “GROWING MEDICINE FOR FREE” 28
38 GROW REPORT
Breeders Solitaire
USING A DECK OF PLAYING CARDS, LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME
PRINCIPLES OF BASIC MENDELIAN GENETICS BY GRUBBYCUP
Marijuana has 10 chromosomes in it’s down cards. Suits and values on the
reproductive cells, which shuffle from cards are ignored. Only whether the
plant to plant like playing cards. Each card is red or black is counted. For
chromosome has many genes which each pair that has a red card face up,
move together as a unit, and some flip the pair to exchange the up card
complex traits require multiple genes and the down card. This simulates
to express. It would be daunting to dominance. At this point, you should
take on all the variables at once, so this have approximately one fourth face
example illustrates a single regular trait, up cards red, and the rest black. For
controlled by a single gene, located on each trait, the seed receives two cards
a single chromosome. These types of (alleles). One from each parent.
traits are called “Mendelian traits”, and
appear in two forms, a dominant form The phenotype is the plant that is
(illustrated by black cards), and a reces- expressed by growing out the seed.
sive form (illustrated by red cards). No matter what the face down is, the
face up card determines the pheno-
A trait is a particular characteristic of type.The genotype referrs to both the
the plant, one example is phyllotaxis. up card, and the down card together.
Phyllotaxis refers to the leaf pattern, If the face up card is black, then our
which in cannabis the dominant form hypothetical plant will grow with the
starts as an opposite leaf pattern (two dominate trait of opposite leaves. This
leaves on either side of the stem, each will happen 3/4 of the time, since the RED CARDS STAND FOR A RECESSIVE TRAIT, SUCH AS
node rotated 90 degrees from the last), four possibilities in the two cards are: WHORLED PHYLLOTAXY, QUAD LEAF VERSION SHOWN.
which later develops into an alternate
leaf pattern in later life. The whorled Black, Black: True breeding for oppo-
form, which has three or four leaves, site leaves.
spaced evenly around the stem starting Black, Red: This will show as opposite
from the same node, is the recessive leaves, since black is dominant.
form. The black cards show plants with Red, Black: Again, this will show as
normal phyllotaxis, and the red cards opposite leaves due to dominance. This is why recessive traits are easier to it is considered to be heterozygous for
show whorled phyllotaxis. Height, struc- Red, Red: True breeding for whorled breed than dominant traits, if a reces- the trait. Hybrid vigor tends to express
ture, flavor, aroma, THC, CBD, flowering leaves. sive trait expresses itself, you know it itself in heterozygous plants.
habits, are all influenced by these rules. will breed true if crossed with another
Keep in mind, that with real plants, plant that also expresses the trait. If F1s are the first generation after a
To represent a set of 25 starting plants, there is no way to peek at the hole card. you take a plant with two red cards, cross. If you cross two plants, each with
set up the board: The only way to determine the value is and cross it with another plant with two black cards, then all the offspring
Take a deck of cards, remove the jokers, by testing and deduction. What can be both cards red, all offspring will have will have two black cards, and have
shuffle, and deal out 25 cards face down observed directly, is that about 3/4ths only red cards. Feel free to check for opposite leaves. If you cross two plants
in an 5 x 5 grid. of the face up cards are black. yourself, but all the face up red cards with two red cards each, then all off-
Then deal a card face up on each of the should have a red hole card as well. As spring will have two red cards, and the
long as you only breed the recessive recessive form will express.
form to the recessive form, there will
be no black cards to express domi- If one of the parents with a black up
nance, and the trait will breed true. card has a red down card, you will still
get offspring with opposite leaves, but
HYBRIDS ARE IDEALLY THE PRODUCT OF TWO TRUE However, most of the time the face as the generations continue, at some
up card will be black, and the plant
BREEDING PLANTS OF OPPOSITE COLOR. TWO RED CARDS will show the dominant form. The rea-
point two red cards will come together
in the same plant, it will be a “throw-
TO TWO BLACK CARDS son that dominate traits are harder to
work with, is that you can never be
back”, and show the recessive form.
If you cross two plants that show the
completely positive of what color the recessive form, the offspring will also
face down card is, because it doesn’t show the recessive form, since there
matter if the down card is red or black, aren’t any black cards in the gene pool.
the plant will express the domi- Traits become stable or “fixed” when
nant trait. What you can do with the other color card is eliminated or at
dominant traits, is keep breeding least greatly reduced in the gene pool.
plants that appear to be true
breeding for the trait until it Hybrids are ideally the product of two
is statistically improbable that true breeding plants of opposite color.
they aren’t true breeding. Two red cards to two black cards. This
is why many of the better hybrids are
If your plant is true breeding an indica crossed with a sativa. If all the
for the trait, because both cards cards were the same color, which hap-
are red, or both cards are black, pens more often if very similar plants
it is considered to be homozygous are crossed, then the trait would just
BLACK CARDS STAND FOR A DOMINANT for the trait. To stabilize a strain, as be stable, and uneffected by hybridiza-
many important traits as possible are tion, although other traits in the same
TRAIT, SUCH AS OPPOSITE PHYLLOTAXY.
bred to be homozygous. If your plant plant may be hybridized.
has one red card, and one black card,
39
Seperate the cards by suits into four same with the father. What you should
stacks. Put the two black stacks face up find, is that the results change dramati-
together to symbolize the mother, and cally from the F1 hybrid. The possible
the red stacks face up for the father. results are the same as in the first
The mother plant will show the domi- example, 3/4 opposite leaves (black),
nate form since she has a black card, and 1/4 whorled (red). This is why
and the father plant will not, since growning seeds from hybrids result
both his cards are red. Randomly take in plants that look different than the
one card from one of the two mother original F1 seeds, and how some traits
stacks. Since all her cards are black, it can “hide” or “skip” generations. By
doesn’t matter which stack you take understanding these basic principles,
from, the card will be black. Then take you can imrove your own seedmaking
one card from one of the father stacks, efforts dramatically.
again, no matter which stack you take
from, the card will be red. Since all chil-
dren get one card from their mother, Peace, love,
and one from their father, all the chil- and puka shells,
dren will have one black card, and one
red card. Therefore, the children will Grubbycup
all express the dominant trait, because
they will all have a black card. This is
the situation in a hybrid.
The F2 generation, is the generation
after that, or the grandchild genera-
tion. Since in our example, we know
all the offspring will have one red card,
and one black card, arrange the stacks
so that the mother has one
red stack and one black
stack, and the father
has one red stack,
and one black stack.
Again, to simu-
late crossing the
two parents, take
one card from the
mother (randomly
choose between her
two stacks), and do the
MUSIC REVIEWS 41
By Kaz Peet
Sedge Warbler ‘Welcome To The Universe’ SPANKY PANKY RECORDS Kabanjak ‘Tree of Mystery’ ESL MUSIC
Welcome to the year two, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, nine. We are about to take you to the next level!” Take an emcee Released on ESL music, home of The Thievery
that has stepped out from under the vanity induced, preschool talent fog that clouds modern day rap and lyricism. Take Corporation, comes ‘Tree of Mystery’ – the debut
one producer, who despite pressure from peers, money or commercialism has stuck to his guns and produced music album from Germany’s own Kabanjak. Here, one
that he loves and music that will last. Pour these two ingredients into the mixing bowl and beat until the mixture nears half of the block-rockin’ German hip-hop produc-
perfection.. Children, get your light sabers, the space-shits hit the fan! Introducing Sedge Warbler; a duo sent back in time tion and DJ duo Ancient
to f**k up your mind using the deepest, dankest bass rumbles experienced by any carbon-based life form. S.W. is Dank Astronauts, presents his
& Disko, two extraterrestrials from the year 20000009. Originating from the furthest reaches of the cosmos, South Africa. own musical vision with
Sedge Warbler, have come to take control of your mind, and your bitches. Sedge Warbler brings us an earth shattering his debut solo album Tree
debut album consisting of ten mind and body altering tracks collectively named ‘Welcome To The Universe’. Spanning of Mystery! Kabanjak not
and advancing numerous genres, Sedge Warbler gift us with an ocean of Glitch Hop, Dubstep and all things Wonky & only tackles much of Tree
wonderful. However, one question remains, can our primitive technology handle Sedge Warbler? Only you can find out... of Mystery’s live instru-
FROM THE OPENING TITLE TRACK ‘WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSE’, SEDGE WARBLER MAKES THEIR INTENTIONS mentation, including gui-
CLEAR, SETTING THE STAGE FOR A SPACEWARD VOYAGE. tars, bass, keys, kalimba,
flute, and melodica but also teams up with various
Next up slamming into the awkward jilting bass blams of ‘Paranormal Ox Man’ and other vocal and instrumental talents: Ulf Stricker
tales of creatures that go bump in the night. ‘Face Rap’ is a cranked out tipper-esque provides snapping live drum rhythms, Canadian
bass juggernaut & the pace continues on with hard-hitting thumps and angular DMC champion and Juno Award winner DJ Brace
lyrics dripping with funk. ‘Pretty Hop’ brings the tempo down a notch and comes provides cuts and scratches, poet Azeem drops
with an infectious laser bass wonk. Rolling on ‘Super Thug’ smacks the tits off it once conscious rhymes, and Sitali and Rykarda Parasol
more with gangster strings and more ass clapping glitch hop rhythms. ‘Octopus provide soulful incantations.
Lover’ & ‘Sand Kids’ bring the temperature back up to boiling point with more def.
jug style bass bin ruckus. ‘Welcome To The Universe’ wraps up with ‘Epilogue’, the WITH ITS BROAD SPECTRUM OF HAUNTING MEL-
tale that perfectly closes the final chapter in this epic. ODIES, ROUGH RIDDIMS, AND SOLID ARRANGE-
MENTS, SPANNING FROM DOWNBEAT TO HIP-
HOP TO DUB REGGAE, KABANJAK LETS TREE OF
MYSTERY DIG ITS ROOTS DEEP INTO THE MUSI-
CAL UNDERGROUND AND GROW ITS BRANCHES
RIGHT UP INTO THE SKY!
Dub Gabriel ‘Restless Youth EP’ The Orb featuring David Gilmour
DESTROY ALL CONCEPTS ‘Metallic Spheres’ COLUMBIA RECORDS
Dub Gabriel is on fiyah!!! Restless Youth is the The Orb, the visionary UK ambi-
follow up to his groundbreaking single, “Luv n’ ent/house collective, came to
Liv” which featured the legendary U-Roy on the collaborate with David Gilmour Cheikh Lo ‘Jamm’ WORLD CIRCUIT RECORDS
mic. With Restless Youth, Dub Gabriel continues after working together on a ver- ‘Jamm’ is the first
to push the musical envelope, delivering a deep sion of Graham Nash’s Chicago new album in five
and heavy dancehall-meets-dubstep scorcher. for a charity project. Youth (aka years from one
Martin Glover), a frequent Orb of Africa’s great
For the lead track, “No Lies”, Dub Gabriel has accomplice, was invited to cre- musical mavericks,
paired up with none other than MC Zulu, one ate a remix, and he and Alex Paterson, as The Orb, were so Senegalese sufi
of the most sought-after raga vocalists in elec- energized by the task that they continued working until it troubadour Cheikh
tronic music today. Zulu has been killing dance was an album-length entity. Having asked Gilmour to bring Lô. This is his most
floors worldwide over the past few years having his guitars to Youth’s studio in South London to prolong and distinctive and
collaborated with Ghislain Poirier (Ninja Tune), enrich their new creation, the trio worked up a sonic mixture personal album since his groundbreaking, Youssou
Soulico (J-Dub) and a host of other top produc- in a range of styles. Thus, the Metallic Spheres project was N’Dour-produced debut ‘Ne la Thiass’ in 1996.
ers – his newest track with Dub Gabriel is set to born. Metallic Spheres is designed to be heard in two parts THE DREADLOCKED SINGER’S SIGNATURE BLEND
be one of this year’s hottest dance-floor bang- – Metallic Side and Spheres Side. EACH TRACK, OR SIDE, OF SEMI-ACOUSTIC FLAVOURS - WEST AND
ers! On the studio front, Dub Gabriel once again CONSISTS OF FIVE MOVEMENTS. THE ALBUM UNIQUELY CENTRAL AFRICAN, FUNK, CUBAN, FLAMENCO
enlisted the services of electronic music icon, UTILIZES DAVID GILMOUR’S DISCERNABLE ELECTRIC - HAS BEEN DISTILLED INTO HIS MOST MATURE,
Mark Pistel (Meat Beat Manifesto, Hercules & GUITAR AND LAP STEEL GUITAR, ALEX PATERSON’S FOCUSED, YET DIVERSE STATEMENT TO DATE.
The Love Affair, Grace Jones) – the two of them SOUND MANIPULATION, KEYBOARDS AND TURNTA- AND HIS HUSKY, SENSUAL VOICE IS SOUNDING
immersed themselves in Room 5 Recording BLES, AND YOUTH’S BASS GUITAR AND KEYBOARDS. BETTER THAN EVER.
where they went all-out, pushing an arsenal of
analog synths, drum machines, vintage tape
echoes and
outboard stu-
dio gear to the Rockin Acoustic Circus ‘Lonestar Lullabye’ FLYING WEASEL RECORDS
max. Restless The Bluegrass genre is one that has some of the best musicians at their instrument of choice and also has one of the most devoted
Youth features 4 followings from their fans. With the release of their new album, Lonestar Lullaby, Tulsa based Rockin’ Acoustic Circus is ready to
tracks including continue forging down the bluegrass path before them. The astonishing thing is that the groups’
the incendiary members range in age from 15-17, but with their expertise in their craft you would never know
“No Lies”, the it by just listening to them. There mostly folk influenced bluegrass based sound is a little left of
post-apocalyptic the dial in comparison to those traditional bluegrassers out there as they seem to be stretching
sounds of “Babylon Shall Fall”, the riddim treat- genre borders and testing its boundaries more often than not. The instruments throughout the
ment of “Set the Lazers to Destroy the Sun” album include the standard fiddle, banjo, mandolin, etc.… but this is a band that more often than
and, the dance floor crushing frequencies of not allows their vocals to take center stage leaving the music to simply accompany them as is
“Tactile Evasion” - a remix of “No Lies” from evident on songs like “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere.” However, with songs like “Bethany” you see the
one of our favorite producers, Liquid Stranger. prominent use of the fiddle take center stage while on songs like “Money In The Bank” it is the banjo that gets you tapping along.
ONCE AGAIN MASTERED BY TAYLOR DUPREE ROCKIN’ ACOUSTIC CIRCUS BRINGS TOGETHER INFLUENCES FROM THE ACOUSTIC COUNTRY SCENE AND COMBINES
OF 12K, RESTLESS YOUTH IS DEFINITELY THEM WITH BLUEGRASS FLARE AND FOLK TO MAKE FOR WHAT CAN BEST BE DESCRIBED AS AN AMERICANA FEEL TO A
NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART! BLUEGRASS SOUND WITH THEIR NEW ALBUM LONESTAR LULLABYE.
42
Readers
Readerss Stu
Stuff
uff
Attention Readers!
Become part of the world wide growers com-
munity and star in Soft Secrets legendary
‘Dear Soft Secrets’ column. A marihuana
plant, a copy of Soft Secrets and preferably
your wife or girlfriend in a sexy bikini must
Dear Soft Secrets
The plants pictured with my gorgeous 23yo (I’m 40 you know!!!) girlfriend didn’t produce the yield I was expecting but I be in the frame.
have been experimenting with different pot sizes, and have concluded that 19cm pots are better than 10cm, dur!!
Simply e-mail your entries to
I chose Cheese Wreck predominantely because of the amazing aroma which have a weird aniseed/creosote smell kristie@softsecrets.nl. NOTE: All entries
when wet, but the most mellow yet strong roasted coffee aroma when dried out. The buds are hard and teardrop are handled with the utmost discretion.
shaped and this strain seems to have a lot of haze in it as the leaves turn purple and the buzz is a heavy body hit, Remember, we don’t publish out of focus or
so I’m assuming it’s mostly sativa. low resolution pics, and we don’t like photos
of young plants in the veg stage. It’s fat buds
The Big Bud and plant pictured was some Northern Lights I grew last year and was amazed at the results consider- and sweet babes we want to see!
ing I used a mixture of baby bio and miracle grow. Check out the roots on this Cheese Wreck! This was achieved by
standing the plants on a one inch bed of perlite which has to be kept moist at all times.
YOURS SINCERELY, A&K
E-mail:
Your grow room looks well lit and healthy and so does your 17-year younger girlfriend junior. The roots growing out of kristie@softsecrets.nl
the their pots can be a problem when transplanting since the tender root follicles can get damaged easily. In future pot
the plants on as they reach the base of the pots and they will develop quicker and become even more robust. But con-
grats on your Lolita-girl, it keeps us old farts staying young at heart!
Soft Secrets,
Dear Soft Secrets, I am sending you my first attempt of Big Buddha Cheese.
BOB
Big Buddha Bob strikes again. Next time remove the lower branches that yielded nothing,
and use a bigger plant pot. You’ll get a better harvest. And stop toking for a while, we can’t
put our finger on it but somehow you look a bit pale…
Grew these 6 Cheese plants in soil from B-Q using General Hydro
Flora nutrients, PK13-14 at 5 weeks and got an average of .5 ounce
per plant. Then the 6 foot 6 inch grew two of these using hydro sys-
This is a picture of my first grow in darkroom 60x60x140. x9 One Buds in 12/12 tem with air pumped into baths using mini-mouse pump flooding
only, under 250w Osram Plantastar, with Plagron Alga Bloom. Harvest after 12 root mass using vita link a and b and house and garden products all
weeks, 3 weeks with water and 10 days of black. under 4 x 600w hps both monsters. Yield 16 ounces, the plant I’m
ANONYMOUS standing next to was 6 foot 6 inch, unreal. All for less than £250! Well
worth it and thank N.A.S.A for your help and always remember ELVIS
The 10 days of black at the end slightly confuses us. When was the last time the is alive and well and living in the U.K
sun went away for 10 days? Or did you mean you smoked them and then went YOURS WANKINGLY, ELVIS
‘black’ for 10 days straight? In that case we want a puff too! But remember: an
input of high intensity light during the last few days of flowering is essential to Good old B-Q soil and PK 13-14 , a grower can’t grow wrong with that
help the natural oils of the plant develop to their fullest. formula – it’s that simple. What type of Cheese is that man?
44
FROM OUR LADY IN SPAIN Take note readers, of that great red tub!
Hi Soft Secrets
Here I have some pics of my Super Skunk grow on harvest day. I have been using House and Garden A+B formula with the added bonus of using their shooting powder
additive which the plants just adored. They were grown in clay pebbles and under 2x 600w HPS lights with Cool Tubes and extra suplimentary lighting. Please keep a
close eye out for more pics from me as I am after editor’s choice!
HAPPY TOKIN’ FROM SMOKEDOUTALLDAY
Well we were about to crown you photo of the month but then we saw all those rotting, decaying dead leave tips.. They’re an open invitation to diseases and mould.
But do try again mate.
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46 WE WANT YOU / INDEX OF ADS / COLOFON