Pubdate: Thu, 25 Oct 2012
Source: Sacramento News & Review (CA)
Copyright: 2012 Chico Community Publishing, Inc.
Contact:  http://newsreview.com/sacto/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/540
Author: Ngaio Bealum

HARVEST BOON

Got all my plants in and trimmed. I had a really good harvest this 
year. What's the best way to store all of this cannabis?

- -Weed Is Not Zucchini

No more than a quarter-inch stem. No lollipops. No crows feet. Huh, 
what? Well, hello, there. Me? Nothing. I'm just sitting at an 
undisclosed location in the Emerald Triangle, trimming until my arms 
fall off. As seasonal labor goes, I'd rather trim weed than pull live 
halibut from a fishing line.

Ah, yes, you had a question. OK: Once you get all your cannabis 
collected and trimmed, make sure it's nice and dry. If your weed is 
too wet, mold can become a big problem. The best way to store your 
weed is in a glass jar. Mason jars work well. There are a few other 
companies that also sell nice custom-made jars. Airtight is best. 
Tupperware and other plastics are just OK. And make sure your jars 
are clean. You don't want your weed to end up smelling like mango 
yogurt or Grandma's homemade salsa.

The biggest dangers to your stash, besides law enforcement, are heat 
and sunlight. These two villains will strip your pot of all of its 
flavor and potency, so find a cool, dark place to keep your stash. 
The freezer works, if you have enough space and don't live with 
children or moochers. If you're fancy, you may want to use the wine 
cellar. You could always dig a hole in the ground and bury your jars, 
but I would only do that with my 
I'm-saving-this-for-the-end-of-the-world weed. For optimal results, 
open your jar every once in a while. Check the dryness of the bud.

Humidipak (www.humidipak.com) makes little packets you can use to 
control the humidity in your jars. Everyone has their own preference 
for how dry they like their pot. Use different packets until you find 
the right one. Weed will remain potent and delicious for at least a 
few months if stored properly. Bon appetit!

Harvest is going great. The thing is, I have a lot of marijuana 
trimmings and shake. What can I do with it all?

- -Shake It

This is a good problem. It used to be that people couldn't give shake 
away. Now, with the advent of the cannabis-infused edible industry as 
well as the rising popularity of making hashish (by the way, making 
butane hash oil in California is against the law), shake has become a 
valuable commodity.

I would use the best trimmings to make cold-water hash. A quick 
search on YouTube will show you more ways to make hash than you would 
have thought possible. The other, leafier parts can be used for 
tinctures and salves.

It is also really easy to make cannabis-infused olive oil in a 
Crock-Pot. Dump in a bunch of shake, pour in some olive oil, set the 
pot to its lowest setting and leave it be for a few hours. It will 
make your house smell, though, and the more shake that is used, the 
stronger the oil will be. Let it cool. Strain it well, pressing on 
the shake to extract every bit of oil. Store the oil in a cool, dry 
place. Keep away from children. Cannabis-infused olive oil always 
makes a great gift. And, if you are extra crafty, you may want to 
look into making cannabis-infused lotion or balm, which many people 
use to help with arthritis and other joint and muscle pain.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom