By OG Strain

Spring is in the air. Birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and my phone is blowing up like it’s tax return season.

“Yo OG, I got my seeds popping!”
“Bro, clones are ready!”
“Should I put them outside yet?!”

And I love it. This is our Super Bowl, people. Cannabis growers across the land are stretching, hydrating, and preparing for the outdoor season like athletes entering the championship game.

But while everyone’s out here buying fancy irrigation systems, timers, hoses, sprinklers, drip lines—basically building NASA launchpads for their plants—I stumbled across something that made me stop, roll one, and say:

“Wait… they were doing WHAT back in the 1800s?!”

Let me introduce you to one of the most genius, low-key magical growing techniques ever used by humans…

The Underground Sponge Trick (a.k.a. Hugelkultur, but we’re keeping it street)

Back in the day—I’m talking old-school farmers, mountain growers, people who didn’t have Home Depot five minutes away—they had to get creative. Especially in places where water wasn’t easy to come by.

So what did they do?

They buried wood.

Yeah. I know. Sounds like the start of a bad backyard decision. Stay with me.

Here’s how it works:

You dig a trench or a raised bed area. Then you take logs—preferably hardwood or semi-hardwood. Birch is a great option—and you lay those bad boys down in the trench. Big logs, smaller branches, sticks… layer it up like a lasagna your Italian grandma would be proud of.

Then you cover it with soil.

That’s it.

Well… not just it. Because what happens next is where the magic lives.

As that wood slowly breaks down underground, it acts like a sponge. It absorbs water when it rains, holds onto it, and then releases it slowly back into the soil as your plants need it.

That means:
    •    Less watering
    •    Healthier root systems
    •    Moisture regulation like nature intended

Basically, your plants are sipping on a hidden underground reservoir while you’re sitting there like, “Wow, I’m barely doing anything and these plants love me.”

It’s like setting up autopilot for your grow.

Why This Method Is Straight-Up Genius

Let’s break it down OG-style:
    •    Water Retention: The buried wood holds moisture like a camel holds grudges.
    •    Nutrient Boost: As the wood decomposes, it feeds the soil with organic matter.
    •    Better Soil Structure: Your dirt becomes fluffy, airy, and root-friendly—like a luxury mattress for your plants.
    •    Sustainability: You’re literally using natural materials to create a self-sustaining system. Mother Nature approves.

And the best part?

You don’t need some expensive setup. No timers. No apps. No Wi-Fi password required.

Just logs, dirt, and a little bit of effort upfront.

The Copper Pipe Trick: Myth, Magic, or Mad Science?

Now here’s where things get a little spicy…

I recently heard about another old-school trick: placing a copper pipe vertically into the soil to “energize” it and help draw nutrients toward the roots.

Sounds like something Nikola Tesla might’ve whispered to a farmer while high, right?

Here’s the honest breakdown:

Copper is a conductive metal, and in theory, it can interact with soil chemistry in small ways. Some growers swear it improves plant vitality or microbial activity. Others say it’s more folklore than fact.

So where do I stand?

I say this:

It’s not going to hurt if done properly, and experimenting is part of the grower’s journey. Just don’t expect your plants to start glowing or speaking English.

Think of it as a “maybe bonus,” not the main event.

Why This Matters for Cannabis Growers Right Now

We’re heading into outdoor season, and a lot of growers are about to do what they always do—dig holes, drop plants, and pray to the weed gods.

But if you take a little extra time now to build a hugelkultur-style bed?

You could:
    •    Cut your watering workload way down
    •    Grow bigger, healthier plants
    •    Save money
    •    And look like an absolute genius to your friends

Meanwhile, they’re out there dragging hoses around in July heat like it’s a CrossFit workout.

Final Thoughts from OG Strain

Listen, I’m all about working smarter, not harder. If people in the 1800s figured out how to grow thriving gardens on mountains without irrigation… and we’re out here struggling with a water bill and a YouTube tutorial… something ain’t adding up.

Sometimes the best techniques aren’t new—they’re just forgotten.

So this spring, while everyone else is overcomplicating things, maybe take a page out of history. Bury some wood. Build your soil. Let nature do what it’s been doing since before dispensaries had loyalty points.

And if your plants end up thriving while you’re doing less work?

Don’t worry… You can act like it was your idea all along.

Stay lifted, stay learning, and grow smarter.

— OG Strain

Biochar, Regeneration & the Future of Craft Cannabis

By Tokalotapot

Out here at Hepworth Farm, I’m not just growing cannabis—I’m proud to be partnered with a team that’s pushing regenerative practices to another level. What we’re building isn’t a typical grow. It’s a living system from the ground up.

This isn’t about shortcuts, bottled hype, or chasing numbers. It’s about dialing in nature—and letting it do what it has always done best.

And one of the biggest game changers in that process?

Biochar.

⸻

🔥 What Is Biochar (and Why It Matters)?

Biochar is a carbon-rich charcoal—but in a living soil system, it becomes something much more powerful:
    •    A microbial home base
    •    A nutrient reservoir
    •    A long-term soil structure builder

Think of it as infrastructure for your soil ecosystem. Once it’s in place, it continues working for you season after season.

⸻

⚠️ The Mistake Most Growers Make

Too often, raw biochar gets tossed straight into soil.

That’s a problem.

Uncharged biochar will actually pull nutrients from your soil before it gives anything back. The result? Early deficiencies and wasted inputs.

That’s why we don’t just use biochar—we activate it properly.

⸻

🧪 The Hepworth Biochar Activation Method (75-Gallon Batch)

Here’s how we charge 75 gallons of biochar so it enters the soil fully loaded and biologically active:

💧 Base
    •    75 gallons water
    •    75 gallons biochar (1:1 soak)

🧪 Activation Inputs
    •    Fish Hydrolysate → 600 ml
    •    Supreme Flowable → 450 ml
    •    PeneCal → 375 ml
    •    Magnesium Sulfate → 15 tbsp (~1 cup)
    •    Fulvic Trace Minerals → 150 ml
    •    Accomplish Max → 750 ml
    •    Enhance MC → 150 ml
    •    Wood Vinegar → 225 ml

🌱 Biological Boost (Optional but Highly Recommended)
    •    Worm Castings → 2–4 gallons

This is where things truly come alive—introducing real microbial biology into the system.

⸻

⚡ How It’s Done
    1.    Fill the tank with water
    2.    Add all liquid inputs and mix thoroughly
    3.    Dissolve magnesium sulfate separately, then add it in
    4.    Add worm castings (a mesh bag is preferred)
    5.    Slowly mix in the biochar

⸻

⏱️ Charging Time
    •    Minimum: 24 hours
    •    Ideal: 48–72 hours
    •    Advanced: Add aeration for maximum microbial colonization

By the end of this process, your biochar isn’t just “charged”—it’s fully alive and functional.

⸻

🌍 Why This Matters

Being partnered with Hepworth Farm means doing things the right way—no shortcuts, no compromises. This approach:
    •    Prevents nutrient lock-up
    •    Supercharges microbial life
    •    Builds long-term soil fertility
    •    Reduces dependency on synthetic inputs
    •    Improves terpene expression and overall plant health

This is how you move from simply growing plants…
to building a truly regenerative system.

⸻

💯 Final Word

Anyone can throw inputs at a plant.

But when you start:
    •    Building soil intentionally
    •    Charging your amendments
    •    Working with biology instead of against it

That’s when everything changes.

We’re not chasing trends—we’re building something that lasts.

Stay lifted 🌱🔥
Tokalotapot

By Seymour Buds — The Plug’s Pages Magazine

You’ve probably seen the dramatic TikToks and viral captions: “scromiting” — a mash‑up of screaming and vomiting — described as some terrifying side effect of modern cannabis. For some, this experience was so severe it changed their relationship with weed forever. But what if the real cause isn’t just THC, and what if the fear that followed was built on misunderstanding as much as fact?

Let’s separate what’s real from what’s rumor, look at what science says, and show how you can protect your health if you love cannabis but fear getting sick.

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What in the World Is Scromiting?

“Scromiting” is not a medical term — but the condition people are describing is real. The clinical name for the pattern of intense nausea, cyclic vomiting, and abdominal pain tied to repeated cannabis use is Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS). CHS has now been officially recognized in the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases, giving researchers and doctors a diagnostic code to track and study it properly.  

CHS typically appears in people who have used cannabis regularly and often for many years. Medical descriptions report episodes of overwhelming nausea and vomiting, sometimes so intense that patients scream or writhe in pain — hence the slang scromiting.  

In some cases, visits to emergency rooms have increased fivefold in recent years due to these symptoms, especially among heavy users.  

Yet despite the fearsome reputation the term has garnered online, scientists still don’t fully understand why CHS happens. The most widely studied theory involves complex changes in how the body’s endocannabinoid system controls nausea after years of intense stimulation.  

⸻

Wait — What About Contaminants? Could That Be the Culprit?

Now here’s where things get interesting.

Medical evidence does not support a conclusion that pesticide contamination is the primary cause of CHS. Published research has found that CHS can occur even when closed‑loop lab‑creators use cannabis with no detectable pesticides, and synthetic cannabinoids can also trigger similar symptoms, making contamination an unlikely direct cause of CHS alone.  

But on the broader safety front, cannabis contamination is a real public health concern — especially with products from unregulated sources.

Studies have repeatedly found chemical contaminants, fungal toxins, and mycotoxins in seized or illegally distributed cannabis. For example, a recent analysis of illicit samples in Arizona and California found that 16% contained dangerous mycotoxins, fungal byproducts linked to gastrointestinal distress and other health risks.  

Other research shows that pesticide residues and fungal contaminants can pose significant health risks. These include nausea, vomiting, respiratory irritation, and infections — particularly when cannabis is inhaled, which delivers contaminants directly into the lungs.  

Moreover, formal safety standards for contaminants in cannabis vary widely between markets and are often non‑existent — meaning some products slip through without adequate testing.  

So while pesticides alone are not established as the cause of CHS, contaminated cannabis — especially from illicit or improperly tested sources — may increase risk for adverse reactions in some users.

⸻

The Emotional Toll: Fear, Avoidance, and Unanswered Questions

For many people who have suffered CHS episodes — or watched loved ones endure them — the experience can be traumatic. After days or weeks of recurrent vomiting and pain, it’s easy to assume that all cannabis is dangerous and that THC itself is to blame. Social media posts and health headlines often reinforce that fear without nuance or context.  

This can lead to anxiety around cannabis use, avoidance, and even complete abstinence — particularly for those who once enjoyed cannabis for pain relief, relaxation, or recreational enjoyment.

⸻

So If You’ve Been Scared to Try Again… What Now?

Here’s the responsible, evidence‑based take:

1. CHS is a documented medical phenomenon.
   Yes, symptoms exist, and CHS can be serious. It can require aggressive medical support and cessation of cannabis to recover.  
2. The causes aren’t fully known, and science continues to study how chronic exposure interacts with our bodies over time.  
3. Contaminants — fungal toxins, pesticides, heavy metals — are real safety issues in cannabis products from unregulated or illicit markets. Testing standards vary, and harmful compounds have been found in seized and poorly regulated products.  
4. Legal, lab‑tested cannabis from regulated dispensaries is safer.
   Licensed products are screened for many contaminants — reducing, though not eliminating, risk from residual chemicals or fungal toxins.
5. If you’ve had CHS, your symptoms may be specific to your body and history, not necessarily a broad indictment of cannabis itself.

People recovering from CHS or worried about recurrence should work with medical professionals and always start with transparency about what products they used. Whether you decide to try cannabis again under safe, tested conditions is a personal decision — one best made with awareness and care.

⸻

Conclusion: Knowledge Beats Fear

Cannabis isn’t a mythical cure or a guaranteed cure‑all — and it’s not inherently deadly, either. Like any substance, it carries risks, especially when used heavily or when products are untested.

“Scromiting” is a dramatic term born online, rooted in real symptoms but surrounded by misunderstanding, misinformation, and sometimes fear‑driven narratives.

The smartest path forward for cannabis lovers isn’t panic — it’s informed choice:
    •    Know your source
    •    Demand lab testing
    •    Understand contaminants
    •    Recognize your own body’s response

If you’ve ever been afraid to partake again because of a bad episode, this is not an invitation to jump back in blindly — but it is an invitation to be hopeful, educated, and empowered.

Cannabis can be enjoyed responsibly — and the more we improve safety standards, demand transparency, and advance scientific research, the safer it will be for everyone.

⸻

Seymour Buds is a cannabis industry writer who separates hype from reality. His work appears regularly in The Plug’s Pages Magazine — bringing fact‑checked insight with just the right amount of personality.