At The Farm with Skip Newcomb
About the author: Ryan “Onion” Hartman works on East Fork's farm, dividing his time between playing with plants and typing things on his computer. He attended the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, started one of the first dispensaries in Colorado, and was the editor-in-chief at a radical environmental publication in the South.
Almost 100 million people in the U.S., and countless more around the globe, have admitted to trying cannabis. Some tried once and never again, others fell in love at first toke, and many fall somewhere in the middle. These cannabis curious folks come from all walks of life — old, young, short, tall, rich, poor, and everything in between — and what many of them have in common is that they are lacking information about how that bud ended up in their hands. Growing up in New Jersey in the 1990s, I vaguely knew that cannabis was a plant, but beyond that I was clueless. It wasn't until getting involved in the industry that I began to figure things out, and not until years later when I started working at East Fork that I truly began to see the magic that goes into these plants.
Although everyone on the team at East Fork takes part in a myriad of daily tasks, Skip Newcomb is the one with the dirtiest hands and greenest thumbs. His knowledge of all facets of plant cultivation, from cloning to feeding to planting to harvesting to genetics and seed production, is significant. And his ability to explain this knowledge without making one feel stupid shatters the stereotype of the arrogant “weed bro.”
I sat down with Skip during a rainy day in November on the East Fork Ranch in idyllic Takilma, Oregon, and he told me some things about growing.
Onion: Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Skip: My name is Skip Newcomb. I am 28 years old, from Hampton, VA. Growing up, cannabis had a huge impact on my life. I like to say it changed my life and made me who I am. After art school I decided "normal" life wasn't for me, so I decided to take up traveling. Through my travels I developed a strong interest in transformative action, especially that of microorganisms. Kim chi, koji, sourdough, wine, soil microbiology, these are a few of my current hobbies.
Onion: How long have you been growing cannabis and how did you get into it?
Skip: In 2013, my partner and I were having a child and decided to settle down, and what better place than Takilma? In my travels I had previously found seasonal trimming work here and was drawn to the community-minded culture. After settling down, seasonal trimming work evolved into several "grower" positions. I was already intrigued by the benefits of fermentation for humans, and was pleasantly surprised that plants are not so different. This began with aerobic compost teas and evolved into anerobic fermentations and natural farming techniques. Through my cultivation experiences I began to realize that nature does a great job of thriving without intervention of humans. Therefore, I believe cultivation should replicate (as close as possible) how nature does.
Onion: What brought you to East Fork?
Skip: During the change in Oregon legislature which persuaded lots of growers to transfer from "medical" to "recreational" licenses, I was referred to East Fork through a friend. I always appreciated the plants for their medicinal value and was impressed with the focus on CBD. I started off as a seasonal trimmer in 2016, and through my love for the plants evolved to Cultivation Team Lead.
Onion: What keeps you at East Fork?
Skip: Kaizen is a Japanese phrase meaning "continual improvement." East Fork is constantly working to improve all aspects of the organization. I really appreciate this approach to the current state of cannabis and work culture. In my history in the cannabis industry I have had many ups and downs in regards to workplace culture. I have been impressed with the farm’s willingness to let employees take projects into their own hands, which really gives a sense of psychological ownership. Due to the historical regulations of cannabis, there has been limited research and acceptance of the plant. East Fork is dedicated to lifting this veil, which I really enjoy being a part of.
Onion: What does East Fork do that puts them above the rest?
Skip: East Fork cultivation practices reside in the middle way between the old and the new: we utilize technologies of the new world, while continuing to practice the ancient techniques of early agriculture.
Onion: Can you go into some detail about the inputs you use?
Skip: The food we put in our bodies is one of the most important factors of health. Just like the fuel you put in a machine will determine its performance, the food we eat will determine our abilities to function at full capacity. Taking that a step further, what you eat, also eats; that second layer of not just “is this an apple,” but instead “what is in the apple?” Like I mentioned before, plants and humans are not that much different. A few examples of input ingredients are water, locally harvested plants, sugar, vinegar, bones, shells, fish, and indigenous microorganisms. I am in the process of making the transition to edible pesticides, made from powerful pest-deterring herbs.
Onion: What happens in the cannabis fields during the eight months that there's no cannabis out there?
Skip: We apply a cover crop of legumes and grasses during harvest to have an established stand by the time winter hits. This keeps the soil protected and microbially active throughout the winter months. In the spring we are provided with added organic matter, sequestered carbon, and nitrogen fixation.
Onion: How do you select genetics?
Skip: We select genetics though a series of evaluations. Phenotypes are selected by evaluating the physical structure of the plants using a spreadsheet to record data on each plant. This includes parameters such as health, vigor, bud structure, harvest time, jar and nose appeal, and special expressions. Chemotypes are selected by evaluating the chemical composition of the plants, which we accomplish by on-site testing with our qPCR and gas chromatograph, and third-party lab testing.
Onion: What's in the future for East Fork?
Skip: The East Fork breeding team will be introducing our top seven original cultivars in tissue culture form by spring 2020. We will also be introducing field-ready USDA certified organic F1 hybrid hemp seed for sale to other hemp farms by 2021. Further in the future, we also plan to offer type 2 (CBD/THC ratio) seed for sale within Oregon. We will continue to breed genetics for unique terpenes and cannabinoids, while continuing to improve the vigor and production qualities.
Have a question for Skip? Shoot him an email: skip@eastforkcultivars.com
