Project 8: Cloning Attempt

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Introduction

We decided to explore cloning as a method of plant propagation and maintaining genetic purity with foreign seeds. The cost and rarity of good seeds make cloning an attractive option for better consistency of plant characteristics. Research on the application of this technique was taken up after many discussions about maintaining genetics.  

 

Parent plant genetics/seeds:

Doctor Seedsman CBD 30:1 Feminized Seeds – 10

Tatanka Pure CBD Feminized Seeds – 5

 

Aims and Objectives

We aim to teach Mgadlela Farm the technique of basic cloning with a modest budget using already gathered material (2021 projects). This is a major advantage for a farmer, especially when trying to produce genetic consistency.

 

Research will test different rooting agents against survival rates of cuttings. Testing gathered research knowledge against real-world farming scenarios in Eswatini.

 

We further aim to preserve our Dr. Seedsman and Tatanka genetics which we have imported, we want to propagate to maintain consistent CBD content.

 

Research Process

Research took place inside the HN shade cloth greenhouse, we used small plastic domes for increased humidity and plastic bottles cut in half as mini domes. Cuttings were placed into Mgadlela’s soil mix kept moist with pure water and covered.

Dry powder rooting agent was used on ten cuttings taken from CBD “mothers” in the greenhouse on the 15/1/2022. 

 

Using gel rooting hormone a second set of ten cuttings were taken from the CBD “mothers” in the greenhouse on the 28/1/22. The makeshift smaller mini domes made from bottles were used on these cuttings. Unfortunately the success rate was not good for all twenty cuttings, most failed after a few days.

As of 8 February 22 in the greenhouse; two from the first batch taken on 15/1/22 have survived but are not growing well. Six from the second batch have survived and are showing shoots.

 

Later on a third attempt was made using plastic bottle domes, which had a higher success rate.

As of 13/1/2022 there were two surviving clones in total. They were the ones taken on the 28/1/22, showing shoots and growing.

 

The above image shows cuttings with plastic bottle covers.

 

The above images show the cuttings taken in different sizes at various points in growth.

The above images show the cuttings taken in different sizes at various points in growth.

 

Dr Seedsman and Tatanka 30:1 CBD “mothers”.

 

The Images above show the last few surviving clones in the ‘final stage’ of growth, they did not get any larger and produced tiny flowers before dying.

 

Partnership Programme

In this project both Hemp Nation and the farmer learned almost from scratch how to clone plants. Having been provided with the necessary basic knowledge and cloning agent, the farmer did have success at creating live clones. His understanding of the cloning process is at a level where he can continue research and hopefully have better success. The importance of maintaining the genetics of the plant were understood by the farmer through this process.

Conclusions

The parent plants did not suffer from having a few cuttings taken off them, however the survival rate is not good, none survived. The mini greenhouse effect and soil seems good since the cuttings did not die straight away. Our partner/farmer is convinced we took the cuttings too late in the plants’ growing cycle and we have noted this for our next attempt.

One key finding is that the cuttings did not go through the vegetation stage of growth, they stayed very small and produced tiny flowers while they were still alive. This supports the hypothesis that the cuttings were taken too late in the growth cycle of the mother plants.

Although the growth of the clones was very slow, and there were significant losses, we did create 6 baby plants from one european mother plant, potentially multiplying out the benefits of our high CBD plant. For a brief period we had maintained our foriegn genetics into another season.

The timing of taking the cuttings, as well as the ‘parenting’ techniques of baby clones has to be developed further. Different types of rooting powder were used, however we are not sure if it influenced the success rate due to such high losses. We also have some other new questions such as; when to add nutrients? Clearly more research is also required in the cloning project.

Project 7: Third Grow: Dr Seedsman CBD, Tatanka

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Introduction

Quality reliable seed is an essential part of any operation, part of HN’s research gathering project is to work with as many seeds as possible in order to understand more, know what works and over time evaluate performance and outcomes of various seed varieties from different sources, on a modest budget. 

 

Seed research was launched and 2 seed types were selected for an initial experiment. Basic selection criteria used were; must be of EU standard, reputable source with good reviews and high CBD content.

Aims and Objectives

To further the experiment by growing seeds bought for top dollar in Europe and see how they grow in our corner of Africa.

 

We do not know how seeds from other environments, effectively from unknown sources, would perform in Eswatini hence a decision was made to grow a small amount of seeds and see how they perform. 

 

These seeds have performance data from the breeders, the hope is to eventually test the content of the material we have grown against the breeders data. Seeds were sourced with the idea that any harvest that comes from them would be theoretically legal in the EU, as such they meet the criteria of less than 0.2% THC content.

Order Date Name Quantity in Seeds Cost %CBD %THC
10 March 2021 Doctor Seedsman CBD 30:1 Feminized Seeds – 10 10 €49.46 20% <1.0%
10 March 2021 Tatanka Pure CBD Feminized Seeds – 5 10 €80.00 9 – 14% 0.20%
10 March 2021 Seedsman Original Skunk #1 Reg 3 0
10 March 2021 Seedsman White Widow Reg 3 0

 

No. Seeds Strain Planting Germination Transplant Flower Start Veg Days Flower Finished Seeds Gathered Observations
3 Dr Seedsman CBD 30:1 29 October 2021 4 November 2021 12 November 2021 22 January 2022 79 6 March 2022 23 1 ready,1 still behind, 1 small cloned from
11 March 2022
11 March 2022
3 Tatanka CBD 29 October 2021 4 November 2021 12 November 2021 22 January 2022 79 11 March 2022 50
3 White Widow 29 October 2021 4/11/21 Died from root rot

 

Conclusion

The European seeds did grow in our environment, with only organic fertilizer and a relatively bad growing season i.e. a lot of rain and relatively low light conditions. 

 

Harvest dates were influenced by heavy humidity and the beginning of mold and rot on the flowers. 

 

Some losses due to mold and rot in harvest. Mold was removed from flowers during trim and drying and caused a loss of approximately 30% of each plant. This is unfortunate but could not be helped due to the grow season. Farmers have had seasonal issues with mold and rot due to excessive humidity, even on outdoor plants.

 

There were some seeds collected from the flowers which indicate some cross pollination from other plants in the area. We have collected a new generation of seeds which will contain genes from the local varieties. Our hope is that the new seeds will retain the low THC and high CBD content of the mother plant and gain some adaptation to the local environment from the pollinator.

Project 6: Greenhouse Build

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Introduction

The first phase grow results and conclusions highlighted the need for an updated growing model using a semi-controlled environment to reduce losses and improve outcomes. The decision was taken to build a small greenhouse on the farm and see what improvements it yields.

Aims and Objectives

The Greenhouse was built for the second phase of the research project. The objective was to evaluate the usefulness of a shade-cloth greenhouse in reducing male pollen contamination, reducing problems with pests and improving the success rate of germination.

 

Built for use as hemp nations grow research facilities but also for Mgadlela farm to use and benefit from.

Hemp Nation: Greenhouse Project and Cost Break @ Mgadlela Farm Cost (SZL)
As of June ’21
Poles 6m x 10 @ E60.00 600
Shade cloth E2000 2000
Roll of wire E300 300
Nails and screws 500
Twine for joining (Donated) 0
2 Days work (Unpaid) 0
Grow bags for small plants 250
Total 3650

 

The pictures above show the greenhouse construction in different phases ending with the completed structure.

Partnership Programme

The hands-on nature of this project means that the farmer was very involved in building the greenhouse and learned a lot about its benefits. At this point, the farm has benefited the most from the greenhouse because it gives the farmer a better place to germinate and grow young seedlings with a high success rate before transplanting them to the field. He has ideas of building more greenhouses for his own seedlings and vegetables.

Conclusions

The greenhouse did not solve all the issues we would have hoped. Further work was required on the floor, and plant growth in the greenhouse floor has caused contamination. The number of pests was reduced but not eradicated.

The presence of pollen cannot have been stopped entirely due to seeds found in the plants grown in the greenhouse at harvest.

The shadecloth did not provide enough protection from rain so more plastic sheet had to be added for the roof. 

A fence around the greenhouse had to be added to keep away cows and goats. 

Such a small greenhouse became very unobtrusive once the surrounding vegetation had regrown. Growth of maize fields and weeds around the greenhouse has completely hidden it from view.

One-seed-one-hole works if the plant matures. Swazi farming techniques go against one seed one hole because they are used to fight against pests that occur naturally and take into account the losses that will occur in the field. 

We have documented high losses and may rectify this issue by nursing plants for longer in the greenhouse. The use of chemicals for pest control seems unfortunately necessary at present.

Plants matured at different rates although the same age (massive variety in seed genetics in eSwatini).

The situation in the Summer grow (October to February) was very wet. Summer Male pollen contamination was much worse than winter. A lot of humidity was created in the greenhouse causing some mold and slug issues.

Overall the greenhouse served its purpose well and continues to operate as a research nursery. We continuously modify parts of the greenhouse to make it better and hope to develop it further in the next year.

Mgadlela Worm Farm Installation

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Mgadlela Worm Farm Installation

Began May ‘22 

Introduction

Hemp Nation has been committed to organic farming practices, prioritizing the use of organic fertilizers like worm tea. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, our previous source of worm tea was discontinued in 2021. While we were fortunate to have a supply on hand, this resource is finite. To ensure a sustainable future, we’ve relocated a donated worm farm container to Mgadlela Farm.

Initial Aims and Objectives

  • Continue the use of organic worm tea fertiliser for research.
  • Start worm tea production at the farm location.
  • Provide a sustainable organic nutrient solution to the farm.
  • Reduce fertiliser costs to the farmer.
  • Build a model/recipe for home nutrient production.
  • Promote/advocate the production of fertilizers on farms instead of purchasing from towns.

Delivery of Tanks to the farm!

Fast forward to the 1st of June 2023

Installation of the worm farm took place!

The base of the worm farm is built of 8 cinder blocks to raise the height of the tap which will be used to extract the worm liquid fertilizer.

Worm-rich soil fills the top container, allowing liquid to drain into a reservoir below. Bricks elevate the top container, separating the solid worm castings and soil from the liquid fertilizer.

The worms are fed green plant material sourced from the farm and are kept in optimal moisture conditions for the worms to be happy, to ensure a flow of nutrient-rich fertilizer into the reservoir.

Banana palms were added to the worm bin on June 23rd, 2023. Banana palms are known to be high in potassium and will hopefully enrich the fertilizer.

The initial liquid fertilizer, extracted from the bottom of the tank, was likely diluted due to a small worm population and potential overwatering. While not pure worm tea, it still contained valuable nutrients and was applied to the fields.

A large bag of horse manure compost was added to the worm farm on July 6th, 2023, this will hopefully add some nitrogen to the mix.

Comparing the images taken on December 8th, 2023 (above) and July 6th, 2023 (below), we can see a significant decrease in compost levels. This indicates rapid material breakdown and more refilling is necessary.

On December 8th, 2023, it was observed that 300 litres of liquid worm tea was in the tank reservoir, likely influenced by rainfall or overwatering.

The objective is that this worm tea is going to be used as soon as possible, for example on the below ploughed field before sweet potatoes and maize are planted (pictured below). We are finding that we need to test and prove that the worm tea makes a difference to crops. So far uptake of the use of worm tea is slow but the growing season is starting and we have an opportunity to show it in action.

This is an ongoing project.. check the blogs.

 

Project 5: Second Grow, CBD

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Introduction

This is a continuation of our research project into seeds and genetics which can be used for making medicinal products. The situation is that there is no high-content CBD material within our environment, therefore Hemp Nation decided to source high content CBD producing seeds, grow them, and evaluate how they would perform in our growing environment. The seeds purchased are Californian in origin and were very expensive hence a process which will probably not be repeated.

 

Aims and Objectives

Seeds were sourced from Johannesburg and contain high levels of CBD. They can be used as medicine and have a low THC percentage which makes them less used recreationally. This grow tested how well these commercially available CBD strains from reputable sources would perform in our local environment.

 

The table below shows seeds purchased in Johannesburg and their specifications.

Date of Purchase Name Number of Seeds CBD THC Growth Cycle Link
31 July 2021 Royal Queen Seeds Stress Killer CBD 2 High 11% 11 weeks https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/medical-cannabis-seeds/327-stress-killer-automatic-cbd.html
31 July 2021 Royal Queen seeds Medical Mass CBD 2 10% 10% 10-11 weeks https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/medical-cannabis-seeds/228-medical-mass.html

 

The table below shows the progress of the four CBD plants

Seed Planting date Germination Transplanted Flower started Veg days Flower finished Dried stored
Medical Mass 1 10 Sept 18 Sept 13 Oct 28 Oct 40 days Dec 15th Jan 22
Medical Mass 2 10 Sept 22 Sept 13 Oct lost/non-starter
Stress Killer 1 10 Sept 18 Sept 13 Oct 28 Oct 40 days Dec 15th Jan 22
Stress Killer 2 10 Sept 22 Sept 13 Oct 28 Oct 40 days Dec 15th Jan 22

 

Partnership Programme

 

As an extension to the idea of THC in this project, the farmer was introduced to a new type of plant with different compounds, in grows concentrating on propagating CBD plants. This process also calls attention to the need to keep plants apart because of cross-pollination. There is no discernible difference between the plants on face value however we introduced him to a new “high value” seed and strain that was special.

Conclusion

The Medical mass and Stress killer from Royal Queen seeds survived the local environment for the most part, 100% germination is a good sign and then all grew well except 1 of the medical mass which never progressed past the small plant phase. It had stunted growth for some unknown reason. This means 3 out of 4 plants matured to a good flower. 

 

Fortunately or unfortunately those that matured did contain seeds. The number of vegetation days before flower was very close to those specified on the plants’ specifications on the website data. The size of the plants was not very large, we think this is due to growing season issues, hence the harvest was not very large in relation to the cost of inputs. 

 

The Medical Mass was tested at a lab in Johannesburg in April 2022 and 5% CBD was found to be present in a 1 gram sample, which is a success! 2% THC was found to also be present.

Project 4: Extraction Techniques

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Introduction

 

Following the simple aim of research and learning as much as possible about all facets of the industry we took the opportunity to learn about extraction techniques. 

 

Extraction techniques come in many forms, the basic methods have been used in different parts of the world historically. Modern techniques have been developed because of the need for industrial upscaling and refining techniques as legalization creates huge demand.

 

Aims and Objectives

 

The objective in this area is to gain knowledge and practical experience in all methods of processing and extraction. 

 

The science of processing raw material into high-quality clean medicine is new in our geographic sphere, hence we grabbed lessons anywhere we could find them. 

 

Techniques are still developing and growing, so we are unsure what technique, if any we shall ever use, but the broadest knowledge base is the best preparation for the future.

 

Butane Lesson

 

Butane extraction is by its very nature an extremely dangerous process and not to be taken lightly, definitely should not be done without professional equipment, and requires understanding training and meticulous adherence to standard operating procedures.

 

The proper equipment in our sphere is very rare, so it was fortunate that we made a connection with someone who had the gear and was willing to take the time to show us the process for research purposes.

 

The system used was a closed loop vertical column which recycled the butane into a collection cylinder at the end of the process allowing for safer operation and reduced losses of butane in operating the system.

 

The lesson involved the below-shown equipment and a skilled handler. Raw material is crushed and cleaned of stalk and seeds as much as possible, the steel column holds approximately 0.5 kg of plant material packed in as tightly as possible. The bottom end of the column has fine-grade steel mesh as a filter to stop plant material from escaping into the catch tank at the bottom. 

 

The system requires very cold temperatures to be maintained at all times so the butane stays as liquid and cold as possible. The catch tank and butane tanks are all kept sitting in buckets of ice and water at all times.  

 

Butane is used as a solvent to strip THC/CBD-carrying trichomes, cannabinoids and terpenes away from the plant material. The whole process is contained in a series of cylinders, pipes and tanks which are operated under pressure and have to be handled with care.

 

The main part of the system is a collection tank, on top of which sits a vertical column holding the plant material. The butane is injected at the top of the column and flows down through the plant material under pressure. In doing so the butane picks up all the THC and CBD-carrying material and carries it into the collection tank at the bottom. After all the butane has flowed through into the collection tank, valves and pipes are switched and an empty tank is attached to the collection tank, The butane is let out of the collection tank (recycled) and leaves behind and golden foamy crystal honeycomb, gold and incredibly sticky substance which is highly concentrated in cannabinoids.

 

The pictures above show the main column holding the plant material.

 

The pic above shows the catch tank (right) and the bottom catch bowl (left) and the extracted material poured onto a tray to continue to evaporate the butane.

 

The final product as it comes out of the catchment tank is foamy and full of butane. The material will solidify as the butane evaporates leaving a yellow honeycomb of a sticky oily type of material.

 

Mechanical extraction

 

Mechanical extraction refers to methods of refining/extracting cannabinoids and compounds from raw material without the use of chemicals or solvents. These methods stem from ancient extraction techniques which were used in places like Afghanistan, India and Nepal hundreds of years ago.

Mechanical agitation breaks the trichomes away from the plant material and then a ‘sieve’ (traditionally silk) is used to separate the material so that the valuable medicine-carrying trichomes can be collected in concentrated form.

Hemp Nation is currently developing the opinion that mechanical extraction of medicinal compounds from raw material is better than the use of chemicals and solvents as a means of extraction. Various methods undergoing research are detailed below

 

Dry Sieve extraction

 

Dry Sieve extraction is the use of a screen with very small holes which allows the trichomes and THC/CBD valuable material to pass through whilst leaving behind the green material which does not hold the medicinal compounds.
The dry sieve material is referred to as ‘kief’ and can be used as it is or processed further into hash or oil.

Dry Sieve was our biggest success in terms of education and improving yields from harvested material. A large sieve/screen was given to Mgadlela farm for them to sieve the trimmings and crush which they would previously have discarded, this improved yield from the farm and produced another sellable product.

 

The above images show the steel screen in a wooden frame with plant material, this screen is shaken by hand and the material being collected falls through onto the table. The valuable medicine-rich dust is then scraped up and collected.

Ice Water Sieve Bag Extraction

 

This form of extraction involves the use of ice and water as a medium and then a series of sieve bags which separate out the different grades of material.

The large green plant matter is filtered out and not used. The trichomes and CBD/THC-carrying material are collected in different micron sizes and then allowed to dry slowly.

The dried material is grainy and known as ‘bubble hash’ it can be used as it is or can be refined further to produce an oil of very high purity.

This method is low cost and effective however it is time consuming and slow, and yield does vary and depend on the source material. Small amounts of research material were processed mostly for media demonstration purposes.

The above images show plant material in ice water soaking and being mixed to release the trichomes from the plant material.

The above image shows the gathered material still wet from the screen.

 

The above image shows the gathered material after it has dried for 25hrs.

The above image shows gathered material drying slowly on a rack for up to 7 days before sealing in a container.

The above image shows dried material compressed into a hard ball for ease of storage, the process requires small amounts of heat and pressure to melt the material enough to stick together.

 

How much it melts and sticks is a good indicator of purity and quality.

 

Heated Press

 

The heated press is a set of plates with heating elements inside and a hydraulic jack attached to apply pressure to the material and squeeze out the valuable cannabinoid carrying oil known as rosin. The unit used is very small and not for commercial use but perfect for demonstration (Pictured below).

 

The heated press is particularly good because it can be used with different types of raw materials created using the mechanical methods mentioned above. We experimented with pressing different raw materials and also the material which we extracted using the other mechanical methods.

 

The oil produced from the press is of very high quality and very clean however extraction is slow, labor intensive and the yield is low.

The above image shows plant material being prepared for the press. The use of a sieve bag assists the process by retaining plant material and keeping the oil clean.

 

We experimented using matchboxes as pre moulds to press the flower before putting it into the bags.

Images above show variation when pressing different flower samples with some producing far more rosin than others.

The above image shows 10g of gathered rosin from pressed flowers. Five presses per flower sample through the press.

 

Partnership Programme

 

The farm has been supplied with a large kief screen. Training was given on how to sieve dry flower by-product material. The extraction of kief by the farmer has been successful, creating of a new product from the same harvest. This serves as a useful new income stream for the farm.

 

Conclusion

 

This project was undertaken based around the idea that Hemp Nation needs an all-round knowledge gathering approach to the future hemp industry from seeds to finished product. Processing and extraction of raw material is a huge part of the future industry and we consider an understanding of all processes essential to the success of ourselves and our local partners. We hope to share all knowledge gained and continue the reduction process so the farmers are more aware of the possibilities for this product.

The future of medicinal cannabis is not a raw plant material but an extracted refined product meeting health standards and in a measured dosage from. This is only possible with an extracted tested material.

The extraction techniques detailed above are relatively simple to do as we have demonstrated on a small scale, however scaling up of the processes would be necessary for any kind of commercial viability to be possible and that would be very costly.

Project 3: Cannabis Testing Project

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Introduction

Cannabis testing is rare in Eswatini, so we are starting with the most basic testing system available and testing it out in the real world. Small portable testing systems have become available on the market and HN has taken serious consideration of the idea to begin a testing programme for research and commercial purposes. 

The purchase of the ‘Hi Grade’ tester with the objective of creating a baseline using a system which is cheap and available, to try and gauge what is going on with THC in cannabis in Eswatini.

 

Aims and Objectives

Our first aim is to test the ‘Hi Grade’ tester for reliability in giving readings on cannabis products. We aim to do this by testing HN products, gathering the data using the “Hi Grade” tester, and testing the same product at a reputable laboratory. 

We aim to use the tester to compare THC levels in the HN product to other readily available products. 

We will also test and compare the HN CBD material to regular THC material. Gauge some baseline for comparison using a standard technique/system similar to the “Hi Grade”.

Tester Results

The readings below were taken with the HiGrade tester kit for mobile testing.

Official site: HiGrade

 

Date Thc Testing with Higrow App THC %
Mgadlela farm (July 21 Harvest)
2/8/21 Purple Mgadlela 14
Purple Mgadlela 14
Mgadlela mix masala green stuff 16
Mgadlela Mix masala green stuff 15
Mgadlela mix masala green stuff 17
Mgadlela Mix Masala green stuff 15
Mgadlela Mix Masala green stuff 16
Mgadlela Lemon Mix Masala 16
Mgadlela Lemon Mix Masala 17
Mgadlela Lemon Mix Masala 17
Date Hemp Nation’s THC Data HN 1-8 1st test THC %
8/11/21 HN1 16
HN2 13
HN3 15
HN4 13
HN5 14
HN6 13
HN7 14
HN8 14
Date Comparative Sample THC%
8/11/21 Adam Special 14
Adam Special 13
Adam Special 13
Adam Special 14

 

Partnership Programme

This project was important in defining what THC is to the farmer. This term is made more recognisable when attempting to measure the potency of the flowers of his own plants as well as Hemp Nation’s. He has become more aware that there is a compound in the plant material, and it has a measurable value, and could be used as a selling point for his product.

Conclusion

Through the use of the testing machine the researcher reports back that the locals are interested and curious, moreover they want us to test their flowers. Although the system is not advanced and necessarily very accurate, it can be used comparatively to other test results. This gives a scale to be compared against and some kind of indication of the THC content.

 

The next step in this project is to engage an advanced laboratory, test the same material and compare results with the test system we have and this will either validate our testing system or invalidate it. Exciting times ahead..

Project 2: First Grow HN1 – 8 (Unofficial)

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Introduction

To start a grow and see how it goes. We had to start somewhere, and some seeds in the ground on the farm seemed a good place to begin gathering data and seeing for ourselves what the situation was.

What we knew was all stories, and there was no data, now gradually the aim is to create some data long-term for use in future projects. Project 2: Seed to Seedling and Compost Research, produced the eight surviving HN 1-8 plants in this project.

 

Aims and Objectives

This phase began with germination at another site, so the first theory to be tested was; Is transplanting possible?

We aim to document a growth cycle and gather data on the farm from this data we would see; what kind of plant variation exists in common seed found in Eswatini; we will gather some data on how plants actually grow at the farm and begin building a relationship with the farmer.

We further aim to see what grows and how it goes; Gather data on ‘losses’ of different types at the farm and test some theories on what goes on in practice. We anticipate an exchange of knowledge about fertilizers, practical farming methods, local growing environment and techniques.

 

Data Collection

Plant Name: HN1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harvest Date: 26/6/21

Observations:

  • First of the field to finish
  • Grew faster than all the other but stopped at 1 meter tall 
  • the flower produced was fat and healthy
  • Unique in the field 
  • 64 grams flower, -7 grams lost as crush in seed hunt 
  • 60 grams stalk 
  • 9 seeds so far 
  • THC 16%

 

Plant Name: HN2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harvest Date: 9/7/21
Observations:
Second in the field to finish
Grew 1.5 meters tall
well spaced flowers
healthy side branch broth producing good flower pattern
Purple gene!! which has faded with drying.
44 grams flower
10 grams stalk
2 seeds so far
THC 13%
grew mouldy in jar discarded 29/1/22

Plant Name:HN3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harvest Date: 9/7/21
Observations:
Third in the field to finish
Grew to 90cm tall
Large central flower with a few side stems
34 grams flower
17 grams stalk
8 seeds so far
THC15%
Grew mouldy in jar discarded 29/1/22

 

Plant Name: HN4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harvest Date: 20/7/21 cut and trimmed
Observations:
1.6m tall
Unfortunately, this plant suffered some issues with the top flower, so had to be topped
Great side branch growth
120 grams flower
100 grams stalk
10 seeds so far
THC 14%

 

Plant Name: HN5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harvest Date: 20/7/21 cut and trimmed
Observations:
40cm tall
16 grams flower
2 grams stalk
0 seeds so far
THC 14%

 

Plant Name: HN6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harvest Date: 20/7/21 cut and trimmed
Observations:
1.3m tall
Purple G
100 grams flower
72 grams stalk
5 seeds so far
THC 13%

 

Plant Name: HN7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harvest Date: 20/7/21 cut and trimmed
Observations:
80cm tall
42 grams flower
20 grams stalk
0 seeds so far
THC 14%

 

Plant Name: HN8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harvest Date: 20/7/21 cut and trimmed
Observations:
1.3m tall
Purple G
96 grams flower
49 grams stalk
13 seeds so far
THC 14%

Results Summary

Plant ID Harvest Date Height at Harvest (m) Weight of Flower (kg) Biomass Weight (kg) THC % Test 1 (2/8/21)
HN1 26/6/2021 1.00 0.064 0.06 0.16
HN2 9/7/2021 1.50 0.0439 0.01 0.13
HN3 9/7/2021 0.90 0.034 0.017 0.15
HN4 20/7/2021 1.60 0.12 0.1 0.13
HN5 20/7/2021 0.40 0.016 0.003 0.14
HN6 20/7/2021 1.30 0.1 0.072 0.13
HN7 20/7/2021 0.80 0.042 0.02 0.14
HN8 20/7/2021 1.30 0.096 0.049 0.14

 

Partnership Programme

In this project the management of the grow by the farmer according to hemp nations plan allowed him to start growing the plant in a different way than the way he has been growing. The idea of researching while growing made him more receptive to the different ideas, fertilizers and planting styles.

 

Conclusion

Results show that genetic variation proved to be very high. Results also displayed that seed contamination was high, but inconsistent in the field, some plants had many seeds and some plants only had a few.

Issues with pests both known (cutworms) and unknown caused considerable losses. HN 1-8 are only 8 out of over 50 planted (53 from the table above). Some plants (almost half) were removed during the sexing of the plants and others were lost due to pests.

Variation was also high in height, weight and biomass even though THC levels were quite similar (only 3% variation). N.B. The tester we used is yet to be verified by lab results.

We also noticed that winter grow affected growth and yield negatively. This shows that reduced yields are a real concern in winter. Initial growth is believed to have been stunted because of low light conditions and too much rain, Average temperatures were low for the season.

Male pollen contamination at Mgadlela farm is relatively low this season judging from the number of seeds in harvested female plants.

 

 

 

 

Project 1: Sprouting and Compost Research

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Project 1: Sprouting and Compost Research

Introduction

With the objective of beginning somewhere, in a simple local fashion with what we could get our hands on and a whole bunch of theories and ideas about how we could best germinate seed, the bullet was bitten and hands got filthy and a large bunch of seeds were placed in various soil/compost/fertiliser mixes. Because research has to start somewhere, and we need a mark to begin with and see what is fortunately possible around us.

Seeds used were locally sourced from a good farm, the intention being to see what happens growing what we can source locally. All the Compost, manure and Fertilisers used were locally sourced and organic. A main objective of this first project was to evaluate the viability of growing seeds into small plants in a secure location and then transporting and transplanting those small plants out into the field on the farm.

 

Aims and Objectives

The aims of this project was to gather data on the effects the grow medium has on the seeds (after transplanted out of grow pots the plants were no longer exposed to differing grow mediums)

The below table shows the data collected from the sprouting medium test. The data consist of 10 combinations of growth mediums and two planting dates/ planting sessions.

  • 7 combinations of the growth medium used in the first planting session – 1/3/2021
  • 3 combinations of the growth medium used in the second planting session – 19/3/2021

 

Taken 12th March 2021

 

Taken 12th March 2021

 

Taken 12th March 2021

 

Sprouting Medium Test: 1/3/2021

Test # 7 combinations of grow medium No. of Pots No. of Sprouts No. Transplanted Comments
1 Compost 2/3 Sand 1/3 7 6 6
2 Manure 2/3 sand 1/3 7 1 1
3 Manure 1/2 Compost 1/2 7 1 1
4 Compost 7 7 7
5 Manure 7 0 0
6 Sand 1/3 Fish mud 1/3 Manure 1/3 7 3 3
7 Compost 1/2 Manure 1/2 8 3 not Transplanted to big buckets
8 Swazi gold seeds in Dom mix 2 none not
Total’s 52 21 18  

 

Sprouting Medium Test: 19/3/2021

Planting session no 2
60 pots total
Mix masala NK”21 (Fresh seeds)

Test # 3 combinations of grow medium No. of Pots No. of Sprouts No. Transplanted Comments
1 20 pots Pure Compost (no holes in pot bottoms) 20 17
2 20 pots Compost, Manure, Fish mud 20 16
3 20 pots Dom’s Special aged Buhleni Compost 20 19
60 52 transplanted 31 on left 21 @ mix masala

 

Sprouting Medium Test: Egg Box Experiment

Planting session no 3
30 holes total
Mix masala NK”21 (Fresh seeds)

Test # Grow Medium No. of Seeds No. of Sprouts No. Transplanted Comments
1 egg box 30 holes in egg carton, pure compost 30 20 4 transplanted to pots /mgadlela Heatstroke/soil dried due to low soil amount??

Notes on Products Used

  • Compost is the shop bought mix from local garden shops
  • Manure is horse manure from local farm
  • Fish mud dried sediment from aquaponics tank
  • Sand used was procured from local river

 

Seed source
Seeds used in this grow operation were a “mix” of seeds collected between the researcher and the farmer.

 

Partnership Programme

This learning process and introduction of a new technique was initially received with some scepticism, however the benefits of using pots, germination small number of seeds and ‘doing research’ has been adopted on the farm and our new idea of using organic fertilisers and transplanting from pots into the ground is proving useful on the farm. The farmer to this day is using the techniques.

 

Conclusion

The Total transplanted over all three tests was 53 plants. What we have discovered from our growing medium research was that the best combinations of grow mediums were: Number 4 with 100% success rate of germination followed by  number 1 with 86% success rate of germination.

 

There is a case for the growing medium to be observed during growth. According to our findings: compost is an excellent starter and, can be used on its own, contrasted with manure which is too potent and bad for seeds at an early stage of germination. More data needs to be collected about the properties of available fertiliser.

 

The availability of a good potting soil for starting growth is a problem in this climate. The recipes are generally unknown and non specific to cannabis. Most farmers seem to have created a recipe which they can sustain and includes portions of manure (varied sources) and dark loose soil found ‘on the farm (in our case from underneath an indigenous tree/forest).

 

A main aim to be achieved using the pot method is to prevent death of babies. The small plants withstood the transporting and transplanting phase of the project well, no losses were recorded from the relocation phase of the grow, which was a success for the project.

Introduction: Partnering with a Local Farmer

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Introduction: Partnering with a Local Farmer

Mgadlela Farm

 

Magedlela farm is located in the Hhohho region of Eswatini, in the Ntsieni community, it is a sort of middle veld area facing east towards the lowveld. The farm is small and operated by 1 person, as many are here, and consists of approximately 4 hectares of fields depending on the season and availability of good seeds. The number of ‘fields’ has increased gradually since 2019, and Hemp Nation’s addition of fencing and water pipes around the entire property has allowed more traditional agricultural crops to be added to the farm.

 

In this report, we cover 8 projects which were carried out with the farmer as a participant in our research. We are farming, in a research capacity, using organic fertiliser and developing outdoor soils and techniques with experimental seeds.

 

This chapter covers many projects overall in this report. In terms of the relationship with the farmer we encompass all activities.

 

Partnership Programme

 

Hemp Nation’s core principles include Agricultural Development, Research and Education. Because of this we take our impact on the lives of everyone we partner with very seriously. In this case it is a local farmer with a piece of land that  has minimal development with only a small building and fields. The farm is a single family homestead which is operated in a subsistence capacity with the whole livelihood of the family dependent on the outcome of the harvest and successful sale of produce, namely cannabis. 

 

This is a very typical situation all over Eswatini. Because of these ‘stereotypical’ characteristics Mgadlela is a perfect candidate for developing a working relationship which secures the future of the farmer and his family. Through working with hemp and diversification of farm practices, research in the Partnership Programme would have valuable outcomes for both parties in a long-term building capacity. Research and information flow will build a more holistic understanding of the future industry for the farm and a more complete understanding of the ongoing local situation.  

 

Discussions have already begun with expanding Mgadlela’s role and starting a training programme whereby an apprentice is employed to learn to farm under the watchful eye of the head grower on the farm.

 

Aims and Objectives

 

The initial objective, in brief, was to create a mutually beneficial relationship with a farmer. Part of the research was to find out what the needs of local producers are, and how an incoming entity can be of assistance without ‘taking over’.

 

The first need identified was based around securing the crop, improving yield. We decided installation of proper fencing securing the property from marauding local goats and cows is the solution. 

 

The second need identified was proper irrigation; many man-hours are spent moving pipes and sprinklers between fields and within fields. 

 

The third need identified and ongoing project is around propagation and reducing losses in the first phase of growth.

 

The long term aims and objectives of this project for Hemp Nation also include; growing hemp, securing product knowledge that we have created for Hemp Nation to use, create our own strain and grow unique plants that we can use in the future, secure seed supply (our plants successfully grown have provided us with seed), and promote organic fertiliser and farming methods.

 

Supplies Provided to Farmer

 

Equipment Type of Spend Comments
Fencing 1st phase spend Greenhouse Completed in June
Shade cloth 1st phase spend Greenhouse Completed in June
Water pipe 1st phase spend Greenhouse Completed in June
Timber Poles 1st phase spend Greenhouse Completed in June
Worm Tea/Manyolo Ongoing cost Nutrients plan has been diversified with fish manure, kelp extract and organic chicken wee
Water Testing Kit equipment investment (once off) Still to be completed, PH Soil tester on site
Scissors/Bags/Jars/

Labels/

 Ongoing cost Small amount was spent at the beginning, grow bags were traded, labels were recycled, jars were recycled

 

Conclusion

 

In conclusion, the farm has benefited from upgrades and investment into basic infrastructure and continues to operate into the second year. 

 

The investment has drastically improved life on the farm introducing seedling trays for all crops and allowing young plants a strong start in the greenhouse. Reports from seedling to field were very positive with few casualties and good growth after transplanting.

 

Taken 31 Oct 2021

 

 

Taken 13 Nov 2021

 

The greenhouse has helped enormously and the use of plastic sheets and bottles to create mini-greenhouses is producing good results. Improvements in plant consistency are being sought through the development of cloning knowledge.  

 

Fencing provides protection from cattle allowing the farm to utilize space more effectively without fear of marauding local cows and goats. 

 

Water pipes running through the farm have drastically improved irrigation capability spreading to all corners of the property.

 

Hemp Nation considers this project so far to have been a success despite stagnant legislation and other difficulties. 

 

We have managed to exchange knowledge bilaterally. As described above with our success in fencing, irrigation and propagation; we believe the bulk of our aims were achieved and we look forward to the expansion of our impact in the coming year. This project is envisioned to be renewed annually for a minimum of two years, we will continue to assist the farmer in the following year (2022) with monthly stipends, equipment and shared knowledge programmes. 

 

We have collected a surprisingly large amount of data through projects that we were able to run through this partnership. Pictures, videos and written records which we will use in the creation of educational material and research reports.