The Hobby Grow Podcast

Ben Owens 🌱
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Education
  • Updated Weekly

No b******t grow advice and hot takes for and from hobby growers, hosted by Ben Owens. Each episode, we dive into my network of growers, hash-makers, breeders, and mentors to give you insight into their journeys as growers, plus information you can use to grow better weed and make better hash at home. benowens.substack.com

  1. May 14

    Episode #29: Closet Grows, Raids, and Hobby Breeding with Bronson of Cyclone Gardens

    This episode we are joined by Bronson from Cyclone Gardens, a longtime home grower and breeder whose cannabis journey stretches from early closet grows in Texas to creating standout hash genetics in Colorado. Bronson has spent years refining his craft through trial and error, old-school forums like Overgrow, commercial nursery work, home breeding projects, and an obsession with finding unique terpene profiles that stand out. I asked Bronson to join me today to talk about: * Learning to grow on the Overgrow forums in the early 2000s * Working in Colorado’s early clone nursery scene * Why he ultimately left commercial cannabis behind * Home breeding projects and hunting through his own genetics * Creating standout strains like Rum Runner * The realities of getting raided as a grower in Texas & Colorado * As well as his advice to new growers looking to improve their craft Get full access to The Hobby Grow at benowens.substack.com/subscribe

  2. May 7

    Episode #28: Cooking With Cannabis with Jarod Farina (aka Chef Roilty)

    This episode we are joined by Jarod Farina, aka Chef Roilty, a cannabis chef who went from making hash in Florida to building one of the most unique infused dining experiences in the country. Jarod’s journey runs through underground hash competitions, home grows in Colorado, and eventually into fine dining kitchens including time spent staging at Joël Robuchon Restaurant Las Vegas. I asked Chef Roilty to join me today to talk about: * How winning an underground hash competition launched his cannabis career * His evolution from BHO maker to home grower to full-on chef * How cannabis and culinary worlds overlap more than people think * Lessons from working inside a Michelin-level kitchen * How he automated his grow and left it for a full month * Why most edibles miss the mark and how to do them right * As well as his advice to home growers and cannabis creators looking to level up Get full access to The Hobby Grow at benowens.substack.com/subscribe

  3. Apr 30

    Episode #27: Inside Europe’s Cannabis Underground with Fernando (aka HedonistGrower)

    This episode we are joined by Fernando Lazcano Tortosa, better known as HedonistGrower. Fernando is a legacy grower with roots in Spain’s underground scene, scaling from guerrilla grows to 100-light operations supplying cannabis clubs, before stepping back and shifting into education, community, and a broader European perspective on cannabis. I asked Fernando to join me today to talk about: * His journey from early guerrilla grows to running large-scale operations in Spain * How the cannabis club model actually works in Spain vs. Germany * The reality of legalization in Europe and why it’s not what people think * The current state of homegrow, genetics, and hash culture across Europe * Where the European market is behind and where it’s catching up fast * As well as his advice for growers thinking about entering the industry Get full access to The Hobby Grow at benowens.substack.com/subscribe

    Episode #27: Inside Europe’s Cannabis Underground with Fernando (aka HedonistGrower)

  4. Apr 23

    Episode #26: IPM For Hobby Growers with Zac Ricciardi

    This episode we are joined by Zac Ricciardi, National Cannabis Specialist for BioSafe Systems and my co-author on all things Clean Growing & Clean Growers. Zac and I met through his IPM work, and he has spent years helping growers prevent problems before they start. We dive into what that looks like for hobby growers trying to keep a clean, healthy garden without overcomplicating it. I asked Zac to join me today to talk about: * How hobby growers can build a simple, practical IPM routine * What to do before and after visiting other grows * Why clean habits matter more than most growers think * How to avoid bringing pests and disease back home * Why genetics can be one of your best IPM tools * How environment and plant selection affect pest pressure * As well as his advice to other growers. Get full access to The Hobby Grow at benowens.substack.com/subscribe

    Episode #26: IPM For Hobby Growers with Zac Ricciardi

  5. Apr 16

    Episode #25: From Making Hash to Breeding for It with Terp Fountain Genetics

    This episode we are joined by Terp Fountain Genetics. Terp Fountain is a grower, hash maker, and breeder focused on solventless-first genetics. We originally connected at Indo Expo through his solventless diamonds, and this conversation gets into how years of making hash shaped the way he hunts plants, makes selections, and now breeds for the traits he actually wants to smoke. I asked Terp Fountain to join me today to talk about: * How making hash first changed the way he hunts plants * Why he started breeding for hash instead of flower * What he looks for when phenos hit the wash * Why he culls hard, including runts and weak performers * How endgames differ as a grower, hash maker, and breeder * What makes a plant worth rerunning, keeping, or crossing * As well as his advice to other growers. Get full access to The Hobby Grow at benowens.substack.com/subscribe

    Episode #25: From Making Hash to Breeding for It with Terp Fountain Genetics

  6. Apr 9

    Episode #24: Grain to Grass with Spencer Ploessl

    This episode we are joined by Spencer Ploessl of DarkStar Cabins. Spencer is an outdoor home grower, brand builder, and cannabis beverage industry operator whose path into cultivation came through homebrewing, gardening, and a deep curiosity about how things are made. We originally met through LinkedIn through the cannabis beverage industry, and stayed in touch through conversations about growing, the industry, and the simple pull of working with plants. His perspective brings together outdoor cultivation, appreciation for the plant beyond consumption, and the value of slowing down and reconnecting with nature. I asked Spencer to join me today to talk about: * His path from homebrewing into cannabis cultivation * What outdoor growing teaches you about patience and observation * Managing land and working with nature instead of against it * What growing on raw land taught him about patience * What he has learned from simply starting and paying attention * Why stepping outside and disconnecting matters for everyone * As well as his advice to other growers. Get full access to The Hobby Grow at benowens.substack.com/subscribe

    Episode #24: Grain to Grass with Spencer Ploessl

  7. Apr 2

    Episode #23: Flower Is An Unfinished Product with Nico of Trichome Science

    This episode we are joined by Nico of Trichome Science. Nico is a hashmaker, product developer, and former Michelin kitchen chef now working at the forefront of legal cannabis processing in the Netherlands. I first got introduced to his products in Amsterdam through Terps Army and later through The Fairy House events, and we stayed in touch through a shared interest in hash. His perspective is especially interesting because he bridges old-world cannabis culture, high-end culinary technique, and the fast-changing legal markets in Europe. I asked Nico to join me today to talk about: * Working in cannabis in Amsterdam and the Dutch legal experiment * How Michelin kitchens shaped his approach to hash and edibles * Why he sees flower as the start, not the finish * The difference between edible makers and real culinary execution * What Germany is getting right with home grow and clubs * Hunting hash plants, reading resin, and chasing unique profiles * As well as his advice to other growers. Get full access to The Hobby Grow at benowens.substack.com/subscribe

    Episode #23: Flower Is An Unfinished Product with Nico of Trichome Science

  8. Mar 26

    Episode #22: Endgames and Provenance with Screwston Scarecrow

    This episode we are joined by grower and community voice Screwston Scarecrow of Breeder’s Syndicate. Screwston Scarecrow is a longtime home grower with deep experience in seed hunting, verified cuts, and dialing in flower. He’s also one of the mods of Breeder’s Syndicate, and member of the Cannaluminati. We met through The Hobby Grow Discord where he’s been active sharing a variety of grows. I asked Screwston Scarecrow to join me today to talk about: * His path from beginner to deeply experienced home grower * Why provenance matters when buying seeds or sharing cuts * How to choose better packs and hunt with intention * Why home growers should understand the cuts behind hybrids * Endgame decisions that shape drying, storage, and final smoke * Why watering and cloning level growers up faster * As well as his advice to other growers. Get full access to The Hobby Grow at benowens.substack.com/subscribe

    Episode #22: Endgames and Provenance with Screwston Scarecrow
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

No b******t grow advice and hot takes for and from hobby growers, hosted by Ben Owens. Each episode, we dive into my network of growers, hash-makers, breeders, and mentors to give you insight into their journeys as growers, plus information you can use to grow better weed and make better hash at home. benowens.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Ben Owens 🌱
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Ben Owens
  • Show Website
    The Hobby Grow Podcast