ALONG COMES MARY

What could be better than a day in Santa Barbara? A day in the “American Riviera” while touring a marijuana farm, if I do say so myself. It all started when I received a generous invitation to spend the afternoon with Autumn Brands. Autumn Brands checks all of the boxes for top-notch cannabis and is sun-grown in Carpinteria. Just minutes from the Pacific Ocean. 

I’ll admit I’m not a stranger to marijuana and its many forms and strains that have helped countless people for decades. Despite all of this, I did not know much about its growing process.  

From Tulips to Cannabis

Autumn Brands is a 50% women-owned cannabis business. Not only that, they were one of the first in California. Their unique history goes back six decades in Holland as tulip farmers. Once the Brand family immigrated to the states, they continued tulip farming for many decades. In 2015, the farm got a “makeover” and Autumn Brands Cannabis was born. 

I’ve been happy to see laws in favor of marijuana passing. With everything going on in the world, it’s a travesty to me that people still go to prison for being in possession. The only downside I’ve noticed is that the more accessible cannabis becomes, the quality is not always there. It’s been important to me to implement a clean-ish (I know I’m not perfect) lifestyle these past few years. I rarely use hair dyes, am selective with cosmetics and skincare, and certainly read food labels. These principles should be applied when using marijuana. 

Much of cannabis is grown conventional and sprayed with pesticides. Similar to my tour at a coffee roasting company, my eyes were opened very wide at how complex growing and spraying is. It’s a labor of love and requires a special dedication to be a pesticide-free farm like Autumn Brands. Given their core values, it can be a challenge to get into dispensaries. Nevertheless, they’re beating those odds and currently are in 200 shops in California. Coming soon, they will offer direct sale and delivery options for several major cities. 

Touring Autumn Brands

Just like anything else, marijuana is not a “one size fits all” kind of drug. A vast amount of strains and new crosses and hybrids are being made all of the time. As we walked the many aisles in the greenhouses, I saw familiar names like “Tropicana” and some new ones including “Sundae Strudel.” The large selection of plants from Autumn Brands enables the consumer to find an ideal type for their needs. 

A strain derived from an Indica dominant plant will give a “high” feeling different than a Sativa dominant. Indica is commonly categorized under a body high and great natural relaxer. Certain Indica strains can also be great for some people dealing with depression and anxiety. Sativa traditionally offers a more head-y “feel” and is often recommended to stay a bit more energetic. 

Autumn Brands’ Sundae Strudel delivers those euphoric Indica vibes without getting too strong. While Mother’s Milk, a popular Sativa, is excellent to enhance sitting in the garden or taking a stroll.  Both of these strains are available in Autumn Brands’ glass jars.

Besides flower and pre-rolls, they also sell pain relief salves and elixirs. For a discreet high that will sneak up on you, check out Warrior’s Elixir. Their best-selling potion boasts 100% full-spectrum cannabis and 1000mg of THC.

Trimming Like a Pro (Sort Of)

Towards the end of our 90-minute tour, the trimmers were still on lunch. This gave us a chance to try trimming the plant ourselves! As cool as it would sound to say I’m now a pro, I am far from a pro. Don’t expect any Along Comes Mary joints trimmed by me anytime soon. As the team returned to their stations, we got to chat with one of the long-time trimmers at Autumn. He’s been at the farm since its flower farm days and enjoys his job and takes great pride in it. 

As someone who jumps at any chance to be in Santa Barbara, I loved learning a bit about its agricultural side. The city is famous for its weather, architecture, food, entertainment, and just about everything. Yet Autumn Brands is an exceptional example of just how diverse Santa Barbara and the county are. 

A huge thank you to Autumn Brands for such a wonderful day. Learn more about them HERE. Happy 420, my friends! Xo

(*Disclosure: This post is intended for readers aged 21 and over. I am not a medical provider. Please enjoy responsibly and discuss with your healthcare provider if marijuana is right for you. I’ve not written this post to treat or diagnose any medical condition.)