Photo by Esteban Lopez on Unsplash

[J.Camm’s note: This is a guest post from Anthony Franciosi, the founder of Honest Marijuana, an organic marijuana growery. Francioci was born and raised in New Jersey until 2008 when he moved to Colorado to become a marijuana farmer. Outside of work, Anthony can be found high up in the mountains on his snowboard. ]

I’m a man who knows the earth more than anything else. I prefer plants to people. The quiet still of the fields and mountains more than I do any crowded room.

I guess I’ve always had a green thumb. Ever since I was a kid I’ve liked growing things. I like to get my hands dirty and really become one with the earth. As corny as it may sound, it’s where I feel most at home. I spent my early years in landscaping. I wanted to be as near to the ground as I possibly could be. It was where I was most at peace.

As you can probably guess, the plants I love best are greenest of the green. The green machine. Lady J. Miss Marijuana. She is my mistress and my friend. I was 14 when I came across my dad’s stash and had my first blessed taste of cannabis. It was love at first toke.

That fine friendship and devotion to the green has never wavered. I didn’t know that one day I would be running my own growery in the beautiful backdrop of mountainous Colorado, but I suppose it was always in my cards. My love of raw, hands on work, marijuana and all things organic lead me to where I was supposed to be.

Colorado seemed like the perfect home for the growery I was dreaming of. I was battling a slew of sports industries and my inquisitive nature brought my to the Rocky State where weed was legal and freedom was reachable.

I founded Honest Marijuana, an organic marijuana growery, and began what has been one of the most challenging, incredibly laborious and undeniably rewarding experiences of my entire life. I’ve learned a lot through my experiences. Anyone who is going to try and begin their own plant should know a few things before they dive in.

So, here are 5 things you need to know about starting a growery from a guy who is running one.

1. Educate yourself.

You may think, “Hey, this can’t be that bad. I’m just going to grow a little pot.” You could not be further from the truth.

You need to read the books, talk to people and know what you’re getting into.

Going into this business blind, without the proper knowledge and skills will leave you empty handed and completely broke. Marijuana farming is just as labour intensive, if not more labour intensive, than any other mainstream farming. If you’re going the organic route, the process is even more delicate.

From lighting, to cleanliness, to the extremely delicate nature of soil maintenance, marijuana growing is really more of an art than anything else. It is not for the brash of faint of heart.

If you plan to be successful, you need to understand marijuana farming better than you understand English. You need to eat, live and breathe it every single day.

2. You need to have the passion.

When I first dreamed up Organic Marijuana in 2008, I knew that this was the only thing that would ever bring me happiness.

I love marijuana so much that I don’t even think I could imagine life without it. It takes a true aficionado to make it in this business. This is no pansy business.

You will be out in the fields, knee deep in mud, harvesting and planting until your hands are red and raw from the use. You need to have the passion in order to survive.

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3. Know your market.

When I began growing in Colorado, the only way I was going to stand out among a bunch of other marijuana farmers was by finding a place in where the market was lacking a product.

My love of organic lifestyle suddenly came into play. I saw that while there were many people out there taking advantage of the legal status of marijuana in Colorado, starting growers and raking in profit, all of said farmers were using mainstream farming techniques.

I realized that going organic would not only provide my customers with healthier, better product, but it would also give me a leg-up unique place in the marijuana industry. If you are planning to start a growery in this competitive marketplace, you need to find your own niche.

You don’t want to be grouped together with a bunch of other farmers and lose yourself in a sea of noise. Find something that makes you unique and market yourself to those strengths.

4. Build your business with people you trust.

One thing I’ve learned from this business, is that the only way to build something robust and successful is by building it with people whom you trust.

The relationships you have you within your team are going to determine whether or not the lot of you will make it to where you want to be. I was lucky enough to start my business with a group of like-minded, green loving people. I owe much of my success to their undying devotion and innovative nature.

Try having regular team meetings and goal setting. It’s vastly important to make sure everyone is happy and content. A happy work environment will ensure sustainable product and a strong work ethic.

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5. Know the environment.

Since I began this business 9 years ago, we’ve had to move a whopping 8 times. Before you decide to start a growery, make sure the landlord is going to be cool with what you’re doing.

Growing marijuana is not only extremely labour intensive, it also requires a LOT of power.

You don’t want your electric bill going up $300 a month. Trust me, the landlord is not going to be happy about this.

You also need to know your land. Again, do your research. You need to make sure the soil is right, the place is properly irrigated and that you can set up enough space for greenhouses. When it comes to starting your own growery, be sure you know every inch of the place you’re breaking ground.

You want to be able to establish roots not only for your plants, but for your future.