While marketing is my profession, media is my passion. With over ten years in the media space, I’ve always found joy in telling stories via contextual, audio, and video. So, when I met Mark Strohm at Cannafest in Prague last year, we instantly clicked.
Mark is the man behind the brand known as Weed Land. His passion for the plant was an instant common ground for us. Between his light-hearted demeanor, easy-going disposition, and storytelling style on his YouTube channel, the idea of creating content together was a no-brainer.
The Emerald Triangle Tour Comes Together
The Plan: Come to California
When meeting people like Mark, especially in my international travels, I make a point to invite them out to California. Afterall, NorCal is recognized as a mecca in the cannabis world. We are known for being an epicenter when it comes to craft, culture, and community. I’m stoked to say several have taken me up on this offer over the years.
Any excuse for me to get back on ‘The Hill’ that is the Emerald Triangle is always a win in my book. Mark took me up on the offer, citing this as the chance of a lifetime. From there, plans were made for his pilgrimage.
It worked out for another longtime friend from Denmark to make it out and join. Oliver of Phytoca last joined me on one of these adventures in 2018, just in time to see us transition from Prop 215 to 64 (medical to adult-use) here in California. It worked out well as he needed to get back over for meetings, and as they say, the more the merrier.
We decided we would meet in Oregon, then head south for a personal tour of The Triangle, filming the adventure along the way, thanks to Grove Bags as the presenting sponsor.
While catching up with another old friend from Chile, Simón Espinosa, we were talking about the next time we would cross paths in-person. He shared he was coming up for the annual Humboldt Seed Company pheno hunt. This was going to be a special one as the HSC crew was specifically searching for washers.
With this news, I jumped on a call with friend and CSO/ co-founder of HSC, Ben Lind. I told him I was heading his way to shoot a documentary with a few friends from Europe. He told me he, too, had several folks from there coming over for the pheno hunt and would love for us to join. The plan was set.
The Journey into the Emerald Triangle
Stop One: Oregon
Oliver met up with me in Portland. He joined us and helped work The Exchange B2B event in town before heading south. Day one of the trip, we made our way down to Eugene. The plan was to pick up Mark from the airport so we could start the documentary road trip first thing. While he got in several hours late, this didn’t stop him from being ready first thing. I swear, Mark was running on adrenaline and Coca-Cola for the first 24-hours in the States!
Our initial stop was a very unique grow in Veneta, Oregon. It was a buildout of 80 land-sea containers in the little town of Veneta. I had never seen anything like it.
The idea was to show the differences between a modern grow, and some of the most unique traditional outdoor grows on the West Coast. After a tour of their full facility, including an on-site lab, we were off to the races. It was imperative that we make the windy trek down into Humboldt Co. before dusk.
Stop 2: Humboldt, California
We arrived to the camp at Sandy Bar about 4 pm. Sandy Bar Ranch is just minutes up the road from Nat’s farm in Northern Humboldt. Upon our arrival, we were welcomed by the HSC crew, as well as a large group of Czechs on a massive U.S. cannabis tour. We quickly learned that friend Vince and Weed and the Germans were evidently lost, and the Chilean crew was fashionably late. This didn’t prevent us from digging into some spectacular homemade grub provided by the HSC team.
The anticipation of the Humboldt Seed Co. anchor farm tour the following morning was in the air, but first, food, drink, and smoke as everyone got acquainted and settled into camp. Before the end of the night, our Chilean friends and eventually the German crew rolled into camp.
Exploring Humboldt Seed Company’s Anchor Farm
The next morning couldn’t come fast enough as the HSC team had an action-packed day in-store. We would be assessing this year’s genetics still on the stem; the top focus was seeking out the most ideal washers for concentrates. After a wonderful breakfast on the farm, we moved on to grading and testing.
This year’s flavors smelled stunning!
Upon completing our assessments, the team lined up some custom Puffco Peaks and an assortment of rosin samples to taste. Close friends know I’m an edibles-first consumer, but will not pass up a nicely crafted rosin and/or hash by any means. They did not disappoint.
Ben shared how the Blueberry Muffin was one of his top picks. Personally, I quickly gravitated towards their Hella Jelly sample. The terps were absolutely next level and extremely heady. The lineup also included their OG Triploid, Bubbles, and Cali Sour. Yes, it’s true, sours are making an amazing comeback. The same goes for some incredible OG variations as well. Time flew by as several of us geeked out on the washer results and the effects thereof.
Next up was an incredible dinner, complete with fresh salmon from the Klamath River grilled in a traditional Native American style. This was accompanied by fresh veggies from the farm. The mood was established with a nice session from a local deejay.
After socializing and celebrating the day, we ventured off to the far side of the farm for a surprise live performance by Brett McFarland and his band. It really could not get any better than this; phenomenal flower, good eats, and live entertainment with fellow bud lovers are the beautiful skies of Northern Humboldt County.
Unfortunately for us, our crew had to head back to basecamp before the end of the set as we had another visit the next morning. We later learned that several fell asleep in the field of flowering cannabis under the stars. Classic NorCal.
The Last Point of the Emerald Triangle: Trinity County
We left the larger group early in the morning to go visit some salt of the earth friends, Judi and Walter of Sol Spirit Farms. We ventured south down 96 to the little town of Willow Creek. While most globally know Humboldt and some know Mendocino, most don’t know of the third county that makes up The Triangle: Trinity. This county is home to some amazing growers. It has its own unique terroir that sets it apart from the rest of the region.
With a mantra of ‘earth-conscious cannabis, ’ Walter and team grow some incredible cultivars. And mind you, it’s not all the latest trendy Triangle strains either. While walking their beautiful organic farm, we came across classics like Sour Diesel, Blue Dream, and Headband. But Walter has been dabbling with a few new flavors too, as he shared a White Thorn cross sourced from our friend Johnny at Huckleberry Hill Farms. (More on that later.) After a little taste testing and proper tour, we hit the road to catch up with the HSC tour group down in Eureka.
Back to Humboldt County in Eureka, CA
We reconvened with everyone at the Errl Hill operation for a lab tour. Here, they showed the international guests how the flower is washed and ultimately converted into concentrate. This team, like most on The Hill, is extremely passionate about what they do—and it shows in the end-product they had on display.
From here, we caravaned to downtown Eureka, arriving at HSC’s headquarters. Getting to see the vast assortment of seeds was exceptionally impressive. Everything from ‘regs’ (my favorite to grow), fems, and even some auto-flowering cultivars.
Just like that, dinner time had arrived yet again. Everyone segued to a local traditional hotspot, The Historic Eagle House. This local landmark serves as a community hub and gathering space for locals and travelers alike. The boutique Inn hosts beautiful Victorian rooms, as well as a grand ballroom—where a wedding was taking place when we arrived. It really is a must-see if you find yourself in Old Town Eureka. Many industry events are held here.
The HSC crew came through with another wonderful dinner. We again got to enjoy a dish complete with fresh veggies from Nat’s farm, prepared by a local chef. We enjoyed the feast and camaraderie. The conversations were steeped in all the amazing things we had seen, smelled, and sampled in the last 48 hours. Again, we had to cut out a little early as we were splitting off for the last time from the HSC tour to continue our own adventure down The Hill to San Francisco.
Deeper into the Emerald Triangle in Humboldt County
Next stop: Redway. This is a neat little town located in Southern Humboldt, just minutes away from the Humboldt-Mendocino County border. A popular area for those who attend Reggae on the River, or Northern Nights festivals along the Eel River every summer.
We woke up early with the sun, heading 30 minutes west of town. The first stop? Canna Country Farms, run by legends Teddy, his son, and Reggie.
These guys are some of the most passionate growers I know on The Hill. Their work ethic when it comes to breeding only the very best flower is next level. A healthy portion of their farm is dedicated to pheno-hunting. If it doesn’t pass muster, it doesn’t make the (literal) cut at the end of the season. Thousands of feet above sea level, the farm came into view amidst the heavy marine layer of the morning.
This is the Humboldt County I remember fondly as a NorCal kid hanging out amongst the Redwoods.
Our time here was limited, so we jumped right into testing a few of this year’s latest crosses before venturing into the garden. Now, when I say these guys grow monsters, I mean it. I’ve seen citrus trees smaller. The terps on the plants we were perusing were nothing short of mouthwatering.
I very much look forward to my next visit to their farm, but our time was up. We had one more stop about 15 minutes further to the west before the drive back to the city.
Teddy jumped in his truck and personally escorted us over to Johnny’s farm. Another true legend on The Hill, John Casali is the founder and owner of Huckleberry Hill Farms. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, it’s likely you have heard of his Whitethorn Rose cultivar. This game-changer came off The Hill a couple of seasons back, turning heads all the way down to The Bay.
Friends like Jason of Ridgeline Farms were quick to cross this with his equally impressive Lantz cultivar. And as mentioned earlier, even friends like Walter of Sol Spirit brought this top cultivar into his latest pheno hunt. It doesn’t matter if consumed in flower form, live rosin, or even edible—the flavor and effect are next-level.
During my annual edibles judging of the Headstash Bowl, I came across an edible from AyPapi made with Whitethorn Rose flower. It was a near-perfect rating from me and ended up taking first place for 2025. No surprise. And that’s just one of several amazing flavors Johnny has brought to the masses in recent years, many stemming from a single plant that had been saved from when his mom grew way back when.
Johnny’s farm is a truly special place. Situated on a hillside just off the main road, you will find all kinds of cultivars situated amongst some great companion plants. While much of this season’s crop was already taken down, he had enough on the stalk for us to smell some of the spellbinding flavors he’s creating. From Margie’s Magic to Paradise Punch, Amalfi, and many more, you can sense the love Johnny puts into every plant.
I highly implore you to visit Johnny’s site. From his time in prison to becoming one of the most passionate people with the biggest heart around, he is the poster child for the heart and soul of The Emerald Triangle.
4 Days Isn’t Long Enough to Explore the Emerald Triangle
After an amazing tour from Johnny and Rose, we had to say our goodbyes and start the five-hour drive out of The Emerald Triangle down to the San Francisco Bay. Mark had tacked on an extra day to enjoy the city, but alas, Oliver and I had to catch a 6:30 flight for SoCal.
While our time together spanned all of four days, it was a non-stop adventure of the senses. Even having grown up in NorCal surrounded by the community and culture, I always get wide-eyed when seeing the beauty of NorCal. The passion amongst the people who grow there is as deep as the redwood tree roots of the region. It truly is a special place that anyone passionate about this plant should visit at some point in their life.
As we dropped off the rental car and made our way to the terminal, all I could think about was next year’s tour. This has become a tradition for me to go home every year. Not just to see the latest flavors, but to step away from the crazy global travels of work and get back to my roots.
You can take the man out of NorCal… but you can’t take NorCal out of the man.
