2024 California Cannabis Harvest Report: Humboldt County
This is part 2/6 of the 2024 California Cannabis Harvest Report by Budist. Navigate to all 6 parts of the Harvest Report:
- 2024 California Cannabis Harvest Report: Humboldt County (You are here)
2024 Humboldt County Cannabis Harvest Recap
Centered around the 40th parallel, Humboldt County is the northwestern tip of the Emerald Triangle. Humboldt County is home to the up and coming port city of the Emerald Triangle; Eureka, as well as the largest university in cannabis country: Cal Poly Humboldt which even has its own Cannabis Studies Lab.
Roughly split in half population wise by not landwise by the infamous interstate 101, Humboldt County is home to many different microclimates. Some regions receive over 100” inches of annual rainfall while other places are comparably dry. Closer to the coast, freezing temperatures do not occur every year and there are sometimes even reports of cannabis revegging from overwintered rootstock.
Some farmers reported growing cultivars which failed to mature properly under these northerly conditions. A handful of farms reported using light depping technology to induce flowering earlier and take better advantage of their shorter growing season. Multiple farmers reported a summer heatwave that seemed to stress plants, making plants mature earlier. Fall weather during harvest season was reported to be impeccable. Some farmers reported that it was the best weather in five years, others said the best in recent memory.
Join us for a virtual tour of these Humboldt County farms below.
Humboldt County, Participating Farms
Alpenglow Farms
Instagram: @alpenglowfarms707
Website: https://alpenglowfarms707.com/
Location: Emerald Triangle / Benbow / East Branch of the South Fork Eel River
Area planted (sqft): 10,000
Elevation: 1850’
Latitude: 40.068° N
Head Cultivator: Melanie & Craig Johnson
Cultivars to Try: Headband, Jack Herer
Certifications: SUN + EARTH, DEM Pure
Unique geographical, terroir, microclimate features: “We are on a sunny ridge top that faces slightly east so our plants wake up to the first light of the sun. ( Aka the Alpenglow light) At 1850 feet above sea level and the confluence of two rivers ( South fork Eel and East Branch of the SFE) this offers two air exchanges a day and has us perched high above the valley fog. We get about 60 more sunny mornings than valley farms and a much warmer dryer air. That air is also filtered through the forest that surrounds our homestead. The forest also offers the gifts of carbonous inputs and biodiversity with all the microbes and fungi. We rainwater from our rainwater catchment pond for irrigation.”
Notes on climatic growing conditions: “It was the driest I've seen in my 30 plus years.”
Briceland Forest Farm
Instagram: @bricelandforestfarm
Website: https://bricelandforestfarm.com/
Location: Humboldt Lost Coast / Redwood Creek Watershed
Area planted (sqft): 5,000
Elevation: 2500’
Latitude: 40.4415° N
Head Cultivator: Daniel Stein
Cultivars to Try: Blue Skunk, Gelonade, Grape Cookies
Certifications: SUN + EARTH
Unique geographical, terroir, and microclimate features: “South facing mid valley flat of deep forest loam soil.”
Notes on climatic growing conditions: “Early excessive heat and then a nice mild dry fall. Occasional evening fog. One early rain to wash the plants before the final weeks of dry bud set. All around epic year.”
Galactic Farms
Instagram: @galactic_farms
Website: https://galactic-farms.com/
Location: Stafford, Avenue of the Giants, Lower Eel Watershed
Area planted (sqft): 3,000
Elevation: <200’
Latitude: ~40° 28' N
Head Cultivator: Indicus Riggs
Cultivars to Try: Jack Herer, Ice Cream Cake
Certifications: SUN + EARTH
Unique geographical, terroir, and microclimate features: “We are in an alluvial flat situated along the eel river. Stafford is a small river valley surrounded by mountain ridges to the north, west, with river flowing from the south in a westerly direction and banked by additional mountain ridges. Additionally the loamy soils and existing old growth forests help create and amplify the terroir of the region. We are also slightly cooler than other traditional regions so we believe this preserves integrity of terpenes and quality of flower. We are full sun as well, grow in native soils without imports and inputs are sourced from farm and my community.”
Notes on climatic growing conditions: “Cooler climate, foggy mornings and evenings, long summer, lots of sun, a good year. Native soil is very important as well.”
Huckleberry Hill Farms
Instagram: @huckleberryhillfarms_wtr
Website: https://pickhumboldt.com/
Location: Southern Humboldt near Redwood Creek
Area planted (sqft): 5,000
Elevation: <1000’
Latitude: ~40° N
Head Cultivator: Johnny Casali
Cultivars to Try: Whitethorn Rose, Moms Weed, Ridgeline Rose
Certifications: Cannabis for Conservation Certified, Compliant Farm Certified, Fish Friendly Certified
Unique geographical, terroir, and microclimate features: “Two spawning tributaries, valley fog and coastal fog.”
Notes on climactic growing conditions: “Morning fog created by redwood creek watershed of pacific ocean influence. Hot days and cool nights. The weather overall in 2024 could have been the best harvesting year I remember.”
Midnight Gardens
Instagram: @midnightgardens707
Website: https://midnightgardens.com/
Location: Benbow Appellation
Area planted (sqft): 3,000
Elevation: 1,700’
Latitude: ~40° N
Head Cultivator: Chris
Cultivars to Try: Poddy Mouth and Wolfs Breath
Certifications: Clean Green, SUN + EARTH
Unique geographical, terroir, and microclimate features: “Just over a ridge on the North Side with a NE aspect. 1700 ft elevation with Doug Fir, madrone and oak forest.”
Notes on climatic growing conditions: “A nearly perfect weather year for growing, some late season rains but plants held up well.”
Neukom Family Farm
Instagram: @neukomfamilyfarm
Website: Neukon Family Farm
Location: Willow Creek
Area planted (sqft): 5,000
Total number of plants: 160
Elevation: 610’
Latitude: 40.9396° N
Head Cultivator: Amy Neukom
Cultivars to Try: African Sherbert, Sapphire Tsu, Motorbreath x GNUT
Certifications: SUN + EARTH, OCal
Unique geographical, terroir, and microclimate features: “almost river bottom. plenty of ground water. very open meadow full sun.”
Notes on climatic growing conditions: “perfect year for harvest. intense heatwave in July set plants back from being as large as they could be.”
Organic Medicinals and Alluvium Organics
Instagram: @dryfarmedorganicmedicinals @alluviumorganics
Website: N/A
Location: Eel River Valley
Area planted (sqft): 8,600
Elevation: 150’
Latitude: 40.4415° N
Head Cultivator: Jill Vanderlinden
Cultivars to Try: Gravity Apple, Mimosa Glow, Mimosa Sunrise
Certifications: SUN + EARTH, OCal
Unique geographical, terroir, microclimate features: “Located on the Eel River alongside the Avenue of the Giants with coastal influence on Sandy Silt Loam soil. Millenniums of ecological decomposition of ancient Redwood forest and the dense fish populations that presided in the river systems. Abundant flora and fauna. Moderate summer temps. and low humidity.”
Notes on climatic growing conditions: “Moderate seasonal growing temps, coastal influence, sandy silty loam soil, river influence, seasonal fog, low to no growing season rainfall, dry farmable.”
Savage Farms
Instagram: @savage_farms_humboldt_co_
Location: Eubanks Creek, Mattole River
Area planted (sqft): 20,000
Elevation: 355’
Latitude: 40.09° N
Head Cultivator: Jerry Savage
Cultivars to Try: Gelonade, Superboof
Certifications: OCal
Unique geographical, terroir, and microclimate features: “Creek runs through property.”
Notes on climatic growing conditions: “Started cool, hot at turning.”
True Mom and Pop
Instagram: @truemomandpop
Location: Larabee Valley, Van Duzen Watershed
Area planted (sqft): 3,700
Elevation: 2500’
Latitude: 40.4415° N
Head Cultivator: Wes
Cultivars to Try: Peanut Butter Breath, Green Apple Gas, Blue Dream
Certifications: SUN + EARTH, OCal
Unique geographical, terroir, and microclimate features: “There is a large ridge between here and the coast. Allowing the coast’s mild temperature to pass over but not its humidity.”
Notes on climatic growing conditions: “It was abnormally dry and sunny. Excellent conditions to let the buds fully ripen. 3 week heat wave in june was hard on the deps that were finishing flowering then. Fall weather was the best in 5+ years.”
This is part 2/6 of the 2024 California Cannabis Harvest Report by Budist. Navigate to all 6 parts of the Harvest Report:
- 2024 California Cannabis Harvest Report: Humboldt County (You are here)