2024 California Cannabis Harvest Report: Lake County
This is part 5/6 of the 2024 California Cannabis Harvest Report by Budist. Navigate to all 6 parts of the Harvest Report:
- 2024 California Cannabis Harvest Report: Lake County (You are here)
2024 Lake County Cannabis Harvest Recap
While not traditionally considered part of the Emerald Triangle, Lake County is a close neighbor to say the least with its own set of legacies especially from the Prop 215 era. Lake County sits directly east of Mendocino County. The eponymous lake in the county’s name is none other than Clear Lake, though Lake County is home to at least 25 other lakes, Clear Lake being the largest with 68 square miles of coverage. Its unique geothermal features also makes it home to a variety of geysers and hot springs.
The terroir in Lake County is categorized by high elevation farms and gravelly alluvial soils. The distinct Mediterranean climate, dry, warm days and cool nights, makes for significant diurnal shifts affecting cultivation in a significant way. It sits at about 39 degrees north in latitude.
Lake county has a rich culture of outdoor activities, such as fishing, boating and hunting for Lake County Diamonds, a type of volcanic quartz specific to the area.
The small towns in lake county are home to a variety of cafes, restaurants and small stores, many of which are lakeside. Each community is small with Clearlake being the largest with a population of 16,337 and Cobb being the smallest with a population of 412.
Lake County, Participating Farms
Magic Meadow Farms
Instagram: @magic_meadow_farms_
Website: https://www.magicmeadow.life/
Location: Middletown
Area planted (sqft): 35,000
Elevation: 1009
Latitude: 38.7524
Head Cultivator: Kristen Callahan
Cultivars to Try: Blue Andeeze, Heir Head, Gelato 33
Certifications: Regenerative Farming Guild
Unique geographical, terroir, microclimate features: “We are in an alluvium highly weathered basalt terroir. We’ve planted an acre on a hugelkulture swale.”
Notes on climatic growing conditions: ”The 2024 season was a very unique season. We had varied temperatures and drastic cold fronts that shifted our final flowers to the darkest purple we have ever seen. These variations from morning frosts to overnight wind chill made excellent sandier aromatic flowers. We had small rain showers in the end but enough dry periods to finish each batch . Most of our flowers made it almost to their perfect harvest windows.”
Mombacho Farms
Instagram: @mombacho_farms
Website: N/A
Location: Red Hills
Area planted (sqft): 42,000
Elevation: N/A
Latitude: 37.8405
Head Cultivator: Kirk Westphal
Cultivars to Try: Gods Breath, Gelato 41
Certifications: N/A
Unique geographical, terroir, microclimate features: “Lots of volcanic material and obsidian”
Notes on climatic growing conditions: ”Big wind usually comes in early October.”
This is part 5/6 of the 2024 California Cannabis Harvest Report by Budist. Navigate to all 6 parts of the Harvest Report:
- 2024 California Cannabis Harvest Report: Lake County (You are here)