As many of my readers know, and for those who don’t, I’m currently working on a couple of projects in New Mexico. For the past few months, I’ve been working with a New Mexico based, craft cannabis company, which let to my completely life-changing experience of sourcing some of the finest cannabis in the land. This friends, would be in New Mexico and this is in my humble opinion. And what has happened to me is striking in the respect to the local terroir and overall history of the plant and what she has taught me about life and good health.
Through the magic of social media, a collaborative effort was born and my path to New Mexico only deepened with a correspondence with Monica Davalos, who is very intent on craft cannabis, outdoor grown- using landrace strains…. She’s doing something outside of the norm (indoor grow, multiple times) and in Monica’s life, she grows once per year without chemicals or pesticides. In the high desert!
New Mexico!
Nearly everything I’ve tasted that has been grown outside with nearly zero humidity has opened my eyes to that false axiom (again, my opinion) of chasing the higher and higher levels of THC as a merit of quality. NO, this is not so! Quality in my opinion is not high THC, it’s the history lessons, The landrace strains, low THC, medicinal cannabis. The stuff I require for my medical use… These are history lessons from the past, grown in the wild outdoors, under the sun with miniscule amounts of rain… In the wine world we call it dry farming with cover crops. What Monica has achieved is in this regard to terroir? Dry farming with cover crops? It is truly the taste of the place.
And it’s the natural way!
But what caught my attention is Monica’s dream of making her own temple ball hash.
Frenchy would be proud.
Warren Bobrow: Please tell me about yourself. Where are you from? Where do you live now? Do you travel to other places?
Monica Davalos: My Name is Monica Davalos, I am a fifth generation native New Mexican. I was born and raised here in Bent NM. I am the fifth generation owner of our family farm where I have been lucky enough to start my cannabis grow. I travel, however, not as often as I used to. I am usually occupied with the farm.
WB: Tell me what you’re working on right now.
MD: At the moment I have just finished harvesting. The future is wide open for me. Recreational cannabis is still in its infancy. With the amount of acreage and plenty of water I have space to expand on ventures. That being said, my passion is to keep the natural integrity of cannabis in all forms. I am starting to explore old school ways of using and producing cannabis i.e., temple balls, growing only landrace strains from our region, outdoor growing seasonally, chemical and pesticide free.
WB: What are your six and twelve month goals?
MD: To Keep expanding, Taking on new projects and creating new products…the goal is to make cannabis a viable and socially acceptable product. More so than alcohol, tobacco, and Big Pharma
WB: What obstacles do you face?
MD: Being a woman growing in this industry, Finding people that hold the same values and passions as I do about cannabis, overcoming the cannabis stigma
WB: How do you anticipate removing them?
MD: In this industry I believe it will be much easier for women to excel. It’s starting to get better and better. I have and continue to find people in the cannabis community that want and do uphold the same work ethic and curiosity as I do. I believe patience is on my side.
WB: Tell me please about the plant and your experiences with her. What strains are you working with? Why?
MD: This beautiful medical plant has opened me up to new ways of thinking and approaching her. When I started growing to scale, I didn’t want to mass produce on a scale that would dilute the importance and integrity of the plant. As I write this NM has a long way to go as far as educating our cannabis community in all faucets of her wonders. NM still bases cannabis values on high THC levels and the quick “high” if you will. I would like to see us grow our tastes that include the whole expression of the flower. From the terpenes to the last flavor of the exhale. I also didn’t want to grow indoor; I do realize this is a touchy subject. But because of the area I farm it would be a waste not allowing the plant to express the full terroir… the sun, high desert mountain air, fresh water, beautiful soil,….it would be a disgrace!!!
As I mentioned I love the landrace strains. Acapulco Gold has been my go to since I started growing, I will be adding on some Sinaloa and Oaxaca. I also experienced landrace strains have better genetics and are healthier and more stable for growing in the high desert.
WB: Please tell me about food. What do you like to eat? Do you cook? Where do your recipes come from?
MD: As a Latina I’m all about food. It’s how we love. Of course I love all the Southwestern NM food. I was raised on it. On the regular I stick to pretty basic veggies, fruits and meats. I’m a busy human so I have to make sure I am healthy and stay that way. But when I want something more I love great home cooked meals, elegant French dinner, Hearty Italian, Thai is also a favorite…GEEZ I could go on and on.
WB: What is your passion?
MD: Keeping it artisanal and simple…boutique style. I’m sure you’ve noticed when products are made on a big scale the quality is compromised. Only the best wines, cigars, truffles, pasta, breads etc. are simple and in small batches. All the top shelf ingredients go into a top shelf product. And they are rare…but it’s all worth the work and wait. The end product is the PASSION…the taste, the smell, the sight, the feel…
Thank you for the questions, it was a joy answering them, M.
WB: My thanks to you, Monica, for teaching us something new about your passion for the plant and a little about you too.
Photos Credit: Monica Davalos
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