Mendocino Cannabis Farmers Continue Legacy of Supporting Local Community

June 17th, The Mendocino Craft Farmers Auction returned to The Brambles for a night of celebrating the cannabis community’s continuing support of the local community. An auction and dinner all went towards benefiting the Mendocino Land Trust and the Cancer Resource Center of Mendocino County. In terms of Emerald Triangle and cannabis culture news and events coverage, this was one of the events of the year and I knew I couldn’t miss it. Last year, I received an email from Nikki Lastreto about an event in Mendocino County called the Mendocino Craft Farmers Auction (MCFA). I was a fresh graduate from the Ganjier program and figured a roadtrip into the Emerald Triangle to attend this event, meet craft farmers, and bid on some farm tours would be a fun time. I take every excuse I can to go back up there. A few emails later, and I found myself on the list. You can read about that first MCFA experience here. I’m a big fan of summer – nature is in full showy swing and nothing beats that summer sun except for the much needed shade. If it’s shade from an old growth tree, that’s even better. The MCFA made a return to The Brambles – sister property to The Madrones and Mendocino mainstay The Bohemian Chemist – a wonderful 420 friendly event venue that I had just been to a few weeks before to attend a showing of “Tending the Garden” at. Driving up to this venue should be a 21st century rite of passage for every self proclaimed pothead. Now on my third pilgramage to this location, I parked under the same trees. This year, when the opportunity arose, I came up with a press package to donate to the auction and immediately marked my calendar for the can’t miss event of the summer.

Mendo Purpose: Mendocino Cannabis Farmers give back to the local community so both can survive

There was a point in time when America as a whole only knew Mendocino for Mendo Purps. It was a time of higher prices and higher risk. Well, it’s the 21st century and heirlooms like Mendo Purps are lamentably fast disappearing and market conditions have brought a world renown cannabis region to its knees. There’s a new Mendo Purpose in town and that’s the Mendocino Craft Farmers’ fight to survive – as so eloquently put to ink by Box Brown. Even in this historically difficult year, cannabis farmers are continuing their longstanding tradition of raising funds for the local community. I’m not a Mendo resident but the welcoming atmosphere created by all the MCFA attendees sure made me feel like part of the family for a night. The MCFA is produced with tremendous help from the premier local cannabis consortium, the Mendocino Cannabis Alliance, along with a committee of dedicated craft farmers who come together to put on this charitable event. Combined with the sponsors and everybody that donated items to the auction, the event is run by volunteers and most everything – even the venue – is donated.

A few days after the event, I had a call with Nikki to chat about the event, Club Swami, and other timely concerns like Swami Select’s move to increase their wholesale prices. She told me that the event was a success:

“The auction was a great success. We had about the same amount of people as last year but from a production end it was much smoother because it was the second year. I always want to thank Jim Roberts and Brian Adkinson for donating that amazing venue to the MCFA.”

Nikki told me that she sees a long and impactful future for the MCFA:

“This was our second year, by our fifth year it will be much bigger. It’s going to have a long footprint on our planet, just like the Napa wine auction. Every year we’ll raise more money for deserving charities. It feels so good to give back to our general community. So many people in the community still think negatively about the hippies in the hills growing that marijuana and wonder ‘what do they do for us?’ Well we do a LOT. We’re the backbone. We give back to the community. We don’t make any money from this auction. None of us are getting rich on this business – but we still want to give.”

As many in this community have noted, the money comes and goes. It’s during the dry spells – the periods where money is tight – that the true grit and nature of a community shines through. Last year, the charity supported was Redwood Community Services. This year, the donations went to two local orgs: Mendocino Land Trust and Cancer Resource Center of Mendocino County. Nikki commented:

“We’re not only raising money for deserving charities but we’re also raising consciousness of who we are. And like Napa, we do this with style and with intention – good intentions. That’s really the message we want to get across: yeah we might be a bunch of old hippies but we want to help the world. With our medicine, with helping charities, by providing a fun evening and creating community.”

As an attendee, I can attest to the impact and community created. Many people and brands that I met for the first time at MCFA #1 are now featured on this site with plans for more and more until everybody’s story is told.

PSA: Visit Mendocino for the Mendocino Craft Farmers Auction

In its second year, the MCFA is now receiving local support in recognition of their goal of benefiting everyone involved. It wasn’t so many years ago that the idea of a cannabis related event being supported by the tourism board would be laughed out of the room. It’s happening though. Nikki said:

“It’s really a win win all the way around. And we even got supported this time by Visit Mendocino – the local tourism board for Mendocino county. They actually gave a grant and provided promotion for the event. This is a game changer that we’re getting support from our county now.”

Now that I’ve seen the magic two years in a row, I have some theories on what exactly it is that makes the event so special. It boils down to the who, the what, the when, the where, and the why. Moreover, it’s the combination of these components in real time that lay bare the event organizers’ intentions – the why – the Mendo Purpose.

As I’ve attended different types of cannabis events around the country, I’ve come to realize that there are events that are essentially a glorified hot box… completely targeted towards the heady crowd – and there are events that cater to the mainstream and are welcoming to anybody and everybody. I vacillate over which I prefer to be at but I can unequivocally say that the MCFA is the best of both worlds. I met people that didn’t smoke, but were undeniably a part of the community. I ran into so many familiar faces – both from the previous year and from the days between. The food by Chef Dan was delicious and uninfused – and made all the better by his periodic appearances at the table with joint lit asking if the food was OK. It was quite OK! Right before the meal started, HVY cannabis tinctures were served for those that wanted a non-smoking high and at the same bar, local wines from Alder Springs Vineyard were available. Not everybody partook, and there was no judgment or peer pressure ever. After sitting for dinner, I saw the fashionably dressed person seated to my left receive a gift of some Heritage Hash from Steve Morningglory – turns out it was The Hashinista. I’m such a fanboy. At the same event, I got to try a rare batch of Vietnamese landrace (red river valley) bubble hash made into Moroccan style slabs by Jerry of First Cut Farms.

What’s more, I got to help start it in Frenchy Cannoli’s hookah alongside Jerry of First Cut Farms, Lena of Cannam Gardens and Cherry Blossom Belle, as well as Madame Cannoli – freshly blessed by Swami.

Can’t think of anything more heady than that. Nikki felt the event was set up for success, and I’d have to agree:

“Great food, Madame Cannoli and Lena and Belle with the hookah, HVY cannabis tincture, locally grown wine. All of these things make for a good party. When you make sure that everyone is getting high just enough on the best stuff there is and eating delicious food in wonderful company in a gorgeous setting – what can go wrong?”

As far as I’m concerned – nothing could go wrong and nothing did go wrong. The impact for visitors and locals can’t be understated. Beyond an opportunity to brush shoulders, break bread, and chuck clouds with the movers and shakers in the space, the MCFA is a midsummer’s celebration that people – like moi – now look forward to every year. It brings a smile to your face and causes a laughter to well up like a spring.

As Nikki said earlier, there’s a long history being formed. Events like this are a rare opportunity for cannabis consumers to get to know the people that dedicate their lives to the plant that is their medicine. The MCFA’s wide reach and potential impact to consumers at dispensaries can’t be understated:

“We did have people from out of state. A lot of people came up from the Bay – also a lot of locals from Mendocino. These are people that can go into retail stores now and say: ‘oh that jar is from Arcanna and I met Chiah at the MCFA!’”

Here’s my similar epiffany: A few days after the event, the California State Fair Cannabis Awards announced their results. Going through the list of winners, I was struck by the fact that I had just been chilling with several of the winners mere days before. We were able to have the long and meaningful conversations that just aren’t possible over a booth at a bustlin’ conference or cup. But when you’re gathered under old growth Redwoods for a good cause and surrounded by the best sungrown regenerative flower and hash in the world, anything is possible. Featured image by Brian Parks.