News and reviews
Past the Quick Hit: Tips for Storing Cannabis
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Rock the Cure
Wet, freshly trimmed flowers won’t burn; that’s why cannabis is dried and also often cured in a secondary drying phase. Tamara Kislak of That Good Good Farm in Mendocino County says the cure is the most important part of cannabis storage.
“Cannabis is a perishable item. It’s a living organism like any other produce, and so it has its peak and it has other variations,” Kislak says. “If it’s not cured out, you’re left with a whole bunch of enzymes. You’ve got a bunch of chlorophyll, you’ve got all of this living activity in it.”
She says well-cured bud means, “you’ve worked out a lot of the off-gassing, the enzymes have broken down to the point where they’re more stable, and you’ve retained the terpenes and the oils and the flavor that you want.”
After the cannabis flowers have been cured, Kislak says, “you go, cool, dark, as little oxygen exchange as you can.”
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“Weed is a perishable item,” Kislak says. “You should just smoke it.”
Ellen Holland September 23, 2025
For Tamara Kislak of That Good Good Farm, cultivating cannabis is a love story. She began her farming journey alongside her high school sweetheart with a passion that’s remained ignited for nearly three decades.
“Since we moved in together, there has not been a place we’ve lived where I wasn’t growing cannabis plants all year long,” Kislak recalled. “From little closet grows, to basements in the city, and now our 10k farm in Mendo, it’s been a fun 28 years.”
In the midst of their budding garden, Kislak is parenting two kids under the age of 10. Taking care of plants and children offers similar struggles and the same resultant joy.
“Both of them have to be cared for with such intensity when they are little babies, leaving little time for anything else,” Kislak said. “However, if you do your job right: keep them healthy, feed them well, give them the right foundation and structure, they become stronger and capable. Then you can enjoy all the beauty and unique expression they bring to the world, knowing you helped nurture them.”
Expert Tips for a Valuable Cultivation Off-Season
“Genetics play a big role in what is successful in your location and localized climate,” said Tamara Kislak, owner of That Good Good Farm, a small family-owned and -operated craft cannabis operation deep in the hills of the Emerald Triangle. “We love weed in all its forms and love trying new stuff. Our grow is often a mix of our own seed stock, old favorites we’ve been keeping around as clones, and new stuff we try from friends and nurseries.”
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“To maintain soil health and avoid erosion, you’ve got to get that cover crop thriving,” said Kislak. “When that’s all done, the planning for next year begins.”
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California cultivators may not be seasoned snow shovelers like their Midwest and Northeast counterparts, but in the remote hills of the Emerald Triangle, winter can deliver its own set of challenges with limited infrastructure, subfreezing temperatures, and soil erosion.
“In the California regulated market, we have a ton of requirements that need to be met for the water board regarding winterization of roads and cultivation areas,” said Kislak.
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Successful agricultural seasons begin with careful, strategic planning to refine processes and improve productivity. By January, outdoor growers should have a comprehensive calendar mapped out for the year. While predicting extreme weather like a cold spring or summer heatwave is impossible, planning ahead for multiple scenarios reduces the impact of adverse conditions and other known risks.
“We review our calendar where we’ve noted all our dates: soil amending, cloning, transplanting, tarping, and harvesting to see what went well and what didn’t,” said Kislak. “We see if there are improvements to processes that can be made to optimize the workflow. We stagger our greenhouses to ensure we have enough dry space for our harvests, but also to hedge against weather that may affect yield or quality.”
Allison Ipswich October 28, 2024
California’s Retail Logjam Leaves Legal Cannabis in Jeopardy
Direct-to-consumer cannabis sales are alive and well in the California market—just not in the regulated space.
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But for the small legacy growers in many parts of the Emerald Triangle, and elsewhere, a key challenge is simply volume. The supply chain in the world’s largest cannabis market does not incentivize small-batch cannabis harvests. When distributors make their money as a percentage cut, they want the prices from growers as low as possible so they can move as much volume as possible.
Cannabis Business Times
Tony Lange March 28, 2023
The Road to LA Starts: The Emerald Cup Harvest Ball
One of the loudest jars of the day had to be the Garlotti from {That] Good Good. Once you cracked it open, you were hit with an explosion of garlic terps so strong your eyes and sinuses might water up a bit. But don’t worry, that’s definitely a good thing.
LA Weekly
Jimi Devine December 15, 2022
Know your farmer interview
Matt Grimshaw
How the marijuana ‘green rush’ fell apart
“It’s the worst it’s ever been,” said Tamara Kislak, owner of That Good Good Farm, a small cannabis cultivator in Mendocino County, who has worked in the industry for two decades.
The Washington Post
Rachel Lerman December 30, 2022
Heat wave strains California marijuana operators amid power outages, disruptions
In Mendocino County’s Anderson Valley, That Good Good Farm, has been operating off-grid for more than a decade, relying on solar and battery power. […]
Market dynamics and the threat of water shortages amid California’s megadrought – the worst in a millennium – had already prompted her to limit outdoor cultivation.
“I want to make sure that we continue to keep a healthy amount of water in our wells so we cut back most of our outdoor this year,” Kislak said.
mjbizdaily
Chris Casacchia September 16, 2022
