Author Tammi Sweet’s book, The Beginners Guide to Growing Cannabis and Making your Own Healing Remedies, combines horticulture and herbal medicine to create an introduction to growing and using cannabis. Her outlook throughout the book reflects a holistic approach to wellness and sustainable and ethical cultivation practices that minimize environmental impact and promote organic methods. As an herbalist and educator, Sweet’s presentation is clear and informative and provides the essential information for beginners to get started.
The first part of the book is devoted to cannabis cultivation and contains step by step directions for choosing the right strain, starting seeds, hardening and transplanting seedlings, and meeting requirements for soil, nutrients, light and water, and pruning. A whole chapter is devoted to the flowering phase with details on the growth progression of male and female flowers and includes directions for collecting pollen and hand pollinating female flowers if seed is desired for a future crop. Close-up photographs of the developing male and female flowers are exceptional and greatly aid in understanding the accompanying text. The section on pest and disease offers the holistic approach of integrated pest management and emphasizes organic solutions.
A discussion of the endocannabinoid system in the body serves as an introduction to making and using cannabis remedies. Sweet describes this physiological system and the three basic groups of cannabis chemicals. She discusses the properties of the different chemical constituents present in cannabis, how they interact with the body’s chemistry, and the healing benefits that they can bring. Specific directions are given for making tinctures, oils, salves and edibles with a focus on personalizing the preparation of each remedy in regard to dosage and ailments, such as chronic pain, anxiety, or insomnia.
Written in a clear concise style, The Beginner’s Guide to Growing Cannabis and Making your Own Healing Remedies, is a good introduction to cannabis cultivation and herbal remedies. The author’s conversational tone makes even complex subjects accessible and understandable without overwhelming the reader. She shares her enthusiasm for the subject, advocates a commitment to environmental responsibility, and provides guidance for safe use.
To buy The Beginner’s Guide to Growing Cannabis and Making your Own Healing Remedies from Amazon, click here.
Karen