Newbie Needs Advice for Medical Grow

[goobygirl]

I'm a newbie and have a couple of different options for starting a medical grow in my home. I have a room that is 8.75' x 7.5' (an office in a mobile home). In that room is a 2 X 4 x 7 closet and a 35" x 52" window.

I live in MI and although it's legal for me to grow as a patient, I've been told to pretend it's not, which means I want to fly under the radar as much as possible. Low heat outputs, not obvious, no smells, and keeping the electrical bills down. I only have one close neighbor across the road. Empty mobile to the left, 1/2 acre of empty lots to the right. Apt complex behind me. Seems to me from the smells of the surrounding area, MJ is well tolerated, however (LOL). The town I'm in has one - two police cruisers. Law enforcement seems to be lackadaisical.

Couple of parameters: as a patient I can grow 12 plants AND have 2.5 oz of useable medicine on me at one time. If I decide to be a caregiver for others, I can have 5 patients, 72 plants, 15 oz. Since I'm a newbie I think I might want to stay within personal medical limits (12 plants/2.5 oz) as I'm learning to see if this is something I can do and like. I'm physically disabled, but able to walk, move some things, but not a lot. Hubby has all the construction/electrical wiring skills but I'd rather not make him have to do this as he has plenty to do right now. So someone is going to have to build this, one way or the other, and I'm going to have to pay them most likely. If I had good plans, hubby might consider doing it, but I really would like him to finish our other projects first.

When I was first aware that this could be a viable option for me, a friend told me to set up the whole room with hydro for 12 plants. Since I don't have an extra room, I can't stagger growing really (to my knowledge) unless I can utilize the closet somehow. So I might have to start with buying clones for a while until I can get an area for vegging.

After learning what goes into turning a whole room over to growing, I thought I'd look around for other options, and was kinda thinking of the grow box option (like BC Northern Lights Bloombox or Producer). They are pricey, but I could do it if the situation allowed me to expand for other patients and it was easy to use. I know it's not idiot proof, but it seemed like a good way for me to get my feet wet and still have space in the room to put some of my personal things.

A Bloombox can give you up to a pound for 9 plants, about 4-8 oz of dried medicine for 5 plants. This way I could put a mother and six clones on the veg side and grow 5 plants at a time and stay with in my plant limits and somewhat close to medicine limits (I know, not exactly close, but what's a girl to do?)

I have stealth concerns and wanted low heat output. I've been reading up on LEDs. Not sure what to think of that yet. I don't have air conditioning in the mobile home but could put an AC unit in the one window that's in the potential room. I could even, if it were worth it, put in a central air unit for about $500. If I decide to go central air, it would give me an opportunity to do some creative duct work.

My mobile home got pretty warm here in the summer, so that's a real issue. I was able to make it through some of the warmer days (damn global warming) but it definitely would be too hot in the summer in the grow room without AC.

So I'm looking at a couple of options: 1. Low investment, start with a couple of plants, add decent lighting, ventilation, etc to a closet and see how I like it and see if it's worth it to grow for personal medical limits; 2. Start out with a more aggressive system like full out hydro grow in the room and commit to producing enough for myself and 5 others; . 3. Start out with a Bloombox or Producer growbox and risk be disappointed possibly with the initial cost, yield, results.

I'm also open to eventually going full out and renting a commercial space to grow and incorporating to protect myself (to some degree) as a caregiver. Commerical rent where I live is fairly reasonable. I could even see myself renting a home with a basement or something to keep the grow offsite from my living arrangements. I really don't want LEO charging into my home/personal space, I really, really don't.

However, I think expanding into another space is not really an issue until I get my feet wet, see how I like it, and get a better grip on the current prosecutorial climate in my area. I especially need a better understanding of how easy it is (or not) to provide patients with medical marijuana and to dispose of excess. (DEA is doing nothing really, but some prosecutors/sheriffs in MI are just stoopid, ya know?) My county prosecutor supports medical marijuana, to my knowledge. So as long as I keep my activities in compliance with the law, I should be ok.

MI law is silent right now on the issue of what to do with excess medicine. A sheriff in a county near Detroit has gone stark raving mad and trying to raid people's homes and compassion clubs. Compassion clubs are where private members meet and get educated. The best clubs don't allow people to smoke on premises or to dispose of excess of premises. I've been told my county club is good, but I'm not able to visit until my registration card/proof of processing is in my hands. (I know that my money order was cashed, but I won't be legal to grow or use medicine until Oct 14).

While I don't live in that crazy county, I was told by a well-known cannabis lawyer to stay low key until things shake out and pretend it's illegal. I think that sucks, to have to act like you're a criminal when you're not. :(

I'm open to suggestions. Assume I have $5k to do a start up and within the current space constraints, what would you do and why? If I had $10k, what would you do and why?

If I invest $5k and it doesn't work out, I will be unhappy. However, I have lots of support from others who are encouraging me to "go for it" and can provide me with "seed money." (LOL)

One hydroponics store owner wanted to sell me the whole grow room scenario for about $4k. He would charge more to set the room up for me (probably $300 or so?) and more for clones. Clones about 6 inches high seem to be going for $20 each which seemed alot from what I was told they go for in CO ($3-$5 for 6 inch clones, $15-$20 for 10 inches, is what I heard).

To me, the cautious thing to do would be to grow in the closet and see how I like it. Not too much money to invest and if I don't like it or can't get the hang of it, I'm not out too much dough. However, I don't know if that type of growing would be enough to show me what is involved or give me the full flavor of growing.

I think I would really enjoy growing for medical patients, but it's hard to say when I haven't ever done it before. I think there are plenty of educational, financial, and personal rewards for having patients and providing quality medicine to them.

So, I'm open to ideas. Feel free to comment.

Thanks!

Goobygirl

[9fingers]

Sounds like the whole thing is new to you.When I start something new I start out small and see how I like it . Then if I like it I keep adding to it and learn all I can about it.

[goobygirl]

You're right 9Fingers, that's why I wanted to start small, but needed advice on that as an option too, like a closet grow.

Heck, even an Aerogarden seems good (just got that off this site, off to investigate, lol)

[weeddaddy50]

Have you ever grown before? what is your ability?

Here is what I would do...with your space. buy 6 clones....only six....put BW polly on the walls...get 2 600 hps/MH switchable ballasts. Get you a 400 to 600 cfm exhaust fan & carbon filter bring in fresh air in with some type of vent & exhast the filtered air out...wall or ceiling. This should get you buy till next summer when the weather gets hot again. with clones only 10 to 20 per It will cost you more to have a veg area, than just buying them for a while. Get through 3 complete grows.....you have to commit to 3 complete...because you will have problem with all three of them...by the end of the third grow...you should have the bugs worked out. Time frame from clone to harvest is almost 100 to 120 days. I would start with something easy
1 gal pots for the clones then repot to 3 gal then repot to 7 gal for flowering.
clone in 1 gal pots for 14 days, veg for 3 gal pots for 45 days, flower for 60 days.

Go see my grow log.... and see the success and failures and read every grow log you can...go to you-tube and see urban grower & stickfingerskoma grow watch them all.

Read all the stickys and the Noob's guide to growning on this site...after all that.....keep expections low...very low....

GROWING is not easy.....it's lots of work.....rewarding....but lots of work.

There are some excellent growers on this site....start a grow log....it forces you to ask for help...and keeps you interested.....things will go wrong.....just adjust and keep learning.

remember lighting....is very key....with that room you do not need a grow box

[goobygirl]

WD50, I think that is solid advice. I've been reading until my eyes cross, lol. I have Ed Rosenthal's book, Marijuana Grower's Handbook, and am trying to learn from local people too.

I can commit to 3 grows. No, I've never grown anything than vegetable containers (which this year I had 45 of them: snow pod peas, kohlrabi, beans, cukes, tomatoes, squash). I've also done some in ground growing of veggies: this year I had tomatoes, broccoli, and squash. I know this is a whole different thing though!

As far as growing in soil, would you suggest something like a Smart Pot for a container? (see my pot already has intelligence, it's "smart," lol)

Smart Pots for Container Gardening | Smart Pots for Container Gardening | Growers Solution (http://www.growerssolution.com/page/GS/PROD/smartpots/SmartPots?gclid=CMjp5ebStKQCFQ_W5wodB1JQwQ)

I've wanted to try these for a while for my veggies as they air prune the roots and (allegedly) make great roots!

I've also seriously been considering using LED and organics, but I'm not sure if I should try those yet or go the more traditional route. I know that most people are using the MH and HPS and would have more info on how these work vs LED (locally, at least).

If I were to start with an easier plant to grow, what strain would you suggest? I would prefer it to be something that is easier and good for me as medicine too. I have fibromyalgia and have a ton of muscle spasms and joint pain as well as problems with going to sleep and staying asleep. I would prefer to start addressing the chronic pain issues with something that works on the pain before I move on to medicine to help me sleep.

I truly appreciate the feedback. I do get that this has a learning curve and is more than me puttering around the house and growing a house plant.

Goobygirl

[9fingers]

Thx WeedDaddy for putting it all into words. As far as time invested I tend to our 11 girls 2 to 3 hours a day. I like to be around them and you never know what you'll find. One day it's spider mites and the next I found a Praying Mantis. Today I found a bit of bud rot that I removed quickly. Good luck with your adventure.:thumbsup:

[Weezard]

WD gives great advice.:thumbsup:
And you read a lot.:cool:
I predict great success!:)

As for LEDs?
Hmmm, what do you pay per KWH?
Pumping heat out of a metal box is very costly.
More painful if you already paid to put the heat in.
When it gets cheaper to buy your meds than grow them, well...

I pay over 50 cents per KWH here, and it gets hot, LEDS are mandatory for me.

As for the rest.
It is a weed, and you are a gardener.
This will be epic. I'm in.:jointsmile:

Aloha,
Wee Zard

[weeddaddy50]

I am here is California...and have had to change my power bill to TOU (Time of use) Run you grow at night and you get the best rate per KW....watch your base line...once over it your bill will be a killer...:wtf:

As far a easy to Grow and great medicine... Afgoo is very good and grows easy.... I would stick to indica type plants and that will keep the size down.
Purple kush, Black Berry Kush, Grand Daddy Purple, Green Crack ( make sure you are getting good genetics)

OG kush....all great for pain....if you need a day time medicine you can't grow wrong with NY diesel, or even sour Diesel..or Blue Dream..but you have to flower these early and they will get huge fast...lots of LST and cropping needed.

Do not try and grow all 12 of those plants first time out....I have found out when....you have problems....you have to be very proactive....few plants will equal success....which will keep you interested in growing....It is very easy to fail.

If your are still growing after the 1st year....people will know your medicine is good and they will be calling you.....:D

Good Luck

[goobygirl]

Thanks for the support all! I pay 9 cents per KW Oct 1 - May 1. May 1 - October 1 it's 9 cents for the first 600 kw and 13 cents thereafter. There's no tiered pricing as far as I know here (I thought there was and had been doing my heavy appliance use like laundry at night...but upon further research, it appears not).

As far as pumping heat in and out, yeah I like to conserve. The grow room I'm thinking of using is adjacent to my living room. I could potentially put a vent there and use the warm air in the winter (which would be awesome since I'm in a mobile home, essentially a tin box....brr) as long as I can keep the smells in check. I'm thinking at least an ozone generator and good carbon/charcoal filters. I rarely have company over as I prefer to visit friends at their homes (don't know why, it just works out that way).

I'm also thinking of putting up Reflectix on the walls (hubby has a roll he bought last week, how convenient, lol). I wanted to stay in stealth mode, and so was thinking maybe I should vent below the mobile home to where the cement and skirting are. What do you think?

I might go with a hut for vegging after I get my feet wet with growing and maybe throw an LED in there for that. But I'm 95% to go with the traditional lighting and get a switchable ballast for flowering.

I really appreciate the feedback and support. I am an avid reader and like to dig into details. I like to know the road before I get there and while experience is a great teacher, I like to prepare myself so I can have the best results. I don't just throw things together. I prepare, mull, cogitate, and consider. I'd rather spend time on prep and thinking things through than get in the middle of something and go heck, if I would have thought about that first and prepared for it, I wouldn't have to spend more money, rebuild, waste time for avoidable things. Yes, things will come up, but better to think it through and think how I want to work things, IMO.

I'm getting psyched. And with support of others it makes all the difference....

[weeddaddy50]

You are thinking and that is a good thing.....you know why you are getting such a great response?:D and for anyone who is reading these post and wonders why excellent growers are responding? It's easy...we have all been there...but that is not the reason....the reason.... is you are willing to do your own reasearch....90% of the information required for just about any grow is on this website....all it takes is time to read....after reading....and reading...and reading....then post some questions.....excellent people will respond to you if you are real......nothing and I mean.....nothing irriates me more that a post like this.

:rasta:Stoner.....her....I....ned....to o learn....how....to.....grow..cuz....I want....to sel som stuff and make.....money....or .......Hey new grower....please tell me verything I need to know about growing.....both of these people have like 2 to 5 posts....all of them about selling the stuff. I know for a fact....I will not respond to posts like that.....and the excellent growers on will not either.....

Good luck and start your grow log....looking forward to seeing it.

[weeddaddy50]

My dad always told if it was easy everyone would be doing it....LOL that is the reason you see used equipment for sale all the time.....indoor growing is not easy......rewarding yes.....easy....no

[canniwhatsis]

My dad always told if it was easy everyone would be doing it....LOL that is the reason you see used equipment for sale all the time.....indoor growing is not easy......rewarding yes.....easy....no

+1 to that! I've been pulling my hair out for the last several months on both my indoor and outdoor grows,.... but last night I harvested an indoor girl and started the staged harvest of my outdoor plants and now have 3 strains hanging in my drying cabinet. :rastasmoke:

My patients will be very happy campers in the next few weeks :bonghit:


As for Strains,... Blueberry would be my suggestion for an easy and rewarding first strain.

As for the venting,.... under the house has the risk of concentrating the smell at ground level under you unit. Plus, it will seep up into your place and stink it up. If its at all possible vent out the roof,... up higher it will be in the wind and spread any scent that makes it past your filter quicker making it harder to track. Make certain that your grow is negatively pressurized so it's sucking air IN thru any leaks, and that will help keep scent down in your unit when you do have visitors.

Ozone scrubbers work,... but don't let it leak back into your grow, it tears up plants something fierce, at least that's what I've read.

5k to start with is going to be an awesome grow,.... start small but make it scaleable, then you can get a small grow under your belt, and decide how much you want to bite off. I've got 3 patients, started with 1,.... I'm not sure I could handle more.


Good luck! :tu: I'll be along for the ride :D

[goobygirl]

I stopped at another hydro shop today and spoke with the woman owner. I got the following quote to do drip buckets (I like the idea of a bucket and being able to stagger my grows). The buckets I really liked have spots in the corners that you can put pvc pipes in to use to stake/tie the plant to. I thought her prices seemed reasonable. She was willing to give me a 10% discount plus more if I could buy all at once. However, then I got pulled into the LED debate with hubby who really thinks that my room is going to be cooking hot.....so I'm still on the fence yet re lighting.

Part of me says go with what everyone has done and is something others can give me advice upon and the other is, but yeah, LED, cooler, less heat, etc. My argument against LED is that I don't want invest money in something that doesn't work... so that's my main concern.

@ Canniswhatsis - I agree on your evaluation of venting and am thinking of placing the vents on the roof or having a central air unit installed and using the ducts somehow.....hubby and I discussed this, I kinda forgot what he said, lol...

Quote:

2 xxxtreme Reflectors (8 inch) - @$250 ea - $500
2 1000 w 2 way ballast - @220 ea - $440
1 superblue 1000w Hortilux bulb - $260
1 super hps hortilux - $130

1 mountain air 8 inch carbon filter/air scrubber
1 wind tunnel (8 inch) - 217
8" ducting -$37.50
4 8" clamps @ $2.99 - $11.96

Veg room (for later set up)
1 pioneer VIII fluorescent
1 flexihanger $24.95
1 Light hanger 42.95 (for the flowering room lights)
1 Ultraflex (reflective film for walls) $48.50 (4 x 25)
1 poly & Black & white (4 x 25) $31 (for creating a veg area and bringing walls in possibly)
1 coco grower (I liked these pots but you have to put in new $20 coco everytime you grow, drip) $62.99
1 Power grower ($80.99) I liked these, these had the stake area, and seemed kinda easy
1 bubble bucket - $34.99 (black 5 gallon buckets with net pots, bubbler set up, etc).

Those were the three buckets she had that I was interested in. She said the downside to the bubbler is gauging the water (can't see water levels from the outside) and as a DWC it uses about a gallon a day.

Total for just the equipment without wall materials or buckets was $2216.46, plus she will give me at least 10% off that and offered her husband's services to set up my room for about $200.

What do you guys think about the quote?

Without doing further research, her prices seem reasonable to me and I'd rather support a local business than buy online with some faceless person who isn't going to give me support and who doesn't care who I am. She's also a patient and caregiver and so can help guide me through the process a bit, I think.

[goobygirl]

Edit to add $320 for the mountain air air purifier/carbon filter device...

[goobygirl]

Here's a pic of the power grower:

General Hydroponics: GHBB® POWER GROWER ECO® 13 inch X 13 inch X 15 inch [706635] - Hydroponic Systems - Grow Systems - Discount Specialty Farm, Greenhouse & Garden Supply Store - Horticulture Source (http://www.horticulturesource.com/general-hydroponics-ghbb-power-grower-eco-13-x-13-x-15--p1749/?osCsid=5beb3fa12b76589419cf639b2d01582f)

Here's the coco grower:

Coco Grower Complete (http://www.ncwgs.com/gardens_coco_grower_complete.php)

[DrWalter]

Here's a pic of the power grower:

General Hydroponics: GHBB® POWER GROWER ECO® 13 inch X 13 inch X 15 inch [706635] - Hydroponic Systems - Grow Systems - Discount Specialty Farm, Greenhouse & Garden Supply Store - Horticulture Source (http://www.horticulturesource.com/general-hydroponics-ghbb-power-grower-eco-13-x-13-x-15--p1749/?osCsid=5beb3fa12b76589419cf639b2d01582f)

Here's the coco grower:

Coco Grower Complete (http://www.ncwgs.com/gardens_coco_grower_complete.php) funny before all these gadgets folks just lined the walls of a closet with aluminum foil stuck a flood light in there and grew some damn fine MJ leave the light on and veg it out once you get the size you are looking for cut light source back to flowering :thumbsup:

[goobygirl]

DrW: I hear ya...I'm just an ignorant noob. Hey if aluminum foil and flood light works, I'm all for it.

I'm growing for medical reasons and I have other people interested in me growing for them medically. I spent a boatload with the pharma companies last year (and the 9 years before that) and I want to have something that can work for me and be quality a well as consistent. If that's foil and a closet, I'll do it. If it's soil and a bucket and a desk lamp, fine. If it's water in a bucket and a room outfitted like NASA, that's cool too.

By the time I finish sorting out the options I can treat for alzheimer's, lol...

[goobygirl]

Weezard,

Do you mind sharing your grow set up? Should I hunt it down, cuz I can, lol...

I'm looking at Prosource's Pro-series Hybrid 350 and have tried contacting Str8t for info on his LEDs but no success yet.

[Weezard]

Weezard,

Do you mind sharing your grow set up? Should I hunt it down, cuz I can, lol...

I'm looking at Prosource's Pro-series Hybrid 350 and have tried contacting Str8t for info on his LEDs but no success yet.

Be happy to.
For what good it might do.
I'm using Home brew.
But, so could you.
:)

Str8... is using the WEX450, I think.
Oldmac uses Theoremes.
I have a friend here using 2. $160 UFO knock-offs and he's growing decent buds with them.

Click on my avatar and rummage through my albums.
You can see from the pictures how easy it is to build your own.


I also have a DIY thread here.
(Rather, Crunchypants does.)
It's called "Calling out to Weezard for led advice."

And there have been many threads here with leds grows using the newer commercial offerings.


I've been lurking here and kinda waiting to be asked;).
Read your proposal.
Hope you'll forgive my saying that it sounds a bit expensive and complicated to me.

But. I'm a cheap and handy kine guy.
No gotta be foil, cardboard, an' a desklamp, yah?:rastasmoke:

Reflectix, a pvc pipe frame, some cheap 5 gallon buckets and a half decent led lamp will come to well under a kilobuck.
That includes, nutes, water, and seeds also.:)

Aloha for tonight,

Weezard

[weeddaddy50]

as for the buckets...I get used 15 gal from the nursey for $5 each.

the lights and ballasts sound very pricy. The carbon filter...look at the phat brand....got huge 12" X 39" delivered to my door for $250....I have found that you will have to purchase from several suppliers to best pricing....you will always support you local grow shop with all the other stuff...that you are going to need nutrietents....bamboo....spider mite spray...soil.... rock wool cubes....cloning jell....Ph meter....30x microscope...ducting...BW polly....Dust shroom....fans......water system wand...measuring cups...etc....etc...etc...

You will see them alot....I have two shops...I frequent....both are good...both help me....

Do not get in a hurry.....growing will always be there....if you want to start....some plants while still thinking about your grow....go to home depo
buy the 2 tube flors for like $20....get you some clones and tranplant them in 1 gal countainers put them under the flors for up two weeks them transplant them into 3 gal for another 14 days....this will give you time to really map out your grow and your plants will be started....you will then use the flors for your clones when you get that point.

Rember.....it's does not have to be a BMW....a chevy will do just fine...

As far as air intake and exhaust.....intake you air from the floor....exhaust near the ceiling or wall.

It is very easy to get carried away with all the stuff you need....take your time....

[goobygirl]

I'm definitely taking my time. I'm in no hurry, and don't want to overspend either. I like ruminatin' and thinkin' and plannin'. I hate mistakes...I have to accept them, but to avoid them in the first place is great. So, that's why I'm taking my time to plan things out and buy things that work. I think by the end of the month, I'll be ready to start vegging and looking seriously to start putting things together.

Yep, LED is sounding like the way I want to go. Being in a mobile home, it's hard to cool and heat these things anyhow, I'm not going to be happy pumping out a lot of heat and sweating at the same time, lol.

I'm not "legal" to grow until Oct 14th, which is my grandma's birthday. She voted yes on medical marijuana, and she asked me about it when she was doing her absentee ballot. She said (and she was always against marijuana): "Aw, let 'em have it, I'm going to be gone anyhow." She passed away that very day. I think I owe it to her to take a big dose of medicine that day to thank her... :)

Thanks guys, I feel the love...... :)

[DrWalter]

DrW: I hear ya...I'm just an ignorant noob. Hey if aluminum foil and flood light works, I'm all for it.

I'm growing for medical reasons and I have other people interested in me growing for them medically. I spent a boatload with the pharma companies last year (and the 9 years before that) and I want to have something that can work for me and be quality a well as consistent. If that's foil and a closet, I'll do it. If it's soil and a bucket and a desk lamp, fine. If it's water in a bucket and a room outfitted like NASA, that's cool too.

By the time I finish sorting out the options I can treat for alzheimer's, lol...

Yeah I was just messing, I understand a medical grade has to be consistent and on time. That is a big undertaking wish you luck with it :thumbsup:

[Camp4698]

I'm a newbie and have a couple of different options for starting a medical grow in my home. I have a room that is 8.75' x 7.5' (an office in a mobile home). In that room is a 2 X 4 x 7 closet and a 35" x 52" window.

I live in MI and although it's legal for me to grow as a patient, I've been told to pretend it's not, which means I want to fly under the radar as much as possible. Low heat outputs, not obvious, no smells, and keeping the electrical bills down. I only have one close neighbor across the road. Empty mobile to the left, 1/2 acre of empty lots to the right. Apt complex behind me. Seems to me from the smells of the surrounding area, MJ is well tolerated, however (LOL). The town I'm in has one - two police cruisers. Law enforcement seems to be lackadaisical.

Couple of parameters: as a patient I can grow 12 plants AND have 2.5 oz of useable medicine on me at one time. If I decide to be a caregiver for others, I can have 5 patients, 72 plants, 15 oz. Since I'm a newbie I think I might want to stay within personal medical limits (12 plants/2.5 oz) as I'm learning to see if this is something I can do and like. I'm physically disabled, but able to walk, move some things, but not a lot. Hubby has all the construction/electrical wiring skills but I'd rather not make him have to do this as he has plenty to do right now. So someone is going to have to build this, one way or the other, and I'm going to have to pay them most likely. If I had good plans, hubby might consider doing it, but I really would like him to finish our other projects first.

When I was first aware that this could be a viable option for me, a friend told me to set up the whole room with hydro for 12 plants. Since I don't have an extra room, I can't stagger growing really (to my knowledge) unless I can utilize the closet somehow. So I might have to start with buying clones for a while until I can get an area for vegging.

After learning what goes into turning a whole room over to growing, I thought I'd look around for other options, and was kinda thinking of the grow box option (like BC Northern Lights Bloombox or Producer). They are pricey, but I could do it if the situation allowed me to expand for other patients and it was easy to use. I know it's not idiot proof, but it seemed like a good way for me to get my feet wet and still have space in the room to put some of my personal things.

A Bloombox can give you up to a pound for 9 plants, about 4-8 oz of dried medicine for 5 plants. This way I could put a mother and six clones on the veg side and grow 5 plants at a time and stay with in my plant limits and somewhat close to medicine limits (I know, not exactly close, but what's a girl to do?)

I have stealth concerns and wanted low heat output. I've been reading up on LEDs. Not sure what to think of that yet. I don't have air conditioning in the mobile home but could put an AC unit in the one window that's in the potential room. I could even, if it were worth it, put in a central air unit for about $500. If I decide to go central air, it would give me an opportunity to do some creative duct work.

My mobile home got pretty warm here in the summer, so that's a real issue. I was able to make it through some of the warmer days (damn global warming) but it definitely would be too hot in the summer in the grow room without AC.

So I'm looking at a couple of options: 1. Low investment, start with a couple of plants, add decent lighting, ventilation, etc to a closet and see how I like it and see if it's worth it to grow for personal medical limits; 2. Start out with a more aggressive system like full out hydro grow in the room and commit to producing enough for myself and 5 others; . 3. Start out with a Bloombox or Producer growbox and risk be disappointed possibly with the initial cost, yield, results.

I'm also open to eventually going full out and renting a commercial space to grow and incorporating to protect myself (to some degree) as a caregiver. Commerical rent where I live is fairly reasonable. I could even see myself renting a home with a basement or something to keep the grow offsite from my living arrangements. I really don't want LEO charging into my home/personal space, I really, really don't.

However, I think expanding into another space is not really an issue until I get my feet wet, see how I like it, and get a better grip on the current prosecutorial climate in my area. I especially need a better understanding of how easy it is (or not) to provide patients with medical marijuana and to dispose of excess. (DEA is doing nothing really, but some prosecutors/sheriffs in MI are just stoopid, ya know?) My county prosecutor supports medical marijuana, to my knowledge. So as long as I keep my activities in compliance with the law, I should be ok.

MI law is silent right now on the issue of what to do with excess medicine. A sheriff in a county near Detroit has gone stark raving mad and trying to raid people's homes and compassion clubs. Compassion clubs are where private members meet and get educated. The best clubs don't allow people to smoke on premises or to dispose of excess of premises. I've been told my county club is good, but I'm not able to visit until my registration card/proof of processing is in my hands. (I know that my money order was cashed, but I won't be legal to grow or use medicine until Oct 14).

While I don't live in that crazy county, I was told by a well-known cannabis lawyer to stay low key until things shake out and pretend it's illegal. I think that sucks, to have to act like you're a criminal when you're not. :(

I'm open to suggestions. Assume I have $5k to do a start up and within the current space constraints, what would you do and why? If I had $10k, what would you do and why?

If I invest $5k and it doesn't work out, I will be unhappy. However, I have lots of support from others who are encouraging me to "go for it" and can provide me with "seed money." (LOL)

One hydroponics store owner wanted to sell me the whole grow room scenario for about $4k. He would charge more to set the room up for me (probably $300 or so?) and more for clones. Clones about 6 inches high seem to be going for $20 each which seemed alot from what I was told they go for in CO ($3-$5 for 6 inch clones, $15-$20 for 10 inches, is what I heard).

To me, the cautious thing to do would be to grow in the closet and see how I like it. Not too much money to invest and if I don't like it or can't get the hang of it, I'm not out too much dough. However, I don't know if that type of growing would be enough to show me what is involved or give me the full flavor of growing.

I think I would really enjoy growing for medical patients, but it's hard to say when I haven't ever done it before. I think there are plenty of educational, financial, and personal rewards for having patients and providing quality medicine to them.

So, I'm open to ideas. Feel free to comment.

Thanks!

Goobygirl

If you have the chance, research the Phoenix tears project. This is how I was introduced to the program. We started small, worked out all the bugs & now provide a scalable turn key solution. Think Big, because the industry is big.
Natures Medicine Grand Junction Colorado -About Medical Marijuana (http://www.naturesmedicinegrandjunction.com/contact.htm)
Feel free to call me. 570.269.0902 Bill

[zippy4204u]

Sounds like you're getting plenty of good advice, none better than the Chevy vs BMW, certain items need to be top quality others not so much. I'm also here in Mi, a caregiver & happy to help guide you through the set up process, however, this typing thing...not my specialty :]
Cheers
Rich
248-459-2396