Quote Originally Posted by galt
In the late 1990's, there was no facebook. There was no web forum software like vBulletin. There was barely a web and Netscape made the number one browser. But there was usenet. It was almost an email protocol, but not quite. There were redundant servers and anything posted to one server would propagate thruout the world over a few hours time. There was no such thing as encrypted web. And email security was a big concern. So we learned to use pgp encryption, and used anonymizers to email comments into one of the usenet servers, who would then decrypt it and post it. There were two groups. alt.drugs.pot.cultivation and alt.drugs.pot.cultivation.hydroponics No sub-groups, just threads.

We named SOG and refined it. We invented SCROG. LST was just bending. Hybrids were new, and feminized seed was only an idea a few people were tinkering with. Autoflowering was accidental and annoying. Ordering seeds was shaky, and new seedbanks ripped off lots of people. But usenet friends would sometimes mail you a seeded bud or two, so you could try it out, and then grow it out if you liked it. Domestic mail was still safe to use. It was a small community, you knew who was smart. We had few posers, and less fake experts. We had a community-authored FAQ for new members.
Hate to burst your bubble, but SOG was all over High Times mag since the early 80's: So was SCROG, it just didn't have a name yet. We used rusted chicken & turkey wire (because this was for camo, new silvery stuff stuck out like a sore thumb) & kept everything low to the ground because the po po was looking for tall lanky sativas (& it made it easier to cover those slower sativas to shade for forcing 12/12, & for frost protection on frosty nights in cooler climates. FEMINIZED was discovered by accident, but auto-flower is the result of experimenting with ruderalis crosses begining mid to late 70's. Lived through it, grew through it, know it for a fact. These were underground things, not popularised untill later, but those of us of the underground, hippies, started this stuff before it became common knowledge. Most of the geeks & nerds of the 60's & 70's were hippies. Go figure.....
catbuds Reviewed by catbuds on . How did everybody FIRST learn to grow? ...we're talking first successful grow?...what was your source of information...enough to give you the confidence...to try it!... just curious... ...me?... complete growguide from a seedbank in Holland...that I read over and over...until I could see myself doing it....then FAQ's from Overgrow...Zandor finished the cure...thanks Zandor (we will serve No wine..Before it's time).....:thumbsup: ...I nailed it...:rastabanna: Rating: 5