Seem like a lot to just see a weed farm? Well the amount of effort it takes to reach the property is quickly eclipsed by the amount necessary to craft what comes out of it. This small artisanal site, sitting at just 9,000 sqft, provides the sort of memorable flower you’ll snap photos of and seek out again and again. Which is the exact sort of exclusive and unique experience Coastal Farms is trying to cultivate. Light beer, cheap wine and middle of the road cannabis have their place, but Coastal is aiming to be the type of top-tier, niche brand that sells out without ever being a sellout. The type of diamond in the rough putting out gems of its own that this industry can't afford to lose. And while they’ve traditionally sold in bulk and didn’t have a direct method of getting their flower to you, Union Electric has you covered in the form of their premium, indoor quality ounces at outdoor prices.

“Coastal Farms is the type of diamond in the rough putting out gems of its own that this industry can't afford to lose.”

Before we get into Coastal’s current state and what they plan to accomplish in the future, let's take a step back and look at how they got here. Jason’s a third generation farmer in Watsonville who started on and still owns acres of prime land producing strawberries. While growing cannabis wasn’t exactly on his roadmap, the second it hit his radar he knew there was no going back. One of his best buddies, and the current owner of the land Coastal sits on, reached out and asked what he thought about starting a grow in the long dormant greenhouses sitting in a nearly forgotten corner of the property. As with every proposal Jason’s encountered from then until now, he thought about it in depth and built his network before he broke ground, and once he got going he hasn’t let up.

This may all sound too good to be true, but it should be noted that this didn’t just fall into their laps. It took years of planning and rolling with the punches. The owners, Jason and JT, didn't merely discover this perfect site, plant a flag and call it their own, they developed it from square one. They built, nourished and grew it through persistent hard work and partnerships that paved the way to where they are today.

Taking over the site meant taking on two greenhouses from the seventies that needed more than a face lift. The bones were solid, but everything had to be gutted, cleaned and brought into the 21st century. After years of disuse and failed attempts at growing blueberries, the greenhouses had fallen into a level of disrepair that couldn’t be fixed by elbow grease alone. And thankfully, unlike many other brands who are ready to just get growing and get their product out, they didn’t simply stop at making it operational. They optimized every aspect to ensure they’ll be compliant and ahead of the curve for years to come.

“Be it humidity levels, a watering schedule or light cycles, everything is dialed in and automated.”

From rolling tables and roll-up walls to glass ceilings, dehumidifiers and wall-to-wall lighting, they now have it all. Be it humidity levels, a watering schedule or light cycles, everything is dialed in and automated. But the road to where they are today, much like the one leading to their site, was a bumpy one. Everything was done in phases, and each stage of production was years in the making. Their story is a sobering reminder that you can do everything right from day one and still face adversity.

Cleaning out the greenhouses and taking them to the level of quality necessary for cultivating cannabis is one thing, getting the county to provide things like permits and power is another. They were using diesel generators to power the site as they waited for the utility company to install a main line, and they’ve recently had to undergo a massive renovation project to fix a landslide that was affecting drainage into a nearby watershed. At one point, the Fish and Wildlife Board almost shut them down, but their dedication is unwavering and they won’t be deterred. Be it battling through red tape or retrofitting, it’s been a journey to say the least, but they’re nearly at the end. Before we know it they’ll be turning heads and putting to bed the notion that the best cannabis is grown solely indoors.

As we know, fully indoor operations have long been considered the gold standard for growing the greatest strains, but mixed-light facilities have started to regularly put out premium product that’s vaulted them clear into the top tier. California, with its wide geographical range spanning from essentially the Pacific Northwest to Mexico, has countless microclimates, with some being the most conducive to cannabis cultivation in the world. Being in Watsonville, their greenhouses benefit from a near-perfect mix of a coastal breeze, abundant sunshine and moderate temperatures. By harnessing the natural power of the surrounding area, they don’t only make killer weed, they have the ability to do it sustainably and consistently with unique results, all year long. And once they get their solar up and running, they’ll be doing it off the grid.

All of these factors help Coastal to be viewed the way they wish to be, as an elite grower. Everything they do reflects that, and their flower speaks for itself in a rather loud way. They aren’t Barefoot wine, they’re Premier Cru Red Burgundy. By combining every top-of-the-line technology indoor operators use with the natural elements of the area, they’re able to allow the terroir to affect their grow. It gives every harvest a unique factor that can’t even be replicated a half mile away. Each plant and every bud offers a truly ephemeral experience.

As partnerships began to fall into place and the facility inched closer to perfection, it was time to bring in a sort of ganja genius to ensure the plants followed suit, and every harvest continued to go according to plan. Enter Ivan, and while he hasn’t been with Coastal long, his dedication is already starting to pay dividends. He has nearly twenty years experience excelling at every level in the cannabis industry, working his way up the ladder at some of California's biggest operations. By going from a large-scale grow where things often fall through the cracks and corners are cut, to the craft cannabis setup he has today, he can truly implement his knowledge and care in an impactful way. If he loses a single plant from a harvest, he takes it to heart.

Between overseeing construction projects, like the one currently underway to fix their ridge vents that help with humidity control, to going with Jason to Wave Rider weekly to map out their next strains, he’s involved every step of the way from seed to sale. Ivan joining Coastal Farms is the equivalent of a AAA baseball team hiring the manager of the Yankees. He's instilled a culture of excellence and sets a high bar that’s expected to be met every time. He’s a busy dude, and whether he’s choosing the right strains to excel in their greenhouse or dealing with state regulators to maintain compliance, there's never a down day.

“Ivan joining Coastal Farms is the equivalent of a AAA baseball team hiring the manager of the Yankees.”

Under his command, things have gone from pretty damn good to truly great. Their efficiency is at an all time high, allowing them to turn the facility nearly six times in a year with a total of only five employees. If they’re breaking the room down on a Thursday, they know they can have it up and running, full of hand selected clones from Wave Rider, by early the following week. For years they struggled with inconsistencies from their clone partners. Be it late deliveries or subpar quality, they'd seen it all, until Ivan and Wave Rider made everything seamless.

While operating a small grow site in a tucked away area of Watsonville may seem isolated, it’s anything but. There’s an interconnected community of cannasseurs at every step of the process that have each other's backs. It isn't a collective on par with Humboldt, but it’s growing steadily, and growing some fire flower at the same time. 

Speaking of, as Sydney, our photographer, and I walked through rows and rows of plants with sugar leaves and scents that left us spellbound, we learned that both rooms were at the time filled with Chocolatina. An indica leaning hybrid whose buds packed in 31.69% THC. A winning strain from Wave Rider, this particular cultivar thrives in Coastal’s setup. As we’ve pointed out before in this farm-focused series, going at it alone is a dangerous route that often leads to poor results. By doubling down on what your company does best and focusing your efforts on what you know, you give the entire supply chain a chance to excel, and the community the best possible product.

“That’s why such relationships need to be celebrated to make sure craft cannabis, like Coastal’s, isn’t wiped out by the likes of Big Pharma.”

That’s why such relationships need to be celebrated to make sure craft cannabis, like Coastal’s, isn’t wiped out by the likes of Big Pharma. Partnerships like the one formed between Union Electric, Coastal Farms and Wave Rider is how we find diamonds in an industry largely running on coal. Without these three connecting, consumers may have never had a direct connection to these premier selections.

This is something that Ivan knows all too well, and why they live and die by these symbiotic relationships. Wave Rider’s unequaled genetics give Coastal the ability to put out killer flower, but Coastal’s facilities also give Wave Rider’s clones the ideal setting to shine, and both benefit from Union Electric providing brand presence. Not one of these companies could accomplish all of this alone, and it's through these thoughtful collaborations that the caring culture of cannabis can continue. Jason wants Coastal to be known around the Bay Area for flower that can go toe to toe with the best of the best. By always going the extra mile and partnering up with brands like Wave Rider and Union Electric, they’ll realize that dream soon enough, and we’ll relish in the results for years to come.