A Brief Holiday Message from Cumin and Rev

The Circle Presents: All I Want for Christmas is a Stable Environment

Get into the holiday spirit with The Circle as our ever-chippy host, Reverend Pirate Frog, is joined by Howlingbuds, Stoney Alpinist, and tootall for the final episode of the year

. This official holiday special dives deep into the "grow talk" you love, mixed with plenty of festive cheer and the usual family-style roasting. 

This episode’s highlights include:

• The Cannabis Hand Grenade: Stoney Alpinist breaks down the secrets behind his incredible kokedama-style cannabonsai—a "coconut grenade" made of moss and soil that he’s successfully kept thriving with daily care and potent nutrient "potions".  He shares the technical details of the build, from using spagnum moss and butcher's twine to the "sub-sipping" technique that keeps the ball hydrated,,

• Grow Room Disasters: tootall shares his latest "manual labor" saga, involving a broken pipe cutter and a showerhead project that turned into an angle-grinder rescue mission

• Cannabis Etiquette: The hosts tackle the social stigma of "the smell," discussing a real-world scenario of hot-boxing a car before a school meeting and where personal freedom meets public respect

• The Grower's Naughty List: From messy dosing carts to leaving "fallen soldiers" (fan leaves) on the tent floor, the hosts confess the suboptimal habits that would land them on Santa's naughty list

• Holiday Favorites: Discover the hosts’ favorite Christmas movies—ranging from Die Hard to the Muppet-style classic Emmett Otter’s Jug Band Christmas—and their top holiday tracks, including James Brown’s Soulful Christmas and Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Whether you're looking for tips on long-flowering hazes, the latest on cannabis rescheduling, or just some holiday puns to get you through the season, this episode has it all

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Analogy for the Kokedama: Think of Stoney’s kokedama like a high-maintenance greenhouse-in-a-ball; instead of a pot providing a safety net, the plant relies entirely on the moisture-wicking moss and the grower’s daily "pulse check" to survive

In this episode, we welcome Nik from Rooted Leaf to the Circle to discuss a revolutionary approach to feeding cannabis that is perfect for the homegrower focusing on natural and regenerative inputs.

Nik breaks down the science behind carbon-based fertilization and how it is changing the game for increasing potency and yield!
Key Highlights You Won't Want to Miss:

• Carbon as a Macronutrient: Learn why Rooted Leaf treats carbon as the most important macronutrient. Since cannabinoids and terpenes are 80-90% carbon by weight, Nik explains how feeding carbon directly into plant pathways significantly boosts the production of these active metabolites.

• Fertilizer that Feeds Your Soil: Rooted Leaf products are designed to work harmoniously with regenerative and living soil systems. We clarify the common confusion: despite regulatory labeling, their products are not bagged mineral salts. Instead, they are organic complexes manufactured from scratch using fermentation chemistry (e.g., calcium chelate from fermented orange peels), which contributes to and feeds the soil biology.

• Small Pots, Massive Results: Hear directly from Howling who has pulled almost an ounce from a solo cup using Rooted Leaf products, demonstrating how effective this modular product line is even for small pot organics.

.• The Gateway Product for Natural Growers: Even if you're running a well-amended living soil, Nik has recommendations for how to incorporate some of the products for immediate results.

• Saving Energy, Boosting Potency: Discover the unique thermodynamic perspective on feeding plants. By providing plants with compounds they would normally have to spend energy making (like a "half-built cell wall"), Rooted Leaf allows them to redirect that saved energy into producing high-energy molecules—cannabinoids and terpenes.

• Natural "Sunscreen" for Your Plants: Nik details how plant extracts rich in anthocyanins (found in their products) can be used as a foliar spray to interact directly with excess light energy, acting like a protective sunscreen. This reduces oxidative stress, allowing home growers to utilize higher light intensities indoors.

• DIY Homebrew Tip: Nik shares his recommended entry-level beneficial input that any homegrower can easily make.
Tune in to get smarter about feeding your plants and elevate your next homegrow!

BGG joins us to discuss his new drop
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Too Tall joins us on this episode of The Circle

Johnny and Rev revisit YAG's 3rd birthday party in Chicago, We talk about Johnny's new tent set up and eventual release of another round of Rev's penny pinch
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Unleash the Secrets of Living Soil with Luna Whitcomb! 

Get ready to dive deep into the groundbreaking world of terroir, organic cultivation, soil food web, and growing stinky plants in big ass pots with our guest, Luna Whitcomb, on this episode of The Circle!

Luna reveals how every element – from soil composition, light spectrum, and water quality to microbial biodiversity – profoundly influences the genetic expression and aromatic profile of your plants.

In this must-listen episode, you'll discover:

• The Science of Terroir: Understand how location, environment, and precise soil building can create truly unique and expressive cannabis.

• Boosting Genetic Potential: Learn how to leverage precursors, co-factors, and beneficial biology to amplify desired aromas and characteristics in your plants, even discussing specific methods to enhance traits like a "blueberry type terp" expression.

• Beyond the Basics: Advanced Inputs & Teas: Explore Luna's innovative use of prebiotic-rich beets for fostering diverse biology, the power of malted barley and sprouted seed teas for enzyme activity, and how to "stage cycle" your compost teas to tailor bacterial and protozoa populations for rapid nutrient cycling.

• The Power of Companion Plants: Hear how integrating plants like alyssum and even aromatic jasmine can naturally enhance growth rates through phytohormones (like methyl jasmonate) and potentially influence terpene communication in your grow space.

Luna candidly shares her journey, from her early hydroponic days to becoming a living soil consultant, emphasizing foundational knowledge like soil mineral balancing theory to avoid common pitfalls (like her infamous "dissolved roots" incident!).

This episode is packed with invaluable insights for both beginners and experienced growers looking to "nerd out" and elevate their craft. Whether you're curious about maximizing genetic expression or simplifying your approach to organic gardening, Luna's passion and practical expertise will change the way you think about growing.
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Our friend GanjaLlama joins us
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We’re thrilled to fulfill Howling’s goal and be able to have Jinxproof join us on a special edition of the The Circle. Sit with us as Johnny, Rev, Stoney, and Howling learn more about the man behind creations like 9lb hammer but just as importantly we dive into his positive outlook, glassblowing, dog showing, and more. We learn about the meaning behind the strain named Shangrila (hint: it relates to Pearl Jam), the massive collection of dunny’s, and the impact a positive mindset can have on your grow and with others. Sit down, grab a 9lb hammer, and let’s smash through this episode together.
Check out Jinxproof at https://jinxproofsdankbank.net/Folloq the B+ man himself https://www.instagram.com/_jinxproof2.0/#
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Welcome to another episode of The Circle with hosts Reverend Pirate Frog, Johnny Apple, Stoney Alpinist, and Howlingbuds. 
We have one of our favorite guests and sponsor, Alebrije. Join the circle of friends as we talk about the upcoming Chicago popup, the vandal hoodie presale, upcoming collaboration with our favorite hot sauce maker Sam Sa’House,  and the stable lineage of Tangy Tibuguana.
Also, get your small pots and creative ideas ready, as we talk about the upcoming 4th annual Bonsai grow along starting in September

The last of the DND group joins us finally, Growmie talks his breeding project and his in ability to fully embrace any one growing style
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This week on The Circle, the gang is back together as Stony makes his highly anticipated return after a six-and-a-half-month sabbatical (well, not that long but it sure felt like it), much to the delight of the hosts who clearly missed him dearly.Welcome back to an episode of The Circle with hosts Johnny Apple, Reverend Pirate Frog, Stoney Alpinist, and Howlingbuds.  The episode quickly dives into some fascinating gardening discussions:• **The Mystery of the Loofah**: Johnny shares his unique experience growing loofah plants, revealing that the leaves, when rubbed, incredibly smell just like ballpark nacho cheese!. He also explains that young loofah is an edible summer squash• **Sunflower Surprises**: They explore the intricate nature of sunflowers, discussing how what appears to be a single flower is actually many tiny individual flowers, and share tips for growing massive plants. Johnny also boasts about his outdoor auto-flowers thriving in upstate New York, despite the challenging, humid fall conditionsPerennial Powerhouses for Your Garden: A significant segment is dedicated to beneficial perennial plants as inputs into garden:* **Comfrey** is highlighted as a "bioaccumulator" with deep roots that bring essential nutrients to the soil. Beyond garden benefits, it's incredibly useful for humans in salves for tissue regeneration, wound healing, arthritis, and has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. A word of caution: comfrey roots are toxic to dogs, and proper dosage for kids should be researched* **Horsetail** is introduced as a natural source of plant-available silica, ideal for shady, moist areas, and can be brewed into a tea for plant healthFinally, get ready to meet everyone! They announce details for Alebrije’s upcoming popup event in Chicago, including a YAG barbecue at Stoney's house on Friday night and a potential after-party at Howling's place on Saturday. They encourage listeners to reach out via email or Discord if they're coming to join the inclusive gathering.You can find more from Your Average Grow (YAG) at:Discord: https://discord.com/invite/AfapacH8RjYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@youraveragegrow

Ganic and Judas join Rev to start things off after a minor inconvenience saw our RSS feed deleted and all past episodes deleted.

Upwards and onwards

Don't be a dick,

Mind your own business

and Go with Frog

"Welcome to another episode of Your Average Grow with co-hosts Johnny Apple and The Reverend Pirate Frog. In this episode we touch on why you shouldn’t put up with a duck bully, or frog bully for that matter, as well as how to have a thriving worm population in your garden beds, managing multiple worm bins, Johny’s conversion to the autoflower side, and managing challenges with indoor and outdoor cultivation like humidity. We also touch upon the desire for safe, tested medicine and frustrations with the gray market as well as how “apothecary b******t” is indeed not b******t.Tune in to join a semi-coherent conversation about making the most of your grow, your wallet, and your life. Because, as we often say, cannabis is an "absolute gateway drug" – not in the way you've been told, but in the way that "once you grow it, you'll start growing a bunch of shit you never thought you'd grow"always consider the source

Ducks, Dabs, and Questionable Decisions This week on The Circle, we mourn not having Stoney on and recap Freedumb Fest 2025—where the weed was fire, the ducks were fertilizing, and someone definitely dressed like Uncle Sam on acid. Plus, reviews on the Night Owl Hippie Slayer x Durban Poison photoperiod cross that'll slap you behind the eyes and glue you to the couch.Also: humidity struggles, moldy basements, and a heartwarming shoutout to the friend we all miss (Stoney ). Grow nerds, here's your hit:- Why ducks and duck pond water might be the ultimate closed loop for your garden- One guy dumped a plant in literal duck poop water—and the plant loved it- Chaos garden update: 20 seeds in, 4 survived, and one grew taller than the grower- Can autoflowers be terp monsters? Spoiler: yes- Tangy plants pollinated themselves during a neglect session. Nature finds a way. 

Don't Flinch, It's Time to Penny Pinch! The Bare Minimum Grow: Soil, Sensors & Savvy HarvestsAlongside @reverend_pirate_frog, circle cohosts @howlingbuds and @stoney_alpinist, fill the gap @johnny__apple__ left behind for a special edition of YAG to present a multi-part series focused on achieving a cannabis grow "as cheap as possible" for cheapskates like Rev.We focus on bare essentials, soil and moisture management, and what investments you should make now or later on once you have your first win.The episode dives into the core challenge: establishing a bare minimum setup for a first-time photo or auto grow, starting from scratch, with a rough cash value.  For once, Howling Tech is the cheaper option!

We appreciate you listening to this chaos! Come keep us company!

Come sit back with The Circle as we talk about our gardening adventures, from new beds to upcycling soil, then dive deep into grow light technology, debating efficacy and the wild world of under-canopy lighting.Plus, Johnny gives us a hilarious (and male-heavy!) update on his outdoor autoflower journey.  It’s good for a few quacks.We also fire up the ovens for a sizzling discussion on pizza making (wood-fired vs. gas!) and reveal our ultimate favorite BBQ items, complete with expert tips for perfect pies and beanDon’t miss our personal garden updates on various strains from Mass Medical, Sin City, Alebrije, Night owl, and more. Discord: https://discord.com/invite/AfapacH8Rj Spotify Show: https://open.spotify.com/show/4TH1tL5Bh0AsdT3ToyAiqG YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@youraveragegrow

The Circle circles back and catches up

Johnny couldn't make it so Rev called a Ginger SummitThanks to Flamm for joining us

Cumin or cumin you decide Consider the source alwaysWe appreciate you listening to this chaos! Come keep us company!

Our buddy Ganic joins us to talk closing the loop

Uncle Bob Joins usConsider the source always

Join your co-hosts Reverend Pirate Frog, Stoney Alpinist, Howlingbuds, and Tootall as they dive into the chaos of life, garden updates, and highly debated appetizer choices!

In this episode: 

Incredible Grows & Challenging Feats: Howlingbuds shares updates on his impressive small pot organic grow, featuring the towering Tangy Fox Toe beast and the "sexiest plant" he's ever grown, the short and squat Moon Diamonds.

Hear about his battles with high room temps and his unique method of using ceramic reptile heaters. Plus, Howling details his plans for preserving beautiful purple leaves and even buds using silica crystals for future epoxy projects. 

Cannabonsai, Cal/Mag & Soil Struggles: Stoney Alpinist discusses his unique entry into the Alebrije Cannabonsai competition—a living soil sphere known as a kokedama.

Stoney also gets candid about the difficulties of running his current soil for a third round, battling Cal/Mag lockouts and nutrient depletion caused by inconsistent water quality, prompting a crucial discussion on water management (RO vs. softened water). 

Personal Updates & Future Plans: Rev shares a bittersweet personal story about the loss of his long-time companion and the chaotic adoption of a new, skittish "cowboy corgi" puppy who immediately ran away, prompting a thoughtful gift from Howling.

Rev also outlines his exciting upcoming photo projects, including the long-flowering Violet Haze and Drippy Eye. Meanwhile, Tootall is in reset mode and gearing up to grow the highly anticipated Blueberry Sauce strain, alongside planning a major grow room build-out. 

The Ultimate Appetizer Debate: Stick around as the crew decides what the must-have dishes are at a specialty appetizer restaurant, debating crispy fried wings, fried pickles, crab rangoons, and savory conch fritters!

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Our Deer friend Alebrije ( see what we did there ) joins us before setting off on his world tour with only one stop....

Too Tall Joins us to bully RevConsider the source always

Captain Autoflower joins The Circle

Humminbird finally joins ushttps://humminbirdhills.com/Consider the source always

Daz from NightOwl Seeds joins The Circle

'Flamm joins us

GreenVelvetFarms joins us!Consider the source always

Your Average Grow would like to thank you! Yes you, We appreciate you listening to this chaos!Come keep us company!Follow the show on IG https://instagram.com/youraveragegrow?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Johnny and Rev talk about thingsConsider the source always

YAG's Official artist Charles Budkowski joins us to reflect on the poor choices that led to that title. Johnny isn't here this week so we apologize for Rev, Johhny is truly the better half of Frapple

Welcome to Your Average Grow (YAG): Chapter Two!

The community is central to YAG—as Howling mentioned, you guys are YAG, we're just a part of it".

Following the unexpected departure of co-host Johnny, Rev along with Stoney Alpinist and Howlingbuds are joined by their friends TooTall and Phive.

Chapter Two sees YAG evolve into a new, community-focused format.

Rev has decided not to replace Johnny with another permanent co-host, he won't force something that can't be forced. Instead, the main show will transition to a rotating host of several different people within the community. This new structure is designed to highlight the community's curiosity and knowledge. Guests will co-host episodes dedicated to topics they are passionate about or where they can chat with specific people, allowing the community to ask questions they so badly want answered. While the show is moving forward with one main host (instead of two "jackass idiots"), the tone remains candid, though Rev jokes there will be less “f***s”.Bottom line, we ain't going anywhere. Welcome to this new chapter, we’re glad you’re here.

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R.I.P Captain America, my co-pilot, shadow and best friend

We are stoked to be joined by Tad Hussey from KiS Organics Check out their site https://www.kisorganics.com/and his podcast Cannabis Cultivation & Science

Mr. Judas joins usConsider the source always

Sam Sa'house and Alebrije Genetics joins ushttps://www.samsahouse.com/

Happy Burns night or however you're supposed to say it!A Huge thanks to Flam for everything!!go check out his stuff https://www.albaautomatics.com/Grateful Nerd joins us to talk all kinds of nonsense Go check them out https://www.youtube.com/@TheGratefulNerdGrows

Just two dudes being dudes talking dude stuffConsider the source alwaysWe appreciate you listening to this chaos! Come keep us company!

Happy New Year

Just the two of us...........Consider the source always

Grow N The Mitten joins us on this circle

Another DND heavy episode with our buddy Dinosaurr

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It is with great sadness YAG must inform you that Johnny Apple has decided to move on to other things. The quality of the audio in this episode isn't the best, but it is Johnny's last so it needed to be heard.

Dude lost his mind

The one the only Alebrije Genetics joins us for the Thanksgiving episode, finally!Check out the site for his upcoming drop https://www.alebrijegenetics.com/

Our buddy Grow GanicNC joins us to cluck about chickens and growing towards a homesteadConsider the source always

We surprised Howling with our favorite Scot as Flamm joins us on this episode of the Circle, with Stoneys absence we forse him to leadCongratulations Mr and Mrs Johnny AppleWe love you two

Johnny bitched and moaned about lack of photoperiod talk so we brought in our friend The Terp Therapist to help Johnny cure what ails him.