By Alika Kai
"Having no real story to tell, no connection to the land, corporate cannabis lacks the energy and love that transcends into the magically unquantifiable curative properties that embodies cannabis. It is the laughter from the children playing hide and go seek between rows that cannot be replicated by big business." - Phil Spinelli
We recently reached out to Phil Spinelli, founder, farmer, chemist, mechanic, contractor, and most importantly Papa at Nightshade Farms for some insight on farming and the industry. This certified organic family run farm in upstate New York is doing big things and can offer some great information for up and comers, especially those with a flock of their own.
Tell us a little bit about what makes your farm special: location, acres, processes, etc. Had you worked with cannabis or as a farmer prior?
We are a 41 acre USDA Certified Organic farm located in Albany County, NY. We are also a 21 CFR Part 111 Dietary Supplement Manufacturing Facility and a NYSDOH Hemp Cannabinoid Processor. My partner, Kristine and I own & operate the farm with our three young children, Philip, Silas & Luna. From sowing to transplanting to harvesting, we do it all as a family. We began growing Certified Organic Vegetables for the wholesale market in 2015 and in 2017 we partnered with NYSDAM as a hemp research partner. I was born and raised in Woodstock, NY and was inherently exposed to a holistic lifestyle. Perhaps farming and working with cannabis is the culmination of my upbringing.
What does your farm produce? (top flower, extract, other crops, etc.) Do you have any products?
We produce beautiful certified organic flower, biomass and full spectrum extracts using the finest, most reliable genetics, thanks to the folks at Oregon CBD.
What is your favorite aspect of family farming? Who participates?
My favorite aspect of farming with a young family is the innate abilities of our children. The way they naturally can scout pests, perfectly transplant a seedling and identify different phenotypes and terpenes, leaves us forever awestruck by the abilities of our littles. From age 3- 38 everyone helps in some form or fashion on the farm. Even if it is just being patient so Mama and Papa can get it done.
Any fun stories of struggles you’ve overcome on the farm?
Farming is full of stories, struggles, smiles and cries and for us, countless lollipop breaks. From killing frost to damaging winds, we have seen a bit of everything in the past six years but Mother Nature is forever kind, giving and nurturing. She just likes to keep us on our toes from time to time.
Do you have any advice for anyone entering the industry? Where do you think the industry is headed?
My advice would be to recognize that this is an industry that is dominated by corporations with significant financial backing. Thankfully for we craft producers, our secret sauce is the genuine artisanal element that can only come from small batch vertically integrated producers. The craft products grown and manufactured with meticulous detail by family farms on pristine land is a hard act to follow. From a marketing perspective the small farm vibe is as valuable as gold and highly sought after.
Having no real story to tell, no connection to the land, corporate cannabis lacks the energy and love that transcends into the magically unquantifiable curative properties that embodies cannabis. It is the laughter from the children playing hide and go seek between rows that cannot be replicated by big business. All people have a place at the table and I believe there is common ground where we all can share in the bounty. So, know your worth and value it accordingly. We believe the future of cannabis is in vertically integrated small family farms that create a diversified cornucopia of unique certified organic craft cannabis products. We believe that consumers are extremely educated, conscious and demand a connection to the true source of all that is going in and on their bodies. People naturally want to source their goods responsibly and they deserve the safest and finest quality products available.
And finally, if there are any people that you’d like to recognize from your farm or the industry in general that have helped get the company to where it is now?
We have been blessed with so many gifts from so many beautiful people including folks like Mel, Eric & Seth at Oregon CBD. Thank you guys for treating our minimum order as if it was a top priority and answering all of our technical questions along the way. We also want to give a shout out to Andrew Roberts & Sunflower Natural Foods in Woodstock, NY.
Check out their website here or follow them on instagram @nightshadefarm.
