“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet” ~William Shakespeare 

Nestled among the redwoods of Southern Humboldt County, California - between Briceland and Whitethorn, lies a small, quaint farm. Johnny Casali and Rose Moberly of Huckleberry Hill Farms, known for producing some of the finest craft cannabis California has to offer, tend to vegetables, fruit trees, sheep, and several craft cannabis cultivars including the Whitethorn Rose.

The farm is the first in the state of California to be certified Fish Friendly by the California Land Institute, and they are also Sun+Earth Certified. Casali and Moberly tend to the pristine grounds with love and care, paying close attention to seemingly small details, such as flowers planted alongside every plant, and geodes discovered by visitors lining pathways. With the goal of leaving as small of a footprint on Earth as possible behind, they ensure sediment stays out of the rainwater catchment ponds, and use water collected from melted snow during the winter to water their gardens.

When Casali moved to the farm with his mom and stepdad back in 1976, farming was a way of life. In order to make a living, his parents had to supplement their income with other trades, including fishing and growing cannabis. Over the years, the cultivation of cannabis grew as they added more plants to their gardens among the grape vines and tomatoes. When Johnny was just 15 years old he purchased an 11-acre plot of land with the help of his mother. The two competed over who grew the best cannabis, sharing information about their best tips and tricks with other farmers whenever they needed help. 

However, life was not always so relaxed on the small family farm. In the 1980’s Ronald Reagan declared the War on Drugs, and the Campaign Against Marijuana Program (CAMP) began sending law enforcement in helicopters to bust cannabis growers in the area. Johnny’s parents decided fishing was a much safer way to make a living and left Johnny to tend to the farm. Although he tried being as careful as possible, growing under trees, Johnny was greeted by Federal agents early one morning. They searched his property and home for hours, but instead of being arrested, he was given a ticket. A year later, he was arrested and a bail of $275,000 was given. His mom put the house up for sale along with everything she owned to bail him out. 

For the next 3 years, Johnny and his best friend trekked to the federal courthouse in San Francisco to plead their case. Not thinking they had done anything wrong, Johnny felt certain that if they told the judge the truth, they would be given probation as a first time offender. The judge felt compelled to sentence them to the federal minimum of 10 years in prison with 5 years probation. Johnny served 8 of those years, and when he was released he headed back to what was left of his home. Although he didn’t have anything left, people in the town showed up with plates, furnishings, and clothing to help Johnny get back on his feet. 

Casali’s mom had developed a cultivar with his friend’s mom called Fruit Loops and renamed it Paradise Punch. Miraculously, a close friend had preserved a male plant and gifted this plant back to Johnny when he was released from prison. The day after Johnny got off probation, he got his medical card, which allowed him to grow up to 6 plants legally. From there, Johnny began growing his beloved plants again. He fell in love with cultivation once more, using his knowledge from spending time in the garden with his mom. Now, he breeds all of his cultivars using a variation of Paradise Punch, including the memory of his mom, Marlene, and her knowledge into each strain they create.

Appearance

Rich green and deep purple hues accented with dark orange pistils, this bud structure is loose and fluffy. The trim is not overly done, and you can tell that someone took time to make sure none of the leaves were nicked in the process. There is an abundance of trichomes because of this attentiveness, and upon close examination with a magnifying lens or loupe, the buds glisten with a crystal-like appearance.

Aroma

Genetically speaking, the Whitethorn Rose is a cross between Lemon OG x Paradise Punch (aka Fruit Loops). If you want to dive into the lineage further, Lemon OG is a cross of OG #18 x Las Vegas Lemon Skunk, and Paradise Punch is a cross between Blackberry Kush x Lavender Berry. Wow, do those smells come through in the finished product! There is an intense aroma of fruit punch smell with an almost rotten earthy funk at the end. The funk fruit gives way to a creamy berry fragrance, with a hint of limonene and lavender. This is way more complex and layered than a lot of other cultivars I have tried.

Flavor

For the record, I have smoked this cultivar many different ways, in many different forms. The very first time I tried it, I was spoiled by experiencing it in flower plus hash form, in what I call a homogenous hash joint. With the flavorful flower combining along with the terpene rich hash, I was treated to a taste bud explosion that has not ever been matched. The flower by itself is a full bodied smoke, with many complex layers. Smooth and creamy, fruity and earthy, the Whitethorn Rose is delicious in either flower or hash form, and combined in a hash joint is the ultimate flavor combination.

Experience

After consuming this cultivar several different ways, and at various times of day, I can truly say that the experience can vary slightly. There is an uplifting effect that trails off to a relaxed feeling. When I consumed this earlier in the day, I found it gave me energy and focus without feeling jittery. Alternatively, I have smoked this in the late evening and the relaxed feeling at the end helped me drift off to sleep. Perfect hybrid-like effects for any occasion, the Whitethorn Rose is surely enjoyable down to the last puff.

@huckleberryhillfarms is welcoming tours this summer - contact Johnleecasali@gmail.com for more information.