Dear Trimmers

Trimmer

Photo of a trimmer looking for work in Redway in 2008. [Taken with his permission by Kym Kemp]

In Nevada County, a man, Mike Mooers, wrote the following letter to trimmers. (We’d love to publish something similar from manicurists to growers so think about writing a letter letting them know your concerns.)

Also, some appropriate music to accompany the reading can be found on the video from the Camo Cowboys on the top.

Dear Trimmers,

Welcome to Nevada County [or Humboldt County.] Know that your wonderful mix of cultures, languages, alpaca ponchos and accumulated experiences brings great color to the community. We are happy to have you here, helping our local folks get the medicine all ready to alleviate the world’s insomnia, undiagnosed back pain and marginally realistic anxiety. Thank you for that.

But bros, you’re kinda burning some bridges here in the NC. Seriously – even the folks that get it, the totally hippy-rasta-boho, Amma-hugging, naked-at-the-river, big-time- medicine-growing locals, are getting a little ragged due to some of the negative trimmer mojo that’s coming back at us.

So. How do we get back to Happy?

We’ll work on our end, but you all need to step up in the awareness department. How?

Simple really. Just pay attention to stuff like this:

1. The River is not your house. Nobody wants to go for a nice fall hike at Purdon’s and constantly be jammed up by tents and piles of garbage and shit – literal shit – on the beaches. There are plenty of campgrounds up Highway 49. Nice ones. With toilets.

2. Say “please” and “thank you” and “may I.”

3. If someone picks you up hitchhiking at Tyler Foote Crossing and gives you a ride all the way into town, offer to throw down a couple of bucks for gas. They probably won’t take it, but the gesture goes a long way.

4. Stop clogging the aisles in the co-op. Not asking a lot here, just pull over to the side when you’re talking to your buddy from Connecticut about that last time you saw him in Costa Rica.

5. And don’t park in the co-op parking lot all fucking day – even if you are sharing your lovely ukulele skills (BTW – see #15 re this). Spaces are finite. Other people like to use them, too.

6. Don’t call me me “bro,” bro.

7. Big, big rule here: At a yoga or meditation or herbal tincture class, “Suggested Donation” does not – NOT – mean “Free.” In fact, a $5 suggested donation means $5 is the minimum amount you can pay without seriously adding to your Karmic debt. The instructors work hard. Skip out on paying? You are coming back as a cockroach in your next life, and you’re an asshole in this one.

8. If you are one of the Drainbow people, just leave. You guys are the effin’ worst.

9. If you are from Europe, cool. But realize you are taking jobs away from locals, and doing that ain’t so cool. Acknowledge that and give back, or move on.

10. If you are from Connecticut, upstate New York, Salt Lake City, Flagstaff, Houston, Massachusetts, Marin County – wherever – please see above.

11. No one really cares about your experience in Oaxaca. You don’t need to share. Especially on speakerphone.

12. The Food Bank, facilities at the Family Resource Center – stuff like that? It’s pretty limited, and folks here need it. If you are not prepared for life on the road, stay home.

13. If you do need help, okay – take it. But when you get paid, pay back. And juggling for the kids is great, but it does not pay for laundry soap and canned tomatoes. Contribute, bro.

14. And, when you get paid, how about throwing down for one of the local nonprofits – the North Columbia Schoolhouse, maybe the Senior Center, or could be the North San Juan Fire Department. You don’t pay taxes, so how about a small community tithe. Twenty bucks. If it’s a hardship, then skip buying that expensive juggling equipment or gnar slackline kit until the next payday.

15. Don’t play your guitar (or mandolin or ukulele) in public unless you’re really good at it. It isn’t charming if you suck. It’s just loud and screechy. And for god’s sake – please, please, please no juggling. It’s just sad.

16. When you sit at a four-top at Ike’s for three hours, you are being greedy and impacting other’s ability to access desperately needed pancakes. Eat, pay, go.

17. And tip your damn waitress. They are putting up with a lot this time of year. Start at 20% and add 5% for every half hour you sit there after your bill arrives.

18. Seriously. Don’t call me bro.

19. Spend some damn money. You are sucking the cash out of our local economy. That is a pretty hard thing for a small rural area to absorb. Look, trim a pound and a half a day, reap some coin, save some for the annual trip to Kauai, it’s a noble goal. But spend some here.

20. One way to give back? Tip like a Mafia Don. You have the cash, you are capitalizing on our region’s bounty, so fucking tip like a 60 year old millionaire trying to impress a hot 20 year old starlet. You’ll feel good about it. And tip with money for chrissake. Leaving a bud on the bar is insulting for a bartender who probably has five pounds left over from last year.

21. Regarding spending – the following items do not count as currency: bud, massages, a place to stay when I visit wherever it is you’re visiting from, a pound of trim, a pipe you made, anything else you made. Maybe – MAYBE – you could come up to my property and help pull Scotch Broom, can tomatoes or split wood, but you didn’t offer that, did you?

22. The power of community and the joy of each of us supporting your brothers and sisters is not an excuse to take other’s stuff, shit on their land or suck dry the teat of their kindness. Not without reciprocating. It Takes a Village does not mean you just get other folks’ stuff.

23. Last thing: “The World Provides.” Those are the words of the selfishly unaware deluded by some idea of self-awareness. Humans provide. Thank them for it. Small or large, providing something for you was likely a sacrifice. They shared their bounty, so provide a little back. It goes a long way.

Look, here’s the deal. You guys are awesome. You work hard, provide an essential service, and bring some wonderful, beautiful color to our community. You give a lot, and this community gives a lot back.

But there’s a perception that the taking is beginning to outweigh the giving, one that sees the transient trimming community as a parasite, not a contribution. And this perception is becoming pretty global, even among the most accepting of us.

You need to realize that this perception springs from somewhere, and it clearly has truth to it. Is it painting all trimmers with too broad a brush? Maybe. But maybe not. Whatever the case – the perception that exists is created by you. It may be by the few, it may be the many, but it is here and it is real.

We love you, but, I mean, if this relationship is gonna keep working, you all need to put something into it, too. Otherwise we’re all buying Trim Reapers and going automated.

We cool, bros?

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190 Comments
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Forester
Guest
Forester
7 years ago

BINGO, hits the nail on the head. This is how US Locals feel about the millennial trimmers.

Triniboldticino
Guest
Triniboldticino
7 years ago
Reply to  Forester

Yup. Mechanize and cut the drama.

ADreanen Antoun
Guest
ADreanen Antoun
7 years ago

Amen!

Raymond Guiducci
Guest
Raymond Guiducci
7 years ago

Are mechines perfected to such point that mechanically harvested crop yields are economically competitive with traditional farm worker labor intensive agriculture currently?

William bonnie
Guest
William bonnie
6 years ago

no, but they don’t drink all your booze and call you bro.

Jen W
Guest
Jen W
7 years ago

i don’t even smoke pot but i do understand that if growers go mechanized then they only add to the negative issues and give crude trimmers the right to not take responsibility for their actions. Perhaps a network of great trimmers that repeatedly show respect for the environment they are in could be considered?

Kalama
Guest
Kalama
7 years ago
Reply to  Forester

No!!!!
Trimmers unions are a must.
Women are being kidnapped and made to work for free. Even in the trim world.
Especially when we hide the mistreatment behind ignorant social media posts, written well , but not by anyone near farm source; this is just stupid humor. Sorry. I know you are coming from a good place.

had enough
Guest
had enough
7 years ago
Reply to  Kalama

a union. what a stupid idea.

Outhere
Guest
Outhere
7 years ago
Reply to  had enough

Or just give the locals from jobs..esp in humboldt/ trinity co. Instead some trimigrants off the streets

Triniboldticino
Guest
Triniboldticino
7 years ago
Reply to  Kalama

You unionize, I mechanize. And cut the bullshit wannabe hippie drama. I lived the 60s and 70s. Buncha dirty posers. I guess that was a bit of a broad brush. MANY dirty posers.

M
Guest
M
7 years ago
Reply to  Kalama

Oh come ON! Trimmer’s unions?? The real truth is that these are people who wanted to travel the world and couldn’t afford it, or couldn’t get daddy to afford it, and want US to pay for it! Get a damn job and stop making the truly needy look bad! As for kidnapping women? That’s sad but happens all over the world and isn’t specific to any industry.

had enough
Guest
had enough
7 years ago
Reply to  M

these low class backpackers are disliked all over the world. they need to be run off like they do in many parts of asia. were on the backpackers circuit. if the word gets out there not welcome they will stop coming . in san francisco neighborhoods are hiring there own private police and that keeps them, and the tweakers on the move .private police do the foot work, and the police just come and take the garbage out. works great 🙂

Nancy
Guest
Nancy
7 years ago
Reply to  Kalama

This doesn’t apply to everyone but a lot of the “global trimmers” this is speaking to you…That’s plain stupid, you don’t contribute to our communities instead you consume our resources; a bunch of entitled people expecting everything handed to you. Grow Up!! If you want a union how about becoming legal for starters and paying some taxes, then you’ll get a say!

Mary
Guest
Mary
7 years ago
Reply to  Forester

Unfortunately it is impossible to take any of this letter seriously, sure it has some legitimate points here, but c’mon.

You sound like a sad, angry, old man. Who is nothing but jealous of this lifestyle and the lovely humans who live it.

All of the references made about “hippy trimmers” are pretty accurate, yet you expel them as if they are insults..

It is pretty fucking common to travel and work….so everyone is welcome to come trim..and I am a seasoned”trimmer” who lives in the US

And p.s.

When you go to the store and buy something..with cash..sweet lovely cash..(which all trimmers have) ..you see that extra amount at the bottom of the receipt? Yeah that is called a tax….

I spend loads of money when I come up there and trim in your small ass towns that would not be surviving without the weed industry..

So your welcome!!

Dee Luvlee
Guest
Dee Luvlee
7 years ago
Reply to  Mary

I live in NorCal and i have beem trimming, seasonally, for 12 years. When i started, i was absolutely living out of my car and/or in a tent on someone’s property, and i went somewhere warm in the winter where i could live happy for pennies. It’s great work for artists, people who like to travel and live alternate lifestyles – and also for single moms when we can take it home and do it. It is mind-numbing unless you have a good crew to work alongside, but i’m grateful for it, and grateful for all the people i work for – most of whom i’ve known for years and only hire the same crew of people year after year, with the occasional new person brought in – i can’t imagine just hiring random trimmigrants off the streets, and i have thankfully never had to work in a scene like that – tho there is a guy here in town who hires street kids and pays $125 a pound. Seriously. He’s a nice guy but that’s messed up.

Cheryl
Guest
Cheryl
7 years ago
Reply to  Dee Luvlee

Why is that messed up

FunkMan
Guest
FunkMan
7 years ago
Reply to  Mary

[edit] You think you are doing our small town a huge favor with your presence – but all you’re doing is making this once-beautiful mountain town an ugly, health hazard![edit]

FunkMan
Guest
FunkMan
7 years ago
Reply to  FunkMan

Edit? I see, others can use the f-word, but not me?! FY!

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
Ernie Branscomb
7 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

That must be one of the things that I admire about you Kym, you encourage communication, and discourage degrading insults.

I have spent my life, from a very young child up until now, encouraging people to tell their stories. Nothing will kill a story faster than humiliating someone else with a correction of their grammar or spelling, or degrading them in some way.

Keep up the good work.

Glen Miller
Guest
Glen Miller
7 years ago
Reply to  Mary

Mary, sounds as if you are one of the people the article is aimed at. Old men have experience and may have wisdom. They are not all sad and angry. And really; lovely humans in the lifestyle?

Look inward.

Tiffani Renée
Guest
Tiffani Renée
7 years ago
Reply to  Forester

Oh when California makes it legal and the FDA comes down upon your heads, you will miss the days of trimmers when you’re no longer allowed to profit so abundantly from your crops.
How about the people who clear cut the forest, dust the ecosystem with their chemical pesticides, and use up the water while California has been in a major drought SHUT UP, because essentially, you’re taking and taking and taking. Not only that, but You are the ones attracting these people because you and your friends hire them. Maybe if people would stop growing pot, stop hiring these people, then no need to write this article.

I am from California and I am also a ‘traveling trimmer’ who is tired of meeting trashy rednecks from around the states coming to grow. People who have no consciousness for nature, or community. The people who say “I have to spend six months in this shit hole and then I get to head back to Wisconsin, Georgia, Tenessee, etc.” Let me speak up here, if you are Not from California you have No right to complain. You obviously are incapable of getting a real job where you came from so you came out here to reap the benefits and thought you’d achieve a fast profit, capitalist assholes, and wreak havoc on the land.

I respect not shitting along rivers, not tossing your trash everywhere, don’t spend double time in restaurants and cafes after you’ve eaten your meal, and all that stuff. Maybe you should tell the growers who can do no harm (I never see articles about them,) to stop buying large amounts of shitty food at the corporations, or picking up their essentials from Home Depot, do you think that “stays in the local economy?” While I know some people who don’t do this, I know Many who do.

I can get work doing other things. I went to college, I have experience in lots of things… I just don’t feel like working toward paying taxes to go straight to war. If my taxes went toward health care and education, like in those amazing countries I visit, I would be a happy camper. Lastly, they don’t. So I appreciate this job because I decide where my money goes, and 99% of the time I pick local over corporate. When I visit other countries I see the small towns and the faces of the people who get my money. Hilariously enough, I have spent five years living in Oaxaca and the woman at the grocery store in my town also owned my apartment. My money went straight into her pocket. The local restaurant that my friend owns, that money goes right into her pocket. Not into this system that is supporting wars over its own citizens. Makes me feel good at the end of the day.

Remember, everything is a circle.

Just me
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Forester

I think the guy who wrote this and other big time growers are the real problem.
Here’s why;
Offering jobs to people you dont know and then wondering why you get ripped off? I mean come on. Letting in alot of crap in my opinion. The community doesn’t need it…….. Period.
I do agree tho about locals getting work taken from them. I myself am a local with a 14 yr old daughter im trying to support and i can’t find work any where. It really sucks. The worst part is i grew up here and it used to be a way of life and all these foreign growers dont understand that. We have to gain controll of our lives again..
We have to set boundries on certain things: you have to figure out your boundries. Mine is setiing boundries on the weed price. Big time or mom and pop growers there must be a bottom line in the price for a lb. No lower than 1500 per lb at any time of yr bottom line. We have to stick together….. Thanks.

Just me
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Just me

One more thing if anyone does have work i could sure use a little. My family has been around here for a long long time. Thank you
P. S.
I’m also old school. Thievery is not cool i dont care how bad things get if you’re taking things from other people. IT’S NOT YOURS. GET IT?

Eastside
Guest
Eastside
7 years ago

Interesting to see other areas experiencing the same irritations as us. I would also add to the list fire danger. Everywhere I go in Sohum I’m asked if I have work available, or told ” I would like to work for you.”

Shak
Guest
Shak
7 years ago

I’ll second that Bingo!

veterens friend
Guest
veterens friend
7 years ago

this is pretty stupid IMO People who make $200 or so a day [ok maybe 4 or 600] for a few weeks are not really getting the life of a mafia don…as if you know what that is like anyway. The trimmers in my neighborhood [I do my own by the way[ are mostly respectful returning regulars who are treated well & behave accordingly. The firedancing gets a little crazy but it will be over soon.

Ras
Guest
Ras
7 years ago

Agreed

yep
Guest
yep
7 years ago

thirded. this letter is lame.

Chelsea
Guest
Chelsea
7 years ago

Oh, so you don’t have people shitting in bags and leaving it in your trash can? Because we do, we have a lot of that.

Outhere
Guest
Outhere
7 years ago

That’s how it should be..keep it local, so your community prospers and the trimigrants move on.

Just shaking my head
Guest
Just shaking my head
7 years ago

#24 going on for hours about Burning Man! No one cares!! Go, have fun and come back to work.

C
Guest
C
7 years ago

How about the really nice cars and shopliftin….. Or wads of cash to pay for your liquor and a Ebt to pay for your food really… Talking on your expensive smart phone about your deals and stilling cheep makeup.. From the ones paying taxes and putting up with your crap ..We see it all and are fed up!!!!

Wow
Guest
Wow
7 years ago

The whole thing with “our beach is not your toilet” needs to be put in multiple languages on signs at the beach. There is no reason for the nasty things I have seen.

Kathy
Guest
Kathy
7 years ago
Reply to  Wow

Amen!

Huh ?
Guest
7 years ago

This letter is from one self important [edit]to another …..

By the way , trim reapers suck , even the best trimmer machines only get about 70 percent of the job done , it still requires to be finished by a human .

the misadventures of bunjee
Guest
the misadventures of bunjee
7 years ago
Reply to  Huh ?

Yes but if it took you 10 people to trim, you can now do it paying for only 3. The machine pays for itself in one harvest or however pounds you can get clean in a couple days. It’s like robotic assembly lines. The same ones that churn out the growdozers and their parts. Most of it is automated, but there is some specialized hands-on work to be done before it hits the sales floor.

sue
Guest
sue
7 years ago

so no to machines-it beats the hell out of the weed knocking off all the crystals and then all the hash is left on the blades,it might cut down on at the drama at the work sites..everyone fighting or fucking but the human power is the best

Concerned...
Guest
Concerned...
7 years ago
Reply to  sue

machines only suck if you have the vacuum on full blast. Open the vent and you will prevent most of the damage/crystal loss.

Outhere
Guest
Outhere
7 years ago
Reply to  sue

Yah..screw machines..it knocks all the crystals and butchers the nug..then gets more crystals knocked off when someone had to clean it up. How about just find a good local crew that you can give and receive mutual respect. You
You’re both doing eachother a solid.

Don
Guest
Don
7 years ago
Reply to  Huh ?

You will learn the value of the machine when you start paying comp, payroll taxes and income taxes ,but until then enjoy the easy life.

Huh ?
Guest
7 years ago
Reply to  Don

I wasn’t opposed to trim machines , , , just that particular brand .

Tall Trees
Guest
Tall Trees
7 years ago
Reply to  Don

True that!

Crest Mouth Watch
Guest
Crest Mouth Watch
7 years ago

Donate money anonymously to your school’s if you are a local those people aren’t even Fromboldt . They probably have limited funds. What if you could donate all your recycling at the dumps for the schools it would be an easy collaboration of a community giving back to the school’s that need money. Earl Stevens donated 25,000 to his old middle school he made a living not buy being nice thats for sure he was from shity town in the Bay Area growing up in poverty I’m am certainly not asking you to favor this person because they grew up mean as hell, and nobody really think’s that is cool but see if O.G. Hill Jack’s can do the same kind of thing try giving local schools some fat stack’$ so let’s at least start donating are recycling come on use reuse recycle and donate to school’s.

the misadventures of bunjee
Guest
the misadventures of bunjee
7 years ago

To be quite honest, I could make a living just doing their recycling and trash pick up if I didn’t have to worry about getting shot at or involved in whatever hillside soap opera they got going on. Holy shit some of these guys leave behind a mountain of junk.

Mersman
Guest
Mersman
7 years ago

Ditch the apostrophes – the plural of school is schools.
Put the apostrophe where it belongs: “that’s” meaning “that is”.
Maybe your own schooling was deficient?

Concerned...
Guest
Concerned...
7 years ago
Reply to  Mersman

Crest Mouth Watch does it all of the time….Obviously didn’t bother to pay attention in school, but sure loves to spew anyway!

Really
Guest
Really
7 years ago

Not a trimmer, but that can be pointed at the new younger growers who have invaded our mountains. Show some consideration and respect to the long time residents of the hills. You drive those over sized grow dozers, Toyotas with missing mufflers, or your little dirt bikes at a speed that is an accident waiting to happen. We are not in a hurry so when you come screaming up behind us, give us a little time to find that safe turn out to pull over. This time of year the fresh air is over powered by the smell of marijuana, you don’t need to add the smell of diesel and unburn fuel as you accelerate to squeal the tires around every turn. This is not Redwood Acres slow down, relax, and mellow out bro.

I have watched the number of growers increase along with the number of crashes. As these younger adults scream by you on curves, going up hills, and on narrow roads you get the feeling that a raid is under way, only to see them chit chatting with a friend in the middle of the road a mile or so down the road. And if you are going to crash, don’t run off and leave your piece of crap abandoned for someone else to clean up.

Just show a little respect to your neighbors, slow down. After all, they are probably going to be the ones that are there to help you when, no if, you crash. Even if you have pissed them off with your poor driving habits…oh and by the way, that line down the middle of the road is not meant to be lined up with the middle of your bumper.

Eastside
Guest
Eastside
7 years ago
Reply to  Really

They just stare at you as you jerk your car out of their way and continue on riding the center line. A delivery truck and trailer full of pallets of soil had me in the ditch in a blind corner the other day. It wasn’t a semi, there was no excuse.

Pamela
Guest
Pamela
7 years ago
Reply to  Really

Nicely put!

FREEDOMTOWN
Guest
FREEDOMTOWN
7 years ago

We live in a free country BRO, if you don’t like it, move on, BRO!!!

Kid
Guest
Kid
7 years ago
Reply to  FREEDOMTOWN

Good grief. A [edit] at every corner.

Sleepy Alligator
Guest
Sleepy Alligator
7 years ago
Reply to  FREEDOMTOWN

I like your sarcasm. Especially the truth in it.

Great gramps
Guest
Great gramps
7 years ago

Yup I might have to go with the trim machines after this year.

veterans friend
Guest
veterans friend
7 years ago

If you need a machine to do the work you are growing too much. Keeping a human scale on your growing keeps things sane. The trim machine is part of what has encouraged the huge & terrible grow explosion

Nicole
Guest
Nicole
7 years ago

Yah, but if these super selfish inconsiderate TRIMMIAGRABTS keep trashing our communities, playing shitty ukelele and using up our community resources, we SHOULD just by trim machines and pay our good (local) friends to help out so we don’t need these super rediculous and annoying people to come here and take all their freshly made money elsewhere.

indian moccasin
Guest
7 years ago

agreed!

buy a trim machine
Guest
buy a trim machine
7 years ago

Trimming machines are where its at.

Unless your still looking for sex with trimmers, a machine is where its at.

I spent 5k of a Trimminator trim machine, and i pay my workers 50$ a pound to clean it up after it comes out of my machine 80% trimmed.

It works every time, the weed looks great, its not ruined.

100 lb = 5k trim machine + 5k trim costs.

That cuts your harvest in half the first cycle

You still get to hire on people, they will trim about 3-5 pounds a day of cleaning up and still make around 200 bucks a day. Its a win win for everyone also the trim scean instead of lasting 2 months will be as short as 3 weeks.

Truth is these trimmers are bad for the community, spoiled drug addict kids who want easy money while partying to continue there party somewhere else.

Sorry, no longer. 50$ a pound is the new price for cleaning.

Also 150$ is what everyone is paying this year for there weed to be trimmed by hand.

Little Kitty
Guest
Little Kitty
7 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Depends on who you ask.

Sleepy Alligator
Guest
Sleepy Alligator
7 years ago
Reply to  Little Kitty

Well she probably didn’t ask the money hoarding growers who take advantage of trimmers aka any grower paying $150.

Sohumlady
Guest
Sohumlady
7 years ago

So what about the mom and pops that are hardly making it, and just want help working on it? Yea, they are money hoarding POS…. .. ‘aka ANY GROWER paying $150’ …. lol so what you are saying is that even if they are barley getting by themselves, it shouldn’t matter? they need to pay the self righteous trimagrants what the deserve… that 50 could make a big difference to that mom n pop.

Sleepy Alligator
Guest
Sleepy Alligator
7 years ago
Reply to  Sohumlady

Most mom and pops I know, including myself, that find themselves “barely getting by” would usually trim their weed themselves. At least until they get back on their feet. My comment was more about growers who are not barely getting by, but still choose to underpay the trimmers.

Gazoo
Guest
Gazoo
7 years ago

Exactly, once you grow enough to have someone else trim… you are no longer a “mom and pop” operation, now you’re a baller 😂😂😂😂😂

Pooh Daddy
Guest
Pooh Daddy
7 years ago

It’s called market pricing. Prices go down for everyone.

Crum
Guest
Crum
7 years ago

Please trimmers show up for a cpl months eat all your food take all the hot water leave their hair in the shower and use all your tooth paste, they all think they are pro trimmers and deserve so much more, but truth be told they have a harsh reality coming as they are just another ag job like picking apples, and the days of 150 and especially 200 are a thing of the past, get used to 12 to 15 an hr,leave you dog at home, bring your own food and your leaving at night and back in the morning. The nerve, I’m not paid enough to smoke spliffs and talk drama all day. No wonder trimming is the only work you can find. Is it that time again already? Time to tune up the trim bros..

Outhere
Guest
Outhere
7 years ago
Reply to  Crum

Well said..they act like they are entitled to everything, a fucking monkey can do your job. I mean I started out as a trimmer myself, but moved my way up
And I’m not above trimming my own, if it means I don’t have to deal with entitled trimmigrants that think I owe them something.

Crum
Guest
Crum
7 years ago

Enjoy being overpaid for you highly skilled labor, cough cough, yes pro trimmer you days are numbered as this market goes rec and the prices go down below 1000 900 800 etc all while bring taxed you will find that 15 an hr is going to be a norm and even that is questionable. You can always pick blueberries in Maine or go fish in alaska..

Triniboldticino
Guest
Triniboldticino
7 years ago

That’s bullshit with poundage price falling. It was less per unit for trimming when the price was upwards of $5K an elbow. Ah, the good ol’ days.

Anon Forrest
Guest
Anon Forrest
7 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

$200lb here, or $25 an hour on the smalls. Hourly wage is also the “standard” for any labor. “Outsiders Need Not Apply.” af

Local
Guest
Local
7 years ago
Reply to  Anon Forrest

Smart man. Less stress, less theft and less hassle. More trust & people who LIKE to work for you. It all evens out and adds up in the end.

What goes around comes around.

N. Choiring Mime
Guest
N. Choiring Mime
7 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

“ya pay peanuts, ya get monkeys”

No
Guest
No
7 years ago

I love this parody to the trimmers. I am sure that they could write a letter about us, but this guy’s rant has a lot of truth to it. As far as “money hoarding growers”…Where do you get off saying that? The price has been cut in more than half the past 8 years. The grower is working for months all day everyday, spending at the minimum of $450.00 a pound to grow and that is not including the cost of the property, if there are issues, property taxes, food for the trimmers, etc…I would love to pay $150.00 a pound, but can’t find anyone to work for that. AS far as locals go, it has been my experience that most people who used to trim now grow and do not trim anymore.

Sleepy Alligator
Guest
Sleepy Alligator
7 years ago
Reply to  No

And why do you suppose the price has been cut in half? Could it have something to do with those same money hoarding growers also being the one’s who grow tons of mediocre weed and sell it for cheap therefore fucking up the market for everyone? I’m well aware of the time, labor, money, etc it takes to grow a pound of quality weed. With so much invested already why would I not also invest in quality trimming?

Respectful person
Guest
Respectful person
7 years ago

This is the best comment I’ve seen so far. A perfect example of having a few “ruin” it for the many, which is exactly what’s being stated in the original article; a few shitty people ruining it for respectful people. It has nothing to do with occupational position, a disrespectful person is a disrespectful person. They come in all shapes and sizes, they can be growers or trimmers. They are easy to pinpoint.
-Message to the growers: hire respectful people.
-Message to the trimmers: work for respectful people.
Oh, and to whoever wrote the article: you talk about hiring Europeans and state that they should realize they’re taking jobs away from locals and then go on to advocate using machines to automate the process as if that wasn’t doing the same thing.
OPPOSING EXAMPLE: Dear rich garden owners, it is by the hard work of trimmers that you have half a million buried in your back yard and a new Tundra in the driveway. Oh, I won’t complain that your having me trim larfy B buds making 150 for 10 hours of work you usually don’t do…you could not do it with out us; you’re welcome.
Have you ever read Atlas Shrugged? Well, if you wrote an article like this, I assume you haven’t and I highly recommend you do so.

Charlie Brown
Guest
Charlie Brown
7 years ago

Hahahaha, so true. By the way, these stupid trimmers that are destroying your communities, don’t hire them! Go with your local friends or keep in touch with (the few, if any), foreigners who respect and value your house, your culture and your community and you’ll solve the problem, at least partially. I must say that most of the tweakers I have seen are US citizens and all the trimmets have do spend money to support themselves while working, thus providing for the local community. They also have to pay for, sometimes, a very expensive plane ticket just to get there and provide for themselves for a long time with their trimming money, as no boss will give them more than a month holiday.

Tall Trees
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Tall Trees
7 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

I’ve heard the price went down a bit this year, but that’s with food included.

Scooter
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Scooter
7 years ago

Yes but what you produce is not medical quality. I doubt if you have ever offered your product to a legal buyer, it has all gone in 100 lb lots to the black market. Right?

Jj
Guest
Jj
7 years ago
Reply to  Scooter

Nope not at all, get a clue, there are cbd collectives producing amazing medicine all over humboldt, and also lots of good organic thc herb going direct to dispensaries both local and to the south.

Many many people still pride themselves on growing great quality organic herb utilizing responsible land practices and usually a whole lotta love mingled in with some singing to the plants 🙂 when the hummingbirds hang out on ur plants u kno it’s good!

Kid
Guest
Kid
7 years ago
Reply to  Jj

What the frack is a CBD collective? Scooter was saying if you machine trim, you probably sell to the black market. If I was to guess, he is 100% correct.

veterans friend
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veterans friend
7 years ago

So you take pride in making $100,000 net a year whilst you help former trimmers into poverty & homelessness. WAY TO GO. [edit]

Math 101
Guest
Math 101
7 years ago

Agreed, $150 is the new $200. And to the commentor who claimed “money hoarding growers” let’s just take a look at the math:

Not that long ago, 10 years maybe (which isn’t long if you consider yourself a local), a pound would sell for close to 3k if it was any good. Trimmers would get 200/lb and fed at least once if not 3 times a day. So 200/3000=.07=7%. Today you get 1500-2000/lb if it is highest grade. That means at 200/lb trimmers now get 10% which is a 3% raise. For what? Are these trimmers somehow better than the ones 10years ago? Not that I have seen. Now if you are getting the more common 15-1700 trimmers are now making in the neighborhood of 12.5% of the revenue. In addition to all this math there is the math involved in the completely overpriced “ingredients” that go into a grow. The dirt is twice the price it used to be, fertilizers are, almost all hard goods used have gone up in price. So basically every aspect of the grow has increased in price, or at least stayed the same, but the price per pound has, in most instances, been cut in half, yet the only one who is really working 10-16 hours a day for at least 6 months out of the year risking life, liberty and property is the grower….

I by no means encourage, support or condone “bad actors” who pollute, go way too big or take advantage of people but in the same breath I, for the life of me, can’t understand why people get in such a tiff when you say trimmers should be making $150/pound! Even if you are the elite few who are getting 2k/lb consistently, paying $150/lb still gives trimmers a .5% raise from 10years ago. That’s right! $150 to trim a $2,000 lb is 7.5% of that pound to the trimmer!

As another commentor pointed out, if you are growing a ridiculous amount then it means nothing to you, but for those of us who are just supplementing our incomes and have a life outside of the industry, you know the way this all started many, many years ago, then it means a lot to feel as though you are getting your fair share and not paying out more than what has been historically seen as a good piece for a needed service.

Last point, you wonder where or why all these out of area and out of country people came from? Well most of them are here because they are usually pretty stoked to get $150/lb and don’t complain about the work, etc.

So I encourage everyone to begin normalizing $150/lb. maybe not all at once, gradually begin lowering the price because I promise there are plenty of good trimmers out there who are more than happy to work for less than 200. 150/day is $1050 per week which is $4200/month. Not too shabby for an untaxed wage.

lauracooskey
Guest
lauracooskey
7 years ago
Reply to  Math 101

I like your math. I don’t like anyone ripping off anyone else’s time, either, but the math doesn’t lie. My number scenario is a little simpler: trimmers have been getting $200 a pound forever. Way back when it was $6000/lb in the late ’80s. But let’s take more like a few years back, when weed was worth about 3200… trimmers got 1/16th of that, basically an ounce worth for each pound trimmed.
So now that the price is half that, why do the trimmers get the same amount=an 8th of a pound? It’s a 100% pay raise, relatively speaking.
Of course there’s trimming and there’s trimming. Trimming cat kibble, air-bud, stuff that’s barely been green-trimmed… where it’s pretty near impossible to do more than a half-pound in a day… that ought to get more. But those big colas that fast trimmers can do a couple or three pounds per day… i can see going down to a more reasonable rate.
With as many eager trimmers around as there seem to be, you’d think $150/pound/day would be offered and accepted.

👎
Guest
👎
7 years ago
Reply to  lauracooskey

I actually know many working for $100/lbs

Local
Guest
Local
7 years ago
Reply to  👎

Yeah. Trimigrants. The compromised ones… Either addicted or illegal.

Common Sense
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Common Sense
7 years ago
Reply to  lauracooskey

Sorry but the math is fuzzy here, or at least how it’s being applied. As the price of pounds has gone down the EXPENSE of trim cost as a percentage of profit has indeed gone up, but that is not a raise for the trimmers. They are still getting paid the same amount of money, There is no increase in pay for the trimmer, so it is not a raise. It is an increase in expense for the grower (the trimmer gets no extra benefit) and it sucks, but it is not a raise.The trimmers pay has not gone up, therefor it is not a “raise” over past pay for the trimmer. If McDonalds had to start selling burgers at 50 cents instead of a buck but their workers get 7 bucks/hr hour either way, the workers did not get a raise, McDonalds expenses went up. Common sense.

lauracooskey
Guest
lauracooskey
7 years ago
Reply to  Common Sense

Of course, you’re right. And the cost of living keeps going up. But i did say “relatively speaking”–for the person paying, it’s relative to the price of the product. Also of course, if the person trimming were wanting to buy weed, s/he can buy twice as much on his/r pay as before. But then again, trimmers never have needed to buy weed.

Math 101
Guest
Math 101
7 years ago
Reply to  Common Sense

You are correct, poor choice of words on my part, it is not a raise by any means.

My point was and is that there is no industry that I am familiar with where when the producers expenses go up that is not somehow recovered in either lower wages or less total employees, e.g. automation. As I see it automation, trim machines , etc., is not the answer, I believe in people power. That only leaves one solution which is to lower wages, as well as find savings elsewhere, in order for the producer to achieve their goal. Otherwise the producer packs up and all employees are laid off.

It is that simple phenomenon that trimmers(employees) often can’t understand. I get less so why should you expect the same as when I was getting more?

Outhere
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Outhere
7 years ago
Reply to  Math 101

Exactly!! I’m local and I’ll work for $150:). Shit, if be happy to make 2,000 a month. I’m just a local business owner but all the money goes out to foreigners.

Respectful person
Guest
Respectful person
7 years ago
Reply to  Math 101

What? There are several ways to cut costs elsewhere along the process. I don’t see why the trimmer should have a pay cut when everything else around them (cost of living) is going up. In a ‘normal’ job, wages increase every year or two to allow compensation for living cost increase. But you’re talking about lowering the pay because the grower “has to” pay more for ingredients or suffer from a product value depreciation (due to other growers commercializing).
First, why would a grower being working 10-16 hours per day for 6 months?…and even if they were, that means they work for half a year yet make bank. Of course the amount they make is highly circumstantial but it’s not uncommon for a grower to make $100k or more in one year…of which you say they’re working only 6 months.
-Dirt: make it yourself
-Nutrients: let the chickens do the work and go fishing…you don’t need bat shit
-Water: collect & automate via cheap PVC and gravity
-Varments: 22LR is cheap & so are those frequency output things & so are traps
-Pruning: do it yourself
-Estimated total work hours for the entire year: 180
If you’re working 10-16 hours a day on that project, there are other things to consider to increase efficiency. The trimmers still work the same amount yet suffer a pay cut?

Have a great day
Guest
Have a great day
7 years ago

I d love to try the machine-is there a YouTube video? Anything more specific?

Zaniah
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Zaniah
7 years ago

Spot on!
I was in SoH last week and it was out of control.

Sohumlady
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Sohumlady
7 years ago

I couldn’t agree more. It’s sad because the ‘paychecks’ are going down, for both the growers and their workers. But the trimmers are still at 200 per, or at least that’s what they demand. I hear it all the time from EVERYONE (LOCALS TOO) That they won’t work for less than 200 per.. Oh and to have all supplies at site like chairs and utensils provided for them… to have food made for them all day long, a nice cozy area for them to lay their head, a perfect environment for them to work (list can go on)… but For someone that works hard and put so much care into that medicine, just to get less every year for it, and the workers demanding more is sad… they don’t take into consideration the amount of work and love that actually goes into that plant… The price of soil, the price of all organic products… Especially when it is out of staters. They not only take the jobs from the locals, they take their money with them when they leave (growers and trimmers). For a local, Its hard finding work. Because they don’t want to stay up until 4 am everynight working 3 weeks straight… they want to work a normal 8 hour shift, go home to their families, clean the house, water the garden, feed the family, take a few days off if wanted… but that doesn’t get the job done fast enough, now they are left without work…it’s becoming more of a quantity over quality…. people probably reading this thinking, “oh boohoo…. Those poor pot farmers, they make enough money anyways.. Devils lettuce.. who cares about the locals, they are lazy and feel they deserve more…” blah. This isn’t talked about enough in our community. We need to stick together in these even more changing situations.. … I’m not saying out-of-towners are bad people and should be shunned.. apparently we need them haha.. all I’m saying is that if we all stuck together in this, we could we change the way things are handled.. Respect is not just something you get. You need to give it too..

veterans friend
Guest
veterans friend
7 years ago
Reply to  Sohumlady

To “demand” a fair rate of pay makes one sensible.

Charlie Brown
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Charlie Brown
7 years ago
Reply to  Sohumlady

I still don’t understand, how can trimmigrants take the work from locals, just don’t hire them anymore. Locals are cheaper, they know the work and probably the growers too, they respect the community and they were the only ones doing it before. Why didn’t it work with them?

Elise
Guest
Elise
7 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Brown

I have always agreed but one thing i have seen is that good trimmigrants stay and sit and get it done faster, while we locals have homes, gardens, pets, kids, other part time job responsibilities, etc…. In my view of sane economics there would be a concerted effort to change the situation in favor of locals, but the black market (or gray) makes it so growers want to get it done. As a local i also have been the friend who helps the grower more with cooking, cleaning, watering, childcare and don’t end up sitting as much even when I AM able to get out to the hill.

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
Ernie Branscomb
7 years ago

Nice post Kym, but I’d like to point out that it is not just trimmers that display some bad behavior, it is all of humanity. Most of the people that come here to trim are fairly polite and well mannered. But we do have some local….

Related
Guest
Related
7 years ago

Spot on Ernie. It’s locals street folks that seem to cause the most damage as opposed to traveling street folks or people coming to trim.. the lines cross sometimes, but the local tweaker heroin rackets are really the scourge . You all k ow who they are, their vibe is dark and usually they are related to a lot of peoe around.

Name
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Name
7 years ago

I fucking hate trimmigrant season. I want to make t-shirts that say: “Trimmigrants, Grow Home!” Who wants one?

C☆
Guest
C☆
7 years ago
Reply to  Name

Good one! Do it!

lauracooskey
Guest
lauracooskey
7 years ago
Reply to  Name

Can you make or find a bumpersticker that says “Slow down, you’re in Humboldt!” I am looking for one.

the misadventures of bunjee
Guest
the misadventures of bunjee
7 years ago

Was at the Shell in Fortuna yesterday evening and watched a van full of damned dirty somethings from Illinois (says the license plate) come in, barefoot and all…and use the restroom. They proceeded to spark up a fat one right next to the pumps (actually inside the store, but I guess they were in a hurry to get high). I had to yell at them for sparking up anything TWO FEET from a gas pump (they do teach morons from Illinois to not smoke near gas pumps right?) because I’ll be goddamned if my body parts are going to land across the river from some trimmigrants that blow up the gas station. Get high when you’re in a safe place to do so you idiots.

the misadventures of bunjee
Guest
the misadventures of bunjee
7 years ago

Also interesting……so many people talk about having property or visiting “friends” in Costa Rica. They have less of a tolerance for drugs than Humboldt does. And a much more aggressive policy towards asset seizure and forfeiture than the US.

Watch what you brag about in your conversations that can be overheard by others, folks. Just sayin’.

lame
Guest
lame
7 years ago

Like the grow mom who was complaining about town & her properties here but she didnt have to worry so much cause her kids are enrolled in the bay area at that property.

That one guy
Guest
That one guy
7 years ago

I used to trim back in the day. I not only trimmed but I also helped out with household stuff. Need wood chopped, great! Need me to run up the hill to help harvest, awesome! Want me to help prep or cook a meal, sweet! Need someone to help tend the drying hut, no problem! And then more and more I watched other trimmers get upset because I usually trimmed less, but got paid more. None of them saw the picture. None of them saw what a grower has to deal with on a daily basis. Most them were self-entitled [edit]. But I always loved my 2 to 3 week vacation in the woods. Sometimes I miss it, especially this time of year. But I have kids now and need to be a responsible adult and parent.

But last time I was in the area my car broke down. Called my buddy to see about earning extra cash to fix the car. He came and picked me up. Spent 4 days and only trimmed one day. Other 3 I spent being his gopher and helping his wife with the meals and the veggie garden. Walked away with a nice chunk of change and he paid the 350 for my car to get fixed. He told me he missed the days where trimmers felt more like family than employees.

Liz
Guest
Liz
7 years ago
Reply to  That one guy

Bringing a big pot of home made soup goes a long way with the home owner.

rastaj
Guest
7 years ago

As a mom and pop I can’t invite people over who are random and unknown to my scene. Trimmers relax and be respectful. I have kids and the wild times are dying down in my home.
I’m still injured and make medicine but how do I pay for costs, when I’m being driving out buy low prices and volume in the makert. Somebody has to take a hit. I have, Have you? Price of the product is relative to the pay. The price goes down, so does the pay or we buy mechanical items to assist. We can pay per hour for work but only for productivity and quality. No one picked cotton or corn forever by hand. Bring your food and shelter if your on the road don’t mooch off mine. Buy food or bring it with you, especially if you have a specific diet. I’m not your parent or caregiver dont act like am one. I have enough stuff to deal with.
Taking all the time does not make you cooler. Shut up and get to work.

veterans friend
Guest
veterans friend
7 years ago
Reply to  rastaj

You get EXACTLY what you pay for. An old adage…still true.
That applies to product & labor pretty equally. IMO

Local
Guest
Local
7 years ago

LOL yes, beat me to saying that.

Taurus Balzhoff
Guest
Taurus Balzhoff
7 years ago

Since we are all complaining: Can the water trucks please not run their engine brakes all the way down from Redway? Oh! Can you get a muffler for your pickup please? How about your Harley? Hmmmmm… What else… Trimmers: could you do something about the “three weeks without a shower” odor before you go to Shopsmart? Whooooo! You smell very strong!
Ladies: while we love your interesting hair colors and your special “neo-hippie” outfits, there are a lot of older folks in SoHum who would like to be treated with some modicum of respect, and not be jostled or darted in front of in public! You trip us and we might not have you back!
If everyone would act decent, and not smoke dope right outside the doorway so we all have to breathe it, that would be great!

Have a great season, then go home or wherever till next year! Love to all!

veterans friend
Guest
veterans friend
7 years ago

Isn’t it against the “rules” to buy water for your “crop”.
Damn…we used to call it a garden. Some of us still do.

Anon Forrest
Guest
Anon Forrest
7 years ago

Ah yip! I had to go down the Mountain today, and picked up on what had to be water truck tracks coming up. A real road-ripper-upper. The way things work here is that one does a u-turn and follows those tracks in to have a little heart-to-heart with the Destination. Tones down the plans for “next year.” Keeps it real. af

Trump2016
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Trump2016
7 years ago
Reply to  Anon Forrest

Yeah right just take a u turn and go to someone’s gate to chat about buying water. Laughable! Come back and tell me how it turns out buddy if your mouth ain’t wired shut.

Sleepy Alligator
Guest
Sleepy Alligator
7 years ago

I get the authors point on most of his/her gripes, but don’t really see them as issues only related to trimmers. Seems to me that most of them would apply to most people in general.

As for us all switching to trim machines, well speak for yourself and don’t include me. Beyond the fact that trim machines available today are crap, using them takes away jobs for trimmers and that sucks! Share the wealth. Help your fellow trimmer citizens out by letting them work.

If the author were writing about Willow Creek or Garberville it would make some sense but I’d like to know where in Nevada County are all these “trimmers”. I’ve never seen that type of scene anywhere in Nevada County.

yeah no
Guest
yeah no
7 years ago

Dear Big Time Pot Growing Hippies,
HAH FUCKING HAH!!
You, like most Americans have a attention span worse than that of a goldfish, not from smoking pot but because your fucking tools. Now that you have a business thats no longer in the shadows and the moneys flowin in,youve forgotten all those times you were like the trimmers you bitch about. JUST NOT IN YOUR OWN YARD! Your as fucking Ignorant as those who bitch about Illegal Aliens who make up 5% of the work force, do the jobs that no one else wants to do (lets see your ass out in that lettuce field), getting paid piece prices that unless you bust ass means you make less than minimum wage. And why pray tell are you even fucking trimming? To make the buds look pretty! Theres no other fucking reason why bud is trimmed, so I dont wanna fuckin hear it! I remember when you used to get 4 fingers across a sandwich baggie for $20, before Skunk bud was renamed ‘Chronic’ because if rhymed with Hydroponic and caused the price to goto $20 a gram! So now that your shits booming and you needed all those trimmers to put pretty packaging on your over-priced ‘medicine’ (lets be fuckin honest here most people who have a medical card like to smoke pot,they didnt really need it so they use the systems loop holes to get a prescription for it)., but did you think of how those people were going to be housed, fed and shit? NOPE! You bitch and say ‘Theres plenty of camping spots dont shit here!’, but guess what asshole they most likely dont have the money to pay for the spot rental or dont want to ‘be around the man!’ just like you used to fucking didnt. And dont start the ‘My tax dollars..’ bullshit because even sales tax isnt added to the cost of weed at a clinic. WEED ISNT TAXED YIET FUCKTARD! But in typical Amoronican style you blame the problem instead of what caused it. You know if The Gov got tough and hammered the businesses as hard as they do the illegals they hired, there wouldnt be any jobs for those illegals to work at. Could you imagine Tyson chicken going under because it got hammered with a fine that bankrupted them because they hired an illegal, instead of the paltry fines they get now? No you cant or you wouldnt be bitching about trimmers who are BEING PAID BY YOU TO MAKE BUD PRETTY! Guess what if you dont trim bud you dont need trimmers so they wouldnt be there, but Noooo! You cant see that past the stacks of fucking money your making. Its called Cause and Effect and you College Educated fucking Morons didnt think of that. ‘Hey Bro, like next year were gonna like need more trimmers so bring a few friends ok?’ Sound familiar? Yeah thats called Migrant Labor and they have the same thing going on for them like the Migrant labor that puts food on so many tables
Your business is what brought those people there and you must be profiting so instead of being like the corporations you bitch about use some of your profits to provide seasonal employees with housing so they arent camped every where maybe a company store to ease the packed parking and aisles. YOU FUCKING HYPOCRITES MAKE ME SICK!

Day Walker
Guest
Day Walker
7 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Thank you for pointing that out Kym. I hate seeing someone who is intelligent hinder their chances of having the very dialogue they are craving…because they are so confrontational no one is willing to engage with them.

Day Walker
Guest
Day Walker
7 years ago
Reply to  Day Walker

Well shoot. I thought the photo I uploaded was gonna be a thumbnail under my name on the left. I suppose it’s sort of on theme for the topic though…yes? *wink*

Triniboldticino
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Triniboldticino
7 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

First good chuckle of the day. Thank you Kym! Didn’t see your response until I suffered through the diatribe. Then laughed out loud.

Sleepy Alligator
Guest
Sleepy Alligator
7 years ago
Reply to  yeah no

News flash! The days of all the pot growers being hippies are long gone. The three finger bags of weed of the 70’s are long gone because things should be fair for the buyer and the seller which is why scales became part of the equation. The days of $20 bags are long gone and have been replaced with $20 grams, not because people started calling it chronic, but because the quality and potency are so much better than the dirt weed you speak of. Also the investment it takes to grow that gram and let’s not forget the fact that growers risk going to jail in order for that gram to exist. Yes people do still go to jail for weed.

I agree with your defending the trimmers and telling all these complainers how it is, but I’m not too keen on your “company store” idea. Back in the day company stores were just a way for big business to suppress their employees and keep them doing labor for them. Big business owns the only store for employees to get their necessities from, they buy with store credit during the week, then come pay day their check goes to the company store leaving the worker stuck in a forced cycle of labor and big business with fat pockets. It’s where the saying and song, “I owe my soul to the company store” came from.

grammarnazi
Guest
grammarnazi
7 years ago
Reply to  yeah no

I like how you use the term ignorant so loosely, not minding the fact that you’ve misused the word ‘your’, a dozen times.

Sleepy Alligator
Guest
Sleepy Alligator
7 years ago
Reply to  grammarnazi

Get em!

Raymond Guiducci
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Raymond Guiducci
7 years ago
Reply to  yeah no

I was hoping that someone would point out the obvious inequity of the growers desired 50% pay cuts

Respectful person
Guest
Respectful person
7 years ago
Reply to  yeah no

I can’t help but agree with a lot of what was said in this post, but damn Yeah No, no need to bash people’s intelligence when you yourself can’t or don’t use proper grammar and spelling.

C☆
Guest
C☆
7 years ago

Excellent! We could probably add to this letter/list in Humboldt. Cant wait to see it printed and posted at all the businesses!

Anon Forrest
Guest
Anon Forrest
7 years ago
Reply to  C☆

And you can do this. Blessings Be, af

Humrep
Guest
Humrep
7 years ago

Local 420 , trimmer union, I am here to unite the hard working trimmers,and demand fair wages and a,good working environment! You can have better pay, health insurance, retirement, holiday pay, sick days , vacation days, these growers that know it all need to experience the real world

Local chica
Guest
Local chica
7 years ago

With the falling prices, trimmers wages should fall too. $150 per pound is amazing money, anywhere, especially considering zero investment on their part .

Charlie Brown
Guest
Charlie Brown
7 years ago
Reply to  Local chica

Not even the locals have a 0% investment to go trim, they have to pay for gas, food, the iphones even tweakers have (never seen so many drug addicts with so much valuable goods… in Europe – and I’m guessing the rest of the world – begging and starving is something completely different, go figure). Trimigrants have to invest a lot just to get there. Also, for us tips is something you give WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE IT, not because your shitty boss doesn’t want to pay you proper eages. And we give as much as we like. I’m not going to give 20% of my bill just because, I’ll be damned if I let other people tell me how and how much I am supposed to spend of MY MONEY when I worked for it! Especially considering that a lot of people don’t have jobs that give them tips. Do you tip your bus driver? Your doctor? The person sweeping the streets? Why should these people be paying for tips? Where do they make the money for them?

Reality CHECK
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Reality CHECK
7 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Brown

[edit] When you drive to any job and bring your phone, you call that an investment? [edit]

Reality
Guest
Reality
7 years ago

We have been doing $150/# for three years. If they don’t like it, lots of others will gladly do the job

Charlie Brown
Guest
Charlie Brown
7 years ago
Reply to  Reality

Yes, the shitty trimmigrants you’ve been complaining about

Poundocure
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Poundocure
7 years ago

Trimming machines are already commonplace in the cannabis production world. It really makes no sense to allow migrant, unskilled laborers (i’m being kind) to seasonally cycle through our communities who (generally) take more than they give before moving-on. The market won’t bear the extra cost with no apparent benefits, particularly in the regulated and taxed model. Regulatory fees (inpections, permits, zipties), workman’s comp costs, sales tax, income tax, bookkeeping costs, etc. are going to absorb any amount the trimmers ever made and a whole lot more. With the downward pressure on the wholesale price and the upward trajectory on the cost of production, the time has come where trimming by hand is unnecessary and expensive.

Ann
Guest
Ann
7 years ago

We should create an employment agency, have them go through what all legal employees do, take out taxes, help pay back the community, and trat it as a real job. Also, let us start hiring locally. Let our locals make $20 plus an hour instead of minimum wage, they would gladly pay taxes, and be grateful.

Shaka
Guest
Shaka
7 years ago

Ever thought about traveling the world don’t have to the world is here now!

G-ma
Guest
G-ma
7 years ago

Bada Bing!!!perfect.pretty much sums it up.

Fruitland
Guest
Fruitland
7 years ago

REALLY, you hit it on the head! I swear my hill has had like 10+ over the cliff totaled vehicles in the last year! SMH! If I find the looser who drives up elk creek in a green Subaru on the other side of the road like we’re in Europe [edit] The video taken of this SOB driving up the road was disturbing to say the least… Almost hit a dodge truck, white tacoma, blue Tacoma and a motorcyclist!! Everybody needs to grow less cannabis, this is ridiculous!!!

mingo
Guest
mingo
7 years ago

hey “the misadventures of bungie” and “buy a trim machine” :

Can you give us more info about the Trim-machine option?
Would you say the “Triminator” is the best one? (Latest and greatest?)
Like what pre-work needs to be done first?
Does it need to be a little moist before machining it?
Are you saying someone can do touch-up of 4 per day in ten hours? 8? 12?
Do you need much training, lessons to get it right?
What are the inevitable mysteaks people make?
Where can I see one working? (ha)
Do buyers ever say they don’t want no machine weed?

wouldn’t be bad to have a crew, i’m tired of it, having seasonal roommates, but that’s the way it goes…
but…i have no crew! And some friends with crops are in that way too, we could go in on one, why not?

Anything else you can tell us?
or does ANYONE ELSE want to offer a short list of helpful facts and practices?

For the first time EVER I am actually considering this option (after reading these comments) and it is giving me a
great sigh of relief
c’mon, man, i’m beggin’ for it! (the info, or where to find it ?)

Anon Forrest
Guest
Anon Forrest
7 years ago
Reply to  mingo

I think you might be looking at a Loooooong winter at the table. Plan for next year (if there is one) and look up old friends, or kids of old friends, and provide 3 square meals a day, good breaks, and decent sleeping places, and gratitude. You’ll be surprised how many Good People, known to you or folks you know, who will jump at the chance to make $ with security and honest respect.
Buyers that don’t want “machine weed” are newbies spouting something they’ve heard. Not true. Stand your ground and get your price.
DO have someone show you how to work a trimmer-machine (if you must) because there has been more than one palm stitched back together, and it’s really painful to learn the hard way. Bloody bud doesn’t work.
Be patient on your return. If you must wait until February or March, it’ll be worth the wait. af

Charlie Brown
Guest
Charlie Brown
7 years ago
Reply to  mingo

Just ask google, man! Don’t be lazy

mingo
Guest
mingo
7 years ago

hey “the misadventures of bungie” and “buy a trim machine” :
Can you give us more info about the Trim-machine option?
Like what pre-work needs to be done first?
Does it need to be a little moist before machining it?
Are you saying someone can do touch-up of 4 per day in ten hours? 8? 12?
Do you need much training, lessons to get it right?
What are the inevitable mysteaks people make?
Where can I see one working? (ha)
Do buyers ever say they don’t want no machine weed?
wouldn’t be bad to have a crew, i’m tired of it, having seasonal roommates, but that’s the way it goes…
but…no crew! And some friends with crops are in that way too, we could go in on one, why not?
Anything else you can tell us?
or does ANYONE ELSE want to offer a short list of helpful facts and practices?
For the first time EVER I am actually considering this option (after reading these comments) and it is giving me a
great sigh of relief…
c’mon, man, i’m beggin’ for it! (the info, or where to find the info ?)

(Is there some problem with this post Kym? I edited it a little)

Ryan Reynolds
Guest
Ryan Reynolds
7 years ago

Fuck trim machines, I’d rather help all my friends and family than hire some of them to clean up after one those cheese graders. Those machines are expensive and they can turn your cream of the crop into crap.

If I were to give a Yelp review I’d throw down a single fucking star.

⭐️💩💩💩💩
Quit being greedy you rich cunts , you know who you are.

mingo
Guest
mingo
7 years ago

Thanks for the advice af…
Bring on the machine, its too much hassle otherwise: last February i picked up a previous worker in Washington, then on our way down the coast I picked up my lifelong friend who flew in from Mexico and they didn’t leave the property for a month, got it done. I just want friends, people I already know well, people who would protect me (i always say to work for me you have to like me or pretend convincingly) and care about me, not just mercenaries altho, yeah we are all mercenaries, after one thing.
Three square meals? Get real, people are happy to do their own thing in the kitchen.

Sorry for the duplication Kym, something went haywire, maybe delete one of them?

Get Jah ass back home
Guest
Get Jah ass back home
7 years ago

This is perfect. But how about something on the issue of sobriety. Like ” if your shit faced drunk at noon on a Tuesday don’t try to befriend me or my kids” I’m all for automated trimming especially if we can’t get semi-professional people here. I’m sick of trimmigrant trash, waste and tweakertrimmers on the curbs. I’ve met many well kept nice people to work all locals. Hopefully if we can get people to stop hiring they will stop coming.

Black tail addict
Guest
Black tail addict
7 years ago

Whats a trim reaper?

Taurus Balzhoff
Guest
Taurus Balzhoff
7 years ago

Honestly, I can’t believe anyone would PAY a stoned person to do ANYthing at all! I wouldn’t trust them to cook rice, much less handle my high value farm product! Probably should drug test them all! Hah, fit for duty on a dope farm!

Taurus Balzhoff
Guest
Taurus Balzhoff
7 years ago

And, like the Humboldt County fruit flies, trimmers will disappear when the weather turns cold.
Locals, it seems probable that common pot farmers are about to be regulated, taxed, harassed and competed out of “business”. “Cannabis” will become a real farm product for big farming, and boutique weed from Humboldt will become a curiosity instead of a staple. (see Oregon)

American Combat Veteran
Guest
American Combat Veteran
7 years ago

I will be so glad when complete legalization is passed nationwide so all of you entitled illegal growers are out of business. Then you can take a job in the marijuana industry at the wages everybody else in this country receives. Reading these comments, it is plain to see that most of you need to go back to grammar school, so you can learn the basic grammar and writing skills you should have mastered by the 4th grade. The F word used instead of a polite adjective only proves you started smoking weed way too early in life, and before your brain cells developed — it’s just rude and demonstrates your lack of vocabulary.

I am completely fed up with the lot of you, growers and trimmers. The town square in Garberville has been closed until the rainy season begins. As liberal and understanding as the local folks are in Southern Humboldt are, you are seriously lacking in social skills to warrant that defensive reaction. Grow up, get a job and some manners. No one owes any of you an illegal living — you are the problem, and have zero concept of the solution.

This country needs to bring back the draft, and every male and female should serve 2 years mandatory military service before being allowed to attend college, just like they do in Israel; That would surely teach you spoiled brats something about being polite and responsible.

Just Sayin
Guest
Just Sayin
7 years ago

Hater much ?

2cent
Guest
2cent
7 years ago

ACV
Hahaha, you must be a Trump supporter. I’m sorry that you feel that way about most the people on this forum, yet still felt that you had to say something to people you clearly don’t feel have the knowledge to understand. I mean if they are lacking in social, basic grammer and writing skills as you said. Everyone has a right to their opinion, but really, if you are just standing on the outside and criticizing then maybe it’s time to re-evaluate what your putting your energy into… I mean you do have a regular life of your own right?

Hey do me a favor and look for a video on YouTube

The Daily Show- Putting Donald Trump supporters through an ideology test.

Anyways that was my 2 cents <3 peace, love, chicken grease! Don't hate. 🙂

American Combat Veteran
Guest
American Combat Veteran
7 years ago
Reply to  2cent

You laugh now, but after November, you will be crying. The good old boys are soon going to have the complete monopoly on dope growing with the passage of legal, recreational marijuana in California. You punks and twits will no longer be able to get rich while destroying the environment, because only the corporations and their cronies will be able to grow and sell weed legally. Your outlaw days will come to a screeching halt when the law puts everyone but the corporate dope growers in jail. The politicians will never allow the competition, and even if you do manage to grow a few plants on the sly, the selling price will be so low, it won’t be worth it. That is when I will will be the one laughing — the party’s over for you all! If you are really nice and beg me, I might allow you to shine my combat boots for a buck, but remember to say please sir. Ha, Ha, Ha!

Respectful person
Guest
Respectful person
7 years ago

I don’t understand why someone talks about others grammatical mistakes, yet are unaware of their own mistakes. Too funny.
“As liberal and understanding as the local folks are in Southern Humboldt are…”

Taurus Balzhoff
Guest
Taurus Balzhoff
7 years ago

Dude, the war’s OVER!

Uhhhhh?
Guest
Uhhhhh?
7 years ago

All this bickering about 150 or 200 dollars per pound just reaffirms its 175 per pound.

Dyerville Loop is Not Alderpoint
Guest
Dyerville Loop is Not Alderpoint
7 years ago

Howsabout a bumper strip that says “SLOW DOWN YOUR NOT ON THE BIG ISLAND”?…….When they stare at you [especially young girls for some reason]and just keep comming as if your their target?…..In the D.M.V. MANUEL that’s called object fixation, It will kill you and others and wreck your ride on grass trimmer to pieces.

Living in Reality
Guest
Living in Reality
7 years ago

I didn’t read every comment here so this may have already been addressed but any one who thinks that growers paying $150/lb are hoarding money is completely loco. Growers put up incredible financial investment, time and risk to harvest their crops. Most people in our neck of the woods are realistically getting 1,100-1,300/lb for perfectly grown/cured medicine. So when a seasonal worker that comes in with no risk, no investment and pays no taxes gets to make 10-15% of the over all worth of that pound in 4-6 hours their blessed by Ganesha himself.

Respectful person
Guest
Respectful person
7 years ago

Ok so first of all, the trimmers show up at the time of year where the most risk is involved especially if they aren’t preexisting friends with the grower…they have no idea what potential enemies the grower may have and who may have people with guns (whether law enforcement or thugs) show up to take everything once it’s cured and trimmed.
Invesment, highly circumstantial: some hitchhike, others drive or fly, several bring their own equipment and food…there’s investment involved.
And as far as the taxes thing, sure the trimmer doesn’t pay taxes on the work he/she has done, but does the grower? Plus, whenever anyone spends money on anything, it’s taxed.
Maybe if the grower sat tight on some product until summer season, they’d get a bit more for their product once everyone else is low or out. But the scene is ever growing, so the more people that grow, the more it’s available, the less people will need to buy it, the more marketing tactics become important…it has to evolve like everything, or else it becomes stagnant and eventually fades away because in the end the juice isn’t worth the squeeze.
But that’s not the case right now and many people are completely dominating the market and making tons of cash which is attractive and why many others are coming aboard and why the market is depreciating. Sometimes we just need to expand the market, and sometimes that means there’s risk involved. Growing meds used to be quite easy to supplement income, but somewhere along the line people have started to commercialize it and it has become a sole source of income for many.

Reality CHECK
Guest
Reality CHECK
7 years ago

EXACTLY!!

Sophia Clark
Guest
Sophia Clark
7 years ago

Yes, agreed. Pretty good article, if one can get past the phallocentrism.

Carolea Godwin
Guest
Carolea Godwin
7 years ago

Yeah buddy nicely put!!!! 💪💪✌

Ronald hump
Guest
Ronald hump
7 years ago

I wonder if anybody would know it was just me if I just commented back and forth to myself as two different people arguing with 2 different views watching all you people get hooked like a fish, while I’m back here laughing it up while smoking a fatty. Oh man…. now who will I be next lol nobody knows….aaahahahahaha.

mingo
Guest
mingo
7 years ago

Riddle:
How does an old codger know its October in Garberville?

Answer:
The young women on the street will actually smile at you and say High!