Radical Cannabis Ecologies: A Regenerative Approach to Cannabis Farms in The Emerald Triangle

Abstract

Over the past 150 years, the forest ecosystems of California’s Northwestern Coast have been dramatically altered, first through a century of intensive logging followed by 50 years of illicit cannabis cultivation. Combined, these extractive practices, a warming climate, and agricultural intensification brought by cannabis legalization have put immense pressure on the productive capacities of these landscapes. The emergence of cannabis cultivation as a legal enterprise offers opportunities to radically re-imagine how these sites are situated in the landscape and operate. This thesis proposal examines how cannabis farms can harness the energy flows and resources of their surrounding physical and biological systems while emphasizing regenerative design strategies within cultivation zones to improve production, mitigate waste, and bolster farm resilience. Using an existing commercial cannabis farm in Kneeland, California as a case study, I develop and investigate an actionable regenerative framework of design strategies that can be adapted to the thousands of similar farms that dot this rugged and remote landscape. In doing so, we can help mend these landscapes and ensure the long-term viability of this homegrown industry.