Got Pot?
The annual migration starts.
In spite of indoor marijuana coming in all year round, September and October–traditional harvest months for outdoor pot plants–bring a flood of people from all over hoping to cash in on manicuring work. The jobs are rumored to pay $250 per pound of finished product with lots of free smoke and organic munchies. A good manicurist working with primo pot can sometimes do 2 pounds per day.
This man and his two female companions sat across from a local grocery store on the main road taking turns holding up the sign. I can’t imagine who hires strangers to come into their home to deal with an illegal crop but I fiound the trio oddly endearing and incredibly optimistic–buoyant even.
Posted by bluelaker4 on September 17, 2008 at 7:46 pm
…not to mention identifiable by that sweater, no doubt.
Posted by beachcomber on September 17, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Last fall, I learned from an interview Larry did on KHUM that women can make extra money by trimming topless. Good thing its warmer in SoHum … in Eureka, we girls keep our racks under wraps.
Posted by Kym on September 17, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Beachcomber,
That is a new one on me….I’ve never heard of topless manicurists. Sounds kind of scratchy.
Posted by Joe Cornish on September 17, 2008 at 10:38 pm
A couple of things bother me about this trio. First of all, they’re sitting down. Shouldn’t job applicants be showing a bit more enthusiasm by at least standing up? Also, the fact that they only have one sign which they take turns holding indicates that they may not be the types to hustle up two pounds per day.
If I were the employer, I’d just drive right by these three and look elsewhere for my personnel needs.
Posted by Kym on September 18, 2008 at 6:38 am
To be fair to them, Joe, I did notice that they weren’t holding up the signs to every car–for instance, the Highway Patrol got a pass….
i tried to figure out what made me a candidate for employer and decided that most of the cars (I only watched a couple minutes though) appeared dusty. If it was dirt, I’m sorry to say I quite fit the bill. Hill cars won’t stay clean.
Posted by headwrapper on September 18, 2008 at 5:17 pm
good one
Posted by mjean on September 18, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Good photo. This one could easily become a cover photo for a book on the History of Marijuana in Humboldt County.
Posted by Tj and Mark on September 18, 2008 at 8:27 pm
The last commenter is right about the photo. Good job. Fun story too. Only in Humboldt!
Posted by dj on September 18, 2008 at 11:29 pm
only in humboldt….
Posted by humboldtgrow on September 19, 2008 at 2:44 am
great photo Kym, the trimmer migration is a fascinating story. I know of a group of girls who came from the east coast to trim in Mendocino and ended up staying, renting their own house and then harvesting 50 pounds the following summer!
Last October I ran the gauntlet of trimmers outside the Garberville Chevron to get some gas when I overheard a french accent. Being a French speaker, I felt obligated to introduce myself and ask if I could be of assistance. The European in question was from Belgium, accompanied by two Sicilians who came all the way to Garberville to trim! The three had met in Thailand several months before and decided that going to Humboldt County to trim was the best way to make enough money to continue their travels. Their goal was to get to the next rainbow gathering in Mexico. Upon further discussion the Belgian explained that they had come all of this way to trim for a specific person who had invited them, only to be told to beat it once they arrived. I called around to various friends to see if any openings were available for the beleaguered trio and found a few days work for them in Leggett. Instead of trimming the three were put to work as cooks. The two sicilians made vegan pasta from scratch and a bunch of other dishes that were amazing. That same friend from Leggett was so pleased with the experience that he found them several different jobs throughout the rest of the trimming season. He recently told me that the Sicilians called and requested some more work for the 2008 season.
I know that the influx of trimmers seems like a huge burden for small towns like Willits, Laytonville, Garberville, and Arcata; but I hope people realize that a lot of these young people are in fact, people. Many people who come to our community to trim are genuinely nice with fascinating stories to tell. I encounter much more riff-raff on the Arcata plaza in March than I do in G-ville during trim season.
Kym, your posting has inspired me to start a trimmer stories thread on my blog. Thank you for the continous stream of inspiration.
P.S. The CNBC interview is full progressing, due to be aired in January. Lots of bizarre twists and turns.
Posted by summerchild on June 14, 2009 at 5:23 pm
I’m in cali for the summer. Anyone now where I could snag a trimming job? Need cash fast and I do love bud
Posted by Trimmer stories « Humboldtgrow’s Weblog on September 19, 2008 at 3:10 am
[...] addressing the issue of the annual trimmer influx that comes this time every year(check it out at http://kymk.wordpress.com/2008/09/17/got-work-marijuana-manicurists-arriving-in-humboldt/). Personally, I get a kick out of seeing all of these crazy kids wandering up and down the 101 [...]
Posted by dj on September 21, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Kym! You’re over your mail quota on starband. You need an email adddress at google or yahoo or such where you don’t have to worry about quota’s. When you have it fixed, let me know so I can email you pictures from this weekend.
Posted by bluelaker4 on September 21, 2008 at 11:08 pm
My email to you bounced too, Kym.
Posted by Doug Green on September 22, 2008 at 11:39 am
A few years ago I was in Murrish’s. This somewhat feral, mid-twenties dude was pushing a cart with 2-300 boxes of oven bags, nothin’ else. I said, “well, we’re not even trying to be subtle are we?” With a Cheshire grin that lit up the isle he said, “Nope!”
Gotta love us!
Posted by Kym on September 22, 2008 at 5:57 pm
DJ and Aunt Jackie, Hopefully it is fixed. (Yes, I should get another one but I like the address.)
Doug, I was watching this fellow load his cart up just last week–beer, chips, cookies, lots of steak–that kind of food and then he added in a box of oven bags. Well, I snickered. I may be guilty of stereotyping but there is no way in heck that kind of food went with oven bags. Someday I’d love to call the company and ask if they sell an unusually large number of bags here.
BTW, I loved your website.
Posted by Kato on September 23, 2008 at 8:04 pm
I have heard that “that company” already sent a representative here a couple years ago to find out why their bags sell so darn well… he was shocked to discover why and promptly left the area!
Posted by Kym on September 23, 2008 at 8:15 pm
If you figure out the source of that story I would love to hear it.
Posted by gambleer on September 24, 2008 at 3:32 pm
A couple of years ago I heard a trivia question on a local radio station (KHSU I think?). What store in the USA sells the most oven roasting turkey bags? 2 free tickets to something for the correct answer.
1st answer: Wal Mart NYC? Not even close.
2nd answer: Safeway Arcata? Nope but getting closer.
3rd answer: Ray’s Garberville! Bingo! 1st in nation! Apparently second place sells like 20x less. Bonus prize if caller can say why they sell so many……. caller says: uh..um..because police dogs cant smell the “turkey” inside? Correct again.
When you think about it, people don’t bake turkeys very often.
Posted by R.L. on September 29, 2008 at 10:40 am
2lbs a day, that’s pretty good.keep a clipping. Gotta love it to enjoy it. Luv to join ya sometime. I’m pretty good myself.
Posted by litegreen on September 29, 2008 at 2:59 pm
i need 250.00 per pound of marjunia
Posted by The Noble Lie on October 1, 2008 at 7:03 am
Our household “bakes a lot of turkeys.”
Great piece of local flavor here.
Posted by Humboldt Job Applicant « REDHEADED BLACKBELT and Other Strange Connections on October 5, 2008 at 8:07 am
[...] photographer who captures some amazing images) sent me this photo right after I posted the Manicurists coming to Humboldt photo. I kept returning to it, chuckling. Finally, I asked permission to share it with you [...]
Posted by mounir on October 5, 2008 at 11:00 am
where can i apply?
Posted by Adam Paul Plimmer on October 15, 2008 at 8:37 am
Hi
I want to be a trimmer how ??
Posted by buy grow lights on January 3, 2009 at 1:39 am
It really is a pain to trim all of that though lol.
Posted by ROlling_stoned on February 15, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Please, please can you give me information on how to get one of these jobs? I’m looking to move to cali’s emerald triangle very soon, and i would love love to clip all day , making that much money. That gives me time to do my art and money to fund my gallery. I’d so appreciate yo.
Posted by Trimmer stories | fatemaster on April 14, 2009 at 9:12 pm
[...] addressing the issue of the annual trimmer influx that comes this time every year(check it out at http://kymk.wordpress.com/2008/09/17/got-work-marijuana-manicurists-arriving-in-humboldt/). Personally, I get a kick out of seeing all of these crazy kids wandering up and down the 101 [...]
Posted by Southern Humboldt: A Guide for Tourists « REDHEADED BLACKBELT on May 28, 2009 at 3:46 pm
[...] Cove and play on the beach. If you are into the marijuana experience, Most people are pretty shy (though not all) but some unique stores exist because of the culture–The Hemp Connection sells wonderful hemp [...]
Posted by S.A. Bogie on June 5, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Being from the Midwestern State of Indiana….These Stories seem like something so far fetched…….Not to mention “Comical”, That they must be true! LOL… Ah, If I could re-live my life and be in better health, I’d pack up a head West so fast that your Head would spin like Linda Blair in the exorcist! I wished trimming was a Job title here in Northern Indiana….(6 more years and I could retire as a Trimmer) LOL! What a Dream Job! I’m having so much fun reading these blogs….I can’t even remember how I stumbled across this site! And I am Glad I did! Geez, Here I am a 54 year old “Hick” From Indiana who is a “Frozen in the 60’s” Guy. I wished and I hope that I live long enough to see “Legalized” Weed in my State. I’d Love to be in the situation where worrying about finding folks to trim my crop, be a issue for me! LOL. I’d be so rich even if I only had a nickle to my name! I’m So glad I found this Blog to read……..It gives me pleasure to read such a Blog of this nature. Please feel free to email me so I can dealve deeper into Talking about such a great topic! I am At a loss for the right words to say…….LOL! Man I wished I was starting over again! Imagin that…….Me as a “Trimmer”……How Lucky can a person Be?
Thanks and Peace be with you Always
S.A. Bogie
Northern Indiana
Posted by Glenn on July 31, 2009 at 5:42 am
Hey S.A., I’m 56 and still a hippie at heart ,though you wouldn’t know it to look at me anymore!
It made me kind of sad to read your post, cause it sounds like you’ve sort of surrendered. I don’t know about you, but I still feel young at heart and I feel like I still have a couple of road trips left in me. I’ve been thinking really seriously about driving out to the Mendocino area and camping out, testing out some of that world class herb and seeing the sights. If somehow I stumbled into a grower in need of some help, so be it. If not, that’s OK too. What do you say I stop by your place on the way and pick you up? Are you up for one more road trip???!!!!
GZ
Naples, Florida
Posted by Kym on June 6, 2009 at 7:54 am
If you are interested in more stories and photos of this area and its unique marijuana culture, you should ask your local magazine distributor for a copy of Humboldt Grow. I write for it. The website is not up to date but the magazine is great.
Posted by Loveya on June 10, 2009 at 12:58 am
ready and willing
Posted by humboldtkids on August 11, 2009 at 7:05 pm
I am trying to figure out how to blog and participate in these forums. More power to you! You probably know my exwife and daughter and think they are wonderful folks. You are half right! I love reefer and reefer culture, which is why I went legal and grow for personal consumtion, but damn the luck, I had to go legit and conscience dictates that I share the other side of the story. One bad apple spoils the bushel, as they say. If you cannot find my blog “humboldtkids” it is because I am completely incompetent with this stuff. If my daughter were here she could show me how. Rest assured, though, I will do everything in my power to get this story out.
Posted by All fired up on September 9, 2009 at 2:52 am
This game is changing at lightning speed. The last 6-8 months have me questioning my direction in life, the new laws and the pace of change is astounding! Medical marijuana is finally here and its about time, I found a company based out of California that will help with setup and tending of grows for green card patients, or legal collectives that supply to California dispensaries. Wow, and very kool.
I have been in this game before but the rules were different then, lost 116 pounds and 21 months of my life in lompoc over it. Done what was dealt and moved on, but the legal aspect has me missing the scene. I’m not even talking the money, I miss that dank smell and working with weed. If you love the smell and the plant itself you know what I mean. Im wondering what it takes to get setup with a good spot in Humbolt or perhaps Oakland? I have never lived in California, and its cities kinda scare me so Humbolt is probably more my scene. What are resnt going for? If no rents what about for sale by owners? What s the going rates around there? It would have to be the right spot, legit or not under the radar is best. Ive been following the change pretty close in the news as can be imagined, my mind has never wandered far these past few years. When its in your blood its in your blood. Im just very excited that this turning point is finally here.
I would be happy to get a collective going with someone down in those parts. Get it going all legal like to take advantage of the winds of change. My past experience in this weed game was shopping for the best chronic and figuring out how to get it from a to my b. Now I would like to learn this grow game and help people in need get the medicine for their bodies and soul.
Sorry for the novel, and If any locals in Humbolt or Oakland with some knowledge or thoughts… please email me back.
signed – All fired up