Each month we feature a selection of our Co-op Members and Supporters. They live the Co-op’s mission and demonstrate the innovate nature of the independent entrepreneurs that make up BC’s highly skilled craft cannabis sector.
Scott’s operations are located just outside of Golden, BC. He’s been interested and involved in the cannabis industry in one way or another for as long as he can remember. Ten years ago, as a result of a workplace injury, he acquired an ACMPR licence. Seeing an opportunity to become self-sufficient and to start a small business, he applied to Health Canada and in October 2020 Scott became the twenty-second micro cultivator to acquire a licence in the Province of BC.
That makes it sound simpler than it was. Becoming a licensed cultivator was a real challenge. Dealing with four different levels of government, from the Regional District, the Province, the CRA and finally Health Canada, demanded undaunted persistence and attention to detail. Fortunately, the location of his property is in an outlying region, the building he owned fit all the security parameters, and locally, folks have been very receptive.
Since Golden is on the Trans Canada Highway not too far from Alberta, a lot of tourists come through. Many stop by at one of Golden’s two cannabis retailers in search of what BC is known for. Kootenay weed is a product that speaks for itself; it belongs to a rich tradition fostered over decades by legacy growers like Scott.
StoneGrove is as Mom and Pops as it gets. For Scott, a high-quality product always trumps high volume. Growing good consistent weed is an art, but a successful harvest requires careful planning. Being organized is key because you need to be ready to act when the unexpected happens. It is farming after all. For processing his crop, he relies on an outfit in Salmon Arm.
As a farmer he follows his own advice: be sure to draw the line when it comes to spending money, especially since bank funding is difficult to come by and getting insurance is such a struggle. He’s gradually developing StoneGrove’s profile within the Kootenay mix – proprietary branding and broader marketing of StoneGrove cannabis will come when it comes. Meanwhile, Scott hopes to expand his East Kootenay network through the BC Craft Farmers Co-op.
Website: www.stonegrove.life
Email: scott@stonegrove.life
Instagram: @stonegrove_life
Twitter: @grove_stone