Freedom to Grow

[auslander]

I learnt today that I am legally allowed to grow up to 100 Tobacco plants and have at one time up to 6 kg of ready to smoke product. As long as it is not sold or used in a commercial way it is allowed. Small round of applause for the legislators of Germany. :clap:
Hmmmm.......... A few plants under lights perhaps??
::
On a side note back in my not so free homeland I could expect a fine of $50,000 and jail time for purposely growing 1 plant(although seldom enforced as it falls squarely in the too hard basket for the already overworked police force.
Can you grow your own?

 

[dermotfahy]

Yes, and have on occasion. I am planning on trying again this coming year, Virginia 116 and Gold Dollar burley. I figure on using a watered down molasses casing, and then forming twists and aging in rum. I have never made twist before, this should be interesting.
$50,000 fine for one plant? Where is that?

 

[rebornbriar]

You can grow tobacco in the UK for your own use, however - you are supposed to weigh the amount you use, declare it to Customs and Excise and pay the tobacco duty on it!!!
That is the first problem. The second problem is the shit weather :D

 

[auslander]

Dermot; That sounds like an interesting project it would be good to see and hear how you go.

$50,000 fine for one plant? Where is that?

Australia:
Commonwealth Consolidated Acts
EXCISE ACT 1901 - SECT 28

Only licensed producers to produce tobacco leaf etc.

(1) A person who does not hold a producer licence must not intentionally produce material that is tobacco seed, tobacco plant or tobacco leaf knowing, or being reckless as to whether, the material is tobacco seed, tobacco plant or tobacco leaf.
Penalty:
(a) for tobacco seed or tobacco plant--2 years imprisonment or 500 penalty units; and
(b) for tobacco leaf--2 years imprisonment or the greater of:
(i) 500 penalty units; and
(ii) 5 times the amount of duty, worked out under the regulations, being the duty that would be payable if the tobacco leaf had been manufactured into excisable goods and entered for home consumption on the penalty day.
Note: See section 4AA of the Crimes Act 1914 for the current value of a penalty unit.
(2) A person who does not hold a producer licence must not produce tobacco seed, tobacco plant or tobacco leaf.
Penalty: 100 penalty units.
(3) Strict liability applies to subsection (2).
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ea190180/s28.html
Rebornbriar

The second problem is the shit weather

Yep there's small window of opportunity here in Germany OR do it under lights for most of the year and use the spring summer sun to it's full advantage. It would be an interesting thing to try on a small scale just for the fun of it.

 

[mso489]

How depressing, that growing tobacco for your own use on your own property is illegal. Even during prohibition in the U.S.,

people were allowed to make a limited amount of beer or wine for their own use. I can understand the regulation of commercial

production. That is a different proposition. But what you do in your garden by way of growing a product that is legal for use seems

inappropriate for legal restrictions. I'm sure, discovering my legal opinion, this will be promptly changed -- lol.

 

[pipeherman]

I would love to grow my own tobacco. Damn British weather, and my poor practical workman skills. ::

 

[dread]

That's out there. But we are working on catching up to rules like that here in the good old USA too . . .

 

[fitzy]

wow that's absolutely ridiculous.

 

[waywardverve]

makes me sad.... but I wonder if they'd actually catch me hmmmm is it worth it hahahha

 

[auslander]

Pretty hard to get caught, unless acting foolishly like selling or giving it away. Would be (reasonably) safe to grow a dozen plants and have your own supply. It's only loose lips and greed that would really bring someone undone.

 

[rayje589]

I know my state is good for growing cigar tobacco so I can't imagine growing pipe tobacco is much different.

 

[auslander]

I would seriously not recommend that one break the law though. However unjust.
Although Henry David Thoreau wrote,
“Unjust laws exist; shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once? Men generally, under such a government as this, think that they ought to wait until they have persuaded the majority to alter them. They think that, if they should resist, the remedy would be worse than the evil. But it is the fault of the government itself that the remedy is worse than the evil. It makes it worse. Why is it not more apt to anticipate and provide for reform? Why does it not cherish its wise minority? Why does it cry and resist before it is hurt? Why does it not encourage its citizens to be on the alert to point out its faults, and do better than it would have them?”
and Thomas Jefferson
"If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so."
I normally wouldn't apply American attitudes to Australia as at there core they are different cultures. I make an exception in this case because it would be foolish to not recognise great men and great thinkers merely due to their nationality.

 

[northernneil]

I grew tobacco in my back year last year and I have to say, I was suprized how resilient it was. It did not like frost, but other than that/ nothing would kill the plants. I had 2 major hail storms roll through and destroy my crop twice. Even with that, the plant grew back and I was able to get a modest harvest in the end. If you don't this it will work in your weather/ try it anyways. It grew in my weather, and I don't think you could have worse weather than I did.
One other note, tobacco take up a lot of space, to grow and to color cure. I sugest starting small, 5 - 10 plants. I ended up giving a lot of my plants away because I ran out of room to hang them.

 

[fitzy]

I'd be curious to experiment with hydroponically grown tobacco.
Neil what did you do with your tobacco after harvest? How did you cure it?

 

[auslander]

I had a look around the hyperglobalmeganet and there is a great amount of information pertaining to growing tobacco in various regions around the world and also under artificial light.
Artificial light growing is not technically 'hydroponics' as most that I saw used soil and pots instead of nutrient baths but their results are/were successful. The German and U.K guys were by in large using the artificial light in the colder months and then moving out doors as soon as the year warmed up.
It is a relatively cheap set up as the grow light need only be a flouro light with a 'cool white' bulb as that is the right light spectrum for tobacco although some used the new LED grow lights.
The curing and fermenting aspect is also a relatively cheap and easy process if not somewhat time consuming. A kiln for fermenting is needed but that is easily built using and old container and a heat mat with a humidity source. That humidity source can be fancy like a humidifier or simply a wet towel.
There is contention on whether one should colour cure the leaves first and then ferment followed by another round of curing or to just ferment first and then cure. The curing being simply hanging in a warm dark spot with sufficient air exchange to prevent mold.
We are moving house shortly and when we do I will put in a requisition form signed and witnessed in triplicate to the minister of war and finance and see if I gain permission to turn the shed into a small tobacco processing plant.
It would be an interesting hobby to undertake and keep me off the streets.

 

[fitzy]

Sounds like fun. Keep us posted as to your findings.

 

[northernneil]

Fitzy, I had to stalk cure / dry my tobacco in my basement with the assistance of a humidifier to keep the leave from drying too fast, I live in a rather dry climate. I basically left the full plants hung in my basement for about a year ( I turned the humidifier off after the leafes turned brown). I then removed the leaves from the stalks, bundled them abd hung them in my home made kiln, an old fridge and a crock pot. I am in the process of fermenting my last bunch of leaves. From here, I will be pressing the tobacco into flakes and experimenting with smoking and blending. I have not cased or topped the leaves and do not plan on it this time around.

 

[northernneil]

Auslander, I do not know how feasible it would be to grow tobacco indoors as the plants are about 7' tall and 3' around. No question you will need to start the plants inside, but you'll want to move them outside for the summer. If weather is a really big concern, you might be better looking into greenhouse options rather then growing inside.

 

[phred]

Pipeherman - according to the FAQ at this tobacco growing website, you may be in luck:

Do climate and weather conditions matter ?

The British climate is ideal for tobacco growth and hotter climates present no problem. However, much colder environments do run a risk of some crop failure, so please bear this in mind - Iceland be warned!

And according to a 19th century book on tobacco that I'm reading, the Oriental varieties are admirably suited to the British climate, and were referred to colloquially as "English Tobacco"...

 

[auslander]

@NorthernerNiel: I think a green house would be a good idea using the garden shed as a propagation house and seedling incubator and then moving them when weather is appropriate. A green house would facilitate an earlier move outside in early spring.