I can imagine growing a few Virginia and burley plants, sun drying them, maybe smoking a few leaves, toasting a few and adding some nugant and cherry or vanilla toppings. I may start experimenting with whole leaf and see where that takes me.
Thriving in the Upcoming Tobacco Apocalypse
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You know it would be cool if we all got together and traded what we grow and cure. Makes me excited for the spring.
Next year'll be my third adventure in home growing, and I'm feeling optimistic about getting something I actually want to smoke this year.
Year 1, cured too dry.
Year 2, cured too wet.
Year 1, cured too dry.
Year 2, cured too wet.
There are still many states in the republic where both are 100% not butted into by govt (usually ones that have never had the word “commonwealth” in their collective our official vocabulary), and there are states where the latter (and probably soon, former) isn’t possible even through inheritance
This. I got caught with my pants (mostly) down during the McClelland fiasco (also partly because I was still developing my palate/knowledge back then. Vowed never again.
I will say I have sort of gotten distracted with some of the limited editions, but I'm rectifying on the fortification of some of my more favorite day-to-days now. Not to mention that I have enough other desirable blends that it gives me capital to barter for what I'd want.
Cellaring, like preparedness in general, is never a bad idea. Like planting a tree, the best time to do it was 10 years ago, the 2nd best time is today haha.
But all this to say at the end of the day it's still a damn shame. For our hobby, esp those young or of not enough means to cellar as deep, for those losing their jobs, losing our history, variety, memory, etc. Yes the world will keep turning but that doesn't mean having a funeral or mourning is an incorrect response either lol
I primarily smoke Cornell & Diehl blends. The two main reasons are the quality and the price. I will continue to stock up on Exclusive, Burley Flakes #'s 1 and 2, Chenet's Cake, Night Train, Pegasus, Briar Fox, and Winchester as I'm able financially.
I've grown plenty of plants and animals, yield isn't always as much as you hoped. Farming pursuits can take years of trail and error to produce decent results.
500 bags of this, just in case. If you feel like I do about tobacco, this bullshit might save your life.
500 bags of this, just in case. If you feel like I do about tobacco, this bullshit might save your life.
I have read a little and Im not sure I want to tackle growing and curing. I imagine the results would be meh. Im pretty picky about what I smoke. Im probably just better off continuing to make regular purchases and stock up. If I cant enjoy what I smoke I will just quit.
Of course its sad to see them all shrink but there remain many good blends.
HU
Ratrays
some Dan Blends
C&D
GLP
If Kopp sells out or folds we are in trouble in the EU. Its less than thrilling to rely on a company that keeps cheapening blends but at least they keep making them.
Of course its sad to see them all shrink but there remain many good blends.
HU
Ratrays
some Dan Blends
C&D
GLP
If Kopp sells out or folds we are in trouble in the EU. Its less than thrilling to rely on a company that keeps cheapening blends but at least they keep making them.
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One of the greatest Spanish cyclists, born in 1925, still lives in my hometown. He developed his cycling skills smuggling tobacco from Cartagena, about 100 km. twice a day, every day. He was third on the tour de France two times and he won the vuelta de España once without further training. I guess we'll be needing more people like him.
So, now in earnest, I've cellared about 25 kilos of tobacco. That is not much, but none would be worst, so... I'll keep cellaring and cellaring while I can. Customs are getting harder to fool and every once in a while, a US or Germany vendor stops shipping internationally. But the door is still open.
I'll eventually try growing my own, but I'm counting on it being a hard and difficult enterprise. If I ever do it, it will be just for the fun of it. If I get something to smoke out of it, that's fine.
So, now in earnest, I've cellared about 25 kilos of tobacco. That is not much, but none would be worst, so... I'll keep cellaring and cellaring while I can. Customs are getting harder to fool and every once in a while, a US or Germany vendor stops shipping internationally. But the door is still open.
I'll eventually try growing my own, but I'm counting on it being a hard and difficult enterprise. If I ever do it, it will be just for the fun of it. If I get something to smoke out of it, that's fine.
I hope that over the years, health insurance companies will not threaten you, penalize you, raise the price of your contract, or that governments will forbid smokers to smoke in their own homes... We live in such an unstable world that uncertainty, anxiety and chaos will always work against the population. I believe that thinking about the future is irrelevant. Smoke, enjoy, and if better times come, hallelujah. That, without counting that your tobacco will be well preserved for years or decades, or that your health allows you to do so. The laws are becoming more restrictive, more severe, more destructive to the tobacco business.
Ahh, another prepper/homesteader I see... well met sir, well met. Luckily I'm putting back Cherokee so our Fallout shops won't be direct competitors. I wish you luck and a wealth of bottle caps
I smoke around 4lbs a year. Considering I’m only 31 and the life expectancy for an American man is 75, I have enough tobacco for many years, but not my lifetime. I’m not comfortable purchasing tobacco that I will end up storing and not smoking for 45-50 years, as I’m not sure the quality will hold up after such a long period of time.
Would you grow a few plants of the same Virginia variety or would each plant be a different variety? Either way it sounds like a fun/solid plan.
My options are very limited, my state doesn't allow online sales and pipe tobacco has a 95% tax. To make matters worse I live 90 minutes from a B&M that specializes in pipes. My local has a decent selection of bulks and occasionally has Plum Pudding and Sutliff Krumble Cake for sale. So I'm stocking up on the bulks I like, buying the PP and SKC when it's available (which may never again be especially the latter), and shelling out on tins I want to try on the rare occasion I'm in a pipe specialized B&M. Which is pretty much what I was doing even before MacBaren / Sutliff sold out.
If i had greater access to funds. Id be able to cellar a ton of about 11 blends and be done with it. As it stands it’s slow going. So it would be awesome if the powers at be slow their roll a bit. Give a guy a chance ya know?
Why not rent a PO Box in Portland?
EDIT: Or make friends with someone in a free state who can forward goods on to you? Or move?
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Most likely grow on a couple of varieties just to experiment. Maybe a solid Virginia and a burley. I imagine there is a learning curve and I wouldn’t want to spend too much time perfecting it. My taste are simple.Would you grow a few plants of the same Virginia variety or would each plant be a different variety? Either way it sounds like a fun/solid plan.
You sound somewhat shocked.