Today we’d like to introduce you to Sue Carlton.
Hi Sue, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Highhh, I’m a third-generation Latina farmer. My specialty well it’s boutique hemp flower grown to the medical standard powered by the magnificent California sun. I started my way into the green world when I was 20, working as a trimmer, prunner and your glorified watering girl. I worked my way up in the scene, taking any and every job that I could. When legalization of rec took place in Oregon, I was given the opportunity of a lifetime. Like I said before I took any and every job, bc I wanted to be a part of it and learn every aspect. I started cleaning for my first recreational cannabis job, it would be about a month…honestly trying to prove to the owner I could be of help and that I was needed. After that first month, I finally got to do my dream job, Chocolatiering. During this time, I worked on my education at PSU for Public Health Administration, though once finished, I realized I already found my passion which was working in Weed. I spent a lot of time consulting with brands from recipes to ergonomics in the workplace, food and safety regulations, genetic and strain selection. I started my farm in 2017 before Covid, then relocated the farm to California for the better-growing conditions outside. I have owned, operated and planned out every crop for almost 6 years now.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Now we all have challenges, whether we want to admit to it or not. Financially speaking this is a huge challenge for those who are like me who are self-funded. I never wanted to grow more than what I knew to do with or take out loans for a project I may fail or lose interest in. Financial security is difficult when working with a plant that has a stigma, from finding banking to website hosts, large network of shops, the hemp crash of 2021, being accepted into your community or neighborhood. There are so many struggles; I could probably write a 10-page research paper on all of them. I always like to mention that; you have to have the support whether it comes from the inside or out and understanding that your mental health is the most important thing that will define your everyday and business.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am known for high terpene, sun-grown boutique hemp flower grown on a micro-scale in the Sierra Mountains California. Most would say I never let anything go to waste, which is why I am always finding new products to make for our farm and others for instance, I launched the first hemp earrings; made from our hemp leaves we have at the farm, cold-pressed and hand-painted, as well as joint crowns/tiaras, necklaces, brooches and hat pins.
What’s next?
I am excited as this is my 6th year and I finally feel like I have my farm settled in. Most winters and springs we spend building out, increasing our field size, etc. Now this year, I am so excited that I was able to focus on building other aspects of our farm out, whether it’s writing articles or building the dream runway line I think of daily.
Pricing:
- Aretes De Hoja Earrings $90.00
- Collares De Hoja Necklaces $120.00
- Joint Crowns $150.00
- Hoja Brooches $30.00
Contact Info:
- Website: rancherafamilia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rancheramami/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-carlton-ab51a0174
Image Credits
All photos are taken by me; except the red dress photo that is @lucidlidia
