Buddha’s Harvest is no stranger to standard operating procedures (SOPs). We develop customized SOPs for each and every facility that we engage. But what are SOPs, and why are they so important? According to Cannabis Business Times they’re an “outline of exactly how to conduct every process of your operation”. Hubspot (a popular CRM platform) calls them “a step-by-step list of instructions detailing how to execute a routine procedure”. Simple enough right? Wrong, the devil is in the details! Good SOPs can make all the “difference between profit and loss, compliance, and court case”.
 
SOPs should be VERY simple and easily digested. They should have bullet pointed steps that flow in line with daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. As Edgar Allen Poe in his writing “The Philosophy of Composition” asserts, one should “know the ending in advice before writing”. In other words we should know what we want the end product to be, and work backwards. In the spirit of Charlie Munger, we should look at all problems backwards to help create and reveal new solutions. If you want good end product - identify the gaps in the process leading up to testing or retail sales and close them. Start with a complete list of functions that the team must execute. Use checklists, flow charts, detailed instructions, and imagery. Okay, get your pens out, I’ll provide you an SOP on how to write SOP’s.
 
1.  Analyze: Assess the space and work flow, define each task in detail, remembering to keep it as concise as possible (your team will likely not read a 100 page SOP on harvesting).
 
2. Consider each angle: walk through all possible scenarios and variables, things like safety, contamination risk, and simplifying each tasks should be considered.
 
3. Thinking ahead: Again, consider the end product, this will help avoid any missteps or oversights.
 
4. Reflect: Identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and pain points. Seek hands on feedback, ask your team, speak with experienced cultivators, harvesters, and SOP professionals to review and critique your outline.
 
5. Measure: Determine how the SOPS will be measured, tested, and reworked always allowing for some level of flexibility.
 
6. Implement and test: So how do we create standard operating procedures for organic material that essentially has a mind of its own? The answer is: leave room for variation and “one offs” Don’t get bogged down in black and white paper. Instead keep operations somewhat grey and open to slight onsite improvisation. We call this flexibility - with a spine!
 
But why do we need SOPs, can’t we just grow and harvest cannabis? SOPs not only allow you to systemize, structure, and maximize your yield, they also point to key performance indicators (KPI’s), and they establish methods to measure growth. SOPs create standards that allow for replication, increasing likelihood of consistent quality product, and ultimately dependable revenue. SOPs in the regulated cannabis market are particularly important for compliance and to avoid legal missteps. The B.C.C utilizes track and trace through the Metrc system. Metrc is a compliance software intended to track the life of each individual plant from seed to sale. It is entirely necessary, yet cumbersome. As with most business operations the stronger your procedures are, the more likely you are to overcome challenges. So take the time, consider each variable, and begin writing some simple procedures for your team. It will help you sleep at night and if ever, as a business owner, you get a day off- you will be glad there is a document on file for teammates to reference.  

A common euphemism is “one person's weed is another person's flower”. In the right conditions, with the proper planning, and preparation cannabis can be very easy and delightful to grow. As a result cannabis cultivation can be monotonous, constantly striving to improve daily, weekly, and monthly task is how cultivators reduce costs and find satisfaction in their work. The more cannabis cultivators are able to automate, regulate, or otherwise schedule, and plan cannabis harvests’ the greater chance of maximizing yield and potency. Increasing efficiency even 10-15% can dramatically affect your cannabis harvest yield, potency, value, and healing properties.
 
In commercial cannabis cultivation each step of the process needs to be organized and broken down to the moment. Bottle necking can cost you thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours. We’ve looked at the numbers for sophisticated commercial state of the art grows. We’ve found the most efficient and cost effective method of harvesting cannabis is to hire a professional harvest company, to manicure your bud and process your harvest. Therefore, let’s go over the reasons a commercial cannabis cultivator would hire a professional cannabis harvesting or cannabis trimming team/crew.
 
Professional cannabis trimming and outsourcing of labor is a fairly new position in a growing industry. Not only is it hard to find good cannabis trimmers/processors, it is difficult to keep them especially- when harvest aren’t back to back. The inconsistent nature of cannabis harvesting as facilities expand can be burdensome. The cost of the following can be astronomical:

Finding and Interviewing talent
background screening, finger printing, assessing state and local compliance
vetting and training talent,
managing, scheduling, coordinating
setting up payroll,
dealing with conflicts coaching and termination
S.O.P Development
all while transplant cleaning/resetting rooms
drying, curing, test preparation, & packaging
plant health assessment/Q.C.
 
Hiring a professional hand trimming or cannabis harvesting company takes the stress out of payroll and cannabis human resources that can slow the harvesting process by up to 25% and cost over 30% of overall harvest revenue. Cannabis harvesting and hand trimming crews especially in southern California, are the most efficient, easiest, and cost effective way to manage the harvest process. At Buddha’s Harvest company we only hire top talent, who are fingerprinted and background screened.
 
 


 ~Buddhas harvest company is a professional cannabis harvesting company based in southern California. We specialize in hand trimming. Buddhas Harvest Co focuses on the zenith of efficiency by building custom standard operating procedures for each new client or facility. We consider each variable in the harvest process, to ensure efficiency and reduced costs. 
 

Cannabis Trimming is easiest just after harvest. However, commercial cannabis cultivations do not have the ability to hand wet trim thousands of pounds immediately. This is why dry trimming is typically utilized in craft commercial cannabis cultivations. No machine has come close to hand trimming cannabis (wet or dry) in terms of quality, potency preservation, and clean testing lab results.
 
Hand trimming brings an organic, natural, manicured appeal that any consumer or cultivator would prefer. A machine will cut all buds exactly the same despite strain and shape variation. This results in lower quality in terms of flavor, potency and shelf appeal. Each strain and individual plant of cannabis is unique and each natural shape should be preserved. Unfortunately, machines aren’t sensitive enough to recognize these differences and essentially take away all the love and hard work that cultivators put into growing cannabis. 
 
Machine trimming is expensive and comes with a host of issues including: constant maintenance, contamination risk, severe damage to trichomes, bud potency, and jar appeal. Machines also trim off valuable portions of buds reducing weight and destroying months of hard work. Further, machines that are rented or refurbished could hold damaging pesticides. Residual pesticides can remain on the walls or blades of machines years after pesticides were used and scrubbed. Machines destroy local jobs and put undue pressure on the cannabis industry.

Now let’s discuss hand trimming techniques. The key to hand trimming your desired weight is a clean and organized trimming station. Reduce arm fatigue by keeping arms close to your body, elbows tight to your torso, not extended out. Its best to do one task at a time then switch to the next in sequences. For example a good trimmer knows to strip fan leaves off each bud and placing in the trash bin first, before moving to the next task of trimming sugar leaves. Cannabis hand trimmers cut sugar and fan leaves as close as they can without cutting the bud. We handle the buds like we would a baby’s soft spot or baby bird. We don’t stack buds to avoid crushing them. We don’t rub or press them hard. We do not toss or throw buds. 
 
It’s important to hold the blade perpendicular to the bud. Use the tip of our scissors as a pin point to remove leaves at the base. We rarely trim with the side of the scissors. We rotate the bud towards us as we gently trim, uniformly creating a manicured, sculpted bud. Hand trim specifications and modifications are made for each client, facility, strain, and plant. We swap out and clean scissors as they become gummy. It is essential to stretch muscles every hour or ninety minutes to avoid cramps, fatigue, and carpal tunnel. Once dried and trimmed the cannabis can be stored in glass jars to complete the curing process.

“Virgin” bud trimming is growing in popularity. This is when the cannabis flower is manicured without touching the bud at all. In virgin hand trimming a trimmer will hold cannabis by the stem, strip the fan leaves and trim the sugar leaves. Then the bud is cut from the branch -without ever touching the buds. This requires a steady hand, and trained professional with an extreme attention to detail. The virgin cannabis bud trimming technique may take longer but the potency results are worth it!


​~Buddhas harvest company is a professional cannabis harvesting company based in southern California. We specialize in hand trimming. Buddhas Harvest Co focuses on the zenith of efficiency by building custom standard operating procedures for each new client or facility. We consider each variable in the harvest process, to ensure efficiency and reduced costs. 

​If you are drying and trimming your cannabis, congratulations you are almost ready to distribute and consume. But before a single plant is cut down you must plan and prepare the drying and trim space. First count your plants and analyze your yield based on strain and bud condition. This will determine the space needed and environment specifications. Determine your needs and set up the processing space.
 
Properly Drying cannabis is just as important as proper cultivation. Drying must be done slowly- do not turn the fan directly on cannabis buds. In perfect drying condition cannabis buds should dry between 5 and 15 days. Proper handling of cannabis buds is the key to not damaging precious trichomes. Over handling, fondling, or disrupting the bud is a great way to reduce potency, flavor, and compromise testing results. Avoid excessive light, keep temperatures between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit and keep humidity between 50-60%. Inspect cannabis buds daily for mold, fungus, or spider mites. You will know your buds are dry when stems snap cleanly instead of folding from moisture. If you will be hand trimming there must be ample space and accommodations for the trim crew.  Typically trimmers need a separate bin for trash, trim, A buds (bigger top colas) and B buds (smaller popcorn buds). Buddhas Harvest is very concerned with microbial contaminations, we harvest for licensed operators in California and nationally. Microbial contamination come from skin and cannabis is susceptible during hand trimming. Therefore, we always wear clean room gear including gloves, smocks, masks and hair nets.

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~Buddhas harvest company is a professional cannabis harvesting company based in southern California. We specialize in hand trimming. Buddhas Harvest Co focuses on the zenith of efficiency by building custom standard operating procedures for each new client or facility. We consider each variable in the harvest process, to ensure efficiency and reduced costs. 

In commercial cannabis cultivation each step of the process needs to be organized and broken down to the moment. Bottlenecking can cost you thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours. Therefore, let’s go over cannabis pre harvest techniques.

Defoliation is the removing of larger fan leaves in the flower stage to expose maturing cannabis buds to more light and air flow. Indoor cultivations with limited space will most likely defoliate, this will also speed up the trimming and the processing of the harvest. If done properly it can dramatically increase cannabis yield and potency. If incorrect handled, defoliation can destroy your crop and cost you thousands. Various environmental factors and strain variation will determine when, how, and where to defoliate. This typically occurs in early and/or late flower. Environmental factors, growers preference, light disbursement, and strain variation will determine if a cultivator will defoliate or “pluck” the top leaves or the bottom leaves of each plant.  
 
No matter the factors or strain, a grower should never take more than 80% of each plant. One should leave at least 20% of foliage when defoliation or plucking. Most importantly, defoliating must be done delicately to not disrupt growing cannabis flower. a fan leaf should be plucked at the base to avoid stripping the stem of valuable flesh.  A defoliator must never touch, handle, or crush maturing buds, doing everything she can to not disrupt bud growth, trichomes, and corresponding potency. 
 
Chopping cannabis takes place at the end of flowering and can be done a few different ways. Large scale commercial cannabis cultivations especially in southern California, generally cannot trim by hand or machine while the bud is still wet, known simply as “wet trimming”. Typically, commercial cannabis cultivation perform “dry trimming” once the bud is dry. Therefore, commercial cannabis plants are chopped at the base with heavy duty garden shears and gently hung by the stem being sure to not put pressure on precious trichome filled buds. Thin ropes are horizontally strung across the drying room and the plant is hung by a crux or meeting point of two stems.
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~Buddhas harvest company is a professional cannabis harvesting company based in southern California. We specialize in hand trimming. Buddhas Harvest Co focuses on the zenith of efficiency by building custom standard operating procedures for each new client or facility. We consider each variable in the harvest process, to ensure efficiency and reduced costs.