Harvest boon

Got all my plants in and trimmed. I had a really good harvest this year. What’s the best way to store all of this cannabis?

—Weed Is Not Zucchini

No more than a quarter-inch stem. No lollipops. No crows feet. Huh, what? Well, hello, there. Me? Nothing. I’m just sitting at an undisclosed location in the Emerald Triangle, trimming until my arms fall off. As seasonal labor goes, I’d rather trim weed than pull live halibut from a fishing line.

Ah, yes, you had a question. OK: Once you get all your cannabis collected and trimmed, make sure it’s nice and dry. If your weed is too wet, mold can become a big problem. The best way to store your weed is in a glass jar. Mason jars work well. There are a few other companies that also sell nice custom-made jars. Airtight is best. Tupperware and other plastics are just OK. And make sure your jars are clean. You don’t want your weed to end up smelling like mango yogurt or Grandma’s homemade salsa.

The biggest dangers to your stash, besides law enforcement, are heat and sunlight. These two villains will strip your pot of all of its flavor and potency, so find a cool, dark place to keep your stash. The freezer works, if you have enough space and don’t live with children or moochers. If you’re fancy, you may want to use the wine cellar. You could always dig a hole in the ground and bury your jars, but I would only do that with my I’m-saving-this-for-the-end-of-the-world weed. For optimal results, open your jar every once in a while. Check the dryness of the bud.

Humidipak (www.humidipak.com) makes little packets you can use to control the humidity in your jars. Everyone has their own preference for how dry they like their pot. Use different packets until you find the right one. Weed will remain potent and delicious for at least a few months if stored properly. Bon appétit!

Harvest is going great. The thing is, I have a lot of marijuana trimmings and shake. What can I do with it all?

—Shake It

This is a good problem. It used to be that people couldn’t give shake away. Now, with the advent of the cannabis-infused edible industry as well as the rising popularity of making hashish (by the way, making butane hash oil in California is against the law), shake has become a valuable commodity.

I would use the best trimmings to make cold-water hash. A quick search on YouTube will show you more ways to make hash than you would have thought possible. The other, leafier parts can be used for tinctures and salves.

It is also really easy to make cannabis-infused olive oil in a Crock-Pot. Dump in a bunch of shake, pour in some olive oil, set the pot to its lowest setting and leave it be for a few hours. It will make your house smell, though, and the more shake that is used, the stronger the oil will be. Let it cool. Strain it well, pressing on the shake to extract every bit of oil. Store the oil in a cool, dry place. Keep away from children. Cannabis-infused olive oil always makes a great gift. And, if you are extra crafty, you may want to look into making cannabis-infused lotion or balm, which many people use to help with arthritis and other joint and muscle pain.