The Roots of Homegrowers International

I’ve been an organic gardener for nearly 30 years, but I didn't start off in horticulture. I grew up in an apartment complex with no garden in sight. I didn't discover the world of gardening until I was well into my 20’s. Now, I think about plants all day long - winter, spring, summer, and fall. I feel at peace working with plants. I identify and empathize with them. I talk to them, care for and nurture them. I enjoy their company; plants feel like pets to me.

I got my start as an assistant, and subsequent garden manager for the Eastside Café in Austin; a popular restaurant with a 1/3 acre organic vegetable and herb garden. I coordinated seasonal menus with the chef, grew squash blossoms for stuffing, edible flowers for garnishes, and many varieties of tomatoes that thrived in the Texas heat. I produced bountiful crops of basil that the kitchen would make into pesto and freeze to use all year.

Afterwards, I moved to Portugal to build a garden for an arts school, which is how I ended up meeting King Charles. It was actually on that trip that I bought my first cannabis seeds in a London head shop.

In 2000, I moved to Humboldt County, California, to learn how to cultivate cannabis and was fortunate to meet some skillful growers who shared their knowledge with me. I drove to San Francisco, got a proposition 215 medical authorization, and become a medical cannabis provider to patients and dispensaries in California and Washington for the next 13 years.

I started Homegrowers International as a way to invite people into my garden to share my experiences, but it's become so much more than that. I’m now hosting a Live Q&A on Fridays with professional cultivators, we have a new website being built, as well as some really exciting news to share in the Fall!

This site is meant for growers and would-be growers, and anyone who is curious about how cannabis can affect and improve their life. If you have any questions, my inbox is always open to you.

Thank you,

Michel Navedo