Yes I have. I`ve used family in the past but have had bad luck with partnerships. Don`t have a big enough cash flow to involve many helpers. I have no real options but ether struggle on by myself or grow my ambitions. I`ve choose to struggle on for a few reasons. I don`t want to have a large operation , to much work for a retired disabled guy and way to much in the radar ! Right now my family members are not in a position to be very helpful with kids, relations and jobs. What I`m looking for is a break in luck like maybe my property getting surveyed. I can have the road worked on and a clearing done with a small logging operation and then I`ll work on the support system, well, septic, solar, etc. Once I get into that situation things will take off in a hurry.
I`m looking good at the moment. I`ve got my last crop in and safe. It hasn`t even been trimmed yet and nothing has been turned into cash flow. I am holding out and living 100% on my Social Security. I plan on finding a different survey team to do my property this Spring or early Summer. I`ll work on the logging part when I can have a good timber cruse done and know my boundaries. The well will be expensive, maybe 15 K the septic a little less. Solar depends on what I plan on doing on the property , but it also will cost. After that I`ll need fencing done. just a barb wire on the perimeter of the property and a more secure fence around the compound. And electric fence that keeps the wildlife out. My goal is not to have a commercial pot farm , but to have an organic food farm and a smaller operation for medical seed crops. This takes up much less space and would keep the footprint down. I`m only growing small cash crops to meet these goals now. Keeping well under the radar compared to other local growers. So far I`ve had little troubles compared to larger growers in the area. None with LEO. Mostly had a bad partner rip me and had a few kids try to rip me. Leo has never been a big problem. Even the code officers went right past me last year. I`m just not a problem child and never have been. I know it is slow going, I almost refuse to barrow to meet my goals. I do owe 5k to one of my contacts out of this years crop. He`s been good about it and will get a good deal when I head down south. I also owe a couple people when I start to work on my seed crops for genetics they have provided me, but no bank type loans. Those who I`ve work with have always been provided with opportunities. I don`t like working with many people as many times in the past I`ve had bad experiences. Not all experiences have been bad though. The few who have been helpful have always been rewarded good and I continue to do so out of loyalty. Most of my contacts are very old ones. Very rare I seek new contacts or do anything with new people. Not that I wouldn`t consider doing so but very cautious of involving myself with new people. I`m in the game for the long hull , not looking for a quick reward , not looking to get an easy buck but an honest one.