Behind The Grow w/ Eric Coulombe

In this episode of Behind the Grow, Eric sits down with AC Moon Cameron — a 25+ year veteran of the cannabis world whose story spans legacy cultivation, medical-era activism, education, consulting, and invention.This is a wide-ranging, no-fluff conversation that goes far beyond growing. AC Moon breaks down the difference between rescheduling vs descheduling, why corporate interests shape policy, and what everyday people can do to educate themselves. We also dive into her early activism roots, the origins of her edible work, and how her invention Crop Tops was born from real-world necessity for outdoor cultivation in harsh conditions.You’ll also hear about her work in the Caribbean helping build legal frameworks — including consumption lounge licensing in the U.S. Virgin Islands (opening January 2026) — and why innovation, education, and community are the only way forward.Topics covered:Growing up around cannabis and early activism in the 90sMedical-era access and the legacy movementRescheduling vs descheduling and what’s at stakeCorporate influence, research, and synthetic cannabinoidsCannabis law realities across the U.S. and abroadBuilding cannabis tourism and local equity in the Virgin IslandsCrop Tops and protecting outdoor plants from weather, rot, and contaminationQuick-fire questions: first grow, myths, music, and moreIndica Innovations International: IndicaInnovations.comCrop Tops Greenhouse: CropTopsGreenhouses.com (site in progress)LinkedIn: @a.c.moonInstagram: @a.c.moonFollow & learn more:#gardenculturemagazine #BehindTheGrow #CannabisCommunity #LegacyCannabis #CannabisActivism #CannabisEducation #Cultivation #CannabisPolicy #HomeGrow #Innovation

Industry pioneer Jair Velleman joins Behind the Grow for a raw and insightful conversation about ambition, burnout, reinvention, and the evolution of professional grow lighting.Jair opens up about:• His early hustle importing equipment • Building Mammoth Tents and Gavita from the ground up • Selling his company for life-changing money — and the depression that followed • Rediscovering purpose through Dutch Lighting Innovations • Why LED degradation is a hidden crisis in cultivation • The science behind UV light and improving crop quality • The friendships, failures, and unforgettable stories along the way This episode isn’t just about technology — it’s about resilience, timing, and believing in something enough to change an entire industry.#GardenCultureMagazine #BehindTheGrow #DLILighting #GrowLighting #CultivationTech #HorticultureInnovation00:00 Introduction and Early Connections06:05 Transition to Gavita and Mammoth Tents12:00 The Launch of Garden Culture Magazine18:09 The Evolution of the Cannabis Industry23:57 Memorable Stories and Experiences30:00 Innovations in Growing Technology32:04 The Evolution of Horticultural Lighting34:36 The Emotional Journey of Selling a Company39:01 Finding Purpose After Success47:03 Understanding Light Degradation in Cannabis Cultivation58:04 Innovations in UV Lighting for Plants

Eric sits down with Tate Dooley (Key to Life; Backyard Farming Supply) for a deep-dive on clean inputs, synganic (synthetic + organic) strategies, IPM that actually works, and how to turn a suburban yard into a high-yield, automated food system. We cover the origin of Key to Life from compost tea brewers to today’s powdered nutrient line, why sulfur supercharges terpene expression, and the “one–two punch” of Silver Bullet + Enzyme Pods for plant health and powdery mildew pressure.🎙️ WHAT YOU’LL LEARN• The origin story: compost tea brewer → Key to Life nutrient line • Synganic philosophy: purity, potency, and consistency without sacrificing quality • Enzyme Pods explained: 7-species bacillus blend, plant-safe enzymes, and why pods beat liquid enzymes • Sulfur 101: hitting ~80–100 ppm and why it boosts terpenes and trichomes • The “one–two punch”: Silver Bullet (weeks 0–3 foliar) + Enzyme Pods (weeks 3–harvest) • Backyard Farming Supply: conveyor-belt gardening, automation, and post-harvest flow in a city lot • Real-world IPM + PM: what finally knocked it back indoors • Denver grow advantages: altitude, DLI, CO₂, and bone-dry air • Kids, gardens, and making time: how to keep yield high without becoming a “full-time farmer”⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 Cold open + audio gremlins 00:42 Welcome & why Tate’s approach resonated 02:29 Tate’s intro: student-for-life mindset 04:50 Compost tea brewer → powdered inputs (the Ziploc era) 09:40 Sourcing ultra-pure inputs & building the line 13:42 Organics vs synganics & the power of the sun 15:25 Denver climate advantages for growers 20:15 Backyard Farming Supply: from one bed to full automation 26:55 System design: starts → canopy → fertigation → wash/pack → outdoor kitchen 31:58 Enzyme Pods: what they are & how they work 38:30 Silver Bullet sulfur: purity, mixing, and ppm targets 44:46 Practical dosages, timing, and the week-6–8 terp window 46:40 The “silver + enzymes” program (foliar → root drench) 47:56 Where to find Tate & closing🔗 FIND TATE / KEY TO LIFE• Instagram: @keytolifesupply | @endzymepods • Websites: keytolifesupply.com | backyardfarmingsupply.com🙌 ABOUT THE SHOWBehind the Grow spotlights builders, growers, and makers pushing cultivation forward. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations.#BehindTheGrow #Synganic #OrganicGrowing #IPM #PowderyMildew #EnzymePods #Sulfur #Terpenes #KeyToLife #BackyardFarming #CompostTea #GardenCulture

From shop floors to global stages, Hydrofarm’s Paul Gonzalez (21+ years in the game) joins Eric to unpack what actually moves growers forward. They compare Spannabis vs. Mary Jane Berlin, why Germany’s living-soil crowd is surging, and how genetics booths supercharge real buyer conversations. Paul breaks down Gaia Green (EcoCert dry amendments: All Purpose 4-4-4, Power Bloom, worm castings) and Grotek’s evolution (bio + mineral blends, Vitamax Pro, the Monster Bloom classic), plus how Hydrofarm chooses bases by market without bloating costs.What you’ll learn:• How trade shows really drive demand (and why Berlin is booming) • Gaia Green vs. Grotek—when organic dry amendments or liquids make sense • Practical nutrient philosophy: AB simplicity, targeted boosters, and clean reservoirs • Rapid-fire grow takes: flushing, silica under heat stress, under-canopy lighting ROI, foliar worth, microbes in rockwool • Hot-summer tips: silica for resilience and simple mulching to protect soil moisture#BehindTheGrow #Hydrofarm #GaiaGreen #Grotek #Spannabis #MaryJaneBerlin #IndoorGrowing #Hydroponics #LivingSoil #Horticulture

In Episode 2 of Behind the Grow, I sit down with Justin Cooper, co-founder of Green Planet Nutrients and creator of Growing Exposed. We’ve been running in the same circles for over 20 years, and this convo covers everything from legacy market days to helping veterans find purpose through flower.We talk about: • How Justin helped launch Green Planet Nutrients • The origin story behind Growing Exposed and why it still matters • Funding the Allard case to fight for patient rights in Canada • The rise and fall of retail grow shops across Canada • The veteran-led 6.1 Charlie project and why it’s more than just a brand • Our shared past, limos at Max Yield, and the power of showing up for communityJustin’s energy hasn’t changed since day one. He’s not everyone’s cup of tea—and he’s fine with that—but if you’re in his circle, he’s loyal for life.This episode is for the growers, the fighters, and the ones who stuck with the plant through thick and thin.📘 Read more at: https://gardenculturemagazine.com#BehindTheGrow #GreenPlanet #GrowingExposed #CannabisIndustry #LegacyGrowers #CannabisCommunity #GardenCulture #AllardCase #VeteranSupport #CannabisLife