Tweedle Farms: Oregon's First 'Farm-to-Table' Hemp Flower Farm

With so many potential benefits and ways to experience, cannabis keeps surprising us. Oregon's Tweedle Farms is now offering something new to many consumers: non-psychoactive flowers.

First, let's rewind. Years ago, many considered hemp and marijuana to be the same thing. Though both derived from the cannabis plant, the big difference is THC (not to be confused with TLC). Marijuana contains THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the primary psychoactive compound that results in the marijuana "high." On the other hand, hemp can only have a maximum of .3% THC yet still retains many of the plant's beneficial properties, including CBD (cannabidiol).

With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, CBD became a buzzword for health and wellness, with the promise of pain relief, better sleep and reduced stress. Companies started selling CBD products like tinctures and balms, concentrates and capsules, and even mints and gummy bears.

But Tweedle Farms saw an overlooked corner of the market. While countless CBD goods flooded in, rarely was there a reliable source of hemp flowers.

"A lot of people didn't understand that they could buy something that looks exactly like marijuana and smells like marijuana, but won't get you high," says Jason Evans, who co-founded Tweedle Farms with business partner and fellow farmer James Green in 2015.

Evans says the business's 10-acre farm began with hemp plant cultivation, while its online store planted roots as both a retailer and an educator for the still-nascent cannabis industry.

"There are a lot of online retailers of CBD oils, muscle rubs, edibles and other products, and we sell those too. But there wasn't really anyone selling hemp flower in the space," says Evans. "We saw that as a great opportunity to let our work shine. What we say is we're the first 'farm-to-table' hemp farm in America."

Getting Sparked on Hemp Flower
For most curious cannabis fans, the big question is: Why go with flowers? The first reason is similar to why you might choose to eat a raw apple over a bowl of applesauce – to get its pure flavor and nutrients.

Likewise, smoking hemp flowers delivers a particular taste and flavor experience, as well as a higher concentration of CBD (but only a trace amount of THC, less than .3 percent). Along with distinct flavor profiles, each hemp strain can be rich in various terpenes, cannabinoids (such as CBG, CBN, CBDa, etc.); and other natural compounds that, when ingested together, can deliver holistic wellness benefits.

Evans says that consuming cannabis, especially dried flower, is similar to a wine experience. "People like to look at it, smell it, touch it; they like to be involved with their products. They have rituals, they like to share with friends, they like to talk about different strains and how it makes them feel. It's a social thing."

For non-smokers, technology is enabling more people to use dry-herb vaporizers to heat and release hemp's cannabinoids, rather than burning plant matter the traditional way in a pipe or pre-rolled joint.

Cultivation is critical at Tweedle Farms. Evans says his team grows and sells flowers free of pesticides, sprays, and synthetic fertilizers. And while their highest-quality flowers are sold intact, the trimmings and biomass that remains are converted into other products, such as CBD oils, lotions, vape cartridges and other ancillary products.

"All of our flower gets used one way or another," he says.

There also are growing numbers of DIY customers running home apothecaries, making everything from infused oil or butter for cooking to creams, salves and tinctures.

"When it comes to the raw flower itself, yes, people are primarily purchasing it for smoking," he says. "But I'm thrilled about how people are buying flower or small buds or shake [trimmings] to make products at home themselves."

"They're similar to the products that we create and deliver on the website," says Evans. "But honestly, people can make them at a more affordable price point themselves. You can look at it like this: You can go to a restaurant and order a meal, or you can stay home and cook those ingredients yourself."

Click Here to discover the full range of hemp flower available from Tweedle Farms.

None of the products listed on the Website have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"). Always check with a physician before trying any new dietary supplement, medicinal herb, or botanical extract.