u/hempnewbie

Previous posts: A Newbie Experience - Beleafer : r/hempflowers

A Newbie Experience - Horn Creek and Fern Valley : r/hempflowers

This may look a little biased as by my fourth vendor order, I had an idea of what I would and wouldn't like so the strain choices from LOF were a bit more focused on indica-leaning evening/nighttime strains.

1. forbidden v 10/10

I already had this from Fern Valley and loved it and was hoping it would be good from these guys as well and it did not disappoint. From LOF, this smells amazing like straight up Citra hops, especially when freshly ground up. This is the loudest strain I've purchased thus far (knocking off critical berries which was super loud as well). The nugs were super sticky and this one left a noticeable odor in the room for a few hours when breaking it down. This is a very uplifting / energetic strain. My HR increased every time when using. This didn't help me focus as much as the fern valley batch did, but definitely more than every other sativa/uplifting strain I've had so far besides the fvf version (again, I'm grasping at straws a bit to even notice differences if I'm being completely honest). It's subtle but fvf is better for me (not by much) for the effects but I like how this smells and it's smoother in the vape for me than the fern valley one. This was also the first strain I ended up getting an ounce of during the 420 sale.

2. allium og 8/10

I got garlic flavors in the dhv at pretty much any temp (360f and above) with mostly mild effects from this one. I would consider this calming/relaxing but nothing super noticeable. Given some previous post comments/descriptions, I went in expecting this to hit hard (and was frankly a bit nervous about it) but I found it to be mild. There was not much in the way of head or body feel. I wouldn't consider it uplifting or sedating; just calming. Of the five I've had from LOF, this was my least favorite but this was a chill feel that's enjoyable, but maybe just not for me with so many options out there that are most noticeable.

3. lavender Kush 10/10

I do not understand this strain at all. I don't really 'feel' anything in the body or head and the taste is unremarkable; it's not bad mind you, it's just really smooth at all temps in the dhv. However, I have had it multiple evenings right before bed and according to Garmin, it was good restorative sleep so it seems to be having a positive impact even if I can't quite feel it directly. In fact, my best recorded sleep in the last year were on days I had this before bed. Last week, I had two bowls back-to-back on the same evening I really noticed the effects that time. I had dry mouth, heavy eyes, tension leaving my shoulders, and a clear mind. Surprisingly, there was no HR spike and I didn't feel any pressure in the chest, but I also didn't get a ton of body relaxation (other than feeling that tension leaving my shoulders). My sleep was not as 'good' that evening so I will probably stick to just one before bed, or space it out 30min-1hr. Great for sleep and I'm kind of bummed its out of stock. I might pick up lavender cupcakes based on some recommendation comments recently.

4. bubba Kush 59 10/10

Similar to lavender Kush, I didn't get a ton of body or head impact but really makes me sleepy. I wish it had a bit more body impact, but I like this for bed just like lavender kush. I don't notice the effects myself but my sleep is vastly improved on evenings I had it (not as high a score as lavender kush but it's doing something positive even on days I've had workouts in the evening before bed.) This is another great nighttime/pre-bed strain. For those that have had the 12 or 66, which one would feel 'heavier' in body effects to the 59? I would like to try that next.

5. blue nitro 10//10

My absolute favorite from LOF and my favorite night-time strain so far (In my top five all-time favorites). I got garlic flavors in the vape as the temp increased (noticeable for me around 390f and up). This has great body effects. I could feel the tension in my shoulders ease up as it started to set in. I also got a little bit of that heady feeling at the onset and a bit of pressure in the forehead. You know what I don't feel though? the pain in my back I've been dealing w/ for the last two weeks! Even if it's temporary, this was a wonderful feeling. I don't want to necessarily describe it as it removes, relieves or dulls the pain b/c that would be overstating the effects. It's more like it removes me noticing the pain so I can relax if that makes sense? I had best effects when having 2*.25g bowls in my rogue 2 in a 30-minute window. Likely going to pick up more with the Memorial Day sale if it's still available.

You can see post #1 on my Beleafer Experience.

After my first purchase with Beleafer, I expanded and ordered some samples from Horn Creek and Fern Valley.

Right away, the packaging was a bit bitter than Beleafer and everything came with Boveda packs in it.

It could be just me getting used to vaping, but I generally started to notice flavors/smells a bit more.

Both vendors also had terpene profiles listed and that helped me notice a pattern pretty quickly of what I like (caryophyllene, myrcene heavy strains) and what I didn't like (terpinolene heavy strains).

Also, while I still have most of my Beleafer order left, I have basically gone through most of these already because I enjoyed these quite a bit more.

#Horn Creek Hemp

1. Lazybones 10/10

Insanely sticky. This was almost exactly what I was looking for. A heavy indica that felt heavy behind the eyes the first few times I had it. It wasn't racy at all for the onset and almost perfect before bed (for me). Kind of smelled like a pale ale! Really liked this for 30-45 minutes before bed. Definitely on the short list to order more at some point as I'm already out of it. I know this is generally frowned upon, but I ended up pre-grinding this a few days at a time because it was so sticky and I wasn't getting the best vapor clouds in the vape initially b/c of it. Once it got a little drier, it was great.

2. Lemon Octane 7/10

Provided those relaxing indica type effects that didn't put me to sleep. The first few times, I noticed it lasted close to 2 hours for me which was 2-3 times longer than other strains. Other days, if felt uplifting. One day, it really got in my head, and I was over analyzing every email I sent for work that day; so much so that I got back online and actually sent an apology message for one of them. I've been holding off on having more since that day but I think it was because I had it after a 5k run so it may be something I avoid on certain days. I guess this falls right in that 'hybrid' category? I like it, but situationally.

3. Mordor 8/10

Initially, I thought it was kind of boring. I have had it in the evenings only. There was no initial raciness and didn't get a heady feeling at all. That part was great, but I didn't feel like I got that body relaxation I was looking for evening use. However, I did feel calmer and clear headed. This had some gas/pine flavors in the DHV; I wasn't a fan of that flavor but it was fine and much better than the burnt popcorn flavors I was getting w/ some others. I started changing my vaping style and taking slower 8-10 second pulls and it made the effects more impactful and I think this felt boring initially because I had it the evening after I ran out of lazybones initially so that was quite the shift/difference. This was good for just relaxing at nigh but still being functional (playing video games). Fully finished the sample already as well.

4. Sour Space Candy 5/10

Honestly, I straight up didn't like the flavor or the effects. It was uplifting/energetic and I was in my head quite a bit overthinking everything. I also felt a pressure in my chest and had a HR spike for about 30 minutes after finishing the bowl. This was the only one I haven't had more than once so far because I really disliked it. Will go back to it at some point but doesn't feel like something I can enjoy in the evenings. This was when I noticed this had terpinolene and I've noticed a pattern that strains high in that terpene may not be for me.

5. Vampire OG 9/10

Smells like candy/berries in the jar. This was the best smelling to me of the samples from horn creek. Gas flavors and big vapor clouds in the vape (the most of any I tried from horn creek). Very relaxing. Enjoyed this right before bed for body/mind calmness vs. Mordor was nice for that evening chill time (watching tv/gaming).

#Fern Valley Farms

1. Purple Snowman 6/10

This was one of the most flavorful in the vape with a lemon/gas flavor. Maybe that flavor is starting to grow on me as I didn't like it initially with other strains. This provided some light body relaxation but I did feel like I got the munchies every time which made this feel borderline like a high to me. It had that initial 'raciness' and HR spike that I didn't love. Thankfully, effects do not last much longer than about an hour. This was similar to the sapphire kush diesel but I liked that one more so this one gets the lower rating. I did actually end up finishing all the 3.5g sample though as I had a few days off where 'daytime' strains were viable to use frequently.

2. Sapphire Kush Diesel 7/10

This had some gassy hay flavors in the vape with some mild effects. It felt mostly chill to me. I didn't feel that pressure in the chest during onset like I did with purple snowman. Interestingly, I almost missed that feeling as I never got that 'oh hey, I feel this' experience in the 1st 15 minutes. I felt a bit calmer, but nothing in the head and no real body relaxation for me with this one. I went through this pretty fast as well as I found this to be a decent 'functional' strain for me after I ran out of forbidden v.

3. Goat Butter 9/10

Okay this totally tricked me w/ the 1% THC listed in the COA and I was super nervous this was going to be an unpleasant experience. Instead, this was actually a great daytime 'functional' strain. It kind of cleared that head noise and allowed me to focus on a something I was doing on the PC and time flew by. I've been able to reproduce that multiple times and definitely think this is one of those strains I would probably use for daytime when I need to get stuff done. Cleaned the garage one weekend after having this and it was good for that kind of focus as well. As a Garmin user, I've twice noticed that my 'body battery' actually goes up after having this if I'm sitting and gaming on the PC. The only thing keeping it from a 10/10 for me is I didn't love flavors in the vape like others. Starts out kind of like pine (which isn't bad) but evolves into a strong garlic flavor by the 3rd draw. I unfortunately think I just need to get used to that garlic flavor as it seems to potentially correlate with a terpene, I seem to really enjoy (caryophyllene), but I'm still learning.

4. Forbidden V (CBDV) 10/10

This has a citrus (almost orange) flavor in the vape. I'm not sure how to explain this one other than, it's special. I guess it's a 'sativa' leaning strain, but it didn't make me feel weird at all. It just cleared my mind with no initial hr spike or chest pressure during onset. Allowed me to just get stuff done around the house or just enjoy the day in those rare times when I'm not working. This was the strain I went through the fastest of everything I've tried b/c I kept going back to it. I really do not understand this one at all but man, it's honestly great. It's also kind of motivating. I had a bowl with plans to just watch tv one evening and it got me motivated to go for a run around the neighborhood. That run felt great too; like I was just more aware of the outdoors (as cliche as it is). Someone more knowledgeable than me may have more to add on why this strain's effects are what they are. I ordered this again but from lost oak during the 420 sale to compare and depending on what I like more and what's available, I'll definitely be stocking up at least an ounce of this one from somewhere (hopefully). This one is special.

5. Critical Berries 10/10

This is definitely the 'loudest'. It smelled amazing, like a juicy east cost IPA. Went through the 2nd fastest. This one is a bit more versatile like goat butter in that I feel like I could have it any time of day if I wanted. I got mild effects from it when I can be functional if needed or have it before bed. It really just eliminates the head noise for me. I didn't get much body calming/relaxing effects from this at all. I had it one weekend and braved a Costco trip that wasn't anxiety inducing. It did bump my HR up a bit initially but settles in very quickly for effects (w/in the first 3-5 minutes). Effects lasted about an hour. I actually liked this mixed w/ cbg quite a bit as well and I'm already out. I ordered an ounce of this one from field of hemp during the 420 sale. Definitely snagging this one again as well.

#Concluding Thoughts

These vendors are all great and I had a good experience buying from them. Shipping and communication with both were great. I really enjoyed the website navigation and information layout from horn creek and fern valley. The addition of terpene profiles in most of their strains was really helpful for me and now that I have a number of different strains under my belt, I was able to identify some strains to avoid (terpinolene heavy for example) and strains I seem to really like (caryophyllene, myrcene, and a supporting terpene like pinene, ocimene, or humulene).

Maybe terpenes matter more (at least for me) than the thc % by itself and that's why goat better felt so smooth?

I would say that these two vendors would be on the top of my list for reordering simply because of the website experience and the additional details included in their strains. I also liked that both vendors supported end-user submitted reviews right on the site.

#TLDR:

The vendors are good.

The website experience is good.

I like indica leaning strains.

Terpenes seem to matter ALOT.