Cannabis Author and Educator

“Penny Barthel strikes the perfect blend of science and beauty in this most approachable guide to growing cannabis in the garden. Your hand will be held from start to glorious (vanilla bean-infused gummy) finish.”
Johanna Silver, author of Growing Weed in the Garden

Book

Ten Speed Press/2021

Purchase here

The Cannabis Gardener teaches you how to choose which strains are right for you and how to cultivate the plants from seed to finished flower. Gorgeous full-color photographs capture each stage of the growing process and show how cannabis plants can be incorporated into your garden design as well as raised beds and containers. After you establish your plants in the garden and monitor them through the flowering stage, you’ll find tips on how to harvest, dry, cure, and store your “grow.” Also included are recipes for savoring your harvest, from salves, tisanes, and tinctures to cannabutter for baking and cooking delicious treats such as CBD gummies flavored with vanilla beans, cheddar crackers, and even cannabis chocolate sauce.

The Cannabis Gardener is an accessible and practical guide for any level of gardener interested in growing their own attractive cannabis plants.

New post

August 2026

Latest on Substack

Do you feel the season subtly changing? Your cannabis plants certainly do! They have been tracking the light since the moment they sprouted, and now is a key time in their lives: It’s time to bloom and die. They are photoperiod annuals, and this is what they were sprouted for – to pack on the bud and then be done with their brief but spectacular lives. This is an important moment for the cannabis gardener. We have work to do to support the plants in this season. read more . . .

New Article

New for the backyard herb garden: cannabis

Martha Ross of the Bay Area News Group wrote a really nice article, featured in the San Jose Mercury News and in the Backyard Magazine in the SF Chronicle and East Bay Times. “East Bay educator, gardener, foodie and author Penny Barthel wants everyone to be able to grow cannabis in their backyards — because it’s fun and because they can put the plant to use in a variety of ways.” Read more . . .


“If plants have IQ, cannabis is a genius. This lovely and practical book gracefully describes how to cultivate, support, encourage, and manifest the genius of this remarkable plant.”


David E. Presti, professor of neurobiology and psychology, University of California, Berkeley