Hey my first post on this, or any grow site. I am inexperienced in this field, my only experience being helping a friend with quite a large medical operation for a few cycles (crazy good quality im talking primo but drowned in artificial newts and poison aka pesticide), and im planning an organic greenhouse grow in a very inhospitable central OR mountain climate where it can lightly frost any night (though very rarely). It must be organic and self sufficient, as I am disgusted by my prior experience with someone whose philosophy is to throw money and chemicals at the plants instead of effort (no offense to non-organic growers, this guy was just really bad) despite the great product. I would want to go hardcore self sufficient and organic, im talking homemade fish emulsions (as a flyfisherman i release whitefish by the dozens weekly as a by-catch when trout fishing), homemade bone meal soil mix in, homemade kelp/seaweed/molasses tea, worm casing, and my own soil mix with crushed lava rock or pumice collected for free in place of perlite, im an obsessive researcher
. Mandala seeds seem like a perfect match for me with their general philosophy, preference for organics, and hardyness for tough outdoor conditions. As for the greenhouse i want to avoid heating or cooling it at all costs by using some unconventional methods which i have decided upon through more obsessive research. I would dig into the ground, anywhere from 4 to 6 feet, add an insulated glass roof steeply angled for overwintering's copious snow, add a cold sink (big trough dug down to cycle air passively), and add a bunch of black 55 gallon drums on the N wall to collect heat in the day and release it at night. Ive also researched using a fresnel (sp?) Lense (homemade from old tv lenses) to focus light onto the barrels to heat them further (they can supposedly boil water if fine-tuned enough). The last freeze is typically in june and the first in october =O with temps commonly going down into the low 40's at night during our 70 or so days of growing season and summer daytime temps reaching into 90+. Digging deep into the ground will keep it warmer during the cold night and cooler during hot summer days, the cold sink will circulate air, and the barrels will heat at night during colder times and cool during hot days. After researching on mandalas website, im sold on their Mandala #1 and possibly their hashberry and purple paro valley over all other strains and seed companies. Mandala seems legit, especially in comparison to the rediculous claims and immature mentality of other seed companies. I know that they are likely a bit more variable on phenos and more "landracey" than the steroid infused frankenplants ive worked with but the hardyness, heat tolerance, and healthy genetics seem like my best bet for such extreme (in terms of cannabis cultivation) conditions. Do i stand a chance? Any tips on greenhouse techniques, or am i just gonna have to bite the bullet and but a fan and heater in? And what mandala strains (or any other seed company) do you recomend for these greenhouse outdoor conditions? How big can i expect mandala #1 to get outdoor fueled on limitless fish emulsions? And im not willing to do autoflowers, earlies, or any ruddie strains, as i am limited to 6 mature plants (ommp) and want some monster whopping outdoor beasts. Any info is greatly apreciated. Thanks =}