Best reasons to switch from store bought to whole leaf

[BarG]

My best reasoning initialy was economics. I was capabable of learning to grow my own.

The means to purchase whole leaf that is beyond my means is so available and economical.

The savings added up to the thousands per single smoker per year.

Tobacco grown chemical free in my case.

And so on and so on many more reasons.

 

[AmaxB]

All the crap the big T folks add in addition the tax should be a crime. (is a crime)
Less than a buck a pack for clean tobacco - what's not to like....
Been doing my own the last 4 years have saved tons and smoke less go figure...

 

[bonehead]

i like not coughing in the morning but that is just a side effect of a good real unmolested smoke.

 

[winston-smoker]

In my case, it was cost that got me to get serious about making my own cigarettes, and foreign imports just weren't the same. Then, it was the improved quality that kept me making my own. Finally, it was the still better quality, and getting over my hesitancy about the time and effort involved in cutting whole leaves, that convinced me to make the switch to using whole leaves ... that, and the fact that whole leaves are designated an "agricultural product," meaning that they are not subject to the excise taxes that apply to [processed] "tobacco products." Few "dual purpose" pipe tobaccos come near to the fine flavor obtained from using whole leaves -- most have too many added flavors and some leave an unpleasant aftertaste.

 

[leverhead]

For me it was the fire safe cigarette. I'd like to meet the rockette scientist that invented that, and the morons that thought it was a good idea. The quality of available RYO tobaccos leaves allot to be desired. Learning how to start from whole leaf was/is a challenge, but for me it's been worth it. The cost savings pays me well for my spare time.

As time goes on, the social reasons are becoming more important to me. One particular encounter still gives me a smile. At a public event in town, this "well meaning gentleman" came up to me and thanked me for all the taxes I paid as a smoker. I had to stop myself for a moment, I then smiled and said "you're welcome". The ignorant putz had no clue that I had given him the mental finger. I'm sure he slept well that night, knowing the Shepard was watching over him.

 

[bonehead]

As time goes on, the social reasons are becoming more important to me. One particular encounter still gives me a smile. At a public event in town, this "well meaning gentleman" came up to me and thanked me for all the taxes I paid as a smoker. I had to stop myself for a moment, I then smiled and said "you're welcome". The ignorant putz had no clue that I had given him the mental finger. I'm sure he slept well that night, knowing the Shepard was watching over him.

i have got to remember that one. mental finger, i can see how you smiled. that was quite good.

 

[Knucklehead]

I got tired of going into convenience stores to buy the commercial chemical sticks. Some jackass would always be in the front of the line scratching off his damn lottery tickets at the register and then trading some in for more. I could buy gas at the pumps but the cigarettes kept me going inside and getting frustrated with stupid people. I switched to MYO and then accidentally stumbled on the Grow Your Own sites by accident. What a lucky accident.

 

[Michibacy]

In my adolescence I discovered it was legal to GYO, so when I was 16 or 17 I acquired some seeds and grew some tobaccy. Wasn't anything grand, but it got me into this hobby. I used to smoke the God awful cheap commercial stuff and it just got to the point I didn't enjoy it anymore. I smoked a decent expensive cigarette and said "wait a minute, I can make this". I was wrong. I made something better. I then discovered I could get different kinds of tobacco (and got some leaf scrap from Don) and went from there.

My reason is being health, economics, historical and conceptual.

Health wise, If I am going to consume, I want it to be top of the line, true honest to God tobacco. Not an industrial product.
Economics, hell, IT IS CHEAP!
Historical, if we lose site of what we had 300 years ago and condemn everything we have now, we will not respect our history. (IMO)
Conceptual, it's a good barter tool, conversation tool and hobby.

 

[Chicken]

my initial jump to making my own was the cost, [ allthough i can afford the price, i thought it was too high ]

for a long time i bought bagged tobaccoo, and made them that way.

i allways have a garden going, and researched how bacca was grown, and the process, it toook to make it smokable,

and what i read / vs. what i know about gardening, i '' KNEW'' i could do it,

.................................................

my first run at it was a failure,,,, allthough i had the seeds, i didnt research the proper way to start them, and they never came up.

then i joined a website, and later moved to this one, and did a lot of reading, and learned a forgootten art,,,

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'' i really dont know why thier isnt a lot of people growing thier own product,,,''

if they knew what we know, they would kick themselves, in the butt, for the money they wasted,,,vs,,,, the money could have saved,

.......................................................

and now going into my 5'th year of growing, ive come to like '' MY CROP''

i grow something better than the store, or any tobaccoo shop has to offer,

 

[Fisherman]

This year growing was inspired both by the fact that it was legal and possible as well as financially motivated.
Tho I was always behind and seemed to be playing catch-up all through the season, I did accomplish my goal in production and will save over 3K in smokes this year alone.
Tho I grew in containers, I feel I can grow in the ground this coming year but will also grow again in the containers as a back up.
Having my chamber made already for the upcoming year, things should be somewhat more organized and productive.

I learned a lot about tobacco here and have had the chance to try many taste and flavors that I did not know were in existance. I actually enjoy the taste now instead of just having to have smoke

 

[FmGrowit]

This is probably the most common opinion of home-grown and whole leaf tobacco. You should next find you're smoking less than when you were smoking store bought tobacco.

 

[AmaxB]

This is probably the most common opinion of home-grown and whole leaf tobacco. You should next find you're smoking less than when you were smoking store bought tobacco.

I'd agree with is 500%, and add breathing, coughing, energy all seem to improve in most cases. Based on feed back from my customer base and personal use.

 

[DGBAMA]

Definitely less "morning cough" (almost gone) vs commercial cigs and even bagged tobacco.

cheaper (that is the no brainer)

My favorite thing I have noticed and which allows me to enjoy my smoke more is the lack of "ash mouth", that dry dirty feeling I always have after a commercial cig which makes me feel like i need to drink something afterwards. I thought it was just me at first, but have had a few friends mention the same thing, no "dirty aftertaste or dry mouth".

 

[jerry thacker]

I was going the smoke shop an buying 4 to 6 cartons at a time an it would kill a $ 200.00 bill. A friend rho and said try it so I went to the smoke shop a got a $5.00 gamble roller and a boxes of tubes an American Spirit tobacco 1.1 Oz for $7.50 plush tax .I ended up buy a $160.00 (12.50lb) a fresh choice machine for$500.00 an a$300.00 Powermatic s tobacco shredder .I think I am ready for a 1 ac planting next year ,I hope I am able to handle that much at 70 . I do have tractors row makers an disk. I will order from whole leaf after XMAS.

 

[deluxestogie]

Jerry,
You might have a look at the Tobacco Growing FAQ (FAQ link at top of each page), in order to estimate how much tobacco to grow. I'm only a tender 65, and find my 250+ plants to be quite a bit of manual work to do single handed. After tilling and planting, much of the work is in servicing the plants (inspection, suckering, worming, etc.), harvesting by whatever method, transporting, hanging and subsequent handling. For a big grow, like 1 acre, you might PM BigBonner (a commercial grower in Kentucky) about specific requirements and suggestions.

Bob

 

[leverhead]

I was going the smoke shop an buying 4 to 6 cartons at a time an it would kill a $ 200.00 bill. A friend rho and said try it so I went to the smoke shop a got a $5.00 gamble roller and a boxes of tubes an American Spirit tobacco 1.1 Oz for $7.50 plush tax .I ended up buy a $160.00 (12.50lb) a fresh choice machine for$500.00 an a$300.00 Powermatic s tobacco shredder .I think I am ready for a 1 ac planting next year ,I hope I am able to handle that much at 70 . I do have tractors row makers an disk. I will order from whole leaf after XMAS.

At my mid 50's, 30' X 80' wore my butt out. I grew several years worth of tobacco for a two pack a day habit. From seed to cigarettes there's quite a few things to learn.

 

[winston-smoker]

Jerry,
First, welcome! I'm a relatively new member too, though not a grower. A Fresh Choice machine and a Powermatic S shredder! Sounds like you're really committed to going over to whole leaves! You won't regret using whole leaves, the quality is better than anything else on the market, it just requires some time and labor. WholeLeafTobacco's leaves are fine quality. Are you going to try one or more of the five cigarette blends, or are you planning to buy one-pound bags of a few different varieties and making your own blend? Also, once you've used the Fresh Choice machine long enough to assess its performance, do let us know what you think of it. Is it worth the price? I've seen "mixed" reviews elsewhere -- some people praise it to the skies, others have questioned the quality of the cigarettes it makes.

 

[joelmora89]

500 is way too steep. I'd rather buy a the powermatic shredder and injector . id still have a enough for a couple lbs and tube, and probably a zippo while your at it lol. thats what i did .

 

[RyanM22]

Freedom to make any kind of concoction that you'd like!

 

[TarantulaDan]

For me it kind of just happened ,I got some N.rustica seeds as a free gift with some other seeds that I had ordered . I decided to plant them and see then I started looking online to see how to grow it,and now it just seems to fit,the economics is a nice addition though