Newbie From South Alabama

[Traveling Piper]

Hi,
My name is Clark.
I'm from Andalusia, Alabama--a small town. I'm 29 years old and have a beautiful wife who is scheduled to deliver our second son in April. I'm a pretty simple guy. I love my hobbies. I also think they're (hobbies in general) undervalued in the high paced society we live in. I enjoy smoking a pipe with a little George Dickel or some good coffee. I am not a "snob" of anything--as I find a more stoic lifestyle to suit me. Having that said, I do enjoy things attuned to a more refined palette...once-in-a-while.
I'm the type person who loves to cut up and have a good time, but I'll have a serious conversation when necessary.
I have been told that I was born of the wrong generation--by many--and I think they're right. I value the counsel of my elders and those who've gone before me. I know that without seeking the wisdom of the ones that learned from their experiences, the nuances of the craft could very well be lost. This is why I chose to join in this forum. I have never enrolled in any type group. However, after reading the expansive knowledge that is here--I felt like I needed to take part in the bond you share. I hope to learn as much as possible from you guys and to be an active member of this community. I'm a very busy person who is currently in the process of renovating a Midcentury Modern home and trying to be a great dad and husband. I'm also an active member of Stokes Lodge #609 in Pleasant Home, Alabama where I serve as Worshipful Master (any brothers, please send me a message) So, please bear with me.
***
I have always loved gardening (as many of you do) and feel like tobacco growing will fit right into my passion for ALL THINGS GREEN!
I hope to put together a grow log soon for this coming spring. I will be sowing some seeds in a couple weeks. They were obtained from sources that (after speaking with a highly regarded member) are subject to not be true-to-variety.
Next time I'll be sure to order from North woods..

I've decided to go ahead and grow some of what I've already gotten so as to not waste. If the tobacco that it yields is good--I'll call it a win. But I will not proliferate the genetics under the official namesake for which I bought them (if I cannot guarantee the genetics). Some were obtained from a gentleman on Ebay and the others were obtained from a company called Spicy Acres. If someone can vouch for this company then please don't hesitate to speak up. I hope that I am not overstepping by mentioning a company's name.

I 'm interested in growing my own tobacco for pipe blends. I am partial to English and Balkan blends. I LOVE the taste of Oriental tobacco.
I know Latakia will have to be sourced. However, I want to try making some version of my own--at some point.

The following seeds are what I have obtained. Bear in mind that there are Cigar varieties in there because I would like to tinker with them in pipe blends.
Here they are:

Va Gold (Ebay)
Del Gold (Spicy Acres)
Cherry Red 401 (Spicy Acres)
Yellow Twist (Ebay)
Kentucky Brown Burley (Ebay)
Black Sea Basma (Ebay)
Turkish Yenidje (Ebay)
Herzegovina Flor (Ebay)
Prilep P66-9/7 (Spicy Acres)
Habana 608 (Spicy Acres)
Little Dutch (Spicy Acres)

I was advised to not start out growing too much and getting myself overwhelmed (which I do tend to do). That is probably some really sound advise.
Therefore, Any suggestions or opinions to the list above will be appreciated and used to weigh my decision.
Also, feel free to tell me the things you wish you'd known when you first started the hobby.

I'm done talking. I appreciate you guys allowing me into the community and look forward to the baccy adventures to follow!

Best Regards,
Clark

 

[CobGuy]

Welcome to FTT, Clark!

~Darin

 

[deluxestogie]

Welcome.

Bob

 

[Alpine]

Welcome to FTT. Not sure, but I suspect that spicy acres buys seeds from Skychaser (AKA northwoodseeds). You may try to ask him if that’s the case. I tend to not trust eBay vendors. Many members here will be glad to send you some (pure) seeds, if you simply ask.

pier

 

[MarcL]

Welcome to Fair Trade Tobacco.

 

[Traveling Piper]

Thanks, Pier.
I will reach out to him. Thanks for the info.

 

[jParnell]

Welcome from your neighbor to the east! I was hoping you'd be from around the Huntsville area, that's right across the border from me, but sadly it's not so.

You sound passionate and wise beyond your years. I'm sure you'll fit right in

 

[coachmike554]

Welcome aboard

I'm not far from Andalusia i actually have family (a niece) that lives in Andalusia. From sides side of the family

 

[burge]

A refined pallet means placing a order from WLT. Its the best tobacco in the world. I guess the main advantage is that it is for the most part properly aged the odd time you can get some that is new and just keep it in the vapor proof bags.

 

[DGBAMA]

Welcome from another Bama Guy.

 

[Traveling Piper]

Burge, that is actually something I plan to do. I figure if I’m gonna be growing tobacco then I might as well go ahead and start working with some of their leaf so I can start blending and SAVING MONEY. I plan to dig into the forum and figure out what I’ll need to get started.
Also, it’s great to be finding some local folks on here. It is also really cool how many folks from around the globe are here as well!
I am really glad I joined.

 

[SmokingUnicorn]

Hellooo, good to see so many new people joining around the same time as me - such a thriving community I'm a piper myself - English, Balkans, Orientals are my faves too. Though I am partial to a good Virginia/Perique blend.

 

[burge]

Burge, that is actually something I plan to do. I figure if I’m gonna be growing tobacco then I might as well go ahead and start working with some of their leaf so I can start blending and SAVING MONEY. I plan to dig into the forum and figure out what I’ll need to get started.
Also, it’s great to be finding some local folks on here. It is also really cool how many folks from around the globe are here as well!
I am really glad I joined.

Simply what do you smoke? I am thinking I am kind of good at blending.

 

[col555]

Hello and Welcome

 

[DGBAMA]

Growing is a rather daunting task at first. I think i did 7 varieties my first year. With the only intent being to see IF it would work in my area. I over analized and obsessed over every detail.....labeled everything 10x. By the 6th week after planting.....i didnt even need the plant labels anymore......each had its own growth characteristics.

Its fun to see a seed the size of a coffee grain become a 6ft tall mammoth plant in a single growing season.

 

[Traveling Piper]

Simply what do you smoke? I am thinking I am kind of good at blending.

I am partial to Englishes and Balkans. Looked hard at buying a lb. of WLT Balkan pipe blend, but I don't see where they list the actual leaves that are in it. Do they not disclose what’s in their signature blends so as to keep them proprietary? Do you just get a bag of mixed leaves that are intended to all be shredded into a one pound blend?

 

[Traveling Piper]

Growing is a rather daunting task at first. I think i did 7 varieties my first year. With the only intent being to see IF it would work in my area. I over analized and obsessed over every detail.....labeled everything 10x. By the 6th week after planting.....i didnt even need the plant labels anymore......each had its own growth characteristics.

Its fun to see a seed the size of a coffee grain become a 6ft tall mammoth plant in a single growing season.

This is good to know, Bama. I tend to REALLY over analyze—everything. So these are welcome tidings.
And the seed size ratio to plant is really intriguing with these things. I love planting greens and liken them more to tobacco than anything else. They share many similarities. Yet the tobacco seeds are even smaller and produce even more vegetation. Truly a remarkable plant on many many levels.

 

[deluxestogie]

Years ago, leaf blends (for cigarettes and for cigars) were openly solicited and discussed in this forum. It's still here somewhere. Now they have become proprietary-ish.

The Balkan blend is a shot at duplicating the taste of the famed Balkan Sobranie Black cigarettes. As a pipe blend, it is similar to the Balkan Sobranie Smoking Mixture (White), though a bit milder. It really tastes lovely in a pipe. It's a smooth and mild Latakia, Oriental, Virginia blend. Wholeleaftobacco.com sells whole leaf. So you get suitable proportions to shred and mix into the final blend. I'm not sure exactly how it is packaged, having sampled only the final, shredded blend.

Bob

 

[Traveling Piper]

I have had Sobraine on my order list for a while— nice to know their blend harkens it.

Is there a Document or thread that has everyone’s blends that’ve been shared?

 

[Traveling Piper]

I have had Sobraine on my order list for a while— nice to know their blend harkens it.

Is there a Document or thread that has everyone’s blends that’ve been shared?

I just found your book on blending. So Awesome.
I’ll be getting one. I know that will have enough info to get me off on the right foot.
Thanks, Bob