Located on the southern end of gorgeous Vashon Island, Vashon Velvet is a unique, enchanting and impressive cannabis farm. The women who run the farm have a commendable eye for detail as well as a love for natural order, both of which define their business and ensure that cannabis users are consuming perfected strands they can stand behind. High Above Seattle caught up with Ivy from Vashon Velvet, who makes up a part of the two-generation, woman-owned farm, to further discover this wonderful island treasure.

Photo credit: Vashon Velvet

Vashon Velvet was born from a family’s love of each other, gardening, and low-impact living. Ivy; her mother, Susan; and aunt, the resident designer, are the propellers who started and maintain the farm, along with key staff like Patrick, who has a hand in growing alongside Ivy’s mom. The team chose to grow on Vashon Island because their matriarch – Ivy’s Grandmother – grew up on Vashon. A motto that beautifully sums up the passion that drives the business, “For the Pursuit of Happiness” is draped across the deer-adorned, sentimental logo. This logo serves as a reminder for the farm and consumers: cultivate well-being and find happiness.

Susan & Ivy, mother & daughter, owners of Vashon Velvet

To cultivate well-being means to not only take care of oneself, but also the environment that we all share. Vashon Velvet is meticulous in its quest to produce a very small impact on the environment, but a huge impact in the lives of cannabis users. The farm uses a hydroponic system for its indoor operation, which ensures that minimal water is used. LED lighting is found throughout the farm. The farm is sustainable and earth friendly in all of its practice. This yields both a respectable operation and high-quality cannabis.

The strains grown at Vashon Velvet are sourced from Barney’s Farm in Amsterdam.  Liberty Haze, Laughing Buddha, and Acapulco Gold are grown here, all with varying needs.

Liberty Haze – Photo credit: Vashon Velvet

Liberty Haze yields a creative high while Laughing Buddha is a “Friday night strain” perfect for socializing. Acapulco Gold is very hard to grow as it thrives in Mexico, as well as requires a ton of research and attention. Ivy’s mom holds a chemical engineering degree, which she utilizes daily as a grower. Her expertise plays a large part in the success of the strains grown at Vashon Velvet.

As knowledgeable and skilled as each person in this operation is, there are still many people in the industry who hesitate in trusting the expertise of women growers and operators. As the face of Vashon Velvet, Ivy is at times tested on her cannabis knowledge when selling the farm’s product, which is an unfortunate side-effect of being a woman in the industry. Ivy can be treated like she does not know what she is talking about; however, this negative attention is often short lived. Once she starts speaking about her product she holds the attention of everyone in the room with her knowledge and contagious passion.

Photo credit: Vashon Velvet

Vashon Velvet is as genuine of a team as they come. Family and women-owned, environmentally conscious, highly intelligent and knowledgeable only break the surface in describing this impressive operation and the people behind it. Vashon Velvet is currently sold at Dockside Cannabis in Shoreline and Higher Leaf on the Eastside. Do yourself a solid by picking up some of Vashon Velvet’s cannabis. It is a brand and lifestyle not to be missed.