Wendy Baker, founding father of Space Gem, celebrated a decade of creating edibles in 2023—a monumental achievement that stems from a lifetime of appreciation for hashish tradition, and a dedication to working solely with Humboldt County ice water hash. Her merchandise have gained a number of awards at hashish competitions, together with the Humboldt County Cup and the Excessive Instances Central Valley Hashish Cup, however most not too long ago took residence two first place trophies on the nineteenth annual Emerald Cup in Could 2023.
From Spacedrops gummies to Thoughts Increasing Belts, Gem Guice beverage enhancer, and Cosmic Tincture, Baker has put her edibles out into the universe, designed to uplift and encourage. The edibles solely use natural coloring and flavors, are freed from chemical substances or solvents, and are made in Humboldt County, California.
Baker grew up in Chicago, Illinois, however moved to Humboldt County when she was 21, drawn to the area’s wealthy hashish tradition and life-style. Initially she labored as an indoor cultivator however determined to enter the edibles market in 2013.
“You recognize, I noticed the market altering for growers and, being a lady promoting weed, I wished to create a product,” Baker says. “I really like edibles and I went to all these sweet lessons and I discovered easy methods to make sweet.”
Baker knew that she wished to showcase the distinctive high quality of Humboldt-grown hashish in an edible that’s each scrumptious and likewise made with components she may stand behind. Initially she used butane hash oil (BHO) to make Area Gem merchandise however determined that ice water hash made essentially the most sense.
“I don’t learn about these chemical substances [in BHO]. And I don’t need that on my conscience in any respect. I simply felt higher if I simply used ice water hash,” she says.
Making BHO requires utilizing a chemical solvent, on this case butane, to strip the cannabinoids and terpenes from plant matter. With a purpose to stop chemical substances from lingering within the extract, the BHO have to be purged with a purpose to take away traces of the solvent.
Ice water hash, alternatively, is a solventless technique of extraction that makes use of solely ice, water, and hashish. The hashish plant matter is blended with ice and water, which freezes the trichome heads, making them extra brittle and permitting them to extra simply detach or break off into the water. After being gently stirred and sifted by quite a few baggage with various sizes of small holes (measured in microns), the ultimate product is full-spectrum ice water hash.
Whereas there are various different totally different strategies of each solvent and solventless extraction, Baker prefers ice water hash for the most effective results.
“I really feel just like the totally different excessive, there’s like so many ranges to it,” she explains. “And also you’re getting like the complete cannabinoid profile of the flower and also you’re working with that, relatively than stripping the plant of simply what you want, you already know?”
She’s additionally proud to make use of ice water hash created from Humboldt County-grown hashish.
“Our hash comes from Humboldt,” Baker says. “I wish to work with individuals who develop actually good flower. And all of it needs to be processed right here in Humboldt, too, as a result of we now have a Humboldt sticker on our product. So all of our merchandise need to be made right here in Humboldt and are available from Humboldt.”
Area Gem’s gummies, referred to as Spacedrops, include a set of 10 gummies nestled collectively in a tin bundle and include a random assortment of the model’s 23 rotating flavors. The gummies are provided individually as candy or bitter varieties (10 mg THC per gummy), and likewise a CBD selection (5 mg CBD and 5 mg THC). They’re all made with natural meals coloring, however the flavors in every tin range extensively—no two tins include precisely the identical assortment. Baker shares that she is especially keen on the fig taste however finally loves all the fruity tastes she’s developed.
“It’s a rainbow of deliciousness in your mouth,” she says. “And, you already know, I simply couldn’t choose. I can’t choose. I really like all of them. I really like fruit. And I simply thought like, if I simply do the identical factor again and again, that’s so boring.”
Along with Spacedrops, Area Gem additionally gives a single-flavor Thoughts Increasing Belts, out there in bitter apple, bitter watermelon, candy sleepy fig, and candy wildberry. Area Gem’s Gem Guice is a beverage enhancer that accommodates 100 mg of THC per bottle and is available in both grape or ardour fruit flavors. The model’s Cosmic Tincture accommodates of 600 mg THC per bottle and is available in blackberry, strawberry, and mango.
On the again of every Spacedrops tin is the temporary, uplifting message: “Could trigger miracles.” Every bundle additionally consists of an inspirational quote on the within of the lid. Baker explains that she and her workforce put a variety of time and effort into discovering inspiring quotes—which come from a wide range of well-known folks comparable to Dr. Seuss, writer Matshona Dhliwayo, and musician Pharrell Williams—with the intention of brightening somebody’s day.
“You may make an influence on folks, you already know?” Baker says. “Typically the tiniest issues could make somebody smile or change their ideas.”
Reflecting on 10 years of success, Baker is proud and grateful for what she’s completed and the way Area Gem has impacted folks throughout California.
“It’s fairly superb how we develop up, and typically we simply don’t assume we’re good at something. However I all the time was like, ‘Man, I’m good at this,’” Baker says. “You recognize? Self-confidence, believing in your self, and simply making an attempt to make a distinction, attempt to be an inspiration. Folks come as much as me, you already know, ladies, they’re like, ‘You might be simply selecting up as a lady within the [cannabis] house.’ I’m so grateful to listen to that as a result of I wish to encourage different folks to have the ability to dwell what they need, [and achieve] their goals, and their full potential.”
This text was initially Up to date within the December 2023 subject of Excessive Instances Journal.