The Old Hippie: A Fable

Once there was an old hippie who grew marijuana on a farm. He knew his soil was good, and he knew his product was good. His customers rarely complained.

For many years the old hippie was the only supplier in town, and he made a good living. Then a man on the other side of town started growing pot hydroponically.

Pshaw! said the old farmer. You can’t grow good pot that way. The magic comes from the soil. That’s where the herb gets its character. That’s where it gets its complexity. It all comes from the substrate.

The old hippie was dismissive of the new product and refused to try it.

One night an old friend came over for a visit. He and the old hippie sat on the porch for a while, talking about the new product.

It’s artificial, the friend said. It’s not the real thing.

Right! said the old hippie.

It’s the devil’s work! said the old friend. There ought to be a law against it!

Ah, don’t worry so much, the old hippie said. It’s just a fad. It’ll pass. There’s no substitute for the old substrate!

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, a young man walked out into the night and looked up. The tree in his back yard crackled with electricity, and the sky above it pulsed majestically.

Damn! said the young man. This hydroponic bud is amazing! It’s like the old stuff — and yet somehow it’s different!

(Image by Copilot AI)

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Note: If you liked the fable, you might also enjoy the articles linked here and here.