367: Get Out of Jail Free Card w/Cider

367: Get Out of Jail Free Card w/Cider

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist May 3, 2023 Duration: 57:09

Weed, to Jail, and Freed by Cider

There are so many title options for this episode, that all center around time spent in jail for one burgeoning cidermaker. "Busted Weed Grower Saved by Cider", was one that almost made the cut.  But this podcaster wanted to find something uplifting for Sean McFarland who was a cannabis grower ,who did get busted and was from all accounts able to survive prison life due to support from his family and a new found passion for all things cider. This tale has all the predicable twists and turns one would expect when a big weed grower ends up in jail, but what makes this story completely unique is Sean himself.

Ep 367 300x200 Sean's Prison ID

As Sean sees it, if you are satisfied with your life as it is now why regret what got you there. His optimism plays a lead role in his narrative and that alone is worth a listen.

 Ep 367 Cider Chat 367 Marcelo and Sean in prison uniform 300x200 Sean and his then future wife who rekindled a childhood friendship while he was in jail

In this Chat

  • Sean's journery from army brat to horticulture studies, squash growing and then cannabis
  • Behind the scene of a mega pot bust
  • Federal laws and Jail terms for cannabis growers
  • Preparing for prison life
  • Family matters
  • Finding love while in prison
  • Finding cider
  • No regrets
  • Minnesota law for felons who want to start a cidery

Ep 367 300x200 Sean and family in legally grown hemp[/caption]

Contact for Blackshire Farm Cider

Website: https://www.blackshirefarms.com/

]367 200x300 Sean working cider mill Sean working old family cider mill that has been rigged with salvaged parts

Mentions in this chat

  • Send your questions to info@ciderchat.com about fermentation and yeast for an upcoming Q&A with Fermentis - Yeast and Fermentation Solutions for Cidermakers
  • Subscribe to eCiderNews

There’s a whole world in a glass of cider, and Cider Chat is your invitation to explore it. Hosted by award-winning cidermaker and writer Ria Windcaller, this podcast travels far beyond the bottle to meet the people who make the global cider culture so vibrant. Each conversation is a journey-you might find yourself in a heritage orchard learning the history of forgotten apple varieties, in a bustling taproom with an importer explaining regional traditions, or in a kitchen with a chef pairing cider with unexpected foods. The discussions get into the delightful nuances, too, whether that’s the semantics of what we even call this drink or how the concept of terroir translates from soil to sip. It’s not just about production; it’s about the community, the travel, and the stories that fermentation unlocks. This is for anyone curious about the craft, history, and sheer enjoyment of fermented apple juice in all its forms. So, pour a glass and settle in for a series that feels like a wide-ranging, informative, and genuinely good-humored chat with friends who happen to be obsessed with cider. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for every effervescent, tart, or sweet sip, hearing directly from the growers, makers, and enthusiasts who are shaping this drink’s exciting present and future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 501

Cider Chat
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