How to Dry Cannabis Outdoors in the Wild

How to Dry Cannabis Outdoors in the Wild

The Ghost here. Harvesting a 15-foot giant cannabis plant with heavy buds threatening to break its limbs is a victory, but getting those heavy, wet limbs back to a “safe house” is the most dangerous part of the game. Sometimes, the risk of moving a fresh harvest is simply too high…so what to do?

In my fifty years of growing cannabis out and about, I’ve had to dry my crop right in the woods more times than not. Most folks think you need a climate-controlled room with fancy fans, but if you know how….Mother Nature provides a perfect drying shed for free.

The Ghost’s Secret: The “Thick Canopy” Drying Room…The Ghost

The key to drying in the wild is finding the right “host” tree. You aren’t looking for a pretty tree; you’re looking for a thick tree, that is pretty much dry underneath.

The Ghost’s Tactical Drying Method:

• The Selection: Find a tree with a massive, low-hanging, and thick canopy—think old-growth evergreens or dense, low-branching deciduous thickets. You want a tree where the bottom branches are so low and gnarly that no one in their right mind would want to crawl under it.
• The Shelter: A thick canopy acts like a natural umbrella. It keeps the direct sun off your buds (which destroys THC) and blocks out all but the heaviest, rain. I will usually lift the lowest branch of the tree, to get in close to the trunk. Then I will take a hand saw and create a small ‘room’ hidden under the tree.
• The Stealth: Because nobody wants to get down on their hands and knees to crawl under a thorny or sappy tree, your harvest stays hidden from casual hikers.
• The Rig: Don’t lay your buds on the ground! That’s an invitation for rot and bugs. I use green hemp cordage or thin paracord to string “clotheslines” between the interior branches. This keeps the air moving around the colas. And it is a plus if your tree is out where it is in the prevailing wind.
• Drying Time: This method takes about 2 weeks depending on the different variables that can affect drying time. Once dry, the buds will be basically perfectly dry. I then would pack them out in a water bag so there will be zero smell.

Op-Sec Tip: Drying weed is loud—not in sound, but in smell. That “skunk” scent can travel, but will dissipate quickly using this method. Outdoors there is ozone, and that helps with smells. It is always a good idea to pick a tree that is downwind from any trails.

Taking care of your guerrilla harvest means protecting it until it’s ready for the jar. If you do it right, the forest air will give your buds a cure that is equivalent to the best indoor drying room.