The Story Behind Swan Apothecary. Herbal Medicine, Family Roots & Natural Healing with Robin Swan

In this episode, we welcome back Robin Swan from Swan Apothecary for a fascinating conversation that blends history, herbal knowledge, and hands-on experience. Robin shares the story of her family’s background and how it shaped her journey into natural medicine, along with the inspiration behind Swan Apothecary and how the company has grown over time. We dive into how she creates her herbal remedies, the principles behind her approach, and the importance of understanding the plants we work with. It’s a relaxed but insightful chat that explores traditional knowledge, modern applications, and the deeper connection between people and plants. If you’re interested in herbal medicine, natural healing, or just enjoy hearing the stories behind passionate creators, this is a great one to tune into. Do you have any suggestions for guest on the show? Let us know by getting in touch over at Percys, or on our Discord Server!  👉 Join the community & follow us here: 🌐 Website: https://highonhomegrown.com 💬 Discord: https://discord.gg/sqYGkF4xyQ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/highonhomegrown

In this week’s episode of High on Home Grown, we cover a mix of serious headlines, legal cases, and shifting trends across the cannabis landscape: Macky begins with a tragic story out of Oldham, where four men lost their lives inside a locked cannabis factory. The incident has been described as “gross incompetence,” raising serious questions about safety, exploitation, and the risks tied to illegal operations. He also looks at the story of a man dubbed the city’s “cannabis martyr,” whose ongoing fight and repeated arrests continue to spark debate around cannabis laws and personal freedom in the UK. John is off this week, but the rest of the team keeps things moving. Smee reports on former justice minister Crispin Blunt, who has been fined for possession of illegal drugs, adding another high-profile case to the ongoing conversation around drug policy and enforcement. Dr. Margaret brings some interesting data, covering a study suggesting there has been no increase in problematic teen use following cannabis legalisation, challenging a common concern often raised in policy debates. Billy wraps things up with a more positive development, highlighting Luxembourg’s first at-home cannabis gardening service, offering a new approach for people looking to grow their own in a legal and supported way. A heavy but important episode this week, touching on safety, law, and how attitudes and systems continue to evolve. 🌐 Website: https://highonhomegrown.com 💬 Discord: https://discord.gg/sqYGkF4xyQ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/highonhomegrown

In this week’s Grow Guides, episode 84, we cover some key techniques that can take your grow from decent to dialled in properly. We start with how to preserve terpenes, looking at what actually causes terpene loss and how to protect those flavours and aromas right through harvest, drying, and curing. Then we break down how to calculate electricity costs, helping you understand exactly what your grow is costing you to run, and where you might be able to save a bit of cash without sacrificing quality. We also dive into advanced harvest timing, going beyond the basics and discussing how to choose the perfect moment to chop based on desired effects, trichome development, and plant maturity. To finish things off, we talk about dialling in the perfect grow environment, covering the balance between temperature, humidity, airflow, and VPD to create the ideal conditions for healthy, high-yielding plants. A solid, practical episode packed with tips that can improve both the quality of your harvest and the efficiency of your grow room. If you have any questions for next weeks show, please feel free to reach out on Percys Grow Room, our Discord Server, or via email :)  🌐 Website: https://highonhomegrown.com 💬 Discord: https://discord.gg/sqYGkF4xyQ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/highonhomegrown

In this episode, we sit down with Rasta Jeff from Irie Genetics for a real and unfiltered conversation about the challenges facing breeders and content creators right now. Jeff talks about having his social media accounts shut down, his YouTube content being censored, and what it’s like trying to share knowledge in an environment that’s becoming increasingly restrictive. We also get into the upcoming seed ban in the United States, what it could mean for growers and breeders like Jeff, and why it’s causing serious concern across the community. It’s a straight-talking discussion about censorship, regulation, and the future of cannabis genetics, with one of the most respected breeders in the game. If you care about growing, breeding, and the freedom to share information, this is one you don’t want to miss. Do you have any suggestions for guest on the show? Let us know by getting in touch over at Percys, or on our Discord Server!  👉 Join the community & follow us here: 🌐 Website: https://highonhomegrown.com 💬 Discord: https://discord.gg/sqYGkF4xyQ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/highonhomegrown

In this week’s episode of High on Home Grown, we’re covering a mix of research headlines, local oddities, and regulatory concerns from across the scene: Macky kicks things off with a study suggesting medicinal cannabis may not be effective for anxiety or depression. As always, we look beyond the headline and dig into what the research actually shows, and what might be missing from the conversation. He also brings a strange local story, with bags of suspected cannabis discovered dumped in a canal between Bolton and Bury. One of those “how did that even happen?” moments that raises more questions than answers. Smee reports on growing concerns in Guernsey that misuse of medicinal cannabis could lead to tighter regulations, highlighting the delicate balance between access and control. Dr. Margaret covers fresh doubts surrounding cannabis rescheduling following a new federal report, adding more uncertainty to a process that’s already been long and complicated. We also touch on a more positive global development, as industrial hemp leaders from around the world prepare to gather in Poland for the 23rd EIHA conference. A sign that the industry continues to move forward despite the noise. Another packed episode covering research, regulation, and the strange stories that keep things interesting week to week. 🌐 Website: https://highonhomegrown.com 💬 Discord: https://discord.gg/sqYGkF4xyQ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/highonhomegrown

In this week’s Grow Guides, episode 83, we take a step back and look at how cannabis growing has evolved over the years. From the early days of hot, noisy setups to the more refined and efficient methods we see today. We start with old-school HID grow rooms, where high heat and high power bills were just part of the game, before moving into the rise of early hydroponic systems that pushed growth rates and yields to new levels. From there, we explore the LED revolution, and how modern lighting has completely changed the way growers approach efficiency, control, and plant health. We also dive into the growing popularity of living soil systems, where the focus has shifted toward biology, sustainability, and letting nature do more of the work. To wrap things up, we look ahead to the future of cannabis cultivation. Where things might be heading, what trends are emerging, and how technology and natural methods could continue to blend. A laid-back but insightful episode that gives context to where we’ve been, where we are now, and where growing might go next. 🌐 Website: https://highonhomegrown.com 💬 Discord: https://discord.gg/sqYGkF4xyQ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/highonhomegrown

In this episode, we sit down with Peter Olander, founder of the drinks company Happie, to talk about building a brand in one of the fastest-growing sectors of the industry. Peter shares the story behind Happie, how the idea came to life, and the challenges of launching and scaling a beverage company in a space that’s still finding its footing. We discuss product development, consumer trends, and what it takes to stand out in an increasingly competitive market. It’s an insightful conversation about innovation, entrepreneurship, and where infused drinks could be heading in the future. If you’re interested in the business side of cannabis or just curious about the rise of alternative beverages, this is a great listen. Do you have any suggestions for guest on the show? Let us know by getting in touch over at Percys, or on our Discord Server!  👉 Join the community & follow us here: 🌐 Website: https://highonhomegrown.com 💬 Discord: https://discord.gg/sqYGkF4xyQ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/highonhomegrown

In this week’s episode of High on Home Grown, we’re covering a mix of patient advocacy, strange real-world stories, policy progress, and promising new research. Macky kicks things off with news of Patient Protect, a new initiative designed to support UK medical cannabis patients who face discrimination in workplaces, housing, and everyday life. It’s a step toward better protection and awareness for patients who still struggle with outdated attitudes. He also shares a bizarre story from New Zealand where a bag containing cannabis and cash was accidentally donated to a charity shop, leaving staff more than a little surprised when they discovered it among the usual donations. John brings big news from the United States as Virginia lawmakers reach a deal on a final bill to legalise recreational marijuana sales, potentially moving the state closer to a regulated retail market. Smee reports on a new UK grant supporting the development of hemp varieties specifically suited to British farming conditions, a move that could help strengthen the country’s agricultural hemp sector. And Dr. Margaret wraps things up with promising medical research showing that cannabis compounds CBD and CBG may help combat fatty liver disease, adding to the growing body of evidence around the plant’s therapeutic potential. Another packed episode covering advocacy, science, policy shifts, and the occasional “you couldn’t make it up” moment from around the world. 🌐 Website: https://highonhomegrown.com 💬 Discord: https://discord.gg/sqYGkF4xyQ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/highonhomegrown

In this week’s Grow Guides, we’re focusing on the small tools that make a big difference in the grow room. Not the big-ticket items like lights or tents, but the everyday tools growers rely on to keep plants healthy and problems under control. We talk about the essentials like EC and PPM meters, pH pens, and hygrometers, explaining why accurate measurements can save you a lot of headaches. We also cover practical tools such as pruning snips, LST clips, and other plant training aids that help shape plants and maximise growth. We discuss the usefulness of a jeweller’s loupe for checking trichomes, along with simple but important gear like watering tools, moisture checks, spray bottles, and sticky traps for early pest detection. Finally, we touch on one of the most underrated tools of all: keeping a grow journal, and how tracking what happens in your grow can help you improve with every cycle. A simple but essential episode that highlights the tools every grower should have within arm’s reach if they want smoother, more successful grows. 🌐 Website: https://highonhomegrown.com 💬 Discord: https://discord.gg/sqYGkF4xyQ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/highonhomegrown

In this episode we sit down with Cefyn Jones, founder of The Hemp Hound Agency, to talk about the current state of the cannabis and hemp industry in the UK. Cefyn shares his experience working within the sector, explaining the challenges businesses face, the opportunities that still exist, and how the industry continues to evolve despite complicated regulations and slow-moving policy. We discuss how there is still a lot of corruption in the cannabis industry and still so much to fix in so may ways.   It’s an insightful conversation about where the UK industry stands right now, where it might be heading, and what needs to change for it to truly grow. If you’re curious about the business side of cannabis in the UK, this is a great conversation with someone who’s right in the middle of it. Do you have any suggestions for guest on the show? Let us know by getting in touch over at Percys, or on our Discord Server!  👉 Join the community & follow us here: 🌐 Website: https://highonhomegrown.com 💬 Discord: https://discord.gg/sqYGkF4xyQ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/highonhomegrown