Planting and Caring for Indigenous Tobacco

In this video, we talk about planting and caring for tobacco. We are still learning about our foods and traditional plants. People have different ways of growing them. We are sharing the way we learned how.

[@sarabrubacher2604]

Thank you for such a thorough teaching on growing, harvesting and drying. I've been looking for this for years. I grow Tobacco for gifting when harvesting medicines and to Indigenous elders.

[@ArthurD-xw1cb]

These plants are none to play with very powerful and it will MAKE YOU respect it

[@jjerhada]

Nia'wen sister. I'm your Mohawk sister on Long Island. I appreciate your teaching. I was not successful growing last year but you helped me understand where I went wrong. 😊

[@crystaladams923]

I wasn’t successful last year either. I tried to start my seeds indoors. They do not like it indoors. I tried outdoors this year, in pots and they are so happy they are getting really big

[@EarthKeeperSelinaMu]

K’we from the Eastern Door! Land of the Mi’kMaq. So thankful to have stumbled upon your most helpful video! A friend gifted me a few tobacco plants already germinated and my plants are growing quickly! There are a few tips like grass cuttings to slow weeds….yes! I will do that. The seeds are ancient (8000 years old) and I am so thankful to have them. Blessings of the Ancestors to you all. 🙏🏽

[@charlottebice3118]

Our came from the Choctaw Nation. My husband is Indian, and I know that nicotine from these plants help cure so many different diseases.

[@koltoncrane3099]

Charlotte The Joe Rogan show and others mention that nicotine is a nervous system or nerve protector. So some studies may show it’s beneficial. I did read that European studies for the snus product was trying to get it so they didn’t have to label it as cancer causing. Legally it didn’t pass so they had to say it causes cancer but tons of research showed that snus that’s kept in the fridge and never fermented had way lower levels of carcinogens. It showed that it’s the fermentation of tobacco that causes a huge increase in carcinogen compounds. Also another study compared two towns. One town had spring water and another town had chlorine added to the water. There was no difference except for women over 65. The men were the same between the two towns, but women 65 and older were affected. The women that drank spring water were fairly healthy, but the women that drank the chlorine water had a statistical significant increase in having cancer. So women maybe are some how affected by chlorine. I’m a guy and after reading that I started drinking more filtered water cause who knows what my town adds to our water.

[@kim9090]

Nia:wen for this tutorial! I'm a Mohawk woman seeking to plant oién:kwa' for the first time, and your video is the perfect knowledge needed. Thank you for sharing!

[@OffGridInvestor]

Whatever you do, don't let them dry out. They've got to always have fairly moist soil.

[@linday6475]

I am trying to grow a crop this year for the first time, Hopi and Oneida varieties. Thank you for your information.

[@virgnthermostat5928]

Chokma, chinchoka? Hello from Oklahoma! My wife and I grow Perique tobaccoo(chickasaw tobaccoo). She's Navajo, and I'm chickasaw, I've been learning much about my culture in recent years. Thank you for the video!

[@wulfmonathcreations2091]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. This is my first year growing ceremonial/offering tobacco and your knowledge has been priceless 🙏

[@louiloui2955]

Thank You! I have started an indoor grow and I like to grow sacred plants, this was very helpful!

[@mayamachine]

I grow a ancient tobacco seed from way back. Wliwni wji yo

[@christinakaur8766]

This was very helpful. Oglala here, and I'm growing tobacco for the first time this year. My plants are thriving here in CO.

[@LightninSharples]

DONT SKIP THE 'YELLOWING' PROCESS!!!

[@christinakaur8766]

@@LightninSharples Yes, you want the part closest to the stem to be a pale yellow. 🙂

[@charlottebice3118]

​@christinakaur8766 I read somewhere too to wait until the leaves turn yellow before you harvest the leaves and then hang them up to dry. ????

[@murkypuddle33]

I'd love to buy one of your beautiful tobacco pouches! I'm growing my first crop of tobacco and would be honored to store my personal pipe tobacco in one of your pouches!

[@LightninSharples]

remember- 'YELLOWING'

[@blakelenoir8474]

Greetings Becky! Blake here looking forward to seeing you in Chicago on Tuesday for your cooking class! I'll bring some of my harvest and stuff to begin a new chapter of friendship. Much love!

[@Ukwakhwa]

How exciting! See you next week!

[@ladyrwolf]

Thank you for sharing. I am grateful and honor you.

[@brianmaney1973]

When topping non-seeding plants, you should leave the tiniest bit of flower at the top, so lower internodes dont sucker🫠😉❤️

[@rickirawlings2167]

Wó'píla Píla'mayé I watched your video on growing and caring for tobacco, (Čaŋlí)Lakota and this touched my heart so…. Since pandemic, haven’t been able to connect with my Tíó'špayé and I’ve moved and some have crossed, different variants…. Haven’t been to ceremony in so long and I need to pray for the people.

[@leegranite2920]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@kimberlyhannah7235]

My ancestors grew tobacco in rural South Carolina for many things including healing…my spirit has been called to bring this tradition back alive in their name and honor. With no idea where to start…I thank you for this amazing video. If you have any recommendations for sites/ppl in which I could purchase seeds I would be so thankful. I hope to buy from someone who view tobacco from the spiritual and healing aspect. Nonetheless, thank you again for the shared wisdom! ♥️

[@leebarber3062]

Thanks for the knowlage. Great video

[@MrDrHouse]

Very useful information, thanks for sharing

[@sweetthunderoflove1]

I'm guessing full sun. Thank you for the information. Much appreciated

[@Ukwakhwa]

We plant ours in front of our house so they have full sun for half of the day. We also had volunteers grow with our corn. They did okay shaded from the corn, but they did not do as well as the ones by the house.

[@johnrice1943]

@@Ukwakhwa morning sun or afternoon sun? I'm guessing morning sun

[@Ukwakhwa]

@@johnrice1943 I'm not sure it matters much. Ours get morning sun.

[@obsidiansun2104]

mine are already huge and have more flowers blooming than i can count here in northeast PA at 7/15 lol everything came early this year even the wild blueberries were a month early this year

[@Daughter_of_the_MostHigh]

I can’t thin plants, I will plant one seed at each spacing, if one doesn’t sprout I plant another, I didn’t grow up around my Native family members or around gardening, but i view every seed and plant as a miracle from the LORD, and I don’t want to waste HIS blessings, if a seed gets spaced too close I just let them grow together or trans plant.

[@CL-ty6wp]

Nic*tine is the antid*te. It was during the blc plaque too. It binds to the same receptors ven*M binds to. Seenine*tine test, test for ven*M.

[@OffGridInvestor]

You can soak it in water and use it as a pesticide on plants

[@LightninSharples]

@@OffGridInvestor could you understand this comment? it made no sense to me. what letter is he subbing the * character for?? o? i don't get it... maybe the "o" key is broken on his keyboard or something...

[@davidthegood]

@@LightninSharples It is to keep YT from banning him for sharing information counter to the narrative.

[@LightninSharples]

oh i totally get it. how did i not get that? lol. duh... Thank you, btw@@davidthegood

[@charlottebice3118]

ABSOLUTELY, an antidote to release those venoms that bind to your nicotinamide receptors.

[@notlisztening9821]

Wouldn't it be good to keep the flowers of your two best plants and cross-pollinate them? I think these plants haven't evolved a symbiotic relationship with bugs to avoid self-pollination for nothing. I hope i don't sound confrontational, I wanna learn ^^

[@lonestarlarf6633]

Thanks for sharing this!

[@mathewerven9]

Thank you for sharing!

[@petertuckergoettler5720]

Merci.

[@user-fz3vh4kw5s]

Thanks! Nice lesson...

[@garyseven4242]

Hello. Thank you for this video. Where can I purchase authentic tobacco seeds? I also read that the best time to grow tobacco is when the moon is in Aries. Have you ever heard this? Thanks again.

[@koltoncrane3099]

I know some information is sacred and not shared. Like an older couple was talking with some Navajo friends and they said they can’t talk about their endowment ceremony but that’d they’d confirm somethings if asked. And they confirmed that they believe that Abraham or was it Joseph in Egypt that some refer to Zohar is who they believe in or something like they follow some Zoharastrian tradition. To me this makes sense cause the tribe revealed they had clay tablet which was Sumerian. Also I watched the Americans society of dowsers and the one older guy said he lived with a Cherokee lady or she stayed at his place for a few months. She gave him a tobacco pipe or something or she did the pipe ceremony and like a thousand spirits came cause no one had done the pipe ceremony there for a long time. The lady interviewer said she did a tobacco pipe ritual and could feel spirits. It made me really interested in it cause they said it drew spirits to them during the ritual so it must be spiritual but they didn’t elaborate much on it.

[@koltoncrane3099]

One cool thing I remember watching was peyote. I grew up in school with a classmate that was Navajo. Haha everyone called him by his nickname Indian. He had stories about peyote. But I read and watched some documentaries and it’s cool to learn peyote became the sacrament and the government finally passed a Native American church and the cactus has been spread throughout the U.S. and I think into Canada. Like Texas has a bunch of land or a big site where it grows on and actual like special agents or approved pickers harvest some for the church. I think in Arizona some white people had been allowed to join but it kind of seem like it was mainly a Native American thing legally speaking. Cause they arrested a white guy that had a church using peyote or some thing in Arizona so from what I read it seems legally best to like join the Native American church or else people of other ethnicities literally can be arrested. What’s crazy was it seemed like the cactus spread far north when really it was a south west and Mexico plant but some say it became and Native American unifying thing nation wide and maybe it went into Canada I can’t remember.

[@koltoncrane3099]

Also the channel terry carter had a video 1890 where in Nevada Native Americans said they met Jesus in 1890. I think there was another big meeting of tribes in Mexico a few decades ago. But that really made me interested if native Americans really did believe or actually saw Jesus in 1890s or is that some propaganda.

[@micheleupchurch3725]

Thank you!❤❤❤

[@stiggy7778]

A tobacco company told me ownly harvest the leaves when they are almost completely yellow gold couler and not green, if its green DON'T harvest at all. So you harvest in 3 phases bottom then a week or two the centre and top if top, if still green wait another week or to then harvest the top and the main stalk you throw it into the compost bin or what for compost.

[@mattw5840]

These gardeners must be new to the crop. Which sorta calls into question why they made a guide for growing/harvesting the stuff, but at least they're trying.

[@misteryjesus]

Tobacco companies grow it for different reasons Mr. Stiggy.

[@Ezmoshe1]

Why would you harvest the leaves before they start to ripen and turn yellow?

[@chibikuro-channel]

Thank you for the interesting video you posted. And I was surprised that you didn't use pesticides. I also grow mapacho from seeds. However, armyworms and other insects eat the leaves. Do you not use any pesticides or insecticides? . How can I grow tobacco without pesticides? . I think that's ideal.Sadly, the neonicotinoid insecticides I use will reduce the bee population.

[@user-zp3gg6eb1m]

❤

[@JoannaHathway-ez9ds]

Mine are all flowering now. What do you do with the flowers? Do I have to harvest the flowers before I hang them to dry in the autumn? Miigwech

[@leardi58]

Hi what is the name of that tobacco that you were going and how would I go about getting seeds thank you and hope your growing season went well

[@felixhoy7659]

I am a 76 year old beginner gardener here in Kansas. I would like to attend a seed exchange . How do I find schedules ? Many thanks felix Hoy can be found on fb

[@Ukwakhwa]

I'm not sure about seed exchanges in your area. I'm only familiar with ones we host an attend here in Oneida, Wisconsin.

[@BeautyoftheBalance]

I came across a sad plant of this and I want to revive it, any recommendation for indoor care/revival for the lil guy while I keep him indoor?

[@user-wz5gw8ef3w]

what do you use these leaves for?

[@Stormy_Dawn]

I'm curious why you pull each plant as well instead of allowing it to stay?

[@JM-ym8mm]

Because they grow very large and very quick, plus the seeds are too small to plant individually. It makes sense to sow the seeds and pull them just as they sprout before the roots become entangled. Bear in mind that these seeds are like a pinhead. So, so tiny compared to the plant they produce. I'm more confused why they mix them into the dirt, these types of seeds require light to germinate.

[@Stormy_Dawn]

@@JM-ym8mm interesting, thank you for that input.

[@tawnicapurro4528]

There’s is wild coyote tobacco plants all over in our yard

[@deebee9184]

hi there! i am trying to plant my tobacco in a container. i have heard different things- that the plants like shade or that they like sun. in your experience, which do they prefer?

[@thinkchair96]

Tobacco full sun. Since you’re in a container, check moisture every morning and night summer time.

[@deebee9184]

@@thinkchair96 thank you!

[@debralloyd9011]

Thank you for the interesting, helpful video! What variety are the seeds?

[@Ukwakhwa]

They are rematriated from Seed Savers Exchange. They called them Iroquois Tobacco. Plant ID apps identify them as Aztec Tobacco.

[@OffGridInvestor]

@@Ukwakhwa sounds like nicotiana rustica.

[@faithnsummers]

Yaw’ko for the teachings! Growing for the first time this year. ♥️

[@skyotter3317]

What was the purpose of pinching off the flowers on most of the plants?

[@mattw5840]

So the plant puts all of it's energy into growing it's leaves. it's a little gardening life hack

[@hoopoo3721]

A comment, to help you spread the word.:)

[@charlottebice3118]

I wish you could make a video on making medicine from it - like an extract. And what are you talking about when you were picking the leaves and said no more than this - you should be okay???

[@sii6531]

We can get sick from absorbing too much nicotine through our fingers...it's why people have to ware gloves on hand pick tobbaco farms.

[@TheBold1994]

Tabacco is a food or only smoked?

[@mistyblue526]

We is it legal to sell organic, pesticide and chemical free tobacco? You know, the tobacco that was meant to use occasionally , was packaged with lots of cigarettes for a marketing ploy?

[@nicoleedinsundown5469]

Why do we prune the flowers off?

[@Manape78]

Energy saved towards leaf size. As opposed to developing flowers and seeds

[@klu222]

Does the nicotine get on anything else? I would like to grow tobacco, but have small curious child and want to keep them safe.

[@CL-ty6wp]

nicotine is the antidote to whats going on. Will bring smell back.

[@OffGridInvestor]

It's just handling it. Be aware that this is about 9% nicotine versus regular tobacco at 1%-3% nicotine. You can mix it with water then spray it on other plants as natural pesticide. You smoke this and you'll pass out or throw up or both. It's horrendously strong but the poor Vietnamese smoke it.

[@nicoleedinsundown5469]

When should I pully tobacco up? Before frost comes?

[@Ukwakhwa]

Yes before the first frost.

[@martin.m4306]

if i may ask, is there anyone willing to share some tobacco seeds? i have access to some seeds but they are modern and modified and i want to grow the original variety for offerings when brewing traditional beer here in Norway. ( i have found two variates named Mohawk and sacred cornplanter but i'm not sure if those are original. if so please tell me and spare on some shipping costs)

[@Ukwakhwa]

We do not sell our seeds. I'm not sure where to purchase seeds from.

[@GrannyGooseOnYouTube]

Look up Klamath Siskiyou Native Seeds for tobacco seeds

[@sii6531]

Aztec tobbaco (nicotina rustica) I buy from Etsy website in the UK. This variaty seems genuine to me, but it is more fragile than Cuban stranes, it does not seem to grow back next year if there are weeds...so keep some flowers on 2 plants and collect them incase they don't come up again. ✨🙏✨🌸

[@Rysiek_0.7_na_raz]

It's machorka?

[@lenktinispeiliukas248]

Yes, maxopka. Nicotiana rustica.

[@ReturntoNatureSkills]

Does anyone smoke these varieties? Or only for offering

[@Ukwakhwa]

I was only sharing how to grow and care for the plant. People have different teachings about what to do with the tobacco and whether to smoke it, burn it, or simply have it as an offering.

[@OffGridInvestor]

Way back Russian peasants did and a few old ones still do far out in rural areas. But these days sone Vietnamese do. It's often free at some cafes. But the poorer and older guys will smoke it in bamboo pipes, and especially try to get foreigners to because they will usually throw up or pass out. Regular tobacco is 1%-3% nicotine and this is 9% and far less refined with other stuff in the leaves. In peru they make a tea and get high off it in a shaman ceremony. It can be used in cigars and pipes but it's generally far too rough for most westerners.

[@ReturntoNatureSkills]

Yes we grow Lenape tobacco here and I have not met any elders with teachings on consuming it, that’s why I was asking because I’ve grown and prepared other tobaccos

[@LightninSharples]

@@OffGridInvestor noted!

[@leleane4209]

I need to buy a seed could you please help me get the seed

[@sii6531]

Aztec tobbaco (nicotina rustica) I buy from Etsy website in the UK. This variaty seems genuine to me, but it is more fragile than Cuban stranes, it does not seem to grow back next year if there are weeds...so keep some flowers on 2 plants and collect them incase they don't come up again. ✨🙏✨🌸

[@agonrexha8775]

Can anyone tell me which chemicals to use for golden virginia ?

[@postol76]

It is not tobacco, its rustica, "makhorka" on russian)

[@OffGridInvestor]

It's one variety of tobacco. Not regular tobacco. But didn't stop Russian peasants from smoking it and still the Vietnamese today.

[@LightninSharples]

@@OffGridInvestor mine is rappa nui. is this similar or perhaps identical?

[@FffReck]

Qe'ciye w 'yew 🫰🫰🫰