The Directors Digest: An Inside Look Behind Josh Barnhart; NOSTALGIA’s Head Cultivator. 

When it comes to growing cannabis, it’s not as simple as just watering a plant and waiting for it to bloom into the flower we all know and love. It’s a delicate art that requires a careful mix of factors—some often misunderstood or overlooked. Cultivating cannabis is as demanding as growing carrots or beets, and as “cool” as the industry may seem, it’s incredibly similar than any other form of traditional agriculture. In this blog, we’re going behind the scenes with Josh Barnhart, the mastermind and Director of Cultivation at Nostalgia, who’s crafting some of the best cannabis in the Northeast. 

Stepping into the Industry  

With no prior connections to the cannabis industry, Josh was working for a linen textile company when he one day decided to apply for a position at a newly -built cultivation facility in his home state of Arizona.  What began as a resume drop on a whim soon led to a tour of a 30,000-square-foot greenhouse. Leaving a stable job of 14 years for a new industry in his mid-30s came with plenty of uncertainty, but Josh was ready to take on the challenge… Over many years of being a part of cannabis “grows” (the industry term for a cultivation center) up close, Josh started to hunt down specific genetics from cultivators all around the world, always searching for those long-lost strains that seemed impossible to find. Over the the last decade, Josh created his own portfolio of some of the most prized strains in the world. Fast forward to 2024 and Josh now oversees upwards to 900 plants consisting of 30+ legendary strains all grown under an 8000 square foot facility on the other side of the country, all under the newly minted brand, NOSTALGIA. 

Setting the Industry Standard 

Although its similar with cannabis being legal recreationally in both Arizona and here now In Massachusetts, the industries could not be more different from state to state. “The biggest difference between the MA market and Arizona first must be the regulations, then comes the level of consumer knowledge,” said Josh. He noted how the customer base in Massachusetts is far more educated when it comes to deciding what makes a quality cannabis product compared to others. This is where Josh’s importance in perfectionism shines as he understands what people are looking for when shopping for flower. In everything from the layout of the grow rooms to the draw on every pre-roll to the extra branding and packaging components that help tell Nostalgia’s story, Josh always wants Nostalgia to set the standard of premium flower.

What the Job is really like 

A common misconception about growers is that their only task is to make sure the plants are healthy and happy, however that could not be further from the truth. Cultivators oversee all operations and day-to-day tasks to ensure quality is at its highest standards. With Nostalgia flower, Josh specifically formulates his own proprietary blends to feed the plants, thus ensuring every strain gets exactly what it needs to thrive while being taken care of by the trim techs. He keeps diligent notes and records of how each strain performs in various conditions, and uses that data to ensure that strain continues to flourish every time it’s grown. He and his team run quality assurance checks at every part of the plant and product’s growth, harvest, drying, curing, packaging, and labeling stages. 

The attention to detail being unmatched is how Josh wants his flower to present itself fresh out of the package. Perfectionism is always the mindset when growing some of the best genetics available.  

Josh made a point how product representation is everything in a market like Massachusetts, where consumers want to know the story behind the flower they are picking up and enjoying. He emphasized how people want to feel seen, connected, and valued by brands they trust and spend hard-earned money on, and he feels that the products that the Nostalgia brand are producing, customers can truly see, smell, touch, and feel the love and care that went into that nug or joint. 

With Nostalgia, trust isn’t just grown and sold, but its packaged and cared for by a community of hardworking people, and the cultivation team at Nostalgia is stacked with individuals who are deeply passionate about the plant. Josh pointed out when growing cannabis how attention to detail and consistency from testing to trimming relies on the trust the cultivator has with his team. Nothing could be possible without the entire Elevated Roots family working with Nostalgia! 

Looking to grab some of Josh’s personal grow? Be sure to check out Nostalgia near you!