Episode 11 | Paying it Forward with Sam Bellavance of Sunset Lake CBD

In this episode we share our conversation with Sam Bellavance, the Founder and Executive Director of Sunset Lake CBD and Sunset Lake Cannabis. Sam is a lifelong farmer and resident of Vermont. He began growing industrial hemp back in 2018 as a way to diversify crops on his family’s dairy farm. The following year, he pivoted to growing hemp as a CBD crop and Sunset Lake CBD was born. Last year he and his team expanded operations into the cannabis market as a Tier 4 outdoor cultivation license. Bridget and Sam discussed how Sunset Lake’s commitment to the triple bottom line has been a critical factor in their success so far. They touch upon the lessons Sunset Lake has learned in the hemp industry and how mission-driven work and climate resiliency are top of mind as they plan and invest in the future.Links:https://sunsetlakecbd.comhttps://www.sunsetlakecannabis.comhttps://www.uvm.edu/extensionhttps://vbsr.orgShow Notes:2:23 Sunset Lake CBD origin story5:41 Partnership with UVM Extension8:38 Doubling down on CBD12:45 Upcoming changes to the hemp program in Vermont18:43 Market data to illustrate overall impact of hemp/cannabis industries in VT21:26 Knowledge transfer from CBD to THC markets24:38 Cross-pollination concerns26:35 Choosing suitable genetics for growing outdoors in VT28:17 Commitment to triple bottom line32:18 Investing in climate resiliency