In what may have been some kind of Christmas miracle, the owners of the Green Goat Cannabis Shoppe in New Paltz received word that they could open their doors on December 24 of last year. Four days later, this source for locally grown and processed cannabis was up and running at 3 Cherry Hill Road. Drawing on strong bonds of friendship, a shared vision for what acquiring and consuming cannabis could be like, and the mysteries of how goats bless the earth of a centuries-old farm, the three people at the center of this artisanal establishment are ready to curate cannabis from their own crop for all comers.
The name for the business comes from Green Goat Gardens, which is where farm director Eric “Sticky Ricky” Versen has been overseeing both cultivation and production on part of a St. Remy farm that dates back to 1762.
“It was a goat farm,” explained Nicole Digilio Kross, the operationa director. The entire parcel is about a hundred acres, but one small parcel has proven extra-special. “Where they herded is where we grow” the cannabis that goes into their products. Something about the long-term presence of goats has made that soil especially welcoming to these plants.
Versen, a Kingston native who learned legacy growing in Detroit over ten years, acknowledges that adapting to Hudson Valley live soil “has been a learning curve” that had to be climbed from July – when Versen was hired — through the first harvest that was concluded in October. “I wouldn’t be able to do it without these two,” Versen said, referring both to Digilio Kross and Bradley Allred, the retail diector.
Allred and Digilio Kross have been friends since junior high, although the latter quailed a bit when confronted with the idea that they met some 30 years ago. Digilio Kross has many years of experience in corporate management, which has been mapped onto overseeing a much smaller local business. Allred’s background is in selling alcohol and spirits, and switching to another highly regulated industry may have been easy enough, but having a passion for cannabis made this a natural fit. The pair worked closely to design the retail space that is now a showcase for a slew of products grown and produced on that St. Remy farm, making it a locavore’s delight.
Each variety on offer is displayed in a “sensory cube,” a clear plastic container that has a magnifying glass to allow for close visual examination, and a slot that can be opened to experience the aroma. There are a number of varietals in this year’s crop, both indica and sativa alike, and they are packaged both as flower
and pre-rolled for convenient combustion. Additionally, there are a number of beverages produced through Millerton-based Harney Brothers Cannabis. According to Digilio Kross, the Harney brothers share the values of the Green Goat crew, making it a good fit. There will be other local partnerships announced in the coming months, and as their licensing allows for it, the Green Goat product line will also continue to be expanded.
Holding a small business cannabis license is “chaotic,” according to Digilio Kross, because “the laws change daily” and every policy change is likely to impact at least one of the business’ three layers: cultivation, production of products, or the retail environment. One example: all retailers were recently required to adopt a particular inventory-management system. Compliance with the rules is a full-time job itself, but they went into this with eyes wide open. Adapting to changing circumstances is part of what they expected.
The retail space was both designed and largely built by Digilio Kross and Allred, while Versen has been tending the crop and overseeing production. It’s a warm, welcoming space with clean lines and soft lighting, accented by illuminated display cases to ensure a clear idea of what the customer is looking to buy. All three participate in what Allred called a “mind-meld” of sharing and innovating around this passion.
Asked for a recommendation for a sativa product, Versen suggested Blue Dream, and showed a picture of plants towering up to eleven feet high on the farm. Versen spoke proudly about these robust plants. Allred agreed with that choice, and then added descriptors as only a seasoned budtender might: Blue Dream has a bright, terpene-forward citrusy nose, an aroma that “jumps out at you and grabs you by the nose.”
What might be recommended to someone else depends on their preferences, Allred pointed out, including the time of day they’ll be using the product, and what sorts of activities in which they might want to engage during that time.
If and when state legislators approve on-site cannabis consumption, the folks at Green Goat will consider adding that option for their customers. Even before that, expect an ever-expanding array of artisanal cannabis options that are grown just a few minutes’ drive away, largely by the same people who carefully package and present it for sale at this retail shop — or shoppe, in this case.
Green Goat Cannabis Shoppe is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Visit greengoatgardensny.com for more information.
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