Ex-cannabis farmer is cultivating dream job
ANDY McConville has his dream job - and he owes it all to the fact he used to be a cannabis farmer.
The 34-year-old horticultural specialist spent a decade growing weed for his own use at home.
But it was only when he suffered a mental health crisis about three years ago that he realised he could put his green fingers to better use.
Andy, of Spotland, Rochdale, was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and as part of his treatment went to see a psychiatrist.
He said: “I should have had the diagnosis when I was about six or seven, but around that time my brother died, so they just put my behaviour down to depression.
“So for years I thought I was just off my head.
“When I was younger I was told I was crazy, not with it, mental.
“To fit in with your peer groups you act out what people are telling you.
“So when I finally got my diagnosis it made total sense - it explained everything.”
Andy, who estimates he’s had between 250 and 280 jobs in his life, some of which lasted no longer than three hours, initially began smoking cannabis to help him cope with the symptoms of what he now knows is ADHD.
But after a while his drug use began to take its toll.
He said: “My drugs journey started quite young.
“I experimented with all sorts of drugs and it took me to some dark places.
“But the only thing that helped was cannabis.
“I would smoke a couple of spliffs at night and before I knew it I was enjoying stuff again.
“But I had 10 years where I was growing weed where I just wasn’t part of society.
“I was lost. I wouldn’t answer the door, I didn’t go out.
“I had had some mad stuff happen to me and I ended up seeing a psychiatrist.
“He asked me what I enjoyed doing most and I said ‘growing’. It was a weird thing, I stumbled on it myself, but I knew straight away that’s where I found peace.”
Andy, who grew up in Tameside, enrolled on a horticultural course at Hopwood Hall College in Rochdale, and began volunteering at a community allotment run by homeless charity Petrus in the town.
And he now works at Todmorden Incredible Aqua Garden - a state-ofthe-art hydroponics, aquaponics and permaculture garden centre.
“I began to focus what I learnt about growing cannabis into growing other plants,” said Andy. “I began looking at the organic side of things, nutrients.
“I never thought I would have a job doing what I loved.
“My life is branching out now. Everywhere I look there I am surrounded by plants all the time. There are new tastes, new knowledge, new people.
“There is only one way to deal with ADHD and that’s to chase happiness. You will not find a better medicine than happiness.”