James “Cutty” Cunningham isn’t just a grower — he’s a Santa Cruz original and one of the real innovators who helped shape modern cannabis cultivation.From the early days of running a double-wide up in the mountains to leading Fog City Farms, Cutty’s story is pure California hustle. He’s one of those rare people who built everything with his own hands — learning construction, running rooms, fixing problems, and turning obstacles into opportunities.When vertical grows started creating new challenges — hot air, microclimates, uneven canopy performance — he didn’t wait for someone else to solve it. He went into his garage with a longtime friend, sheet metal, blue tape, and a ton of determination. That’s where Vertical Air Solutions (VAS) was born — a system that now powers grows across the U.S. and was eventually acquired by Pipp Horticulture.In this episode, we dive deep into Cutty’s full journey — how a Santa Cruz kid who loved skating and surfing turned a passion for plants into a career built on innovation, grit, and community. You’ll hear how Fog City Farms became a respected name in indoor cannabis, why environment and airflow are everything, and what it really takes to stay alive in this industry when most don’t make it past the first harvest.This conversation is a blueprint for creators, cultivators, and builders — anyone chasing progress in a space that doesn’t wait for you to catch up.