When was the last time you revisited the golden age? For Josh Barnhart, Director of Cultivation at Elevated Roots, every day is a journey back in time. Nestled in the historic town of Kingston, Massachusetts, Elevated Roots isn’t just a dispensary or cultivation center—it’s a bridge between past and present, where nostalgia meets innovation.
And at the heart of this operation lies Nostalgia, a brand that Barnhart and the Elevated Roots team have spent the better part of the past decade bringing to life, one legendary strain at a time. “We’re not just growing cannabis,” Josh explains. “We’re growing memories. We’re crafting experiences that transport people back to a time when the plant was raw, unrefined, and closely intertwined with pop culture.”
The Art and Science of Nostalgia
Josh Barnhart’s journey to Nostalgia began long before Elevated Roots became a reality. A native of Arizona, he spent a decade mastering cultivation techniques in the dry, challenging climate of the Southwest, where every drop of water and every sliver of shade mattered. “I learned to respect the plant in ways you can’t when you’re just chasing yields,” he reflects. “It taught me to listen—to what the plant needs and what the people want.”
When Barnhart moved East, he brought with him a treasure trove of old-schoolcannabis genetics—rare strains like Northern Lights, Afghan Skunk, and Maui Waui—that he painstakingly sourced, hunted, and refined. “Pheno-hunting is like digging for gold,” he explains. “It took me 3.5 years to track down some of these genetics because they’re guarded like family secrets. They’re not in the big MSO catalogs—they’re hidden gems.”
Through meticulous cultivation, Josh and his team have revived these legendary strains for a new generation. Each Nostalgia product is a sensory time machine, designed to deliver not just the bold flavors and effects of cannabis’s golden age, but the cultural essence of the time as well.
The Legend of Uncle Billy
Nostalgia isn’t just a brand—it’s a tribute to cannabis culture and the people who shaped it. The inspiration for Nostalgia comes from Uncle Billy, the uncle of one of Elevated Roots’ founders, Bobby Palma. Billy was a legend in the legacy cannabis market, known for his daring spirit and larger-than-life adventures.
“Uncle Billy was the kind of guy who lived unapologetically,” explains Barnhart. “He’d do things no one else would even dream of—like trying to transport three buses full of cannabis. The story of Uncle Billy isn’t just about one man; it’s about an entire generation of pioneers who paved the way for where we are today. Nostalgia is our way of honoring that legacy.”
Cultivation Meets Culture
At Elevated Roots’ state-of-the-art facility, Josh oversees every detail of cultivation with surgical precision. Custom irrigation zones deliver the exact nutrients each plant needs, mixed onsite per Barnhart’s exact specifications. Advanced lighting mimics the sun’s natural rhythms, guiding plants from seedling to peak flowering. And at the end of the process, every bud is hand-trimmed to preserve its delicate trichomes.
“We’re a premium brand,” Josh says proudly. “Everything we do, we do by hand. It’s about respect—for the plant and for the people who consume it.” The dedication doesn’t stop at cultivation. Each Nostalgia package is a multisensory experience, complete with an educational strain card, a Spotify playlist of era-
appropriate tunes, and of course, the pristine flower itself. “We’re not just selling cannabis,” Josh says. “We’re selling a vibe—a moment in time. You scan that QR code, and suddenly, you’re back in the sixties, grooving to Hendrix or The Stones.”
The Future of Nostalgia
While Nostalgia is rooted in the past, Josh and Elevated Roots are always looking forward. Their sustainable cultivation practices, including water recycling and energy-efficient lighting, ensure that the memories they’re reviving don’t come at the planet’s expense.
“About 85% of the water we use comes from moisture we capture in our grow rooms,” Josh explains. “Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword for us—it’s how we operate.”
With stores in Kingston, Halifax, and a new location opening in Abington, Elevated Roots is making premium cannabis more accessible than ever. Nostalgia products are also shining on shelves at premier dispensaries like NETA in Boston and Sublime Cannabis on Cape Cod. “We’re not trying to flood the market with volume,” Josh says. “We’re curating an experience. If we’re putting out Purple Haze or Green Crack, it’s going to be the closest representation to what people remember—authentic and true to its roots.”
Reliving the Golden Age
For Josh Barnhart, Nostalgia isn’t just a brand—it’s a mission. It’s about preserving the legacy of cannabis while elevating it for the modern age. “Cannabis has always been about connection,” he says. “Connection to the plant, to the culture, to each other. Nostalgia is my way of keeping that alive.”
So, when was the last time you revisited the golden age?
With Nostalgia by Elevated Roots, the past is just a puff away.
Explore Nostalgia by Elevated Roots, a collection where every strain is a masterpiece, carefully cultivated and tested to perfection.
Let the golden age come alive again, reimagined for today’s enthusiasts who seek authenticity, bold flavors, and a journey
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