Plant-based medicine is often talked about, but when photographer Daniel Malikyar discovered the existence of the Weed Nuns—a group of self-declared nuns living on a farm in California’s Central Valley—he immediately set out to meet them. Over the course of two days spent with them, from dawn until dusk, Malikyar worked to learn as much as possible about this group of women who aim to «heal the world through plant-based medicine». He documented their lifestyle in a photographic series.

Two days with the Weed Nuns

The challenge for this group of women remains to legalize their activities, against the will of local legislators who, over the years, have made things very difficult for them. Every phase of the Weed Nuns’ production processes is scheduled according to the lunar cycles, and according to this principle, Daniel Malikyar’s visit was organized to allow him to photograph both the planting and the harvesting of Cannabis plants, with a ceremony included for the latter.

«As a photographer, I love connecting with people from all walks of life and capturing their spirit through photographs that tell a deeper story. This series features a candid mix of documentary-style scenes and impromptu portraits of moments that caught my eye» as Daniel Malikyar himself recounts about the project.

ph. courtesy Daniel Malikyar