I totally feel you man! I've learned most of what I have from some great growers here, and doing lots of reading. Sadly I've always been underground as well so I haven't been able to interact with many other growers in person. I have had a few grower friends over the years though, mostly people I've met in legal places that I visited.
There are some great growers up in the 716, I've had the product but haven't met the artists. I was spoiled growing up there always having pretty great Canadian buds to smoke. When I moved out of buffalo I got my first taste of lower grade weed with seeds in it. What a shock!!
Anyway I'm always glad to help if I can, I don't know it all but I've learned a couple things over the years. There is tons of info from other growers teaching me things in my thread in my sigline. It's long but it covers many many topics in decent detail.