flowers of most other plants, however.
They look like what you might
think of as “pot,” “grass,” or “weed” but
without the high when consumed.
Hemp stalks can be ground down
and serve as a cost effective and sustainable
source of cellulose, which is
used in a vast array of products such
as plastic cutlery, hardwood flooring,
single-use containers, brake pads,
and many others. With microplastics
present in our water, air, seafood,
wildlife and our own bodies, industrial
hemp represents an exciting
agricultural opportunity to shift away
from the use of traditional plastics to
a healthier and sustainable substitute.
The cellulose and fiber from
these same hemp stalks can be
chopped, combined with water and
lyme, and cast into molds to create
a building material with properties
stronger than concrete! There
are many variables and aspects to
consider when using hemp as a
construction material, but when it is
combined with lyme, the mixture has
the added benefit of being fire and
mold resistant as well.
Although the outer layer of fiber
on hemp stalks is difficult and expensive
to collect, it is also a valuable
commodity. Because hemp fibers are
quite long compared to other natural
fibers, they are used to create strong,
long-lasting building materials as well
as soft, durable fabrics, clothing and
rope. The fiber and cellulose uses for
hemp are highly practical and often
prove to be stronger and more durable
alternative to many commonly
used materials today.
The breadth of ways to use this
plant matter as a less harmful and potentially
abundant resource was one
of the main reasons why industrial
hemp was opened up for agricultural
production in 2018. Currently, the US
has limited capabilities within this
young industry to bring hemp products
to market on a large scale. Over
the last two years there have been
major infrastructure upgrades to help
support domestic hemp production,
and we are well on our way to making
the American Hemp Dream a reality.
That being said, there are many
hurdles to overcome as the hemp
industry continues to build itself,
state by state.
Hemp farming in our region has
emerged as a legitimate agricultural
option, but it does not come without
risks and challenges for a brand
new industry that until recently was
mostly underground. It takes hard
work to grow high quality hemp and
it’s very difficult—and expensive—to
even bring it to market. One way to
start for many has been to grow a
CBD-rich hemp variety which is ideal
for extraction or dried for sale as raw
CBD products. Alternative varieties
can be harvested for fiber, seed, feed,
bedding and beyond, with added
advantages of providing field cover,
weed suppression, regenerative soil
benefits, growing similar to grain,
and easily chopped-and-dropped for
mulch. These varieties require sparse
labor after seeding and are far less
labor intensive than CBD-rich hemp.
With the future as uncertain as
ever, in many ways hemp is well on
its way to helping make the world a
healthier place for us all. I encourage
you to dive into the specifics of hemp
cultivation and utilization in all of its
many forms at www.nationalhempassociation.org.
Simon Arendt is founder of Friendly Faces
Cooperative, a new engine for social,
agricultural, and economic change in DMV
communities. Friendly Faces is building
a framework to support a systemic shift
towards more equitable and sustainable
policies, practices, and values. Please get
in touch by visiting www.friendlyfaces.net
or emailing: [email protected].
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