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Hemp is an annual herbaceous plant of the species
cannabis sativa, meaning ‘useful hemp’.
It is a high yield commercial fibre crop which flourishes
in areas with temperate climates, such as Canada.
It can be grown on a range of soils, but tends to
grow best on land that would produce a high yield
of corn. The soil must be well drained, rich in
nitrogen, and non-acidic. Hemp requires limited
pesticides as it grows quickly, attracting few pests.
Hemp grows successfully at a density of up to 150
plants per square meter, and reaches a height of
two to five meters in a three month growing season.
Hemp produces a "Bast Fibre" similar
to flax, kenaf, jute and ramie. The primary bast
fibre is attached to the core fibre by pectin -
a glue-like soluble gelatinous carbohydrate. These
fibres can be used for textiles, cordage and fine
paper products. The wood- like core fibre or "Hurd"
can be used for animal bedding, garden mulch, fuel
and an assortment of building materials.
Harvesting hemp for textiles, utilizes specialized
cutting equipment. Once the crop is cut, the stalks
are allowed to "Rett" in the field to
loosen the fibres. During this process, most of
the nutrients extracted by the plant are returned
to the soil as the leaves decompose. The stalks
are turned and then baled with hay harvesting equipment.
When planted for fibre, yields range from 2 to 6
tons of dry stalks per acre.
Hemp also produces an oil seed that contains between
25 - 35 % oil by weight. High in essential fatty
acids, hemp seed offers exceptional nutritional
value.
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Hemp, isn't
that marijuana?
Can you get high from smoking hemp? |
No! Hemp is a distinct variety of the cannabis
plant. Due to the similar leaf shape, hemp is frequently
confused with marijuana. Although both plants are
“Cannabis", hemp contains virtually no
THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the active ingredient
in marijuana. All products manufactured from hemp
are environmentally friendly, sustainable and psychoactive
free.
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Are Hemp Products
legal in Canada? |
Yes. In April, 1998, Health Canada amended federal
regulations to make it legal to grow hemp in Canada
under licence. Only certified low-THC seed can be
cultivated.
For more info visit:
Health
Canada - Regulations on Industrial Hemp
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How is Hemp
an environmentally friendly, sustainable resource? |
Hemp can be grown in Canada while Cotton can not.
Up to half of all agricultural pesticides used in
North America are applied to the cotton crop. Hemp
requires little or no pesticides as it is naturally
pest resistant. Cloth made from hemp fibers is stronger,
more durable, and more absorbant than cotton.
Hemp’s extensive root system is very beneficial
as it is effective in preventing erosion, aiding
in the removal of toxins and improving the soil
structure by aerating the soil for future crops.
Hemp is an ideal rotation crop.
Making paper from hemp would lessen our dependancy
on wood pulp. Over 50% of our forests have been
depleted having a substantially negative imact on
our weather patterns and biosphere. Remember, trees
help us breathe. Over a 20 year period, one acre
of hemp produces four times the amount of pulp for
paper production as the same area of trees. Hemp
fibre is longer than tree fibre, as a result, hemp
paper recycles many more times.
The burning of biomass fuels does not release sulphur
dioxide, a major pollutant found in fossil fuel
emissions. It is a fact that up to 80% of our airborne
pollution comes from the use of fossil fuels. Our
farmers could be back in business growing a non-polluting
fuel sorce. Hemp produces more biomass per acre
than any other crop, making it ideal for energy
farming.
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Why haven’t
we been using hemp? |
Hemp was eliminated through a "Reefer Madness"
propaganda campaign which created marijuana prohibition.
People were told that "Marijuana" caused
insanity, murder, even death! History shows that
through prohibition, a small handful of vested interests
cornered the market in tree-pulp paper and synthetics
/plastics production. All of which could be made
naturally from the annually renewable hemp plant.
It is interesting to note that people have been
smoking cannabis for medicinal and recreational
purposes since before recorded history.
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Why buy hemp
products and support the hemp industry ? |
Hemp is the cornerstone in a complex socio-enviro
problem. A plant this useful has been virtually
eliminated from use in the civilized world.
By offering hemp products we offer a chance for
the consumer to invest in a product that represents
the fruitation of the eliminaton of cannabis prohibiton.
Hemp fabric is stronger, lasts longer and gives
better value for consumer dollars. Hemp foods are
healthy and full of essential nutrients. Hemp paper
offers part of the solution to deforrestation. Hemp
fuel means domestic fuel production ending dependancy
of foriegn sources. Hemp makes sense.
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Is hemp more
expensive than similar items made from conventional
materials? |
The hemp industry is still very young. It takes
time to build a new industry. The fact that we have
legislation that enables farmers to grow this crop
is a step in the right direction. Now we need established
industry to pick up on and utilize this natural
resource. To grow the fibre is not enough. We need
processing mills, and distribution chains. Currently
most hemp textile products that are produced in
Canada, are utilizing imported hemp fabrics. Until
we see mass producton of domestic hemp frabric,
we can expect the costs to be higher.
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Why are some
hemp garments utilizing a blend of hemp and cotton? |
Although 100 % hemp fabric would be preferable
to blended fabrics, many Canadian garment producers
utilize blends to help reduce costs. We are working
hard to provide 100% hemp products produced entirely
of Canadian hemp.
It’s going to take some time....
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