WHAT IS HEMP or KENAF?
Hemp is a durable natural fiber
that is grown as a renewable source of raw materials that can be incorporated into thousands of products. It’s one of the oldest domesticated crops known to man. Hemp is used in nutritional food products such as hemp seeds, hemp hearts, and hemp proteins, for humans. Its also used in building materials, paper, textiles, cordage, organic body care, and other nutraceuticals, to name just a few. It has thousands of other known uses. A hemp crop requires half the water alfalfa uses and can be grown without the heavy use of pesticides. Farmers worldwide grow hemp commercially for fiber, seed, and oil for use in a variety of industrial and consumer products. The United States is the only developed nation that fails to cultivate industrial hemp as an economic crop on a large scale, according to the Congressional Resource Service but, with rapidly changing laws and more states gravitating towards industrial hemp and passing an industrial hemp bill, that could change. Now, the majority of hemp sold in the United States is imported from China and Canada, the world’s largest exporters of the industrial hemp crop. There is no reason for that
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEMP AND MARIJUANA
Hemp is completely different from marijuana in its role, cultivation, and application. In cultivating marijuana, the plants are spaced far apart, and the male plants are destroyed to ensure that they cannot seed the female plants, which would result in undesirable, less potent, and less marketable, seeded marijuana buds. Hemp, on the other hand, is planted close together and commonly hermaphrodites, which creates plenty of seeds, the main part of Hemp foods and supplements. The Hemp stalks are processed and used for fiber, composite, and other hemp-based end products.
Hemp is used in a variety of other applications that marijuana couldn’t possibly be used in. These include healthy dietary supplements, skin products, clothing, and accessories.
Hemp is known to have over 25,000 possible applications. Hemp products such as Hemp Milk, Hemp Cereal, and Hemp Oil are used by consumers every day.
For an excellent read on the difference between hemp and marijuana, visit the Ministry of Hemp.
Although hemp seeds come from the Cannabis Sativa plant, they do not produce a mind-altering effect. These small, brown seeds are rich in protein, fiber, and healthful fatty acids, including omega-3s and omega-6s. They have antioxidant effects and may reduce symptoms of many ailments, improving the health of the heart, skin, and joints. Read all the reasons to include hemp as part of a healthy diet here.
HOW HEMP CAN CHANGE THE WORLD
Fiber – Hemp fiber can be used to make fabrics and textiles, rope, and paper. The word ‘canvas’ actually derives from the word cannabis.
Fuel-
While the industrial, medicinal, and commercial properties of hemp have been known to mankind for a long time, its benefits to the environment have been realized in recent years. One of the compelling things hemp offers is fuel. With reserves of petroleum being depleted, it would be nice if we could have a fuel source that was reusable and which we could grow right here, making us completely energy independent.
Food –
Hemp seeds are nutritious and were first thought to be eaten by the Ancient Chinese and Indians. Hemp seeds have a nutty taste and can be eaten raw, ground up, sprouted, or made into dried sprout powder. Hemp seeds also contain a very beneficial oil that is high in unsaturated fatty acids, including an optimal 1:4 ratio of omega-3 to 6.
Building Material –
Hemp can be made into a variety of building materials. These include concrete-like blocks called ‘hempcrete’, biodegradable plastics, and wood replacements. These materials have been used in the manufacture of many things, including electronics, cars, and houses. The first American home made of hemp-based materials was completed in August 2010 in Asheville, North Carolina.
Biofuel-
Remarkably, the oil from hemp seeds and stalks can also be made into biofuels such as Biodiesel?-?sometimes known as ‘hemp line. While this biofuel can be used to power engines, it does take a lot of raw material to produce a large amount.
