Hemp: Cannibas Sativa. Yes, it’s the plant from which we get marijuana, but it’s so much more than that. Most of you probably know a little bit about the use of hemp for ropes, etc, but did you know that hemp produces 4 times as much paper per acre as trees? Hemp can also be grown without pesticides (so can bamboo) or herbicides and is the strongest vegetable fiber on the planet.
So why aren’t more companies using hemp to make paper or clothing, or using it as an alternative energy source? I would argue, and this is supported by other sources as well, that just as hemp was coming into it’s own in terms of it’s effectiveness in providing pulp for paper-making, DuPont/Hearst saw it as a threat to their own lumber industries and began a campaign against marijuana first, and hemp as a “by-product.” As a result of this pressure and “illegalization” of marijuana (formally, and in every state) in 1937, it was largely abandoned as a source for paper/fabrics/alternative fuels and the US lost the opportunity to nurture the industrial use of hemp, which HAD BEEN used up until then to make sails, rope, and for medicinal purposes in many states.
Now, more than 80 years later, only non-viable seeds are legal to grow in the U.S. without a DEA permit, thus farmers cannot realistically grow hemp for industrial use. The U.S. is the ONLY industrialized nation in the world that does not recognize the value of industrial hemp and permit its production. Because of this, we continue to destroy forests for paper, grow cotton with tons and tons of pesticides that inevitably enter the soil and water supply, and we are MISSING OUT on a small, but useful source of alternative fuel. Brilliant.
Sorry for the lengthy history lesson and frustrated tone, but I am frustrated (and I hope you are too)! I was involved in the marijuana legalization movement heavily in and right after college, and continue to support it (that’s kind of a separate issue, but not really), but honestly, I had not thought much about hemp in relation to eco-fashion and it’s overall environmental benefits for quite some time. We who promote environmentally friendly fashion & accessories tend to focus more on bamboo and organic cotton, but hemp is even more versatile than bamboo – our farmers need only to be ALLOWED to grow it, and our industries need only be ALLOWED to use it. Please, take a moment to read more about the Hemp Industry, and what you can do to encourage our legislators to stop being afraid of a little plant, and allow our farmers to grow & sell Cannibas Sativa.
Now, back to the point. How can you incorporate hemp into your life…and no, NOT by smoking it.
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Buy Hemp Clothing. A great resource for this is The Hempest. I love the pieces below from French designer, Kanabeach. Earth Speaks also makes some lovely hemp/cotton pieces, and Sweetgrass makes hemp/organic basics. Check our Shopping list for more hemp clothing designers and boutiques.
Seeker |
Twirler |
2
Buy hemp shoes. Most hemp shoes I’ve found are quite a bit less fashionable than their hemp clothing counterparts…but there are some cute casual hemp shoes out there. My favorites are these vegan Earth shoes (my mom actually has 3 or 4 pairs of Earth shoes and loves them). Also, check out Simple for cute hemp casual shoes; Greenloop has a good selection.
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Buy a hemp handbag/tote. I tend to think hemp is best suited to grocery-store tote bags, but there are quite a few other hemp handbag options out there:
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Novica |
4
Buy Hemp beauty/body care products. Pure hemp seed oil and extract are rich sources of essential fatty acids, amino acids and nutrients vital to providing skin hydration, nourishment and conditioning. The Body Shop has a great selection of hemp bodycare products – I actually used to use this hemp hand cream. I honestly remember it being a teeny bit too greasy for me, but it did keep my hands soft and moisturized. Botanical Earth has a yummy looking lip balm, and The Hempest has a great selection of hemp body care products.
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Eat hemp food!! Hemp oil is incredibly nutritious, containing many of the essential fatty acids the body requires for healthy daily operation, and actually rivals flax seed oil as a dietary supplement (and a good source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which is believed to help pre-menstrual tension). Aside from just taking a hemp oil supplement, hemp oil and seeds are present in other types of foods like flour, coffee, and snacks. I’m not quite sold on the coffee or flour, but I’ll try the snacks and cereal.
Incorporating hemp into your already environmentally-friendly daily routine, and your closet, is the only way to support companies and manufacturers already using hemp. It is our purchasing power that keeps these innovative companies in business and creates a market for others to emerge. USE IT WISELY!!
What do you think? Do you wear hemp clothing? shoes? Has anyone tried Hemp Oil for relief of PMS (I’m actually taking flax seed oil for this now, and will be trying hemp seed next month…I’d love some input if anyone else has tried it.)
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