| The species of plant from which we get hemp is Cannabis Sativa L. |
| Hemp crops can produce more than three times as much fiber per acre than cotton crops |
| The variety of hemp used for fabric and textiles grows to a height of 10-15 feet, with roots that can reach depths of 3 feet |
Hemp fibers are “bast” which means they grow as a stalk from the ground. The woody bast fiber is extracted from the stalk through a process called decortication. Three different types of material are used in three different ways.
“Long fibers,” so called because they are the length of the stalk, are used for twine, cordage, textiles, paper, webbing and household goods. The length of long fiber is advantageous to textile applications. In the mid 1980’s an enzymatic process was developed to remove lignin from hemp fiber without compromising its strength, making it more useful in clothing fabrics by softening its feel. Short fibers, also called “tow,” are also sometimes used for textiles, and are also used for non-woven matting, paper, caulking, and building materials. “Hurd” is the woody material from the center of the stalk, used to make paper, packaging and building materials and even some plastic composites.
| Betsey Ross sewed the first American Flag from hemp, and Levi Strauss used hemp for the very first pair of jeans made in California |
| 5-10% levels of THC in the flowers of some varieties of cannabis plant give them a psychoactive affect when consumed. Industrial hemp contains .3-1.5% THC |
The seeds of the hemp plant can also be quite versatile. Hemp seeds can be used to add nutritive value, flavor and texture to food. The oil from the seeds can be used for cooking, printing and in household and woodworking products much like linseed oil.
