You've probably noticed how much plastic surrounds our daily food: packaging, disposable plates, cups and utensils, lunch boxes, bags… it doesn’t need to be so. Our challenge is simple, but perhaps not that easy: make your next lunch out plastic-free.
The very 1st Annual Hemp History Week will be held from May 17 to May 23, 2010, with the intent to bring about greater awareness of hemp. Industrial hemp, scientifically known as Cannabis Sativa, has a number of ecological and economic benefits. Unlike its distant cousin, it has no psychoactive properties; however it frequently suffers a bad reputation due to its association to Marijuana. Learn more about the significant ecological benefits of Hemp, and about Hemp Week, by reading more below.
Benefits of Hemp
Eco-friendly: Growing hemp is most often done without the use of any fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides. A lot less water is required to grow hemp than cotton, bamboo, and synthetic fibers. This makes the whole process more affordable, sustainable, and eco-responsible. Hemp can produce 250% more fiber than cotton and 600% more fiber than flax using the same amount of land. When most plants grow, they deplete the soil of nutrients and make it harder for the next crop to be grown. Hemp actually revitalizes the soil it grows in, both by aerating the soil and through the deposit of carbon dioxide in to it. This makes hemp ideal for crop rotation.
Versatile: Cannabis sativa can be used to produce over 25,000 products. To name a few:
Textiles
Pulp and paper
Edible Oil, rich in unsaturated fatty acids
Personal care products, such as creams, lotions, lip balms and moisturizers
Construction materials: thermal insulation; fiberboard; mixed with cement and plaster
Insect repellent
Animal bedding
Plastic composites for the automobile
Click here to read more about the benefits of hemp.
Why Support Hemp Farming
Did you know that the United States is the only industrialized nation to have put a stop on hemp crops? Although legal and even strongly encouraged until the 1930's, the US has made it close to impossible to obtain a costly and strict permit from the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), without which growing the crop is illegal.
The goal of this 1st Annual Hemp History Week is to educate people about hemp (in particular, that no one could get high trying to smoke it), about the history of hemp in this country, and its multitude of environmentally friendly usages. It is believed that the United States is sitting on a gold mine. Interest in and sales of hemp products have been booming, yet, hemp must be imported from Canada (as does Bronner to make his Bronner's Magic Soap), Poland, the Philippines or China. Supporting hemp farming therefore means creating farming and manufacturing jobs in the US, while following eco-friendly practices.
To find out more about a retailer near you and the type of hemp products sold, click here.
How To Support Hemp Farming
If you believe that industrial hemp should once again be cultivated freely in this country, write to president Obama and Attorney General Holder using this form, prepared by Vote Hemp.
For more information about industrial hemp and its many environmental advantages over cotton or other crops, please visit Hemp Industries Association.
Celebrating Hemp Week
Many events will be taking place throughout the week, in 31 states. To find an event near you, please click here.
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ustLiveGreener brings you in depth-information about environmental issues as well as tips for a greener, more eco-friendly way of living that respects nature while enhancing quality of life.
