Thursday, December 05, 2013

Hemp - The ultimate cash crop, health food and environmental savior rolled into one...

A new ecovillage in Scotland has utilized an innovative material within its structures - namely, negative carbon hemp. While most environmentally progressive buildings strive for a carbon neutral rank, these houses take eco-friendly a step further, literally pulling carbon dioxide from the air. But smart building materials aren't the only use for hemp, it's exceptionally handy in other areas as well. In fact, hemp is a wonder plant that has the potential to alleviate many of our health, financial and environmental problems across the nation, which makes the political resistance to its cultivation in the U.S. all the more perplexing.

The American founding fathers knew a good thing when they saw it, which is why each of them actively grew hemp on their own land. George Washington strongly believed that hemp could help win the war with Britain, while also providing the fledgling nation with an extraordinary cash crop. In contemporary times, it has been noted that one acre of hemp pumps out more oxygen than 25 acres of forested land. As an added perk, hemp grows easily in a variety of soils - without the need for pesticides. The many uses for hemp are quite impressive, including:

Building materials - Hemp is incredibly functional for building applications - from wall construction to flooring to roof insulation. A proprietary material called Hempcrete is completely recyclable, waterproof, fireproof, does not rot when above ground and resists mildew as well as mold.

Food - Containing 5 grams of protein, 86 mg of magnesium and 10 percent daily value of iron, a 1.5-tablespoon serving of hemp seed is hard to match. The seeds are also a terrific source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (EFAs), which help reduce inflammation, repair DNA damage and support healthy brain function. Hemp oil is another good source of these important EFAs. Full story...

Related posts:
  1. The story of hemp, marijuana...
  2. Decriminalize marijuana...
  3. The Tree of Life, or The Story of Hemp...
  4. Cannabis eased my autistic son's pain...
  5. A brief history of weed, marijuana...
  6. The marijuana conspiracy: why hemp is illegal...

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