Hemp – don ’ t smoke it, wear it

Hemp, you may be pleased or not to hear, belongs to the cannabis family but doesn't share its better-known cousin's uses. It can be grown in the European union (France is the biggest producer) but the United States Government won't differentiate between industrial hemp and marijuana and so refuses to allow the plant to be grown in US soil. However, the USA imports more hemp than any other country. 

Industrial hemp is an environmentally-friendly plant – it grows fast and, according to Defra, less energy is used to grow and process hemp than cotton, and it needs fewer pesticide sprays. Plus it has a wide range of uses:

• Its fibres can be used to make fabric, paper and rope, or strengthen concrete
• As a culinary tool – its seeds are rammed with essential fatty acids, its leaves can be eaten in salad and its oil tastes nutty
• Hemp seed oil can also be used to make beauty products

So, if they should choose to, a person could put hemp on their skin, wear it, write on it, eat it and be in a building made with it!

Hemp products are becoming more common although they're easier to find on the internet than the high street. I have a fab pair of green hemp trainers (they look a bit like Converse) from www.naturalcollection.com, my husband has a multi-tasking bag from www.sativabags.com and his flip-flops (shame the weather isn't co-operating) are from www.ethicalwares.com. I've yet to find hemp clothing which fits my taste and wallet but when I find them I'll let you know!

Comments

[specialkk]

Having just come back from the Big Chill Festival there was a great stall trading in Hemp wear - I did manage to buy a great hat from there - pure hemp. I have to admit there was a really lovely bag but just a bit too much money. I will keep looking though and let you know!