hemp and it's many beneficial uses

"The most cultivatable, optimum dry biomass plant species on earth, uniquely and immediately capable of the economical replacement of all mankind's use of high-pollutant costly fuels and uranium, for energy, petrochemical products, gasoline and plastics" ~ FCDA Europe

Hemp as rotation crop & soil rejuvenator

Hemp is an ideal rotation crop for farmers worldwide. It puts down a taproot twelve inches long in only thirty days, preventing topsoil erosion. Its water requirements are negligible, so it doesn't require much irrigation and will grow in arid regions. It matures from seed in only 120 days, so it doesn't need a long growing season. Hemp's soil nutrients concentrate in the plant's roots and leaves. After harvest, the roots remain and the leaves are returned to the fields. In this way, soil nutrients are preserved.
Hemp is also a beneficial crop for the Earth itself. It is very easy on the land. It doesn't need many nutrients, so it doesn't require chemical fertilizers. Hemp out-competes other weeds, so it doesn't need herbicides to thrive. Even hemp strains that are 100% THC-free produce their own resins that make the crop naturally pest-free, so it doesn't require toxic chemical pesticides. Hemp actually leaves the soil in better condition than before it was planted.

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The environmental advantages of hemp

Hemp is an extremely fast growing crop, producing more fibre yield per acre than any other source. Hemp can produce 250% more fibre than cotton and 600% more fibre than flax using the same amount of land.
Hemp grows best in warm tropical zones or in moderately cool, temperate climates. Hemp leaves the soil in excellent condition for any succeeding crop, especially when weeds may otherwise be troublesome. Hemp’s strong roots descend for three feet or more. The roots anchor and protect the soil from runoff, building and preserving topsoil and subsoil structures similar to those of forests. Moreover, Hemp does not exhaust the soil. Hemp plants shed their leaves all through the growing season; adding rich organic matter to the topsoil and helping it retain moisture. Farmers have reported excellent Hemp growth on land that had been cultivated steadily for nearly 100 years.
Concern about deforestation and the impact of pollution from industry continues, the time has come when we can no longer afford to ignore the plant that from early human history until only this century was a mainstay of existence.
Hemp S.S.Boyce

The Hemp plant is the most simple and the most widely adapted to cultivation in all climates, the most susceptible to the manipulations of chemical and mechanical processes.

Hemp as Food: Hemp Seed is the most nutritious and easily digestible food on the planet, the only complete source of all the following: protein, essential amino acids (all 20, including the 9 the body cannot produce) and essential fatty acids. Hemp is the only food which supplies all man's dietary needs in one source - the only food which can sustain human life without any other source of nutrition. Hemp foods contain 35% carbohydrates, 30% fat, 35% Fibre, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C, D and in particular vitamin E and only 8% saturated fat, or less. Hemp Seed Oil is being called "Nature's most perfectly balanced oil." It is truly a nutritional wonder.

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Hemp for Body Care: Hemp seed oil is perfectly suited for hair and skin care. Its nutritional value, combined with its moisturizing and replenishing EFA's, make it one of the best vegetable body care foundations.

Hemp as Clothing: The bark of the hemp stalk contains bast fibres which are among the Earth's longest natural soft fibres and are also rich in cellulose. Hemp fibre is longer, stronger, more absorbent and more insulative than cotton fibre. The possibilities for Hemp fabrics are immense. It is likely that they will eventually supersede cotton, linen, and polyester in numerous areas. With so many uses and the potential to be produced cheaply, Hemp textiles are the wave of the future! Hemp may be known for its durability, but its comfort and style are second to none. The more Hemp is used, the softer it gets. Hemp doesn't wear out, it wears in. Hemp is also naturally resistant to mould and ultraviolet light.

Hemp as Fuel: Eco-Friendly Hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all hemp products. The hydrocarbons in hemp can be processed into a wide range of biomass energy sources, from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas.

Hemp as Paper: Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber on a sustainable basis, and can be used for every quality of paper. Hemp paper manufacturing can reduce wastewater contamination. Hemp's low lignin content reduces the need for acids used in pulping, and its creamy colour lends itself to environmentally friendly bleaching instead of harsh chlorine compounds. Less bleaching results in less dioxin and fewer chemical by-products. Hemp paper more than 1,500 years old has been found. It can also be recycled more times.

Hemp as Paint & Plastic: Hemp oil extract can also be used as an ingredient in non-toxic, biodegradable inks, paints, and varnishes. It is an ideal raw material for plant-based plastics such as cellophane as well as more recently developed cellulose-based plastics. Henry Ford himself manufactured the body of an automobile from hemp-based plastic in 1941. The plastic was much lighter than steel and could withstand ten times the impact without denting. The car was even fuelled by clean-burning hemp-based ethanol fuel.

Concrete from Hemp: Hemp hurds mixed with limestone and water causes the hemp to harden into a substance stronger than cement and only one sixth the weight. More flexible than concrete, it has a major advantage over conventional building materials, especially in areas throughout the world that are prone to earthquakes.

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