Tag: fiber

Fifth Annual NoCo Hemp Expo Brings Together Hemp Industry in World’s Largest Hemp Products Trade Show

World’s largest gathering of industrial hemp producers takes place at the 5th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo, April 6 – 7, 2018, at the Ranch Events Complex in Loveland, CO; Call for speakers, sponsor, exhibitors is now live.

Loveland, CO (December 13, 2017) – Tickets are now on sale for the 5th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo, the largest two-day gathering of hemp thought leaders, speakers, producers, entrepreneurs, and exhibitors from around the globe. Taking place April 6-7, 2018, at the Ranch Events Complex in Loveland, CO, the event will showcase the latest products, innovations, research and advancements in the hemp industry world-wide.

Recognized by the Hemp Industries Association as the “Hemp Event of the Year,” NoCo5 will offer two interactive expo halls featuring products from international brands, introduce a Farm and Agriculture Symposium to share the latest research, techniques and methodologies for industrial hemp production, and an expanded hemp investment summit for the 5,500 attendees projected this year – an increase from 4,700 in 2017. The trade show and conference is considered the most influential hemp-centric event in North America.

The $2 billion hemp industry worldwide continues to gain increased attention. This year’s NoCo5 will draw professionals across industrial, nutritional and therapeutic hemp industries and feature attendance by state and federal government representatives spearheading current legislative changes around the future of hemp in the U.S. bringing increased media spotlights and attention on the future of the industry.

Bipartisan Support Grows for Industrial Hemp
With growing support across bipartisan lines, Congressman James Comer (R-KY) Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Jared Polis (D-CO), and Thomas Massie (R-KY) joined forces to reintroduce the Industrial Hemp Farming Act in the summer of 2017 calling for the complete removal of hemp from its current oversight and regulations of the Controlled Substances Act.

“Hemp has boundless potential as a sustainable alternative to plastics and other environmentally harmful products,” said Polis. “It’s past time that we eliminate absurd barriers and allow hemp farmers to get to work, create jobs, and grow this promising and historically important crop.”

Industry B2B Day Focuses on Entrepreneurship, Investment and Consumer Markets
On Friday, April 6, NoCo5 is hosting “Industry B2B Day,” open to trade visitors and those interested in the hemp products market. Programming will feature the 3^rd annual Hemp Summit, an important gathering of hemp-focused investors, founders and professionals. In addition, Industry B2B Day attendees are invited to visit the exhibition halls, participate in interactive demonstrations, attend panels from over 75 industry experts and speakers, and learn the latest in new technologies, techniques, and applications.

New to NoCo5: Agricultural and Farm Symposium
For agricultural producers, a new, full-day NoCo5 Agricultural and Farm Symposium on Saturday, April 7, will highlight early learnings, recommended production practices and market opportunities from pilot programs in Colorado, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and other states and regions where commercial hemp crops are permitted and/or licensed to be grown. The symposium also will feature new equipment, recommended growing practices, and farming and agricultural exhibits.

Consumer Day Features Global Hemp Village, Education and Two Expo halls
NoCo5’s two exhibition halls and educational seminars are open to the general public on Saturday, April 7, where attendees will sample and experience the latest usage of natural industry hemp products, and attend panels and speaking events on the latest in environmental impacts, nutrition, and growing health and wellness applications. In addition, the NoCo5 Global Hemp Village will showcase innovative products and ideas from international exhibitors, from super foods, supplements, textiles, paper, accessories, hemp beauty products, and plastic and building alternatives.

“The cultural shift in the perceptions, demand, and applications for hemp in the U.S. and around the world are priming the hemp industries for growth, and NoCo5 is at the epicenter of the industrial hemp revolution” says president and NoCo Hemp Expo co-founder Morris Beegle.

Tickets and Registration; Call for Speakers, Sponsors and Exhibitors
Tickets and registration are available for the General Public, Industry B2B Day (including the Hemp Business Summit), and the Agricultural and Farm Symposium at http://nocohempexpo.com/ticket-sales/. For speaker, sponsor, exhibitor and volunteer inquiries, visit http://nocohempexpo.com/registration-noco5/.

About NoCo Hemp Expo
Now in its fifth year, NoCo Hemp Expo – NoCo5 – is produced by WAFBA LLC (We Are For Better Alternatives), based in Loveland, CO. Established in 2012, WAFBA is also founder of TreeFreeHemp paper and printing services, and Colorado Hemp Company, “supporting all things hemp.” Areas of focus include product and brand development, marketing, printing, production, events and advocacy. Learn more at NocoHempExpo.com, and find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Contact:
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, tel 303.807.1042, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com

December 13, 2017
2nd Annual SLV Hemp Symposium Returns to Adams State University

Bringing hemp education, economics, and environmental information to Alamosa Colorado and the San Luis Valley.

Education is Power! Come network and learn from like-minded individuals in the hemp industry.

As the hemp industry further demonstrates its potential to create new job markets, revolutionize our economy, and prove to be both nutritionally and environmentally beneficial, Colorado universities are realizing the need to incorporate hemp into higher education.

The Second Annual San Luis Valley (SLV) Hemp Symposium will take place on Friday, November 10, on the (ASU) campus in Alamosa, Colorado. This year’s symposium, taking place in the Student Union building, is presented by International Hemp Solutions and features Let’s Talk Hemp, an all-day speaker series and exhibitor expo. The symposium covers a wide range of hemp topics including legislation and regulation, best farming practices, technology, hemp foods & nutrition, marketing your hemp business in today’s environment, and more. Panel members include industry experts and entrepreneurs such as, Tim Gordon from COHIA (Colorado Hemp Industries Association), Tom Dermody from Industrial Hemp Research Foundation, Alan Parsons from Power Zone, Morris Beegle of NoCo Hemp Expo, Bob Hoban from Hoban Law Group, Terry Moran from the Colorado Department of Agriculture, and Ryan Loflin, the first US farmer in 50+ years to successfully plant, grow, and harvest a commercial scale hemp crop in 2013 before it was federally allowed via the 2014 Farm Bill.

Symposium host, ASU, illustrates the importance of having education and research grow simultaneously with infrastructure. Having launched their Industrial Hemp Initiative this July, ASU aims to create an SLV Viable Hemp Seed Program and to develop a large-scale, hemp-based economy in the San Luis Valley. The initiative focuses on what ASU President, Beverlee J. McClure, calls the four E’s: Economy, Environment, Education, and Entrepreneurship.

Tickets are an affordable $10 for the Let’s Talk Hemp speaker series and free to walk through the mini-expo featuring 15-20 hemp based companies and organizations. Tickets are easily purchased on-line via the SLV Hemp Symposium TICKET SALES webpage.

For more information visit the HempEvents.org website. Come join the movement while becoming educated by industry leaders.

November 9, 2017
4th Annual Hemp Harvest Party!

After 4 years the US hemp industry is finally starting to lose its baby-fat… Look how many more farmers and how many more acres of hemp were grown in Colorado and across the U.S. in just a single year!

At the 4^th Annual Hemp Harvest Party, on Saturday, October 14^th you can experience the living U.S. hemp movement in action, presented by Lilu’s Garden.

Join industry leaders CoHempCo and Colorado Hemp Project as they host at the Oak Room at Oskar Blues Brewery in Longmont, CO, from 8pm-midnight to celebrate “an industry of trail blazers and leaders who have worked hard to accelerate the progress made during this year’s planting, growing and harvesting season.”

Growers, processors, distributors, and even users are all pioneers in the hemp movement. Enjoy live entertainment with big screen hemp movies, network with hemp enthusiasts, and satisfy in amazing Oskar Blues beer flavors, hemp mulled wines, whiskey and vodka. Grab a special hemp cappuccino or latte from SteepFuze, and savor tasty hemp baklava desserts from Satya Creative.

Meet Chef Kent of Z-Catering who will be creating special hemp-harvested goodies for purchase, featuring “Hemp Rocks” a German-style krautburger made with farm-to-fork fresh veggies and meats, spiced with a hemp-infusion, and topped with Colorado Hemp Company’s Hemp Green Chili. (Vegan and GF Options)

The hemp industry itself is gaining weight quickly with more consistent planting of stable genetics; its firming-up muscle from another season of harvesting and processing; and more and more knowledge and experiences are gained and shared each day.

The Oak Room is a wonderfully-warm event space with lots of tall solid tables, leather cushion booths, and high brewery ceilings. Purchase tickets today as this event is always a lot of fun and generally sells out!

Right now, we are all pioneers in the movement. We are all leaders in our own individual hemp projects. We all have something to offer.

Come celebrate and encourage each other as equals in the larger hemp community. For right now, the success of the community depends not on just one person, but on the endurance of all its members.

Thomas Ivory, Jr.

October 11, 2017
Hemp on the Slope II: Building a Local Hemp Economy on the Western Slope

They do industrial hemp on the Western Slope of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains too! It’s “Back to the Slope” on July 22^nd for Hemp on the Slope II near Collbran of western Colorado.

Salt Creek Hemp Company is building a local hemp economy in Colorado’s Northwest growing region. The Northwest is 1 of 9 unique geographical and environmental land areas that makes the Colorado territory special. Each Colorado region — the Northwest, Northeast, Central, South Central, Southeast, South, San Luis, West, and Southwest — presents many different and variable challenges for the cannabis plant. If the variety of industrial hemp can grow through its full growth cycle (seed to pollen to flower) and remain below the 0.3% THC threshold in all 9 growing regions, that variety would be considered Colorado “certified” industrial hemp.

The Northwest Colorado industrial hemp seed-bank is growing strong at the Salt Creek Ranch near Collbran, Colorado, (Grand Junction-ish), in the alpine pleasant Plateau Valley of Grand Mesa’s flat-top peak. It is here where the friendly mountain folk host their annual industrial hemp awareness and education celebration. Hemp on the Slope is a “hemp-centric” event, focused on building local economy and community from the textile opportunities of industrial hemp. Topics about hemp food, hemp fuel, hemp fiber, animal nutrition and bedding, along with many other hemp benefits will be discussed and illustrated. Agriculture panels, building workshops, hemp industry speakers and discussions, local vendors, hemp food, live music, helpful networking, community building, and more will be entertained in celebration of the non-psychoactive cannabis-hemp crop.

***This event is not a medical or recreational marijuana event***

In fact, this event is kid-friendly! Local Collbran youth will bake and decorate non-psychoactive hemp flour cakes for the “Let Them Eat Hemp: Cake Auction,” a fundraiser for the Colorado Hemp Industries Association. Colorado Hemp Works (a commercial-scale hemp seed processor in Longmont, CO) provided the Colorado grown, Colorado processed, and soon-to-be Colorado enjoyed hemp seed flour. The live cake auction, hosted by Rebecca Sheley, begins at noon and will be “lively, fast paced.” Come early at 10am to choose favorite cakes before the bidding begins.

General admission tickets are $15 presale or $20 at the gate. Visit HempontheSlope.com to get tickets today! Lodging and camping information can be found on the website.

The 2nd annual Hemp on the Slope celebration is presented by Bluebird Botanicals: CBD & hemp extracts “crafted with care,” and produced by Colorado Hemp Company: Supporting all things hemp. The Industrial Hemp Research Foundation, Nature’s Root, Eurofins BioDiagnostics, Steep Fuze, Hoban Law Group, RxCBD, Hemp Road Trip, COHIA, THC Magazine, Functional Remedies, and Colorado Hemp Project all helped bring together this event and inspired the community-at-large along the Colorado Western Slope

There will be many opportunities for questions and answers, many chances to participate in hands-on hemp building demonstrations — from hemp concrete to hemp plaster to hemp insulation — and the many connections and much networking developed in this open setting will plow the way for many future hemp projects, as well as much local cooperation with surrounding neighbors and community members.

Join the hemp fun on Saturday, July 22^nd, 2017.

Salt Creek Ranch

60885 Salt Creek Rd
Collbran, CO, 81624

June 10, 2017
Shop Eco-Conscious Fashion at NoCo Hemp Expo 4

Don’t let all the other exciting and innovative uses for hemp at NoCo Hemp Expo 4 distract you. Even though hemp textiles and fashion have been around for a long time (millennia in fact!), wearing your hemp is still an excellent way to support the industry while enjoying a superior product over cotton.

To highlight the importance of hemp fashion and introduce consumers to some of the many innovative companies making high quality hemp clothing and other goods, NoCo 4 has created a Fashion Alley where you can pick out the latest in hemp gear. If you follow the “green carpet” down to the interactive green screen you can vogue it up and get your picture taken in your new hemp gear thanks to the Digital Workshop Center.

While cotton has been the undisputed textile king for the past several hundred years (for sometimes controversial reasons), the challenges of growing and processing cotton have taken a toll on the environment and have made alternative fabrics an urgent need for our planet.

Cotton uses 50% more water to grow as hemp (and 4 times as much once production is factored in!) which is leading to water scarcity and even desertification in some places where cotton is grown.
Hemp plants can be grown very close together which means a greater yield in addition to eliminating the need for herbicides due to the inability of weeds to compete with such a densely grown crop.
Cotton needs twice as much land to produce the same amount of fiber as hemp and accounts for 25% of all pesticide use worldwide.

And this just scratches the surface! Hemp is also much more durable than cotton and just as versatile, which means longer lasting clothes. These facts alone make hemp a better choice for the eco conscious consumer looking to break free from the low-quality fast fashion culture of today.

Furthermore, hemp clothing is great for the whole family. Kristen Kunau, co-owner of Freida Farms and avid hemp consumer, says, “I love that I feel good when my family wears hemp because it doesn’t destroy the earth, it lasts forever, and when it’s worn in it gets really soft and comfy.”

While you may not find much in the way of hemp clothing at your local mall just yet, a quick internet search will lead you to a vast array of hemp clothing options. Many makers are selling their wares via company websites and Etsy, such as some of the retailers that will be at the NoCo Hemp Expo like Satori Movement, Hemptique, Recreator, and many others.

Fashion Alley is sponsored by Hempy’s and EnviroTextiles. Hempy’s sells 100% hemp products that are 100% made in America. They offer hemp t-shirts, hats, wallets, craft supplies, and even jeans! One of their core values is long-term sustainability in all aspects of what they do and they have a total commitment to environmental consciousness and workforce responsibility.

EnviroTextiles is a pioneer in sustainable textiles, specializing in hemp and other natural fibers. They are industry leaders in the effort to improve corporate responsibility and transparency in manufacturing processes and labeling. They currently provide wholesale hemp fabric and finished promotional products to over 65 countries.

These companies are on the forefront of the growing hemp clothing market. Buying hemp textiles and fashion is a great way to make an ecological choice (and look great too!). Be sure to visit the Fashion Alley at this years NoCo Hemp Expo to see the cutting edge styles and pick up a few essentials to round out your wardrobe.

Laurie Hanselmann is a writer, nonprofit management guru, and lover of the natural world. She enjoys exploring how to find more meaning and connection in her life as a ‘Type B’ person through self improvement and productivity hacks. You can find her at persistentlybetter.com.

March 27, 2017
The Future of Sustainable Building: Eco-Friendly Insulation, HempCrete and More

John Patterson of Tiny Hemp Homes and Joy Beckerman of Hemp Ace International describe how hemp is an ideal material for construction and see its application in commercial and home building growing in 2016.

By: Brad Shannon

Hemp as a building material has roots that stretch back millennia. Buildings constructed thousands of years ago using hemp still stand today at Ellora Caves in India, a testament to the plant’s suitability and durability as a construction material.

“Hemp as a building material is not a new idea,” notes Joy Beckerman of Hemp Ace International. “It’s an ancient trend proven over thousands of years, and there’s no need for new research to find ways to use it – we already know.”

Including the long list of benefits from green building, the versatility and sustainability of hemp is perhaps best showcased in the myriad ways it can be used as a building material today.

John Patterson of Tiny Hemp Houses notes that “A hemp wall replaces the combination of drywall, insulation, exterior boarding, house wrap, siding, caulk and paint all in one thermal wall system. It’s great at keeping a more comfortable constant temperature, is fire resistant, breathable, mold-, pest- and mildew-resistant, and over time extremely affordable.”

This helps create a home where, as Sergiy Kovalenkov’s company Hempire UA notes, hemp insulation and a high thermal mass helps regulate temperature and humidity to reduce heating and cooling costs; hemp materials create naturally vapor-permeable walls reduce or eliminate the need for ventilation; and hemp helps create a quiet living space that is non-flammable, resists mold and mildew, and repels pests. Using natural materials eliminates the possibility of toxic off-gassing from manmade materials, which could have a positive impact on our health.

(Hemp stalks showing the interior hurd media credit: HempCrete WorkShops)

Beyond being a versatile building material, using hemp for building is also good for the earth. Growing hemp helps not only reduce CO2 emissions, but actively removes CO2 from the air.

(Hemp hurd ready for use media credit: HempCrete Workshops)

Tiny Hemp Homes notes that industrial hemp is only grown on about 100,000 hectares globally, producing a crop valued at about $600 billion across industries that use hemp as a raw material.

That market will no doubt grow in the footsteps of what Beckerman describes as “a tremendous surge in projects globally and in the U.S., including commercial projects like the Marks & Spencer Cheshire Oaks store and The Triangle Project, a 40-unit housing complex, both in the UK. They use much less energy than traditional construction, and that is one thing that is making this something that is not just for tiny homes or pods.”

(HempCrete, Hemp Insulation, and Hemp Chip Board media credit: HempCrete Workshops)

Learn more about building with hemp from local, national, and global experts like Frank Wetenkamp, a Natural Building Professional with Tiny Hemp Houses, Joy Beckerman of Hemp Ace International, John Patterson of Tiny Hemp Houses, Sergiy Kovalenkov of Hempire UA, David Neisingh of Reakiro Labs, Anndrea Hermann of Hemp Technologies and many others at NoCo Hemp Expo 2016 at The Ranch Events Complex in Loveland, CO April 1-2.

In particular, don’t miss the Building with Hemp sessions featuring all of these folks in a panel discussion. Plan to catch one of these sessions:

April 1

Hempcrete Mixing with a Natural Plaster Finish
1:00 to 2:30 pm on the Quicksilver Scientific Workshop Stage

April 2

Hempcrete Mixing with a Natural Plaster Finish
Noon to 1:30 pm on the Quicksilver Scientific Workshop Stage

2:45 to 3:25 pm in the Hemp Business Journal Summit Room

(media credit: HempCrete Workshops)

March 28, 2016
Introducing the NoCo Hemp Expo HempWall!

By: Rachel Jackson

2016 has been a monumental year for hemp, and especially big for the NoCo Hemp Expo! As the largest, smartest hemp expo in the country, we want to connect our message with people in every way we can. That’s why this year the NoCo Hemp Expo is unveiling a brand new interactive social media platform, the Tweetwall!

Affectionately dubbed the HempWall, think of it as your interactive information stand. Throughout the Expo, we’ll be broadcasting the next big event, speaker, or panel happening up on screens all over the Expo! So when you are looking for the next hempcentric activity, look no further than the HempWall! You’ll be totally connected to everything happening around you, so you’ll want to check back frequently to make sure you’re not missing a thing.

But that’s not the whole reason we’re doing this. This is the 3rd year of the NoCo Hemp Expo, and we never would have gotten here if not for the loving support of all our attendees and volunteers. Without you we never would have gotten to be the biggest, baddest hemp expo in the country, and this year we want the spotlight to be on you! So we want to see YOU while you’re sampling, cooking, painting, jamming or just having fun at the #nocohempexpo! And we’re doing that through the magic of our HempWall.

It’s pretty simple. Log in to your Twitter account, follow @NoCoHemp, and simply tag your photo, thought, or friends with the hashtag #nocohempexpo. It will automatically pop up on the HempWall, which is being projected up on screens all over the Expo! So when you snap a selfie with Ben Franklin, or find your new favorite hemp snack, put it on Twitter and hashtag #nocohempexpo, so everyone can see! Maybe you’ll even see someone you know.

Nowhere near a Hempwall screen? Check your pocket. The Tweetwall also works on your mobile phone, if you pull up the website on your smartphone you’ve got the #nocohempexpo right in your hand. Send the link to your friend who couldn’t make it, and they can watch the #nocohempexpo livestream in front of their eyes. It’s almost as much fun as being there (almost.)

You can check out the HempWall in action over at nocohempexpo.tweetwally.com. Get those Twittering fingers ready, and we can’t wait to see you April 1st and 2nd!

Another great reason to check out the wall? We’re also going to be livetweeting the event! Think of it like your interactive information stand, we’ll keep you updated on speakers, panelists, workshops and more! You’ll want to check back to the screens frequently so you don’t miss a thing, and really get the whole expo experience!

March 28, 2016
How Building With Hemp Can Help Curb Climate Change
Between the manufacture of building materials, transportation of those materials and construction equipment, energy use and worker transportation, along with the final disposal of construction waste, the United States building sector is becoming one of the world’s largest threats to climate change.

Did you know?
- Half of the world’s energy goes into buildings throughout their lifetime – from construction, through use, and finally demolition.
- Buildings, and the construction and use of those buildings, also contribute to almost half of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions.
- Transporting the materials to a building site constitutes 6-8% of total greenhouse gas emissions for a project.
- Construction is one of the largest consumers of raw materials, using 25 percent of the world’s timber.
- The manufacture of concrete and reinforced steel account for 94-95% of greenhouse gas emissions for construction materials.
The U.S. Green Building Council reports that not only does the United States commercial and residential building sector consume 70 percent of electricity, but accounts for 39 percent of all CO2 emissions produced. In fact, U.S. buildings alone are said to be responsible for more carbon emissions annually than those of any other country, except China.

Hempcrete is made of the inner woody core of the hemp plant (called shiv or hurd) mixed with a lime-based binder and water. It is environmentally friendly, non-toxic, energy-efficient and resistant to fires, mold and insects.

Hempcrete, and other hemp building materials, have the ability to transform the building sector into a more energy-efficient and climate-friendly industry, playing a major role in reducing our ecological footprint. Here’s how.

Manufacturing

The manufacture of concrete and reinforced steel accounts for 94-95 percent of greenhouse gas emissions produced from construction materials. These materials are often made using poisonous chemicals and continue to release toxins into the environment even after the buildings are constructed.

Contrary to these traditional construction materials, hemp is typically a low-maintenance, fast-growing agricultural crop that thrives in both temperate and tropical climates. While it grows, it absorbs carbon emissions and helps replenish the soil with nutrients. Once mature, it can be harvested and processed into a concrete-like mixture called hempcrete.

Hemp processing is much less destructive to the environment than traditional concrete production. It requires less energy to produce, and it is a sustainable, annually renewable industrial resource.

HempFlax is a company focused on the production and processing of sustainable resources, semi-finished and finished products made from ecologically grown fibre hemp and flax. They discourage unnecessary logging and deforestation by producing hemp wood for paper, construction material, sawdust and many other environmentally damaging consumer goods.

Transportation

Manufacturing building materials that are then transported to a building site to be constructed into a final structure, all emit large amounts of greenhouse gases and consume increasing quantities of energy. To reduce transportation costs and increase efficiency, hemp is often grown in close vicinity to the production facilities.

On farm processing methods have also been explored in an effort to decrease these costs. Hypothetically, all processing and transportation equipment could run on hemp biodiesel – but that’s down the road.

Pictured above: The Nauhaus Prototype Project, a hempcrete home in Asheville, North Carolina. Click here to learn more about our stay in The Nauhaus!

Construction

Hemp can replace traditional construction materials like concrete, timber, and steel with applications like hempcrete and other hemp-based construction materials like hemp fiberboard and hemp insulation.

Hempcrete is lightweight, non-toxic, and biodegradeable. It is usually mixed on-site, although precast walls and blocks are also available. Building with hempcrete offers design flexibility, because it has the ability to form around any shape, then set and support its own weight.

Energy Usage

A significant amount of emissions come from the combustion of fossil fuels to provide heating, cooling and lighting, and to power appliances and electrical equipment. Hempcrete regulates temperature and humidity; in some cases completely eliminating the need for heating and cooling systems, resulting in noticeable energy savings.

“Hempcrete is used as an environmental barrier for providing resistance to heat transfer and managing moisture of the building envelope,” says Kris J. Dick, an associate professor in the Department of Biosystems Engineering at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg and director of Alternative Village, its construction research facility. “Engineers and architectural designers practicing in the field of nonconventional material applications have clearly indicated a need for more design data regarding hempcrete.”

As time passes, the strength of hempcrete has shown to increase. The lime-binding agent that is mixed with the hemp hurd calcifies and gets harder over time. The average hempcrete building is expected to last several hundred years.

Pictured above: John Patterson from Tiny Hemp Homes showing Kentucky Hempsters, Kirstin Bohnert, his latest project in Berthoud, Colorado. Click here to learn more about our visit with John and his Tiny Hemp Home in CO !

What to learn more about Hempcrete?

Industry leaders and experts will gather together on April 1-2 in Loveland, Colorado for the NoCo Hemp Expo, the largest hemp-centric event in the country. Join John Patterson and Frank Wetenkamp from Tiny Hemp Homes for a “Building with Hemp” workshop from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm on April 1 or 12:00 – 1:30 pm on April 2.

Be sure to sign-up for our mailing list for future hempcrete building workshops this season!

—

Sources

Image source (top): https://www.facebook.com/alembicstudio/photos/a.1018396308179468.1073741829.150498734969234/1138901149462316/?type=3&theater

https://helix.northwestern.edu/blog/2011/03/construction-has-costly-carbon-footprint

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/10/hempcrete-hemp-house_n_1506662.html

http://www.eesi.org/files/climate.pdfhttp://www.collective-evolution.com/2013/02/03/hempcrete-worlds-strongest-building-material/http://hempflax.com/en/what-is-hemp/hemp-processing

https://www.asme.org/engineering-topics/articles/construction-and-building/green-alternative-to-insulation-materials

http://hempflax.com/
March 26, 2016
Going Green This Spring: Top Hemp Fashion Brands in 2016

Spring into Summer with Sustainable Hemp Fashion

One thing we’ve fallen in love with when it comes to hemp is the fashion! Long gone are the days of burlap sacks and hippie necklaces, we’re talking about top-notch designer digs and practical purchases that last a lifetime!

Not only does hemp production require much less water with little to no pesticides compared to cotton, it’s naturally better than any synthetic material.

As people become increasingly conscious about their purchasing decisions, we believe it’s important that hemp textiles are readily available. While the hemp textile industry is in need of further development here in the U.S., many companies located across the country are taking strides to make hemp mainstream and advocate for its commercialization. We’ve listed just a few of our favorite sustainable hemp fashion companies below that are making green the new black.

Pretty Birdie Co.

Stephanie Teague Trippe has defined high-class hemp fashion through her company, Pretty Birdie Co.From elegant wedding gowns to classic business attire, Stephanie offers women the look and feel we want on the inside, and on the outside!

With stunning, hand-sewn pieces made using a variety of hemp-blended materials, you can feel confident that your Pretty Birdie purchase is contributing to sustainable, more environmentally friendly practices.

Plus, her designs are phenomenal! Even catching the eye of four-time Grammy winning artist, Esperanza Spalding, who has been seen wearing Stephanie’s designs on multiple occasions.

We love our Pretty Birdie pieces and probably wear them too often – they really do fit better each time we wear them! The picture to the left is from last summer when we had a photo-shoot in one of the fields we worked with, showing off our Pretty Birdie outfits! Stephanie has recently expanded her company to include kids clothing and will rebrand with a launching of a new website, stay tuned!

Jungmaven

When it comes to being comfy and cool, Jungmaven has us covered! So far, the 60% hemp 40% cotton blend shirts have been our absolute favorite. We can even wear them in the field and the hemp doesn’t stick! The photo below was taken after transferring raw hemp material, and there’s no hemp anywhere on the shirt. Not to mention, it’s so airy and allows our bodies to breath while we work.

We can also throw them on with leggings and a cute scarf for an everyday outfit. Founder, Robert Jungmann, caters to men and women with a variety of simple, colorful, comfortable, yet versatile hemp shirts perfect for all activities.

Jungmaven’s vision is to have everyone in a hemp T-shirt by 2020 to help mitigate climate change.

We’ve got ours, Do you?!

Hemp Blue

Did you know at one point Kentucky produced a fabric called “Kentucky jeans” made from hemp? In fact, the first Levi Jeans were made using hemp canvas. Now, Hemp Blue is setting an all-new standard with a premium hemp denim line for men and women.

In December, the L.A. based company launched the Hemp Blue project through a Kickstarter campaign, which was successfully funded well over the goal of $25,000. We can’t wait to get our first pair of Hemp Blue jeans this Spring!

Recreator

Who doesn’t love hemp screen tees and sustainable apparel with funky fresh designs? Recreator is re-creating hemp fashion from L.A. with local production from experienced artisans who believe in high-quality, ecological standards. All shirts are dyed, cut and sewn with a distinct pride.

Minawear Hemp Lounge

Ladies, if you’re in the mood to move shop Minawear Hemp Lounge for hemp yoga pants, tops, sundresses and accessories perfect for getting out and moving about! Owner and Founder Mina Haggard prides herself in promoting health, education and care of the planet through her clothing.

Check us out rockin’ our hemp clothes at one of our events last year! Alyssa (pictured left) is wearing the olive spaghetti stap tunic from Minawear Hemp Lounge (see below) and Kirstin (pictured right) has on the flower of life design from Recreator!

Step’n-Out in Hemp at NoCo

Interested in learning more about hemp fashion? The NoCo Hemp Expo is hosting a Hemp Fashion Show on Saturday, April 2 at 3:00 pm in Loveland, Colorado at The Ranch Events Complex. Sponsored by Envirotextiles, Step’n-Out in Hemp offers a first-hand view into the world of sustainable, eco-friendly hemp fashions from the companies who are revolutionizing the textile industry today.

Enviortextiles has been leading the way in hemp fabric and textile production in Colorado and the United States since 2002. The mother-daughter duo, Barbara Filippone and Summer-Star Haekse have been long-committed to producing quality fibers and catalyzing the need for a “cotton” clothing upgrade.

Some of the companies mentioned above will be at the Expo for you to connect with! We look forward to seeing even more hemp fashion brands and expanding our hemp wardrobe. Go green with hemp this spring at NoCo Hemp Expo and join us on Saturday, April 2nd at 3:00 PM to support all things hemp and the much-needed movement towards sustainable clothing and textiles in the U.S.

For more information visit www.nocohempexpo.com.

March 18, 2016
Filling in The Gaps: A Sustainable Solution in Hemp Fabrics

Hot? Cold? Worried about infection? Wrap yourself in hemp!

By: Brad Shannon

Did you know? One of the oldest relics of human history is a piece of hemp fabric dating back to around 8,000 B.C. Betsy Ross is said to have sewn the first U.S. flag from hemp fabric, and the canvas used to make the first pair of Levi’s was even made from hemp fiber.

Today, what’s old is new again, as hemp textiles are being used to make countless items, from apparel to shoes to housewares to furniture upholstery.

The case for using hemp to make fabrics is clear. In addition to the benefits it provides from its growth cycle – enriching the soil and absorbing carbon dioxide from the air, hemp produces 250% more fiber per acre than cotton, 600% more than flax, and uses much less water than cotton to grow. Where cotton farmers use more insecticides than most any other crop grown, hemp uses very little in the way of chemicals for its cultivation.

Hemp Traders notes that hemp textiles were long used mainly in industrial applications, particularly in the age of sailing ships for canvas, rope, and more, because untreated hemp fiber is course and rough. This was a challenge when it came to making apparel and other material for home use. Older methods of softening plant fibers used acids and worked well on cotton and flax, but weakened hemp fiber and made it unusable.

In the 80s, a new enzyme-based process was created, preserving the quality of hemp fibers while softening and smoothing them, producing a better quality of fiber to blend with other fibers or use alone in textiles for clothing.

Whether in a coarse or more finished form, hemp dyes well, taking up and retaining color, breathes in warm weather and has insulating properties in cool weather.

As shown in various studies including “Comparative Study of the Resistance to Aspergillus Niger by Hemp, Cotton, and Flax,” by Bergh and Kitts, hemp has natural antibacterial/antimicrobial properties and is resistant to mold, making it a compelling material to use in products like Nuhni’s (none-eye’s) organic blankets and washcloths which can help to “prevent the spread of staph and pneumonia.”

Hemp is extremely durable and becomes softer over time through use, and is naturally flame resistant without adding chemicals.

(media credit: nuhni.com)

It can be blended with other fibers to achieve a desired feel and structure, incorporating the softness and flex of cotton or the unique smooth texture of silk. Hemp is also used alone to produce a broad variety of fabrics used in myriad products sold around the world.

EnviroTextiles, LLC, a Cultivator-level sponsor of the 2015 NoCo Hemp Expo based in Glenwood Springs, CO, manfactures and imports more than 100 different hemp fabrics from around the world. Founder and hemp textile expert Barbara Filippone has been bringing sustainable hemp into the U.S. for more than 20 years. They offer hemp canvas, twill, muslin, plain weaves, silk blends, jersey knits, fleece, specialty weaves and faux fur, apparel and heavy-duty, upholstery-weight fabrics. These fabrics, from China, Romania, eastern Europe and Mexico, are used by Ralph Lauren, Versace, Volkswagen and others worldwide.

To support the growing interest in the production of hemp-based clothing and household goods, EnviroTextiles offers immediate shipping with no minimums – either from their Colorado headquarters, or direct from the manufacturer to customers who place large production orders. Choose from dozens of unique hemp fabrics, including 100% hemp textiles and blends featuring a variety of other fibers. They also offer for finished clothing items including t-shirts, hoodies and socks, along with hemp towels and tote bags.

This month’s Outside magazine features a t-shirt from Jungmaven, a hemp-based clothing company whose founder Robert Jungman has been working with hemp textiles and natural dyes since 1993. Hemp’s durability plays a role in the current trend of the outdoor apparel industry which focuses on the longevity, indestructibility, and sustainability of the products being make.

Hemp and its history as a valuable fiber and textile in the U.S. has until now been “swept under the rug” by trivial policy. Prohibition on the cultivation of hemp has caused what Vital Hemp Founder Ron Alcalay calls, “a gap in our plant inheritance.” With recent changes in outdated hemp legislation, things are starting to look up for our one of the founding fibers.

Learn more about hemp fibers and textiles from companies like Envirotextiles, LLC, along with Vital Hemp, Jungmaven, and more at NoCo Hemp Expo 2016 at The Ranch Events Complex in Loveland, CO April 1-2.

March 18, 2016
Recharge Your Wardrobe This Spring with Hemp: Sustainable Fashion and Textiles at NoCo 3

Eco-friendly clothing companies aim to bring hemp-trade to the U.S. in 2016.

Sponsored by EnviroTextiles, Step’n-Out in Hemp offers a first-hand view into the world of sustainable, eco-friendly hemp fashions from the companies who are revolutionizing the textile industry today.

Long-committed to producing quality fibers, EnviroTextiles leads the way in hemp fabric and textile production in Colorado and in the U.S. Mother-daughter duo Barbara Filippone and Summer Star-Haeske have owned and operated the Glenwood Springs green-company in since 2002.

Their efforts have catalyzed the need for a “cotton” clothing upgrade in the U.S, bridging cultural values through the core of the East Asian hemp trade, and shedding light of the harmful chemicals being used in everyday apparel.

As one of the most durable and long-lasting fibers on the planet, hemp requires less water to irrigate the plant and fewer acres to grow than the standard cotton fiber. Hemp fabric softens over time, and unlike cotton, uses little to no pesticides.^[1]

Showcasing business attire, casual wear and elegant evening gowns, NoCo 3 features hemp fabrics and designs made by Fibre Poet, Hemptique, Recreator, and more like Hemp Blue, an LA-based hemp denim company whose recent Kickstart campaign reached well over its pledged goal of $25,000 in December 2015.

Importing hemp has been at a high cost to most preliminary manufacturers in the U.S., but given recent changes in state and federal legislature regarding allowing farmers to grown hemp, EnviroTextiles and clothing companies of the like are poised to deliver some of the most natural fibers grown on U.S. soil in years to come.

Go green with hemp this spring at NoCo Hemp Expo and join us on Saturday, April 2nd at 3:00 PM to support all things hemp and the much-needed movement towards sustainable clothing and textiles in the U.S.

Press Contact:
Abbie Marks
(985) 518-7493
abbie@nocohempxpo.com

^[1] KY Hempsters. “Hemp vs Cotton: 3 Reasons Why Cotton Is Not King (and Why Hemp Should Be).” Leafly. N.p., 8 Oct. 2015. Web. 16 Mar. 2016.

March 17, 2016
Art Hands on Hemp!

Local artists exhibit patriotism and progress through sustainable hemp paper donated by Loveland’s own Tree Free Hemp company.

By: Thomas Ivory, Jr.

The long bast fibers of the hemp stalk have an epic reputation for strength, durability, and quality. This is true for cloth, rope, and paper, among other things.
With the incorporation of Industrial Hemp into the art community, artists in NYC and Loveland, CO have gained another form of expression and a carbon-friendly mediu
m to illustrate the limitless potential and possibility for hemp in the US.

Morris Beegle of TreeFreeHemp Paper Company specializes in 100% sustainable, hemp-blended, post-consumer recycled paper products.

“The really good sturdy paper,” said Beegle, “that’s where the fiber comes in. You can blend the hemp fibers with other natural fibers like wood pulp or post-consumer material. Hemp is is a really good binding agent that will make the paper quiet strong.”

From March 3-6, the NYC paper exhibit Art on Paper displayed hemp-artwork by local artist Glenn Goldberg. Held in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, the exhibit was produced in conjunction with Hemp NY City, a multi-day series on the contemporary hemp movement in New York and the nation.

Goldberg received specialty handmade quality hemp paper donated by Tree Free Hemp.

“What I donated to Hemp NY City was 250 8½x11 sheets of 110 pound cover-stock hemp paper,” said Beegle. “It’s 25% hemp, 75% post-consumer recycled. That’s all the paper that we’re doing. That’s the only commercial grade hemp paper on the planet right now.”

Goldberg also received paper made from fiber of several #firstlegalharvest crops including “Ryan Loflin’s 2014 crop, Mike Lewis’ Kentucky 2014 crop, and some from Robin Alberti in Vermont,” said Beegle.

“I sent those out to Green Field Paper Company in San Diego who made a bunch of those deckle 13×20 sheets. That paper was 65% hemp and 35% recycled cotton. Glenn did some little 4×9 individual art pieces with it.”

A unique artisan product does have its flaws.

“The commercial grade paper we use is pretty good for several types of art,” said Beegle, “but the paper is not a bright white, since it’s not bleached; there’s no chlorine.”

Beegle’s hemp paper is off-white given its naturally processing, and has a bit more texture than your standard office paper.

“Some of the colors, if you use watercolor-paint, don’t pop as much as they would on a nice white piece of paper. I do, however, think the absorption (of the paint) is great.”

Back in Colorado, local artists are also getting a chance to work with this timeless medium.

“Loveland is an art hub, if you didn’t know,” said Beegle. “There are all kinds of sculptors and painters around. It’s a pretty artsy little town.”

“I donated 15 sheets of 26×20 to the ArtSpace in Loveland for 15 artists to create pieces from our hemp paper.”

This month at 2nd Fridays in Loveland, the community art walk will display all the amazing hemp paper art provided by Tree Free Hemp

The pieces will also be displayed at NoCo3 in the ArtZone area!

“We have a demonstration space with easels set up and there will be some artists painting,” said Beegle.

“People who want to paint will be able to paint on hemp paper, and we’ll also have a kid’s zone like last year where kids can sit and color on hemp paper. It’s meant to be interactive so people can participate in the expo, paint, create, and walk away with hemp in their hands.”

March 14, 2016

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