Tag: Regenerative

  • Newsletter – July 30, 2020

    Newsletter – July 30, 2020

    Regenerative Ag: Healing the Planet with Hemp

    By Christina Sasser 

    The world as we know it is experiencing a time of great transformation. Climate change is now considered a major public health emergency by leading scientists around the world. The world needs a multifaceted approach to combat climate change, and one important way to do so is through radical adjustments to farming practices. According to a 2019 report from the U.N. Environment Programme, agriculture is currently the planet’s largest form of land use, occupying 40% of the earth’s surface and responsible for 25% of greenhouse gas emissions. Regenerative agriculture is a holistic system of farming principles that could change these trends. It seeks to rehabilitate and enhance the entire ecosystem, actually “improving the resources it uses, rather than depleting them.”

    Regenerative agriculture is unique in its ability to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to also capture them through carbon sequestration, which is the longterm removal of carbon from the atmosphere. When plants photosynthesize, they take in carbon dioxide from the air and transform it into carbon that the plant uses to grow. The excess carbon created during this process is then transported through the plant and into the soil, where it can feed fungi and microbes, which in turn provides more nutrients for the plant. Carbon can remain stored in the soil for thousands of years or can be released back into the atmosphere through farming practices like plowing and tilling, in which soil is mechanically dug, stirred or turned. Project Drawdown, a global research organization that identifies, reviews and analyzes the most viable solutions to climate change, ranks regenerative agriculture as one of the top actions we can take to ensure we have a planet worth living on in the future.

    read full article here

    regenerative healing the planet with hemp

    To learn more about Vital Leaf‘s mission to heal the planet through regenerative hemp, visit here: https://vitalleaf.com/

    This article originally appeared in the Let’s Talk Hemp Summer Solstice 2020 Digital Magazine


    NEWS BRIEFS

    Troops Salute

    Navy Bans Topical Hemp Products, Doubling Down on CBD Prohibition

    By Marijuana Moment

    homeless person

    Project CBD Launches Hemp for the Homeless Campaign

    By Project CBD

    Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Sues Companies Over False CBD Endorsements

    By BBC News

    Magic Johnson

    Basketball Great Magic Johnson Jumps Into the CBD Court

    By WWD


    HEADLINE NEWS

    Colorado Hemp Industry Challenges CDA’s Selection of MJ Consultancy
    By CBD Today

    Experience Hemp Summer Solstice Conference Video Content Archive Now Available
    By Let’s Talk Hemp Media

    U.S. Hemp Roundtable Urges California Lawmakers to Support Hemp
    By U.S. Hemp Roundtable

    UC Riverside Researcher Develops Nontoxic, Climate Friendly Pulping Method that Converts Nearly 100% of the Hemp Plant into Usable Components
    By Seed World

    New Federal Program Aims to Help Labs Achieve Accurate THC, CBD Measurements
    By Hemp Grower

    Democrats Reject Marijuana Legalization in Party Platform
    By The Huffington Post

    Texas Ban on Retail Sale, Processing and Manufacturing of Smokable Hemp Goes Into Effect August 2
    By Texas Hemp Coalition

    Teen Who Changed Delaware MMJ Law Launches Virginia Hemp Farm
    By MMJ Daily

    Tobacco Multinational Altria, Beer Maker Anheuser-Busch Among Entities Newly Lobbying for CBD
    By Cannabis Wire

    FOOD, BEVERAGE & SUPPLEMENTS

    U.S. Hemp-derived CBD Market Projected to Grow 14% to $4.7 Billion in 2020
    By Food Navigator-USA

    CBD Formulation Shows Promise in Treating Dermatitis in Dogs
    By Hemp Gazette

    The Promise of CBG, the “Mother” Cannabinoid
    By HempToday

    Hemp 4 Heroes Employs Veterans in the CBD Industry
    By Shepherd Express

    FASHION, FIBER AND CONSTRUCTION

    Can Hemp Toilet Paper Save the World?
    By The Hearty Soul

    “A Hemp Story” Children’s Book Teaches Kids About “Grandpa’s Hemp Farm”
    By Ministry of Hemp

    French Natural Gas Company to Produce Non-polluting Fuel from Hemp
    By Born2Invest

    Levi’s Is Forging a Sustainable Path with Hemp
    By Smart Company

    FARMING AND AGRICULTURE

    USDA Grant Allows WVU Professor to Study ‘Hot’ Hemp Crops
    By Hemp Grower

    Chicago Tribune Features Husband and Wife Hemp Farmers
    By The Chicago Tribune

    Pur IsoLabs Owners Claim their Hemp Farm is the First of Its Kind in Texas
    By KENS5 CBS News, San Antonio, TX

    Louisiana’s First Industrial Hemp Crop Hit Hard by Southern Blight
    By Acadia Parish Today

    Researchers Request Grower Participation to Create Midwestern Hemp Database
    By Hemp Grower

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    Elixinol Global Decides to Keep Hemp Foods Australia After Seeing Improved Performance
    By The Market Herald Australia

    Uzbekistan Returns to Its Roots with Hemp Cultivation
    By Eurasianet

    Tasmanian Researchers Studying Hemp As Sheep Feed
    By Hemp Gazette

    Marketing of Hemp Products in Paraguay Could Begin this Year
    By HempToday

    Could Hemp Give the UK Economy a Much Needed Boost?
    By Leafie

    EVENTS

    Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets Webinar, Identification and Management of Disease in Hemp, July 30, 2020, Noon – 1:00 pm EDT

    Penn State Extension Hemp Webinar Series: Mid-season Q&A, August 10, 2020, Noon – 1:00 pm EDT

    Penn State Extension Hemp Webinar Series: Planning for CBD Harvest, August 24, 2020, Noon – 1:00 pm EDT

    Hemp Industry Deep Dive Virtual Global Tour, by Cannatech, Aug. 4, 2020, 12:00pm EDT

    Cannabis Science – Taking Your Career to the Next Level, Webinar Presented by Maryland University of Integrative Health, August 11, 2020, Noon – 1:00 pm EDT

    WAFBA – We Are for Better Alternatives – Virtual Conference & Trade Show, Presented by NoCo Hemp Expo and Let’s Talk Hemp, Nov. 10-12, 2020; Details Coming Soon

    NoCo Hemp Expo – NoCo7, March 25-27, 2021, National Western Complex, Denver, CO

    Southern Hemp Expo, Aug. 20-21, 2021, Nashville, TN

    noco hemp expo 2021

    Read the Let’s Talk Hemp Summer Solstice 2020 Digital Magazine

    The hemp industry proves that, even in a world beset by pandemics and racial injustice, human and planetary healing can and will triumph. Read all about it in the Let’s Talk Hemp Summer Solstice 2020 Digital Magazine, produced in conjunction with the Experience Hemp Summer Solstice Virtual Conference & Trade Show, Let’s Talk Hemp Media, and NoCo Hemp Expo, in partnership with Honeysuckle Magazine.

    Featuring testimony from industry experts across diverse disciplines, Let’s Talk Hemp’s Summer Solstice edition dives into the pressing questions of the day. What is the future of hemp in a post-COVID world? What does Black representation in hemp look like, and how can we create opportunities for social equity? How can we take the next steps toward a regenerative society and integrative medicine? The answers may surprise you.

    Read the Let’s Talk Hemp Summer Solstice 2020 Digital Magazine Here.


    Order Your Copy of Doug Fine’s New Book, American Hemp Farmer

    doug fine

    American Hemp Farmer, the sixth book from author Doug Fine, follows the rigors and pleasures of an entire hemp season from soil preparation and genetics acquisition through harvest and regenerative marketing. It’s immersive. It’s wildly funny. The follow up to Doug Fine’s bestselling Hemp Bound, American Hemp Farmer pulls no punches, and because it is written by an actual hemp farmer and entrepreneur, it tells you what you need to know if you want to join the hemp renaissance.

    Order American Hemp Farmer Today

    Available at One Planet Hemp


    Subscribe to the Let’s Talk Hemp YouTube Channel

    #LetsTalkHemp is the ultimate platform that focuses on “Changing the Cannabis Conversation”. We provide news, education, and information about Hemp and Cannabis to our viewers so that they can learn more about the industry and get tips and tricks on the latest technologies. Subscribe to our channel and learn about everything from legal updates, farming, production, and new products entering the Hemp & Cannabis space.

    The Kannaboom Podcast

    Episode 50 – Morris Beegle, Musician and Hemp Entrepreneur

    We’ve known for decades that hemp is a versatile crop, useful for food, and as a textile, building material and biofuel. Yet because it’s related to cannabis, hemp has been shunned, its value denied. As we look for positive ways to recover from the pandemic, in the context of ongoing climate change, are we finally ready to realize the tremendous economic potential of hemp? We asked Morris Beegle, who has launched multiple hemp-based businesses across various industries, for his perspective.

    Listen, and learn:

    • How Morris made the pivot from a career in music into success as a hemp entrepreneur
    • Why hemp, a regenerative, sustainable crop, is a better alternative for the environment and consumers
    • How to succeed in the hemp industry, whether you want to find a job or start a company
    • Why musicians have been closely tied to cannabis / hemp
    • How Morris developed the first high-end hemp guitar

    Listen Here


     

    About Let’s Talk Hemp

    Let’s Talk Hemp is a publication of Colorado Hemp Company (a division of We Are For Better Alternatives) focused specifically on the subject of industrial hemp and cannabis. We present features and curate news from across the globe to share the benefits of cannabis on health, energy, manufacturing and planet (H.E.M.P.). Colorado Hemp Company also is the Producer of NoCo Hemp Expo and Southern Hemp Expo, the nation’s leading hemp conferences and expositions.

    Publisher: Morris Beegle, Elizabeth Knight

    Editor: Steven Hoffman

    Web Developer: Debby West

    Design: Allen Haeger

    Circulation: Evan Tompros

    Contributor: Heather Collins

    Financial Officer: Lori Buderus

    Let’s Talk Hemp Podcast: Morris Beegle

    Send Us Your Hemp News!

    Send press releases and news announcements to news@letstalkhemp.com

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

    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 3rd 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

  • 4th Annual Hemp Harvest Party!

    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 4th Annual Hemp Harvest Party, on Saturday, October 14th 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.

  • Shop Eco-Conscious Fashion at NoCo Hemp Expo 4

    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.

  • Hemp Harvest Party: A Celebration of the Season

    Hemp Harvest Party: A Celebration of the Season

    By: Thomas Ivory –  Colorado’s third harvest of regulated outdoor industrial hemp is soon complete, just like the dwindling hot days of summer. The cool autumn nights ask for much work still to be done, but time for celebrating the bounty of hard work and dedication is also appreciated.

    We are lucky in Colorado to have grown as a community and industry in so many prosperous and innovative ways over the past few years. Our continued professionalism is more than setting an example for other States; it is creating aristocratic conversation for all States and governments to participate.

    Let us not forget those less fortunate by continuing support for individual and State rights to grow industrial hemp and uphold the constitutions and the Bill of Rights.

    To celebrate Colorado’s (and the whole country’s) 2016 outdoor industrial hemp harvest, Colorado Hemp Company and Colorado Hemp Project is hosting its third annual Hemp Harvest Party!

    They are collecting pictures from the 2016 season, from planting to harvesting, to be displayed in a video released at the party.

    The hemp harvest of 2014 in Sterling, Colorado, with Bill Billings and his daughter Dani, set the stage for the first CHC harvest party. This event was epic — right out on the farmland, hemp field swaying directly behind live musicians, skateboarders on a half-pipe, hemp vendors under shade, and in the middle of it all: a hemp maze.

    Walnut Room in Denver brought the party to the city in 2015. Now, more of the State was represented with easier access to the countrywide celebration. CHC honored all industrial hemp participants by gathering photos of the second year’s outdoor hemp season and presenting a video at the party.

    The capitol city was so good to the Hempsters last year that CoHempCo is excited to host again the third annual Hemp Harvest Party 2016 at the Globe Hall in Denver, Colorado, Friday, October 14th, from 8pm-close. This will be an intimate opportunity to network, listen to live music, watch a photo-video, and celebrate the progress of sustainable agriculture.

    The Taylor Scott Band will be headlining the party featuring Dave Beegle. Check out the sound recently recorded in Old Town, Fort Collins, by RAYBURN MEDIA. Also taking the stage will be Rob Drabkin, and Colorado local Rob Trueblood (who has opened the event the past two years) will again grace the stage first.

    General admission and sponsorship tickets are on sale now. Get them online HERE

    Again, we are blessed in Colorado to have a conscientious community where we demand our statewide right to grow industrial hemp and practice sustainable agriculture. Lets celebrate together and show the rest of the country there are gifts and rewards from our communal efforts.

    And please remember, for the industry to function properly, we need the whole country participating in progressive living. Contact State representatives; e-mail Senators, Congressmen, Lobbyist; sign petitions to let those in charge know: the people of America want healthier and happier lives. We want to grow industrial hemp.

  • NoCo founder envisions ‘an industry that will be unstoppable’

    NoCo founder envisions ‘an industry that will be unstoppable’

    INTERVIEW: MORRIS BEEGLE
    Founder & Owner
    Colorado Hemp Company

    Morris Beegle spent more than 20 years in the American entertainment industry before turning his attention to the growing U.S. market for ecological, sustainable products. He is the founder and owner of the Colorado Hemp Company (CHC), organizer of NoCo Expo, one of the premier U.S.-based hemp industry trade shows, which recently held its third annual Expo. CHC also offers a wide range of marketing, product and brand development services for hemp-based producers and retailers. Morris is on the business advisory council of the (U.S.) National Hemp Association.

    Read the full article here at Hemptoday.com

  • Bringing the Global Hemp Market to the US – Third Annual NoCo Hemp Expo a Huge Success

    Bringing the Global Hemp Market to the US – Third Annual NoCo Hemp Expo a Huge Success

    Largest hemp expo and trade show in North America displays the maturation of the growing hemp market and carries a tune of freedom, innovation, and progress for U.S. economy.

    This press release was orginally distributed by ReleaseWire

    Loveland, CO — (ReleaseWire) — 04/07/2016 — Presented by: CBDRx

    2016 marks an unforgettable year for NoCo Hemp Expo. As crowds gathered on April 1-2 outside of the Ranch Events Complex in Loveland, CO, one thing was clear: the word is out about hemp.

    Over 3,100 people attended the expo this weekend, almost tripling last year’s attendance rate of 1,250 with visitors traveling from across the globe to witness the many advances taking place in the hemp industry today.

    Produced by Colorado Hemp Company, NOCO3 was an awe-inspiring event including hundreds of local and international hemp-based businesses, investors and entreprenuers, all coming together for the common goal of furthering a market for hemp in the U.S.

    The significance of this year’s event was marked by the increasing number of hemp-based business and the diversity of business models present, calling attention its role in commercial and economical development.

    “The 3rd Annual NOCO hemp expo was sensational! Colorado Hemp Company is a monumental force in the hemp industry bringing farmers, processors , retailers and more into one venue for a spectacular event! Amazing weekend for networking, education and information…unlike any other hemp event!” -Tim Gordon, Operations Chief at CBDRx

    Attendees awaited entrance into the fully-packed 36,000 sq. ft. arena where companies like Manitoba Harvest, Elixinol, SeedCX, and Hemp Flax met to converge and represent a global industry currently making its way to the U.S.

    The Word Is Out About Hemp

    For those on the ground floor, NoCo3 was a time to shine.

    NoCo Hemp Expo featured a bold representation of leaders uniting under one roof for the future of hemp, demonstrating the magnitude of its many applications and uses from activities and educational workshops to art and automotive installations.

    Exhibitors presented unique advances in technology such as hemp 3-D printing and the hemp-made, hemp battery-powered bicycle from Reakiro Labs, accenting its ability to support other existing industries through the retrieval of sustainable living.

    Over 130 exhibitors participated at NoCo3 this year, providing a myriad of services and offering top of the line products like all-natural hemp clothing from Vital Hemp, Fibre Poet, and more.

    Another key element to the expo was “Step-n-Out in Hemp”, an earth-conscious fashion feature presented by EnviroTextiles‘s Summer Star-Haeske. The show featured stylish, sophisticated looks from designers worldwide like Hemptique, I.O.N Clothing, Conscious Elements, Lexus Hemp Fashion, and other must see brands.

    Hemp body care products were a hit at the 2016 expo, with products from Ambary Gardens, and Nature’s Root Spa who offered in-house massages and facial treatments for attendees.

    Speakers like Dr. Bob Melamede with Phoenix Tears and Author Doug Fine shed light on hot-button topics like plant prohibition, cannabinoids and neuroscience, bio-refining, and domestic energy independence on the Let’s Talk Hemp Stage.

    Guests could literally feel the wheels of age-old knowledge turning as legendary activist and founder of Hemp Herer Industries, Dan Herer discussed the roots of our inextricable history with this amazing plant.

    The Hemp Investment Summit

    The Hemp Business Journal‘s first ever Hemp Investment Summit was a major milestone of the 2016 expo which showcased emerging businesses looking to take the stage in the hemp industry in 2017.

    Sean Murphy, Founder at HBJ spoke on the state of the hemp industry in “What’s the Data Telling Us?” followed by an investor panel featuring Hunter Lovins, CEO at Natural Capitalism and Chris Boucher at Ananda Scientific.

    In the processing panel, “What an Investor Needs to Know,” Hemp Inc.’s David Schmitt was joined by Ed Lehrburger, Founder and CEO at Pure Hemp Technology and Trey Riddle, CEO at Sunstrands.

    Along with Alan Dronkers, CEO at Hemp Flax the investment summit featured insights from the world’s leading movers and shakers in hemp.

    These are the key players who are molding the hemp industry into a coming of age, rapidly growing professional arena for entrepreneurs, farmers, retailers, and consumers today.

    Moving Things Forward

    Simply put, there isn’t an expo in the world that better encompasses the potential of the hemp plant. NoCo Hemp Expo is host to a growing network of individuals coming together in support of a tremendous opportunity for local industry, agriculture, and small business economy.

    “Eurofins STA Laboratories is a newcomer to the testing of hemp seed for germination, seed health and cultivar purity and the 2016 NOCO Hemp Expo was a tremendous help in getting the word out to growers and companies about our services. Having a booth at the Expo provided us the means by which we could reach many potential clients in a short span of time. It was well worth it.” -John R. Mizicko, Business Development Manager at Eurofins STA Laboratories

    For more information on the companies presented at NoCo3 or for live footage from the event featuring cutting-edge discussions, and ground-breaking topics from experts in their field visit http://www.nocohempexpo.com.

    Stay tuned to Colorado Hemp Company and NoCo Hemp Expo to learn more about the hemp movement and how you can get involved in 2016! Visit National Hemp Association for year round gatherings and events regarding hemp legislation and donate to federal their campaign to help end prohibition today.

    About NoCo Hemp Expo, Colorado Hemp Company and TreeFreeHemp
    WAFBA LLC (We Are For Better Alternatives) is home to the NoCo Hemp Expo, TreeFreeHemp and Colorado Hemp Company located in Loveland, Colorado and operating since 2012. Areas of focus include product and brand development, marketing, printing, production, events and advocacy.

    For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/bringing-the-global-hemp-market-to-the-us-third-annual-noco-hemp-expo-a-huge-success-679311.htm

    Media Relations Contact

    Abbie Marks
    Press Manager
    NoCo Hemp Expo
    Telephone: 985-518-7493
    Email: Click to Email Abbie Marks
    Web: http://www.nocohempexpo.com

    Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/2895853#ixzz479daMhbl

  • The Rebirth of Industrial Hemp:   Processing and Bio-refineries 

    The Rebirth of Industrial Hemp:  Processing and Bio-refineries 

    Hemp is on the rise today, and facilities like Pure Hemp Technology and contributing to what Carl Lehrburger calls, “the thrust of the hemp revolution”. 

    By: Abbie Marks
    With the passing of the federal Farm Bill and supporting state pilot programs, local businesses are providing farmers an opportunity in industrial hemp while manufacturing eco-friendly products.

    Pure Hemp Technology, a hemp processing plant and bio-refinery located in Fort Lupton, CO is doing just that, promoting sustainable agriculture by converting industrial hemp into useable products.

    As of last year, Colorado Department of Agriculture reported 3,675 acres of hemp grown in 2016, nearly tripling in volume of growing space and in number of participants last year. According to the National Hemp Association, hemp farming nationwide grew 1,000% in 2015.

    Hemp farmers are driving the demand for companies like Pure Hemp Technology to process hemp today.

    In this video with Ed Lehrburger, Founder of Pure Hemp Technology and Dani Billings, Co-Founder  of Colorado Hemp Project and Nature’s Root discuss the role of the hemp plant in Colorado’s’ booming agricultural economy.

    “Processing represents the thrust of the hemp revolution.” –Carl Lehrburger, Executive Manager of Pure Hemp Technology

    Pure Hemp Technology is a wet processing plant which distinguishes them in their approach and represents a key “central supply chain” that simply doesn’t exist for whole plant processing.

    industrial-hemp-blog
    (media credit: www.purehemptech.com)

    This allows plants like Pure Vision to refine hemp into higher value products and strains in addition to fiber, pulps for paper, and other materials like lignin which consists of 20% of the plant. These materials  are processed into several applications from chemicals and plastics to sugars, sweeteners, alcohol, and more.

    Pure Vision/Pure Hemp Technology is a registered R&D facility in Colorado, producing different grades of pulps and stalks/hurd, long fibers, into useful products for green businesses.

    Processing these co-products into these higher value products is critical to growing hemp.

    “A company looking into textiles, processing, seed, etc, that only represents a fraction (of the market value),” says Lehrburger, “it makes growing it (hemp) more valuable (for American farmers).”

    Facilities like Pure Hemp Technology provide farmers a means to commodify their harvest as well as readily available sustainable alternatives and to everyday consumer goods.

    “Farmers have to be successful, pricing of commodities has to also be successful to buy seed, specialized equipment, etc.”

    In light of the decline in opportunity and the challenges faced by Rural American farmers today, Lehrburger discussed the potential for jobs not only in the growing and agricultural sectors but in processing and manufacturing.

    “The start of the hemp industry seems to represents a significant opportunity for revitalizing rural America, where the bigger picture is replacing oil-based products with bio-based products.”

    In this article from Environmental Health News, Jessica Knoblauch reports that “evidence is mounting that the chemical building blocks that make plastics so versatile are the same components that might harm people and the environment. And its production and disposal contribute to an array of environmental problems.” 1.

    Supporting the Industrial Hemp Farming Act, urging businesses to consider go green, and reaching out to congress is a huge push away from plastics and a way to help surge the rebirth of industrial hemp.

    For more information on hemp processing and bio-refineries like Pure Hemp Technology, join Ed Lerhburger and Carl Lerhburger at NoCo Hemp Expo on April 1-2 at The Ranch Events Complex in Loveland, CO. Ed will be speaking at the Let’s Talk Hemp stage along with several key industry experts and business leaders during Saturday, April 2. To learn more about the expo and view a full schedule of events click here!

    1. Knoblauch, Jessica A. “The Environmental Toll of Plastics.” Environmental Health News. N.p., 2 July 2009. Web. 30 Mar. 2016.

     

  • Driving Hemp into the Future:  BMW Goes Biodegradable

    Driving Hemp into the Future: BMW Goes Biodegradable

    Lighter-weight, fuel-efficient vehicles with hemp are right down the road.

     By: Brad Shannon

    Why use hemp to make automobiles? For a number of reasons. Hemp is lighter than steel or fiberglass, resists dents and is not brittle like carbon fiber, and it is biodegradable. Most importantly, hemp is carbon negative, says Bruce Dietzen of Renew Sports Cars.

     hemp-car1
    (BMW door panel – media credit: Redspiderfish/Flickr)

     Work is ongoing in Australia and Europe to create plant-based materials to replace parts that today use plastic and metal. A reduction in weight of 30% for such parts provides an instant boost in fuel economy, with a higher strength-to-weight ratio than steel. When it reaches the end of its useful life, just bury it and let it biodegrade.

    You may have come across the story of Henry Ford’s hemp car online. Unfortunately, it seems that there is a lot of myth to that tale, according to The Angry Historian – at least when it comes to how much of the car was actually made of hemp. Rather, the plastic body panels used standard resin binder combined with natural materials such as hemp fiber as fill material. That popular image of Ford taking a whack at a car with an axe? It was a soybean-based material.

    hemp-car2

    (media credit: Ford archives)

     A sleeker, safer, faster modern take on a hemp car is a slick sports car built on a Mazda Miata chassis by Dietzen. The car’s body is made of hemp, and runs on biofuel that is a closed carbon loop in that it does not add any new carbon to the atmosphere when burned. It made an appearance down the road from us in Denver late last year. The next big step, it appears, could be vehicles with 3D printed hemp bodies; but some find it hard to beat the Lotus Eco Elise prototype from the 2008 British Motor Show, or the i3 and i8 concepts from BMW that incorporated hemp.

    hemp-car3
    (media credit: Renew Sports Cars)

     If you’re like most, though, your budget may run more along the lines of the electric Kestrel with hemp body panels promised by Calgary, Canada-based Motiv Industries (a neighboring market with more enlightened views on hemp cultivation that puts companies there at an advantage).

    hemp-car4
    (media credit: Motiv Industries)

      Not ready for a hemp-based car body? How about a nicer, more natural interior? Mercedes led the industry with jute-based door panels in its E-class, and BMW and Audi VW have followed in the use of plant fibers in their vehicles.

    hemp-car5
    (media credit: Lotus)

     Learn more about hemp and its future in the automotive and other industries from a wide variety of experts at the NoCo Hemp Expo 2016 at The Ranch Events Complex in Loveland, CO April 1-2.

     

  • The Stage is Set! Industrial Hemp Expo Unites Global Participants 

    The Stage is Set! Industrial Hemp Expo Unites Global Participants 

    Sponsored By Game Changers: Seed CX

    The Time is Now to Sow the Seed

     

    Are you ready for the largest hemp event in North America?

     

    Opening Ceremonies begin Friday, April 1st at 10 AM at The Ranch Events Complex in Loveland, CO. The NoCo Hemp Expo, now in its third year,  is the place to be for all things hemp. Colorado Hemp Company is honored to bring together the most experienced thought leaders from around the globe. 

     

    On April 2, stop by the Colorado Hemp Company Booth from 2-3 PM for your very own hemp-printed Declaration of Independence or pocket Constitution and have it autographed by our special guest Ben Franklin, Christopher Lowell.  Visit the Let’s Talk Hemp Stage as he shares his knowledge of hemp in the U.S from the perspective of one of our nation’s brightest inventors and leaders.Inline image 1

     

    Did you know? Benjamin Franklin’s discovery of the electric current set in place the building blocks to modern electricity as well as many modern terms and applications still used today like the battery.

    You won’t want to miss the myriad of hemp activities happening at NoCo Hemp Expo this weekend! Speaking on Processing and Technology, Doug Fine joins Pure Hemp Technology’s Ed Lehrburger and other knowledgeable panelists for an in-depth look into the future of hemp. From bio-refineries to hemp super capacitors, the applications for the hemp plant are endless and will be discussed at NoCo3. 

     

    Learn how to juice using hemp with professional Chef and Certified Biofeedback Specialist Cece Stalter of CBDRx. Take a glance into health, wellness, and nutrition with panelists like Dr. Bob Melamede, Ph.D. Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry and sample some of Ari Sherman’s Evo Hemp bars. 

     

    Join the fun with paper-making and hemp building workshops and more at the Quicksilver Scientific Stage. Embrace the world of quality hemp products from over 130 exhibitors at the expo or attend  a panel on U.S. made products featuring Dani Billings, Founder of Nature’s Root and Summer Star-Haeske, Owner/Co-Founder of EnviroTextiles. 

     

    Stick around for Keynote Speech from Doug Fine on The State of The Hemp Industry in 2016 and a message from Ben Franklin on Patriotism, Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness happening at 4:00 PM in the Let’s Talk Hemp Theater.  

     

    Closing out NoCo3, Rep. Jared Polis will be delivering the Call to Action and speaking on the state the hemp industry in terms of in-state and federal legislation as well as the economic opportunities available in hemp. Polis and his Staff have been championing for hemp since the inaugural NoCo Hemp Expo was first produced in 2014. Come learn more about the state of hemp and be a part of the movement happening throughout the U.S. 

     

    Click here for a live schedule of the event. Purchase your tickets today before prices go up on Friday at the door! Enjoy a weekend dedicated to  hemp with live entertainment, hands-on activities, art, networking, and more at #NoCoHempExpo and be sure to check out the live HempWall where you can connect your message with everyone at the expo. 

     

    About NoCo Hemp Expo, Colorado Hemp Company and TreeFreeHemp

    WAFBA LLC (We Are For Better Alternatives) is home to the NoCo Hemp Expo, TreeFreeHemp and Colorado Hemp Company located in Loveland, Colorado and operating since 2012. Areas of focus include product and brand development, marketing, printing, production, events and advocacy.

     

    Press Contact: Abbie Marks 

    (985) 518-7493

    abbie@nocohempexpo.com 

  • Introducing the NoCo Hemp Expo HempWall!

    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!

     

     

     

     

  • Hemp Road Trip:  Bringing Back the Local Farmer

    Hemp Road Trip: Bringing Back the Local Farmer

    Rick Trojan and his team at The Hemp Road Trip rally for change, supporting farmers and informing citizens about the importance of The Industrial Hemp Farming Act.

    By: Thomas Ivory, Jr.

    Traveling America in a B100 biodiesel short-bus decorated with “What can hemp do…” graphics and a fine looking man in a sport-coat behind the steering-wheel can be quite adventurous. Venturing from Denver, Colorado, towards Eastern America, this road trip has one purpose: to educate U.S. citizens about hemp

    “The initial course was 4 months, and we left January 28th,” said Rick Trojan, Hemp Road Trip founder, speaker, and driver. “We wanted to go around to talk with people and start educating, on a grassroots level, about this (hemp) plant and this crop… We have met people from farmers, to students, to teachers, to just regular citizens.”

    The intent, also, is to get Industrial Hemp recognized on a political level. “The original plan was to follow the presidential primaries,” said Trojan. “We went to Iowa, and then we ended up in New Hampshire during their primaries. We went to Washington D.C., and then down to the Carolinas during their primaries. That was the initial flow, to follow the primaries. But then, as we got on the road, we let serendipity take its course, and we started meeting people here and there. So we adapted our schedule, to keep it fluid.”

    Trojan added, “Convincing politicians to come on board (being pro-hemp) is critical to the passing of the Industrial Hemp Farming Act, which is what we’re focusing on this year, for 2016.”

    Legislation concerning Industrial Hemp has been around for a while. The Hemp Road Trip strives toward creating awareness and support for these proposals.

    “There are a couple of bills in front of the House and the Senate, at the moment, having to do with hemp – whether its CBD specific bills or whether its the Industrial Hemp Farming Act – which are the House Bill H.R. 525 and Senate Bill 134,” said Trojan. “And these bills have been proposed for the past 10 years. Essentially, what they would do is take hemp off the controlled substance act – de-schedule hemp –meaning hemp would no longer be considered a drug… Another bill, presented by Bernie Sanders, Senate Bill 2237, would actually declassify cannabis in general.”

    This political movement would help American farmers have more agricultural options. “We’re finding: farmers want something different to plant,” said Trojan.

    “Having this as an option, I mean, not all farmers are going to plant hemp. Just like not all farmers plant corn, or soy, or cotton. Farmers are going to find what works for them. But they need to have this arrow in their quiver, if you will.”

    For Industrial Hemp to be a concern for politicians, they need to know it is a concern for the people who elected them. “The politicians are for their constituents,” said Trojan. “They have 100 things on their plate. They deal with things they hear from their constituents. So, that has really been our focus: to get people to call their elected officials, on a State and Federal level, to let them know about hemp… Hearing from the people themselves, if we truly want to treat this as a democracy and exercise our right as citizens, we should take the time to call or e-mail our representatives to let them know that this (illegalization of hemp) law needs to be changed.”

    Trojan added. “We’re focusing on the Industrial Hemp Farming Act because at the moment it has the most momentum, from my view.”

    Momentum on a political level begins with proper knowledge and education from the citizens. “80 years of misinformation has been intentionally presented,” said Trojan. “It is time to get the misinformation out and the correct information in, and then people can choose what they want… With the Internet, it is such a valuable resource. People can educate themselves and be an activist. If only on this one issue, they would have done a good deed – a good deed for themselves, their families, their country, and the economy. I think it just makes sense to educate themselves, and to talk to friends and family, and to talk to their legislatures (about legalizing Industrial Hemp).”

    By the 1st of April, the B100 short-bus and Hemp Road Trip will return to Colorado for NoCo3 Hemp Expo, completing the first phase of the trip. The second phase, which will begin sometime in April, includes western America: Nebraska, California, and Washington state.

    To view Hemp Road Trip photos (of two brought along hemp-based US flags unraveled in front of State Houses, and with several presidential candidates), informative Industrial Hemp links and resources, and to donate to the road trip cause, visit: www.hemproadtrip.com.

    And visit your State website for information on how to contact your local representative and congressperson.

    “We should allow our farmers to get hemp in the ground and bring back the local farmer and the family farmer,” said Trojan. “We (Hemp Road Trip) will continue on our quest to educate the people.”

  • Going Green This Spring: Top Hemp Fashion Brands in 2016

    Going Green This Spring: Top Hemp Fashion Brands in 2016

    KY Hempsters

    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.

    hemp-fashion1

    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

    hemp-fashion3

     

    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.

    hemp-fashion4

    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

    hemp-fashion5

    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

    hemp-fashion6

    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

    hemp-fashion7

    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. 

    hemp-fashion8

    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.

  • Filling in The Gaps:  A Sustainable Solution in Hemp Fabrics

    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.

    fabric-blog2
    (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.

     

  • 3rd Annual NoCo Hemp Expo to Host Hemp Investment Summit

    3rd Annual NoCo Hemp Expo to Host Hemp Investment Summit

    Presented by: The Hemp Business Journal

    Tickets are on sale now​​ for the largest hemp‐centric Trade Show and Conference in North America. With over 100 exhibitors, 50+ speakers and industry experts, 2016 is gearing up to be one of the most important years in history for the industrial hemp movement.

    April 1‐2 at The Ranch Events Complex in Loveland, CO will feature an assortment of fun‐filled workshops and program add‐ons including “Let’s Talk Hemp” and “The Hemp Investment Summit” presented by the ​The Hemp Business Journal.​

    “We are excited to have the first‐ever nationally hemp‐focused Investment Summit as part of our conference. Our partners at The Hemp Business Journal and ​Business Catapult​ are bringing together the investment sector and investment ready companies throughout the hemp industry with the potential for funding right off the expo floor.”

    —Morris Beegle, ​Founder @ NoCo Hemp Expo

    The investment summit marks a significant shift toward entrepreneurship and professional development in the hemp industry. Access is strictly limited to 65 attendees, so click ​here​ to reserve your VIP ticket today or to register as a founder or accredited investor.

    “All the World’s a Stage,” says Morris, “ and in the Hemp world today, there is no bigger stage than The NoCo Hemp Expo. “

    Hemp advocates, business leaders, state officials, and educators will assemble together for a weekend of education, entertainment, innovation, commerce, and All Things Hemp!

    Invest in progress this spring by attending the third annual NoCo Hemp Expo and join in the excitement of this emerging industry.

    Abbie Marks
    On The Mark PR
    (985) 518-7493
    abbiemarkswriting@gmail.com

  • Colorado Companies Head to Washington DC for Hemp on the Hill

    Colorado Companies Head to Washington DC for Hemp on the Hill

    Jared PolisCongressman Jared Polis (CO.2) will host the “Industrial Hemp Expo and Conversation” on Tuesday, February 2, 2016 on Capitol Hill. The Expo will feature key industry speakers, leading hemp companies, and state and federal officials who are coming together to discuss hemp and its remarkable industrial advancements in recent years.

    Colorado, Kentucky, Oregon, Tennessee, Indiana, Virginia, and North Carolina have become leaders in the hemp movement in recent years making progress at the state level by taking advantage of federal legalization opportuni
    ties provided in the 2014 Farm Bill.

    These states make up the heart of the hemp industry and are host to some of the most amazing individuals working hard to legitimize and fully legalize industrial hemp on the federal level.

    According to The Hemp Business Journal, market research puts the U.S. hemp industry at approximately $500 million in sales for year ending 2014. Market research also suggests a nearly $2 billion hemp industry by 2020.

    “Hemp is an agricultural crop that can benefit local economies across the country, and a crop that never should have been illegal in the first place. Hemp is not a drug, and should have zero association or interference from the DEA or FDA.” —Morris Beegle, Founder @ Colorado Hemp Company and The NoCo Hemp Expo.

    “I’m looking forward to joining my fellow hemp constituents in Washington DC at Hemp on the Hill,” says Beegle, “and convincing members of Congress to finally jump on board and do the right thing, pull hemp completely off of the controlled substances list.“

    Colorado Hemp Company joins the expo in February along with National Hemp Association, Evo Hemp and renowned hemp experts like Barbara Filippone at EnviroTextiles and Author Doug Fine who have worked to spearhead the legalization of hemp in Colorado and nationwide.

    Join Congressman Polis and Colorado Hemp Company at Rayburn Foyer in Washington DC and meet the faces of the hemp industry at our nation’s capital.

    WHAT:  “Industrial Hemp Expo and Conversation on The Hill”

    WHO: Senator Ron Wyden (OR),
    Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR.3)
    Congressman Thomas Massie (KY.4)
    Colorado Hemp Co. and NoCo Hemp Expo – Morris Beegle, Founder
    Evo Hemp – Ari Sherman, President
    Hemp Road Show and Moonrise Extracts – Rick Trojan, Owner
    National Hemp Association – Samantha Walsh, Board of Directors
    Envirotextiles – Barbara Filippone, President
    Hemp Industries Association – Eric Steenstra – Executive Director
    Doug Fine – Author and Investigative Journalist
    Coach Freddie – iHemp Revolution Podcast
    Edgar Winters – Oregon Farmer
    Mike Bowman – Colorado 5th Gen. Hemp Farmer

    WHEN:  Tuesday, February 2, 2016
                       10 am – 2 pm

    WHERE: 1st Floor Rayburn HOB
    Rayburn Foyer, 45 Independence Ave. SW
    Washington D.C. 20515

    RSVP:              To RSVP for “Industrial Hemp Expo and Conversation on The Hill” and for the latest information about the key speakers presenting, please visit http://industrialhempexpo.eventbrite.com

    About NoCo Hemp Expo, Colorado Hemp Company and TreeFreeHemp:

    WAFBA LLC(We Are For Better Alternatives) is home to the NoCo Hemp Expo, TreeFreeHemp and Colorado Hemp Company  located in Loveland, Colorado and operating since 2012. Areas of focus include product and brand development, marketing, printing, production, events and advocacy.

    Abbie Marks
    On The Mark P.R
    abbiemarkswriting@gmail.com
    (985) 518-7493