Characteristics of hemp

We were charmed by this quote, which was written by Yitzac Goldstein of Earth Protex, many years ago:

Before Huang-Ti’s time                                      
clothing was made from skins of birds and animals.

But as time went on

people increased and animals were few

Causing great hardship.

So Huang-Ti ordained that

Clothing should be made from hemp fiber.

This is how the spiritual leader  changed matters

For the people’s benefit.

6th century A.D. historian Khung Ying-Ta on

The Yellow Emperor, Huang-Ti, 27th century B.C.

I love hemp, maybe just because of the lore associated with the plant – and I don’t mean the lore surrounding the hallucinogenic properties of the plants that are bred for high THC content!  So let’s get that part out of the way fast:

Hemp is another word for the plant Cannabis sativa. Yes, marijuana comes from this same plant genus – and so does hops, used to produce beer for millennia. But what we call “industrial hemp” is a different variety (or subspecies), called Cannabis sativa sativa.  Marijuana is from Cannabis sativa indica, which is bred to contain between 5 – 10% of the intoxicating substance delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.  Industrial hemp, Cannabis sativa sativa, contains less than one tenth that amount.  Industrial grade hemp is not marijuana – it doesn’t look the same and if you tried to smoke it you’d probably die of carbon monoxide poisoning before you felt anything but sick. For more about the differences between the two varieties click here or go to the Industrial Hemp website.

Hemp is unique among other crops in that every part of the plant has utility and potential market value.  Here are some interesting facts about hemp that contribute to the lore I’m referring to:

• In 1941 Henry Ford built a car with a plastic made from hemp and wheat straw.
• Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew hemp on their plantations; in fact the colonial government mandated that people grow hemp.  Settlers used hemp fiber as money and to pay taxes.
• The original Levi Strauss jeans were made from hemp.
• The July 4, 1776 Declaration of Independence  was written on hemp paper.

The plant has been used for millennia for food, fibers and fuel.   Today it is said that over 30,000 different products can be made from hemp.  Hemp’s oilseed makes high-grade food and beauty products.  The stalks produce fiber and cellulose.  And today, because of its length and strength, hemp fiber is woven into natural advanced composites, which can then be fashioned into anything from fast food containers to skateboard decks to the body of a stealth fighter.  There are over two million cars on the road today with hemp composite components.

But hemp for luxurious fabrics?  I remember those macramé plant hangers that were all the rage in the 1970’s.  Hemp has a public relations campaign to wage, because when I thought of hemp a few years ago (before my enlightenment) all I could imagine was burlap bag and sisal rugs.  Turns out the technical revolution has even found hemp:  new developments from the 1980’s  in retting and processing the stalks has meant that the hemp fibers produced today are soft and lustrous enough for even the finest fabrics.

Many end users look for comfort and durability in choosing a fabric, so hemp’s softness and high abrasion resistance make it a competitive choice.  Hemp fiber’s positive qualities have been recognized over thousands of years of real life applications.  The texture of pure hemp textiles resembles that of flax linen, appealing to the eye with its subtle variations in thickness, but it is also versatile and can be blended with other fibers to create many different looks.  Hemp’s versatility as a textile is stunning:  hemp fibers can be woven alone or with other fibers to produce weaves from rugged canvas to the lightest, silkiest  gauze,  in an unlimited array of colors and finishes.  Hemp has a beautiful natural luster and a lush hand and drape not found with any other natural or synthetic fiber, even linen.

Hemp’s characteristics as a textile make it a desirable choice in many applications:

• Hemp is stronger and more durable than any other natural fabric, including linen, which almost matches hemps abrasion resistance and tensile strength.  The result is that hemp has a longer lifespan than other natural fabrics.^[1] (Patagonia is just one of the many companies which has published studies which demonstrate hemp’s superior strength; results for these studies range from 3 to 8 times stronger.)  Products made from hemp will outlast their competitors by many years.
• Not only is hemp strong, but it also holds its shape, stretching less than any other natural fiber. This prevents hemp fabric used in upholstery, demountable panels, acoustic paneling or as wallcovering from stretching out or becoming distorted with use.
• Hemp fabric withstands, even benefits from, commercial laundering. Its inherent luster and light reflective qualities are enhanced by washing; it becomes finer and more luxurious with use. Hemp also possesses excellent soil-release properties because it sheds a microscopic layer each time it is laundered. This eliminates soiling and exposes a fresh surface. In effect, this means that hemp retains its sleek sheen every time it is washed, that it never dulls, and that it releases stains more easily than other fabrics.
• Hemp may be known for its durability, but its comfort and style are second to none.  The more hemp is used, the softer it gets: it wears in, not out, thriving on regular use and machine washing without suffering fabric degradation. Hemp actually becomes softer, more resilient and more lustrous as a result of washing.
• Hemp’s superior absorbency, due to its porous nature, means that it is very breathable and quick drying. Hemp can absorb up to 20% its own weight while still feeling dry to the touch (vs. polyester, which can absorb a maximum of 6%). This is important in the case of any fabric that is in contact with human skin, such as sheets, as perspiration is rapidly absorbed. It feels cooler in summer yet during cool weather, air which is trapped in the fibers is warmed by the body, making it naturally warm.
• Hemp’s absorbency allows it to accept dyes readily and retain color better than other natural fibers, including cotton.
• Hemp has a high resistance to ultraviolet light; it will not fade or disintegrate from sunlight as quickly as other natural fibers. (Tilly Endurables introduced a new hat in 2004 after testing its hemp fabric to a UPF of 50+, the maximum ultraviolet protection rating given.^[2]) UV damage is especially a problem for draperies and marine interiors, so hemp would be a good natural fiber choice for these applications.
• Hemp fiber is highly resistant to rotting, and its resistance to mildew, mold and salt water led to its premier use in marine fittings:  the majority of all twine, rope, ship’s sails, rigging and nets up to the late 19^th century were made from hemp.  The word canvas itself is derived from cannabis.
• Finally, any product made of hemp is fully biodegradable and easily recyclable.

Hemp as a crop is also a standout.  The bio-regional model of agriculture focuses on obtaining high value for the resources of the local land, recycling the waste and end products ad infinitum and thereby creating a “closed circle” of farming and industry.  Hemp is an elegant solution to the crises created by modern agribusiness and conventional cotton production because:

• Hemp grows well without the use of chemicals:  usually no pesticides or fungicides are used because it has few serious fungus or pest problems – although the degree of immunity to attacking organisms has been greatly exaggerated.  Several insects and fungi specialize exclusively in hemp!  But despite this, the use of pesticides and fungicides are usually unnecessary to get a good yield.    No herbicides are generally used because dense plantings shade out weeds; no defoliants are needed (as they are with machine harvested cotton) because the dried foliage is not a problem for harvesting.
• Hemp requires less water to thrive than cotton – is actually drought tolerant –  and usually grows well without irrigation.  Globally, 77% of cotton crops are irrigated.
• Hemp has a fiber yield higher than any other agricultural crop, thereby requiring less land for equal yield:

Average fiber production, in pounds, per acre:

Conventional cotton	Organic cotton	Flax	Wool	Hemp
121 – 445 lbs.	80  –  102 lbs.	323 – 465 lbs.	62  lbs.	485 – 809 lbs.

Source: UK-government funded project at University of London, “Demi: design for sustainability” (www.demi.org.uk), © Kate Fletcher, 1999

This yield translates into high biomass, which can be converted into fuel in the form of clean-burning alcohol, or no-sulphur man-made coal.

The most widespread claim for the environmental friendliness of hemp is that it has the potential to save trees that otherwise would be harvested for the production of pulp.  If  hemp reduces the need to harvest trees for building materials or other products, its use as a wood substitute will tend to contribute to preserving biodiversity.  Hemp may also enhance forestry management by responding to short-term fiber demand while trees reach their ideal maturation. In developing countries where fuel wood is becoming increasingly scarce and food security is a concern, the introduction of a dual-purpose crop such as hemp to meet food, shelter, and fuel needs may contribute significantly to preserving biodiversity.

For more on hemp, here are some resources to get you started:

Organizations

• North American Industrial Hemp Council Inc.: http://www.naihc.org
• Hemp Industries Association: http://www.thehia.org
• International Hemp Association: mojo.calyx.net/~olsen/HEMP/IHA/
• Hemp Food Association: hempfood.com/
• Ontario Hemp Alliance: http://www.ontariohempalliance.org
• International Association for Cannabis as Medicine: http://www.acmed.org/english/main.htm

Web

• The Hemp Commerce & Farming Report: http://www.hempreport.com
• Industrial hemp information network: http://www.hemptech.com

Journals

• Journal of the International Hemp Association. Vol. 1 (1994)–Vol. 6 (1999). (Vols. 1–5 and part of Vol. 6 available online at mojo.calyx.net/~olsen/HEMP/IHA/). Superseded by Journal of Industrial Hemp.
• Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics. Hawarth Press. Vol. 1 published 2001.
• Journal of Industrial Hemp. Haworth Press. Vol. 1 to be published 2002.

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[1] Kerr, Nancy, PhD, “Fabulous Fibers? Can hemp compete with natural and manufactured fibers?” AgFibe2002 conference, Winnipeg, MB, Nov. 13 – 15, 2002.

[2] Press release, Tilly Endurables 2004; also see http://www.backpackgeartest.org/News/article.php?story=20050210193045692.