Why Hemp?
I've had a lot of folks ask me about the hemp used in diapers and inserts. So, why use hemp?
- No pesticides are needed in growing hemp
- Hemp returns nitrogen to the soil, improving soil fertility
- Hemp fabric is anti-microbial
- Hemp is more absorbent than cotton, allowing for a trimmer diaper or insert
- Hemp is a highly durable fabric and your hemp diapers and inserts will last longer
Also, in my search for information, I found the following article, written by Shannon Doan, of
www.WildflowerDiapers.com. I hope this will clarify some of the questions about hemp vs. marijuana. Many thanks to Shannon for sharing this great information with us!Poor hemp. As soon as you mention it, people’s ears perk up and they immediately think of marijuana. It’s illegal to grow hemp in the United States, so there must be something wrong with it, right?
Because of my background in plant biology, I have taken a special interest in why this plant is so controversial. First, a few facts:- Both hemp and marijuana come from the same species- Cannabis sativa. However, one species can include countless varieties (depending on which botanist you ask!). In this case, hemp has been cultivated for at least 12,000 years, with selection being for fiber and seeds . The useful parts are the stalk (fiber) and the seeds (oil content). In marijuana, selection has been for flowers with a high THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) content. THC is what makes a person “high.”
- THC values for marijuana are about 15-20%. THC values for industrial hemp are about 0.3% . No matter how much hemp a person smokes, they will not get high.
- If industrial hemp were grown near marijuana, cross-pollination would be inevitable, contaminating and reducing the THC content of the marijuana. What a boon to the war on drugs that would be!
So we can safely lay to rest the notion that growing, buying, and using industrial hemp is in any way akin to growing, buying, and using marijuana. Now, what is so great about industrial hemp fiber?
- Long fibers, which mean longer garment life and more absorbency
- Naturally resistant to mold and UV light
- Grown very close together to encourage tall stalks- this also means that weeds are excluded, eliminating the need for herbicides
- Naturally resistant to most pests, so no need for pesticides
- Leaves the soil nitrogen-rich, rather than depleting nutrients
- Produces 250% more fiber than cotton with much less water
For an excellent dissertation on industrial hemp, read "A Renewal of Common Sense: the Case for Hemp in 21st Century America"
For tons of great information on industrial hemp, please visit these web sites: