New Crop Being Grown—-Wednesday, October 17, 2018

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We have a new crop being tested about two miles from our farm.

Now you MUST understand it is NOT us raising these test acres of Hemp, but three of our neighbors close by.

The above is one of the test fields almost ready to harvest.  Hemp looks like little furry Christmas trees, or (to my eye) Kochia weed. (I don’t know if I spelled that right)

One of the growers allowed us to go into the field and look at the plants.  They are very sticky.  You put your hand on the plant and it feels like fly paper (sort of) and it has a very distinctive smell.

It’s harvest time now.  This is one of the combines/tractors used to harvest the hemp. (This hemp will be used to create CBD oil…although there are other uses for hemp, i.e. rope, material, and many other things. ( I am still learning about all this)

Here the combines/tractors have just entered the field to begin harvest

The tractor/combine cuts off the plant and conveyor the fluffy plant into the back of the truck.  The truck is driven along side of the tractor, both pieces of equipment moving along together up and down the row until the truck bed is full.

 The truck then hauls it to a metal building with a cement floor

Where it is allowed to dry for two days.

NOW after this point, I don’t know what happens. I don’t know how they remove the oil, I don’t know anything.  Maybe I will get to see, and if I do I will ask permission to show you.  Other than that…this is the harvesting of the new crop in town….called Hemp.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

 

 

 

42 thoughts on “New Crop Being Grown—-Wednesday, October 17, 2018”

  1. Hemp is a very useful plant – seeds make oil when crushed, fiber for very strong ropes and nice clothing that lasts and is comfortable. It was the cotton industry that sponsored the attacks to make it illegal because it is easy to grow (a friend calls it Nebraska ditch weed because it grows wild there), easy to harvest, and a very useful plant. Apparently the seeds are expensive to buy for planters.

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  3. Hi Linda. I love reading your blog! The CBD will be extracted most likely with butane (the most common solvent for cannabis right now). And I hope they didn’t “dry” it in a pile like that!

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    • No….I think it is spread out on the floor, I still need to get in to see how everything is done. I find it fascinating. Thank you for reading, Jessica, and for commenting.

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  4. There are so many uses for hemp. Kind of interesting. A very weird looking plant – looks like a weed. They are growing it in KY for fiber use. I’ll have to find the article and send it to you. Thanks for sharing!

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    • My brother wrote: ses of Hemp

      Hemp is used to produce paper, textiles, building materials, food, medicine, paint, detergent, varnish, oil, ink, and fuel. Hemp can grow in most climates and farmland throughout the US with moderate water and fertilizer requirements, using no pesticides or herbicides.

      Paper: 1 acre of hemp will produce as much paper as 2 to 4 acres of trees. From tissue paper to cardboard, all types of paper products can be produced from hemp. The quality of hemp paper is superior to tree-based paper. Hemp paper will last hundreds of years without degrading, can be recycled many more times than tree-based paper, and requires less toxic chemicals in the manufacturing process than does paper made from trees.

      Fuel & Plastics: Clean-burning ethanol fuel, non-toxic diesel fuel, paint, candles, varnish, detergent, ink and lubricating oil. Produces strong, durable and environmentally-friendly plastic substitutes.

      Construction Materials: The silica leached from the soil by the plant combined with unslaked lime forms a chemical bond similar to cement which is fire and water proof, strong, light, self-insulating, and pest resistant. Used in foundations, walls, shingles, paneling, pipes, and paint. It can be made into fiberboard that is stronger and lighter than wood. It can be made into very strong ropes, canvas, boat sails, clothes, paper, ship rigs, twine, fish nets. Used as pet bedding for guinea pigs, rats and chickens as well as for cat litter.

      Food: Hemp seed has high levels of vitamins A, C and E and β-carotene, and it is rich in minerals like phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sulfur and calcium. an excellent balance of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Hemp seed protein can be used to produce virtually any product made from soybean: tofu, veggie burgers, butter, cheese, salad oils, ice cream, milk, nutritious flour to produce baked goods such as pasta, cookies, and breads. Hemp seeds are nutty in flavor and breathe life into salads, desserts, yogurts, cereals, and breads. Hemp seeds can be turned into butter, milk, protein powder, finishing oil, and soap. It makes pet coats shiny and healthy. It is a nourishing supplement for cows and horses. Hemp seeds are loved by birds.

      Health Care & Medicine: Hemp oil has an EFA content that helps in the regeneration of dry skin and treats acne. CBD relieves pain and fights inflammation. The oil can be rubbed on the body or taken internally as a gummy, smoked or in a pill. Lowers cholesterol and reduce platelet aggregation to reduce heart disease. CBD has anti-tumor effects and helps fight cancers. Reduces the progression of Alzheimer’s. Reduces symptoms associated with substance use disorders thereby easing problems with addictions. CBD reduces anxiety, depression and moodiness. It helps with insomnia. It reduces seizure activity and has been used to treat epilepsy. Hemp eases inflammation in the pancreas – one of the side effects of diabetes.

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  5. George Washington used to grow hemp as it was used extensively used to make rope in those days. I have spun processed hemp fibers into soft yarn, too. Had no idea how it is grown and harvested, in fact never even thought about it. You opened up new horizons again.

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  8. Very interesting. My brother help start Hemp Fest in Seattle many years ago—The idea was to promote the many uses of Hemp but it just has turned into a great marijuana smoke out so he distanced himself from it. Hemp is a great plant—well we still use hemp rope and twine but it has a plethora of uses. It can grow tall as a forest and harvested like timber too. Build a house
    Interesting
    MB

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  9. Some farmers here have been licensed to grow medical cannabis as a crop, and say that it’s easy to grow and harvest, but it’s very restricted and the farms need to have good security. I think growing hemp sounds a better solution, as it doesn’t attract the same attention, but offers the same benefits. We need crops that offer viable alternatives to plastic.

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  14. Marijuana is a sensitive topic here because of all the envrionmental problems associated with those who grow it. Those who grow it get away with so much more than would be tolerated from a rhododendron grower. They pump water from the creeks and river, and then dump their debris on the sides of roads everywhere. There is no regard for the environment. Well, I could rant on this for a long time. I do not care how important the crop is, I want nothing to do with it.

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  15. Great! So wrong that this useful product became illegal because of one use of it. (I don’t even really have a serious problem with *that* use to be honest.) Like other products that are legal in all 50 states, it can be (and is) mis-used; we do need to develop regulations. You might be surprised that we have neighbors in our Florida resort who think that those of us who live in states where it is legal are living in a den of iniquity. One old guy thinks that it is a wonder we are still alive every year when we come back after living out here in the wild west half the year!! i try to tell him that it hasn’t made much difference and that just because a product legal doesn’t mean we have to use it, but he is still suspicious.

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  16. It’s about time they brought it back. It must have been in someone’s financial favor to outlaw it. ie, the cotton industry. I put hemp seeds in my salads for the vitamins. We are a crazy society to outlaw things because a few abuse a product. My sister helps grow organic marijuana and that helps with the paltry pension she gets and her pain. I’ve used it on sore muscles rather than Ibuprofen which damages the kidneys if you use it very much. It only takes a tiny bit. Thanks for sharing all this information. It makes me happy.

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