CBD farming: a trade with a future?

Hemp is one of the first plants humans domesticated. It asks little of the grower, which makes it very easy to cultivate. On top of that, every part of the plant can be used. From rope to clothing and on to the well-known CBD, could growing hemp become a trade with a future? Let us take a look.

Hemp: a remarkable plant

Hemp needs very little attention. It does not require much water to grow, it manages without pesticides, it grows almost anywhere and, above all, it stands up to drought. What more could you ask of a plant that is used from flower to root?

Its hardiness appeals to farmers, a growing number of whom now sow it on their land. Hemp then provides a useful supplementary income when the main crops are doing less well.

Hemp growing on the rise in France

Hemp has been spreading across France for some years now. The plant covers a good many fields, as much for its practical qualities as for the interest it attracts. Hemp is indeed used in a wide range of sectors.

Hemp seed is edible

Hemp seeds are entirely edible. They can be eaten as they are, in a salad for instance, or hulled in a savoury or sweet bowl. They also yield a rich oil. In powder form they provide plant protein as well. There is also "hemp milk", made from the seeds, which can replace cow's milk. Many other edible hemp products exist, such as gluten-free hemp pasta and hemp bread.

Hemp can be woven

Long before flax, hemp was used to make cloth. Strong and hard-wearing, it was the main material for sacks used to carry grain, for example. Hemp also clothed people: plain, rustic garments, but durable and slow to show dirt. Finally, hemp is used to make all sorts of rope, for skipping, for climbing and for hauling.

Hemp as insulation

Hemp was used in construction thousands of years ago, and it is coming back into favour. Environmentally sound, durable, insulating and inexpensive, hemp is once again insulating houses in the form of panels. On its own it meets every environmental requirement for green building.

Growing hemp can make a decent living

As you will have gathered, hemp is a useful plant. It also goes into animal feed for birds and rodents. Inexpensive, it is a resource with real prospects. Since it feeds directly into construction, one of the largest markets in the world, hemp has a good deal ahead of it.

If you have land and are looking for a career change, it is an option worth considering. Hemp is easy to grow and can pay off. Today 22,000 hectares of hemp are under cultivation across the country, and demand remains strong.