Last Saturday I headed out to visit the fields of Western States Hemp Company during their 1st Annual Hemp Fest. I could not ask for more perfect farm visiting weather than a quintessential Nevada blue sky day. As I pulled up to the well-maintained hemp fields located out on the highway behind J&K Llamas nursery, I was immediately struck by the rows of neatly planted, drip irrigated Cannabis sativa plants. Admittedly, I have driven by these fields hundreds of times without actually noticing them. Lots of friendly helpful employees, smiling visitors, future hemp farmers selling lemonade and playing soccer in the recently cut alfalfa that was used as a parking lot for the day. I even wore my favorite hemp overalls. Many of you probably are not surprised I own and wear a pair of hemp overalls.
During my tour I learned quite a bit. Western States Hemp is Nevada’s leading grower of hemp. The business is a productive union between the Snows and the Freys, two longtime farming families in our valley. They are literally ground up experts in the field, being part of the state’s initial pilot program for the crop. A long table at the entrance to the fields was full of products the company has to offer ranging from CBD tinctures, teas, bath bombs and lotions. There even was a gorgeous flower arrangement on the table that included hemp flowers (who knew?). These local grown, hand harvested plants are often referred to as industrial hemp and are used in a wide range of products beyond CBD. Historically hemp was grown for industrial rope, paper, and fibers. There are a lot fewer chemicals required to process hemp than cotton, making it more ecologically friendly for clothing and other textiles. Practically the entire plant can be used post-harvest with the stems and leaves used as mulch or biomass. I even read about hempcrete, which is used in construction and insulation. Western States hemp is currently working with UNR on testing hemp for many additional uses including as an equine and chicken food/supplement to be used in the way many of us use corn and other grains for livestock.
Although I am no expert, the plants initially seemed a little shorter than I expected. Office Manager Diane Woods told us the plants have been selected for their shorter, sturdier nature and ease of harvest. Once she said that, I realized their statue was also built-in protection from our gusty afternoon summer winds. Looking at my pictures if your nose is still upturned and you are unconvinced let me tell you, hemp is not what you think. CBD or cannabinol is the second most prevalent active ingredient in hemp and is often described as nonintoxicating. It has long suffered from its relatedness to marijuana. The THC content of these plants is closely monitored and is very low, at less than 0.3%. If you still are not sold, I should add hemp is a smart agricultural crop for Nevada. It requires less water than alfalfa and corn but should not be thought of as drought tolerant if you are considering growing it in your own garden. The plant also uses up excess nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil that you sometimes see after seasons of alfalfa and could be a beneficial rotation for other Greenwave farmers. Again, if growing in your own yard you might consider it a cover crop of sorts that you could chop up to add organic matter to your soil and or compost pile after harvesting the flowers. Keep an eye out for a detailed grow your own column come spring. I purchased some flowers from the farm for making my own gardeners’ hand salve. As they are hanging and drying, I notice a pleasant citrus, herbaceous like aroma. Not the “skunk” smell so often associated with cannabis.
There are several places in town to purchase Western States Hemp products. Find more info look on their FB page or at westernstateshemp.com. You can also reach them by phone at 775-666-0633.
Comment
Comments