Industrial hemp facts and history

Earth Runnings is committed to promoting organic, renewable natural fibers like industrial hemp, kapok, organic cotton and buckwheat hulls.

WHAT INDUSTRIAL HEMP IS:

Hemp and flax, both producing fabrics called "linen", were among the first plants to produce textiles that are both earth-friendly and beautiful. The earliest indications of hemp cultivation date back to 3rd millennium BC in Central Asia.
Hemp produces about twice the yield of flax and it will grow without the use of toxic fertilizers and pesticides. Yet, the resulting fabrics are virtually identical. Herodatus noted in 5th century BC that, "Someone without great experience would not recognize whether [the cloth] were of hemp or [flax], and whoever has not yet seen hemp cloth would think that the garments were of [flax]."
Industrial hemp's history is rich in advancements of civilization and exploration. It was utilized for weaving in Greece centuries before the time of Christ and was harvested in most of Europe during the Middle Ages. Many of the colonists' ships and vessels sailed with hemp on their masts and hemp rope for rigging. Today's world's navies still utilize durable hemp rope for rigging.
Colonists brought hemp seed with them to America and it was extensively grown for "homespun" cloth and for the ropes and "caulk" (oakum) that kept Yankee bottoms plying the seas. During World War II hemp was grown for fiber and rope to be used by Government Defense. Industrial hemp continued to be harvested in the US up to the 1950s even though prohibition began in the 1930s. View Hemp-Products.Org F.A.Q. for great detail of the route to hemp prohibition and the rough road that followed.
We at Earth Runnings are trying to show that hemp is once again finding a unique place in today's home furnishings. Hemp's ancient roots blend well with today's styles that combine yin with yang, antique with modern, rugged and casual with sophisticated and refined.
Hemp's long, smooth, hollow fibers make hemp very strong, durable and mold and mildew resistant.

WHAT INDUSTRIAL HEMP IS NOT:

Industrial hemp is NOT pot. There simply is no sensible argument that validates the long-held misidentification of cannabis sativa (the plant that has produced hemp fiber for thousands of years) as marijuana (cannabis indica.)
Industrial hemp is not a dying campaign. Just recently, Canada lifted its agricultural ban on this wonderful crop - a bold political move at a time when the DEA was moving to pass a bill that would have banned commonplace items such as shampoo and body oil which contained hemp plant extracts. For more information about this DEA SNAFU and up-to-date hemp industry news, visit http://www.votehemp.com/. For more information on how Canada is relying on industrial hemp as a new resource, check out the Province of Manitoba's report on Industrial Hemp.
Industrial hemp is not the profit-driven, behind-closed-doors-dealing, earth-polluting business that has long been Cotton®'s, Paper/Pulp's and Polyesters' method of production - a method that has produced more waste and irreversible environmental damage during the first century of their mass production, compared to millennia of hemp production.

CONVENTIONAL COTTON versus ORGANICALLY GROWN COTTON:

Conventional cotton refers to cotton grown with the aid of chemical pesticides, fertilizers, defoliants and herbicides. Conventional cotton occupies only 3% of the world's farmland yet demands fully 25% of the world's chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Conventional cotton textile manufacturing involves bleaches, formaldehyde and other chemical finishes. These lead to chemical residue which may result in skin irritation and respiratory problems. With children, these problems can persist well into their adult years.
Organically grown cotton involves no chemical pesticides, fertilizers or defoliants. Instead, organic solutions are met by using compost, manure, naturally derived minerals and sensible crop rotation to keep land fertile. Insect control involves the use of "beneficial bugs" and natural pesticides certified for organic crops. Naturally colored cotton has been bred to be self-colored and therefore requiring no dyes. Organic cottons come in a versatile range of earth tones - rust, cream, browns and greens.

ORGANIC WOOL, BUCKWHEAT HULLS AND KAPOK:

Pure wool is a wonderful, long-wearing and highly insulating fiber. The natural oils of wool act as a stain repellent.
Buckwheat hulls are 100% organically grown and cleaned and have been a traditional filler for many types of pillows and cushions. Buckwheat hulls conform to the contours of the head and neck, providing flexible support throughout the night. Pillows filled with buckwheat hulls have good moisture absorption and promote maximum air circulation around the head, neck and scalp, ensuring a cool, dry, comfortable night of sleep. Look for buckwheat hulls in our Aromatherapy products as well as our meditation cushions.
Kapok, commonly referred to as silk cotton, is a sustainable plant fiber. Processed organically, kapok fibers do not "offgas" chemicals like polyester fills can. This makes kapok very suitable to fill pillows as well as our original handstitched teddybears and Dream Whales. With minimal care kapok fibers retain their incredible softness without sacrificing strength, which make for a very comfortable pillow for a very long time.

SELECTING THE RIGHT FILLER FOR YOUR COMFORT:
Choose buckwheat hulls if you prefer:
- flexible support, soft yet firm, that adjusts to the body easily without pinching back;
- not having to give your cushions a tan every now and then;
- air-flow through pillow for cooling the head and moisture dispersal

Choose kapok fiber if you prefer:
- to control firmness by adjusting amount of kapok fill;
- to plump up your cushions after each use;
- to bring your cushions out into the sun occasionally;
- to still have a worthy pillow or cushion after accidently getting wet.


*Handcrafted Home Furnishings from Fine Hemp Linen*
Industrial hemp facts and history
www.earthrunnings.com Site Map NEW! Organic Cotton Blankets Bathroom Bedroom Living Room Table Linens Yoga/Meditation Browse All Items Features About us Industrial hemp facts and history Fine Linen Care Stain Removal Guide Customer Service Contact us Shipping information Privacy Policy PayPal™ Custom Ordering Site Index earthrun@cnsp.com Forming strands of hemp for cordage at the Chatham Ropery in Kent. The ropery has been manufacturing rope for the Royal Navy since 1720 and its manufacturing techniques remain largely unchanged. Once-fertile land is ravaged by toxicity of pesticides and fertilizers.	Earth Runnings is committed to promoting organic, renewable natural fibers like industrial hemp, kapok, organic cotton and buckwheat hulls. WHAT INDUSTRIAL HEMP IS: Hemp and flax, both producing fabrics called "linen", were among the first plants to produce textiles that are both earth-friendly and beautiful. The earliest indications of hemp cultivation date back to 3rd millennium BC in Central Asia. Hemp produces about twice the yield of flax and it will grow without the use of toxic fertilizers and pesticides. Yet, the resulting fabrics are virtually identical. Herodatus noted in 5th century BC that, "Someone without great experience would not recognize whether [the cloth] were of hemp or [flax], and whoever has not yet seen hemp cloth would think that the garments were of [flax]." Industrial hemp's history is rich in advancements of civilization and exploration. It was utilized for weaving in Greece centuries before the time of Christ and was harvested in most of Europe during the Middle Ages. Many of the colonists' ships and vessels sailed with hemp on their masts and hemp rope for rigging. Today's world's navies still utilize durable hemp rope for rigging. Colonists brought hemp seed with them to America and it was extensively grown for "homespun" cloth and for the ropes and "caulk" (oakum) that kept Yankee bottoms plying the seas. During World War II hemp was grown for fiber and rope to be used by Government Defense. Industrial hemp continued to be harvested in the US up to the 1950s even though prohibition began in the 1930s. View Hemp-Products.Org F.A.Q. for great detail of the route to hemp prohibition and the rough road that followed. We at Earth Runnings are trying to show that hemp is once again finding a unique place in today's home furnishings. Hemp's ancient roots blend well with today's styles that combine yin with yang, antique with modern, rugged and casual with sophisticated and refined. Hemp's long, smooth, hollow fibers make hemp very strong, durable and mold and mildew resistant. WHAT INDUSTRIAL HEMP IS NOT: Industrial hemp is NOT pot. There simply is no sensible argument that validates the long-held misidentification of cannabis sativa (the plant that has produced hemp fiber for thousands of years) as marijuana (cannabis indica.) Industrial hemp is not a dying campaign. Just recently, Canada lifted its agricultural ban on this wonderful crop - a bold political move at a time when the DEA was moving to pass a bill that would have banned commonplace items such as shampoo and body oil which contained hemp plant extracts. For more information about this DEA SNAFU and up-to-date hemp industry news, visit http://www.votehemp.com/. For more information on how Canada is relying on industrial hemp as a new resource, check out the Province of Manitoba's report on Industrial Hemp. Industrial hemp is not the profit-driven, behind-closed-doors-dealing, earth-polluting business that has long been Cotton®'s, Paper/Pulp's and Polyesters' method of production - a method that has produced more waste and irreversible environmental damage during the first century of their mass production, compared to millennia of hemp production. CONVENTIONAL COTTON versus ORGANICALLY GROWN COTTON: Conventional cotton refers to cotton grown with the aid of chemical pesticides, fertilizers, defoliants and herbicides. Conventional cotton occupies only 3% of the world's farmland yet demands fully 25% of the world's chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Conventional cotton textile manufacturing involves bleaches, formaldehyde and other chemical finishes. These lead to chemical residue which may result in skin irritation and respiratory problems. With children, these problems can persist well into their adult years. Organically grown cotton involves no chemical pesticides, fertilizers or defoliants. Instead, organic solutions are met by using compost, manure, naturally derived minerals and sensible crop rotation to keep land fertile. Insect control involves the use of "beneficial bugs" and natural pesticides certified for organic crops. Naturally colored cotton has been bred to be self-colored and therefore requiring no dyes. Organic cottons come in a versatile range of earth tones - rust, cream, browns and greens. ORGANIC WOOL, BUCKWHEAT HULLS AND KAPOK: Pure wool is a wonderful, long-wearing and highly insulating fiber. The natural oils of wool act as a stain repellent. Buckwheat hulls are 100% organically grown and cleaned and have been a traditional filler for many types of pillows and cushions. Buckwheat hulls conform to the contours of the head and neck, providing flexible support throughout the night. Pillows filled with buckwheat hulls have good moisture absorption and promote maximum air circulation around the head, neck and scalp, ensuring a cool, dry, comfortable night of sleep. Look for buckwheat hulls in our Aromatherapy products as well as our meditation cushions. Kapok, commonly referred to as silk cotton, is a sustainable plant fiber. Processed organically, kapok fibers do not "offgas" chemicals like polyester fills can. This makes kapok very suitable to fill pillows as well as our original handstitched teddybears and Dream Whales. With minimal care kapok fibers retain their incredible softness without sacrificing strength, which make for a very comfortable pillow for a very long time. SELECTING THE RIGHT FILLER FOR YOUR COMFORT: Choose buckwheat hulls if you prefer: - flexible support, soft yet firm, that adjusts to the body easily without pinching back; - not having to give your cushions a tan every now and then; - air-flow through pillow for cooling the head and moisture dispersal Choose kapok fiber if you prefer: - to control firmness by adjusting amount of kapok fill; - to plump up your cushions after each use; - to bring your cushions out into the sun occasionally; - to still have a worthy pillow or cushion after accidently getting wet.