Mother Hemp

HOMEPAGE
MotherHemp Ltd was formed in February 1998 and is based in East Sussex on the South coast of England. The company was set up for the advancement of hemp farming, processing & distribution with environmental values central to its agenda. Currently MotherHemp is concentrating on hemp textiles & manufacturing, cultivation of seed & fibre and supply of superior hemp-derived products to the retail & wholesale markets. Hemp is a highly flexible commodity capable of substituting many other less environmentally-friendly raw materials. We hope to help restore hemp’s position as a leading resource for food, clothing and consumer products.

ECOLOGY

Oil-based products
Hemp provides a sustainable alternative to many oil-based products.These can often be extremely damaging to the ecosystem both in terms of waste from refining the oil, spillage during transport and disposal of the end-products. The landfills across the world are a testament to the slow biodegradability of oil based products. Plastic, nylon, polyester, PVC, cellophane, fibre-glass resins and many other common every day products are usually petroleum-based. Hemp is now being used to make plastics and has shown its viability in this vertical market. Many vehicle manufacturers are now using hemp as a raw material for interior panels. Hemp textiles are so biodegradable they can even be used to make paper at the end of their wearable life!

Bioregional development
Today’s synthetic products are seldomly sold in the same region that they are produced - let alone the same country. Patriotic folk who buy nationally produced goods are on the right track; the closer that end-products are sold to their manufacturing origin, the less transport fuel is used. In this way bioregional economics is supported by local crops such as hemp, maintaining jobs & money within local areas. In the same way that people are becoming more aware of the origins of their food, locally produced products will help to reunite the population with their land.

Organic farming methods
Hemp grows well without the use of herbicides & pesticides making it more environmentally sustainable than other fibre and oilseed crops. It is planted so tightly together that it effectively blankets the ground; this leaves no light for any potential weed interference meaning there is no need for chemical herbicides. Pests are not a large problem for the hemp plant, hence no need for pesticides. Without the need for spraying, tractor fuel consumption is reduced. A large percentage of the nutrients that hemp uses for growth are returned to the soil as the leaves fall. It therefore fits well into an organic crop rotation where soil fertility must be maintained. Hemp’s main non-oil competitors are cotton (paper & textiles) , flax (fibre & oil) and evening primrose (oil); all these are generally grown using large amounts of pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals.

HISTORY
Hemp has been one of the most significant crops for mankind up until this last century. It is astonishing to see how the widespread use of hemp has deteriorated to such an extent that people barely recognise it as anything but a plant that "gets you high". Here follows a little bit of history to outline the place in society that hemp once held:

 1. The first draft of the American Declaration of Independence, the Magna Carta and the King James Bible were all written on hemp paper.
 2. American presidents Washington and Jefferson both encouraged the growing of hemp.
 3. The majority of all twine, rope, ship sails, rigging & nets up to the late 19th Century were made from hemp fibre.
 4. Hemp’s demise came approximately in the 1930s at the time of the US banning of marijuana and Du Pont’s patenting of their new "plastic fibre".
 5. Until 1800 hemp oil was the most consumed lighting oil in the world.
 6. In 1935, 116 million pounds of hemp seed were used in America just for paint & varnish
 7. The paintings of Rembrandt, Van Gogh & Gainsborough were primarily painted on hemp canvas with hemp-based paint.
 8. Henry Ford’s original car was built from a mixture of plant resins including hemp.
 9. Hemp has been found to be the cementing agent in a 6th Century bridge in France.

More recently
Bill Clinton had hemp beer served on his private jet. The Queen of England’s horses sleep on hemp horsebedding, Armani has designed a hemp suit and his office is decorated with hemp textiles. The Body Shop has an entire hemp cosmetics range. Terry Waite has built a house out of hemp. Ford, Vauxhall, Mercedes & BMW are all testing hemp for their car construction.

CULTIVATION
Hemp has been grown in the UK for many hundreds of years prior to the ban on Cannabis in the early part of this century. It was always regarded as a hardy versatile crop. The ban on hemp was lifted in 1993 when Hemcore Ltd were granted the first license for trial plots. There are now approximately 80 hemp farms growing a total of 2,500 hectares in the UK. Licenses are issued from the Home Office for approved hemp varieties and end-uses. Hemp is not a difficult crop to grow but difficulties do occur during harvest due to the strength of its fibre. Currently an EC subsidy is available for recognised varieties. This page is following the progress of two fields of British hemp throughout the growing season. Please add to your bookmarks so you can follow the progress!, Field 1 - Fedora 19. This is a French fibre variety commonly grown in the UK. Click on the pictures for a larger view.

Farmers guide
Hemp is a true break crop that requires little input and no upkeep between drilling and harvest. The following outlines the basic technique which can be used for hemp cultivation:

Seedbed
Needs to be a fine tilth similar to a cereal seedbed, it also needs to be free from weeds. A stale seedbed made in March and cleaned before drilling in late April/early May is essential. Fertiliser needs to be worked into the seedbed (preferably organic).

Drilling
Hempseed can be drilled or broadcast. If it is to be drilled a conventional 4 inch cereal drill is used. The seed must be drilled into moisture up to a depth of two inches and the field should be rolled following drilling.

Harvesting
This would normally be in early September. Three processes are required: cutting, turning & baling. The crop is cut with a mower or swather (disc mower / drum mower would be fine) leaving a 6-8 inch stubble. Turning is done with a single-wheel rotary rake about two weeks after cutting when sufficiently retted (rotted). It is then turned again in front of the baler and made into round bales. Typically it takes one month from cutting to baling.

SEED & OIL
Hemp seed has been described by many as a "super-food" and for a long time has been an important food source for many cultures. Hemp seeds are actually more accurately described as "nuts" and while being delicious roasted on their own, are mainly used to make milk, tofu, flour, butter and pasta. Hemp is comparable to soya beans for protein content and to our knowledge there is no genetic tampering within the hemp varieties. Many of the recipes for eating hemp seed are included within the book section of Bob’s Hemporium. Bagged seed is also available and this comes with complimentary recipes. One of the latest technologies to emerge has been the de-hulling of hemp seed. This removes the outer shell to leave the inner "meat" which has great potential in the food manufacturing industries. Hemp seed is currently used in some confectionary (such as the 9 Bar) but with technological advance in processing, the demand in this area is likely to explode.

MotherHemp farms its own hemp seed within the UK and can provide seed & de-hulled seed on a wholesale basis. For further information please contact hempseed@motherhemp.com. The principal product made from hemp seed today is undoubtedly the oil. This is in big demand and is used primarily by the cosmetics industry for soaps, shampoos, moisturisers etc. Further to its superb properties for cleansing and moisturising the skin, hemp oil is also a nutritionist’s dream. Hemp oil is unique in its make up and rivals oils such as Cod Liver as a dietary supplement. It contains many of the Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) that the body requires for healthy day-to-day operation. These EFAs are present in the right ratio for optimum absorbence into the body. It is also a good source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), the main valued content of Evening Primrose Oil, which is believed to help pre-menstrual tension (PMT). Hemp oil should be taken daily either in liquid or capsuled form, it is a delicious nutty oil and is great in salad dressings or mayonnaise. Due to its precious fragile EFAs it should not be used for frying or cooking; however can be poured over pasta to give extra flavour. Bottled & capsuled hemp oil together with further reading on the benefits of hemp oil are available through Bob’s Hemporium. MotherHemp cold-presses its own oil and can provide this in nitrogen-capped containers or drums.

FABRICS
MotherHemp Fabrics is based near Lewes on the south coast of England. We have been researching into hemp fabrics and hemp blends since January 1998. We stock a unique selection of fabrics and can supply these to trade customers at very competitive prices. Hemp has been used for textiles for many thousands of years (see Hemp Fabric History) and is argued to be one of the most resourceful and earth-friendly plants available to mankind. The technology in processing and refining hemp fibre has improved dramatically recently and what many people remember as a rough, unyielding fabric is now soft and versatile. Hemp fabrics come in fantastic shades of creamy off-white in their natural state, and will absorb and retain dye well. Hemp blends well with other textiles creating a wide range of possibilities. Cotton or silk yarn benefits from being blended or intersected with strong hemp yarn which acts to reinforce and enhance it. MotherHemp fabrics are ideal for practical and comfortable designer-wear, and are also well-suited for interior design & soft-furnishings. Hemp fabrics hang well and therefore make excellent curtains; they are also fantastic for sofa covers due to their durable nature and natural look. Trade enquiries should email fabrics@motherhemp.com or call Henry Gage at MotherHemp.

MotherHemp Ltd has teamed up with Fabricate Ltd (a leading knitwear manufacturer) to create MH4 Manufacturing, which has the capacity to manufacture hemp garments for large clothing retailers. Using the fabrics selected by Motherhemp and the manufacturing facilities built by Fabricate Ltd, MH4 Manufacturing produces high quality hemp garments & accessories. We only take orders of over 500 pieces but have the capacity to manufacture up to 50,000 pieces. We produce, dye and finish garments to your specification. All design is therefore normally provided to us before sampling, however we do have in-house designers should that be needed. All orders are manufactured with the highest quality control and under Fair Trade working conditions. Goods can be packed and shipped to any country, by airfreight or container. Please email manufacture@mh4.com for further information.