by
Paul
Benhaimdo, the earth’s resources continue to dwindle. However, in the
near future it will be possible to participate in change, through the
purchase of products from more regionally based non-wood pulp
mills (see resource list).
Hemp
and
the
Textile
Industry
Hemp is grown widely throughout the world for textile. Various
qualities are available due to different processing technologies
that continue to be updated. Hemp mixed with silk, cotton, wool,
lycra or flax providers endless uses for these fabrics, currently
available in the UK from Motherhemp (see resource list).
Latvian matrons, sporting traditional amber bead
necklaces at public and family functions, tend to favor Latvian
jewellery designs. They commonly wear a single plaited rope motif
silver ring on their finger, often of skillfully laid silver wires and
expertly twisted hemp rope rendered in the precious metal.
In Australia, where hemp is still only grown under test
licenses (May 2000), the government studies and industry players
are looking at growing fibre crops on a broad acre scale. They
agree that by 2004 they aim to sell fibre (3” softened ready for
blending into wool or cotton) at AU$3,500 per ton.
Hemp
Oil
and
Pharmaceutical
Uses
There has been much research in connection with deficiencies or
imbalances of both Essential Fatty Acids and Gamma-Linolenic
Acid. Such studies have been mainly carried out in relation to cod
liver, flax, sunflower and evening primrose oils. Hemp has the
advantage of not only containing a more balanced source of such
‘good’ fats, but also of being a more palatable, tasty food source.
Hemp is renowned for its use as a skin moisturizer, both when