You might have missed it, but last week the Vermont House passed a bill sponsored by the Agriculture Committee to allow for Vermont farmers to grow hemp (should it ever be allowed at the federal level).
And right here I have to say, “As I understand it.” I’m not a newspaper reporter, I’m a farmer, and all I know is what I’m told and what I see – and I don’t get off the farm much, that’s important for you to remember, too.
It’s been a question of mine for some time – how come I can go across the road from Burlington’s City Hall Park (where I vend at farmer’s market), walk into Hempest clothing store, and buy a modestly priced tote-bag made from 100% pure hemp. I stare at the place all the time, wondering why there aren’t anti-hemp protesters picketing outside the place – I mean, it’s illegal to grow in the United States, so hemp has to be a bad-thing hellava hot-button issue for someone, doesn’t it?
Perhaps not. It’s legal to grow in just about every other country on the planet. Could it be true that hemp was made illegal here by powerful people who were at the time, poised to make gazillions using trees for making paper, and nylon for making rope? My inner conspiracy theorist wonders about this.
Hemp is a big industry – strike that, it’s freakin’ huge! In addition to the eco-friendly clothing, shoes and bags you can buy at Hempest on St. Paul and at (hempest.com). There’s hemp.com out of Colorado – that sells foods, pet products, paper, and beauty products. It didn’t take long to find dozens of other sites selling merchandise by mail-order.
Just imagine sending Vermont hemp Christmas cards, wearing Vermont hemp boxers, or my personal favorite, using Vermont hemp potholders – no lie, oven mitts and potholders are among those many items available for sale.
How can something so good for the environment continue to be vilified by our government, when “the environment” is supposed to be one of their concerns? This crop sequesters carbon from the atmosphere (reducing global warming), saves trees - makes stronger, lighter, fiberglass car parts; and creates building materials, including cement. The plant gives nutrients back to the soil, doesn’t need pesticides or herbicides to grow, and can be used to make ethanol and biodiesel, taking pressure off corn production.
This bill makes mind-bogglingly good sense. My gut-reaction when I heard that it was moving along was ‘it’s about time Montpelier came up with a really great idea’. And this just might be that one great idea that changes the tide for Vermont agriculture – though I still have some hopes pinned on Vermont-branded milk.
There’s commercial value in growing, selling and processing hemp. Even Canada allows it, they’ve got a system already worked out - can we grow it soon, please? Whenever that happens – and it will happen - lets hope it’s in time to benefit Vermont’s current crop of farmers.
