The story of industrial Hemp has evolved throughout time, matching not just people’s needs, but also social events.
Civilizations have known about Hemp since 8,000 BC, cultivating it as an agricultural crop. From China to the Middle East and the Mediterranean, people have used Hemp to make rope, textiles, sails, canvas, medicine, and oil for their food.
While people were aware of Hemp’s potential for treating certain conditions, they mostly used it in industrial applications.
By the 17th century, Hemp was so treasured that it became a mandated crop: farmers had to grow it when Jamestown was established in 1607. Similar growing requirements were initiated in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
In 1620, the pilgrims brought Hemp seeds with them and found the right growing conditions in Virginia, Massachusetts, and Maryland. Indeed the Mayflower’s sails were made of Hemp.
Such was the importance of Hemp fiber to the colony’s economy, that the founding fathers grew Hemp and urged others to do so as well. George Washington grew Hemp in Mount Vernon and used it for the plantation’s needs: to make clothes, fishing nets to catch fish on the Potomac River, canvas for sails, rope, and more.
Mount Vernon
George Washington inherited Mount Vernon from his half-brother in 1761, although he had been living there since his adolescence. He gradually started expanding Mount Vernon and invested greatly in its gardens. With the help of his many slaves, he created a kitchen garden, a tropical garden, a garden for strolling, and a botanical garden.
Through the years, Washington turned into a visionary farmer. Besides sheep and other farm animals, he established a wide array of crops, trees, shrubs, and flowers. His primary goal was to provide all the necessary food and materials for the estate but he was also interested in esthetics and botanical beauty.
In his quest for versatility and diversity, he planted cotton, clover, wheat, flax, tobacco, and rye. His vegetable plot included broccoli, peppers, cabbage, beans, kale, lettuce, onions, potatoes, spinach, carrots, and squash.
He even had apple, plum, cherry, apricot, lemon, peach, orange, pear, and pomegranate trees.
Because the estate was located on the Potomac River, he also fished on the river, particularly in spring. Washington’s estate had a 10-mile long shoreline on the river, letting him catch around 1 million fish per season.
The fish was processed and salted and kept either for consumption at the estate or for sale. It is no wonder Washington was particularly interested in having seine nets for his fishing requirements! And it makes sense that he used Hemp to provide the necessary fibers for the nets.
Hemp at Mount Vernon
George Washington was an avid believer that Hemp was necessary for the colony’s survival as well as for its economic development and wealth.
As an enterprising farmer, he planted Hemp on his Mount Vernon plantation and used it for rope, thread for sewing, sail canvas, textiles, and clothing.
Records show that he often discussed Hemp’s cultivation with the other founding fathers as well as farmers and growers. Because cotton was too expensive, Hemp was perfectly suited to the growing conditions of the Mid-Atlantic States.
Washington managed to grow 7-foot tall Hemp stalks that were strong and versatile. The processing of Hemp required separating the outside parts from the inner ones. The Hemp was then smashed, soaked, and spun into long fiber that would be woven.
Interestingly, Washington observed that Hemp was very productive and would grow repeatedly wherever it was sown.
The shortness of Hemp’s growing season gave farmers a quick and rewarding crop. Hemp is usually sown in April or May and harvested in fall. Unlike other crops, this can be repeated over time to produce industrial Hemp every year.
Hemp Returns to Mount Vernon
In an effort to put Hemp back in its historical context in Mount Vernon, Hemp was replanted in Mount Vernon in 2018. The aim was to trace it back to the historically proven agricultural background of Mount Vernon.
By replanting Hemp in Mount Vernon, the plantation caretakers took a step back into history to rediscover how the plantation worked and how crucial Hemp was in the making of Mount Vernon and in ensuring American independence.
Hemp’s Potential Dwindled in the 20th Century
Hemp’s potential grew from the 18th century onwards until political developments in the 1930s led to Hemp being over-taxed and lumped together with marijuana. However, industrial Hemp and the cannabis used for marijuana are different crops:
- Industrial Hemp contains very little THC while the kind of cannabis used to make marijuana contains 10 to 30% THC. THC is the hallucinogenic and psychotropic cannabinoid that gives people a sense of “high.”
- Industrial Hemp grows tall and thin because its value lies in its fibers. Cannabis is stockier and shorter since it’s the flowers and leaves that contain THC.
Unfortunately, political leaders failed to make a distinction between industrial Hemp and the cannabis used for marijuana.
There was a small Hemp revival during WW2, when farmers were advised to plant Hemp to produce rope, textiles, and other materials needed for the war effort. By the end of the war, as the use of cannabis for recreational purposes became more evident, lawmakers turned against it. By 1970, Hemp was classified as a Schedule I substance.
The 2018 Farm Bill legalized growing industrial Hemp and the consumption of CBD, as long as THC content was less than 0.3%. Since then, there has been a revival of industrial Hemp and more research has been diverted into CBD’s health potential.
Industrial Hemp in the United States
Industrial Hemp is regaining its position as a crucial crop. States like Colorado, Kentucky, and Oregon have been producing quality Hemp for domestic use. CBD manufacturers worldwide are relying on American Hemp farmers.
Here at Synchronicity, we have developed CBDRx18, our patented, CBD-rich Hemp plant, recognized by the NCBI as the gold standard for the cannabis genome sequence.
We grow our Hemp using sustainable methods and harvest it at the right time, when the Hemp has developed all its cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.
We have adopted sustainable farming techniques to ensure that our Hemp is clean and pure and has been grown in the most favorable and environmentally friendly conditions.
And we process it using LipidTrans™, our proprietary gentle infusion method that avoids the harsh chemicals and solvents used in CO2 or ethanol extraction. Instead, we infuse our whole-plant Hemp into coconut oil or MCT.
Our philosophy is that nature has given us a wholesome plant. By respecting Hemp and helping it grow in the gentlest way, we are making sure our products are as close to Mother Nature as possible.
Our Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil product selection comes in various strengths and forms, from tinctures and capsules to a wide range of face products, body lotions, body butters, and body oils. We also carry a CBD-rich sunscreen and several bundles for you to try.
Try our trial kit to test several of our products and decide which ones work best for you. All our products are third-party tested and you can check online the Certificate of Analysis for each lot. We offer free shipping on all orders.
Help your body help itself and Feel the Full Effect™ with Synchronicity Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil products!
