New breed of hemp growers in Beecher face resurgence of the crop

July 28, 2020
AggregatedNews
Hemp Industry News
0 Comments

In early 2019, Rachael and Jesse Smedberg took a leap of faith and bought a corn farm in Beecher. A corn silo remains on the 65-acre property that is now Tulip Tree Gardens and Wellness Farm, but corn is no longer grown there.

Instead, the Smedbergs operate a boutique-style farm stand and grow heirloom vegetables, flowers and hemp on just 10 acres at 1236 E. Eagle Lake Road. They sow the remainder with cover crops of rye grass and small grains as part of a seven-year effort to restore the soil.

“Hemp provides 85 percent of our income, but it’s not 100 percent of what we do,” said Jesse Smedberg, who shelved a career in heavy machinery and automation to take up sustainable farming.

So far, the Smedbergs have derived the bulk of their income by focusing on hemp for its derivatives, which are believed by many to relieve insomnia, regulate metabolism, reduce pain from arthritis and discourage seizures in those who suffer epilepsy.

Tulip Tree Gardens is also developing a lightweight, highly absorbent cat litter made from hemp leaves and stalks.

While the growing popularity of hemp relates to its purported healing properties minus the hallucinatory effects of marijuana, for centuries hemp was grown to produce rope, textiles, oils and livestock feed. Hemp also removes heavy metals from soils. [Read More @ The Chicago Tribune]

This Post Has 0 Comments

Recent Stories

Japan’s cannabis market growing rapidly amid regulatory shift

Japan’s cannabis market expanded sixfold over four years to ¥24 billion ($154 million) in 2023, a trend that is expected to accelerate with the amendment in December of cannabis laws,…

Ispire Leads with a Focus on Safety and Innovation

Los Angeles-based Ispire Technologies (NASDAQ: ISPR) is a three-year-old company built on the foundation (and reputation) of a global enterprise with many years of experience as an ODM (original design…

Sacramento is ’cannabis capital of California,’ study says. What makes it a top weed city?

Sacramento is one of the best cities in the nation for cannabis fans, according to a new study. Real Estate Witch and Leafly, an online cannabis guide and marketplace, analyzed…

Two years after first legal cannabis sales, New Jerseyans still seek home cultivation

For the last two years, people have been able to stroll into New Jersey dispensaries to buy weed. But growing your own cannabis plant remains a third-degree felony. Despite a growing…