Too often there’s a veil between what we consume, and where it comes from. We believe in lifting this veil by having a tight-knit relationship with our hemp farmers so we know exactly how our hemp is farmed so that we can then pass that quality and transparency on to you.
On a recent visit to Lexington, Kentucky we chatted with Dave, a hemp farmer, about the process of selecting the best quality plants, the growing process, and what happens at harvest time. Here’s what we found out:
What process do you use to select the best hemp plants?
We walk the field and pick out the best plants. These are the plants that are usually wider (as opposed to straight up and skinny)—we then take seeds from these “best-in-show” plants and isolate those for a selective breeding process. We don’t create hybrid seeds because they are generally very unstable and take a couple of years to stabilize.
From which part of the plant do you derive the CBD?
Cannabinoids are found in the beautiful buds at the end of the plant (the trichomes)—they have a very sticky resin and are found in the same location as the hemp seeds. This resin (or “kief” when dry) is secreted through translucent, mushroom-shaped glands on the leaves, stems, and calyxes.
How & When is the Hemp Harvested?
Hemp is usually planted between March and May and is harvested once the hemp plants have grown to about five or six feet tall - usually around October. Once harvested, the plant matter (flowers, leaves, and buds) is removed, and it then goes through a drying process which takes about 1-2 weeks. Once the plant matter is dry and moisture content is reduced to 5-8%, the plant material is then cut into smaller pieces so it can easily be managed as an input for the extraction process. This dried and cut material is called “biomass”.
What Else Should You Know?
Our hemp is grown under organic standards, is non-GMO, sustainable, and grown outdoors in a state-of-the-art facility without pesticides.
We hope you enjoyed our tour from the comfort of your own home! It's important to feel safe and confident about your wellness products because your wellbeing isn't something to be taken lightly, and gone are the days of simply trusting labels on a box. Instead, let’s continue to bridge the gap between farm and medicine cabinet and get answers to all your important wellness questions.
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