Hemp is a natural bast fiber obtained from the inner bark (also called skin or bast) of industrial hemp, one of the oldest agricultural crops and one of the first plants spun into textiles valued for their strength. Hemp is very fast and easy to grow, adaptable to most conditions, with little need for fertilizers or pesticides and irrigation. Unlike most other crops, hemp growing enriches and purifies rather than depletes the soil it grows in. Hemp has no specific requirements on location or soil quality and has a higher crop yield per acre in comparison to all other fibers. In addition, all parts of the plant can be used, making food, textiles or building materials. The processes of extracting hemp fiber from the plant are the same as for other bast fibers such as linen or bamboo linen, and include dew retting, retting in ponds, tanks or under running water, and also chemical retting. When the fiber is extracted from the plant, the production of hemp cloth is a mechanical process that involves spinning into yarns and weaving into fabric.(1-5)
HEMP
