Hemp is the workhorse of natural fibers. It has a long and notable history and is extremely eco-friendly by nature. Unfortunately, many people have misconceptions about hemp and, as a result, dog owners often don't think about employing this durable natural resource when it comes to caring for their pets.
Hemp is truly an underappreciated eco-friendly resource for durable goods. Did you know?
· The use of hemp as a utilitarian resource dates back more than 10,000 years to around the birth of pottery.
· The oldest industrial relic is a piece of hemp fabric from around 8,000 B.C.
· There is a long history of hemp cultivation in the USA. The Declaration of Independence was drafted on hemp paper. Presidents Washington and Jefferson both grew hemp. During the colonial years, citizens were legally required to grow hemp. And in more recent years, farmers who grew hemp received federal subsidies during World War II.
· Most ship sails were made from hemp until the early 19th century.
· Hemp fibers are among the longest natural soft fibers, and they outperform cotton in durability, length, absorption and insulation.
· Hemp is a prime candidate for organic production because of the limited number of pests that are attracted to it, reducing the need for the use of pesticides.
· Hemp is easy to care for… just wash and dry!
· Hemp is a very hardy plant and can grow in arid conditions, poor soil, and even in places that have short growing seasons like northern Europe. Also, hemp is a natural weed suppressor because its canopy grows so quickly, and it doesn’t destroy the land on which it is grown. Hemp shades and mulches the ground while it grows during its short growing season, which lasts only about 120 days.
· Hemp is naturally resistant to fungus.
Wow! Hemp is a terrific material… soft, durable, anti-fungal, easy care, environmentally friendly… custom made for dog products, if you ask me.
We carry a full line of hemp products… beds, collars, leashes and toys all made by earthdog. Our dog loves her hemp collar and leash (and so do we!). The hemp beds we carry are soft, oh-so-stylish and good for the earth. And our hemp rope toys are sweet and durable, enticing for the chewer in your household. Check them out!
