Farmers, community members and potential investors gathered at Barham this week to learn more about an exciting opportunity for the region.
Attendees listened to how the growing, processing and value-adding of industrial hemp could provide great opportunities to producers, in employment and provide a boost to the local economy.
The ‘green’ building attributes were explained by energy-efficient building practitioner and owner of the Hemp Building Company Joe D’Alo.
When Joe first discovered hemp and lime building while reading an article about the use of this wonderful plant material in the restoration of a historic building in France, Joe traded his public service job to study building, becoming a registered builder in 2006.
“I learned a lot from my mistakes, there was no how-to book,” said Joe.
Joe first obtained hemp hurd from northern NSW.
“Looking back, I don’t even know how we put it all together, but we did.”
Joe’s passion for hemp has seen him travel the world to learn more about the opportunities and diversify his own business into consultancy to architects, builders and owner builders, as well as education and training.
“The relationship with timber frame construction, and what we’re proposing today really works with our current way of building in Australia.”
Currently, hempcrete in Australia is typically poured in forms or spray applied.