Fire Cloud Farm hosts Rocky Mountain Industrial Hemp Summit

The first annual Rocky Mountain Industrial Hemp Summit kicks off on Saturday at Longmont’s Fire Cloud Farm. The two day event will focus on the use of hemp fiber in a variety of applications, but primarily through the building material and insulator known as hempcrete.

Hosted and organized by Daniel Scowcroft and Phelan Dalton of the Hemp Building Company, the summit is open to professionals, builders, farmers and hemp enthusiasts that want to learn more. 

Hempcrete is a biocomposite made from the tough, woody core of the hemp stalk, lime and water as a material replacement for concrete. The bonded cellulose insulation — a generic term for hempcrete — is lighter than concrete, fireproof and permeable. The insulator is naturally mold and mildew resistant, and the permeable nature can help regulate temperature and moisture in buildings, according to Scowcroft.

Scowcroft and Dalton started experimenting with hempcrete in 2017, using the woody stalks of the hemp plants left over from their CBD growing operation. Sometime after, the pair started the Hemp Building Company to further explore the opportunities with hemp as a whole plant, experimenting with different mixtures and methods of application. 

Scowcroft said they were surprised and thrilled as the partners discovered the environmental benefits. Hemp crops help significantly with carbon sequestration in the acres they are grown, and as the hempcrete bricks cure they act as a carbon sink for the remainder of their existence. Additionally, according to Scowcroft, hemp can be grown without depleting the soil of nutrients, improving agricultural land.

The first day of the summit includes demonstrations on processing hemp stalks and making hempcrete, as well as speakers from Colorado Hemp Industries Collaborative, Living Craft Colorado Green Building Guild, the US Hemp Building Association and Colorado Department of Agriculture. Dalton and Scowcroft will lead a walking tour on their property to highlight the stages of hemp growth and end-use applications.

The second day will be packed with hands-on workshops, from learning to install hempcrete walls, mixing hempcrete and casting it. Experts in hemp usage and construction will be on hand to delve into the science of material use and construction.

Tickets are available through Hemp Building Company for one or both days of the summit. Scowcroft hopes that with success, the summit will be more expansive in the future.