Cannabis in everyday life.
In the 19th century, hemp played a very important role in the production of healthy tissues, paper, medicine, paints, varnishes, ship ropes, canvas and staple foods in Europe, and rightly so. It was only when the United States wanted to sell its own pesticide-contaminated cotton for foreign trade after World War I, and under great pressure, drastically curtailed the cultivation of pollutant-free cannabis in Europe, especially Germany and Austria, that cannabis fizzled out more and more.
Today, the long-overdue resurgence in cannabis is associated with the awakening of health awareness and, in addition to its excellent contribution to high-quality nutrition, also proves many other uses of cannabis in daily life.
In the garden, for example, hemp soil improvement is valued, and its good properties are increasingly used in popular raised beds: here the remnants of the hemp insulation panels on the bottom layer of branches and twigs, and wood shavings ensure that the soil does not leak, and water does not leak, can be stored in an optimal way, so there is no decay. Hemp straw helps prevent root diseases in crops and provides stable growing conditions. Last but not least, the remaining hemp panels are ideal as a snail wall.
In the past, hemp was used to “lock” mice in a farmhouse. Grain or other agricultural products in the attic were protected from mice by suspended hemp ceilings. This is remarkable because mice love to wade into passages or nests to hibernate in the foam sheets that are so widely used today. Mineral or glass fibers also chew easily. The extremely strong hemp fibers are resistant to such attacks from small rodents!
One explanation for this is that the cornstarch-binding fiber in hemp slabs is a biological material, not food for mice. In a two-step process, lactic acid is first extracted from corn, a process that involves fermentation in multiple steps through microbial or enzymatic conversion of organic matter to acid. After purification and removal of by-products, the resulting lactic acid is converted to polylactic acid (PLA) and thus corn starch fibers, so that it can be used as a binder. However, as practice has shown, PLA fiber is not of interest for mice as food and therefore, in combination with bitter substances (polyphenols) in hemp fibers, it forms a natural active barrier against all pests.
Housewives appreciate this chain of active ingredients because it gets rid of pests through hemp barriers. In particular, moths do not break through hemp. Hemp insulation panels also keep dust lice out of your home. And while ants are known for being clean animals, their haunted streets are not likely to please the home. Hemp protects against impatient visits.
Beekeepers have a particularly interesting field of application for bee colonies, which are repeatedly endangered and therefore also attract everyone’s attention. Lining the hives with hemp panels not only prevents dangerous bee pests from nesting, but also provides excellent protection from the cold.
This is how hemp connects us to a healthy nature again. The benefits of this proven medicinal plant with a wide range of uses are surprising in terms of scientific efficacy studies and professional taxonomy studies.