At HempStone, we endeavor to build a sustainable construction industry - from the ground up! As US Hemp Building Association Regional Leaders, we work with our Leadership Partners to offer education, support, and engagement of hempcrete in Upstate New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. How can we help you?
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Sustainability is a buzzword in the construction industry, but what does it really mean? More importantly, how do you know what is sustainable, and what has been green-washed? We explore ways to frame your thinking on sustainable materials and offer insights to choose sustainable materials efficiently and effectively.
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This spring, HempStone had the opportunity to evaluate a skidsteer and concrete mixing bucket for hempcrete.
After seeing for ourselves what this equipment can do to facilitate a smooth installation, we knew we had to share the advantages of using this equipment to efficiently and precisely install hempcrete.
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Hempcrete 101 - Back to the Future with Carbon-beneficial Materials has shifted to online, and you are invited! We welcome you to this free one hour webinar on June 18th at 1pm EDT.
Learn something new, earn some professsional continuing education credits, and enjoy!
Alex and Tom will serve up some delightful imagery and fundamental details of hempcrete, and wet your appetite for an even deeper dive into hempcrete come August when NESEA hosts BE Boston 2020.
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Having the right equipment makes all the difference in the world. In this post, we focus on the simple systems of conveyance for hempcrete - the humble bucket - every natural builder’s most important tool.
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It’s official! The first Massachusetts hempcrete house is happening! Kudos to Village Carpentry and Landscaping for taking this momentous step to learn how to design and build with this new material! We’ve been thrilled to guide them along on this journey!
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Join us May 6th for a free Zoom Webinar to discuss Hemp Building - sponsored by the US Hemp Building Association.
Special guests Alison Mears and Jonsara Ruth of The New School Parsons Healthy Materials Lab will discuss their research into hemp and lime.
This wall segment was used to demonstrate hempcrete installation practices, test binder mix and equipment solutions, and work out the details of formwork against a timber frame. Exposed to the elements, it will test durability over time.
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In a previous post, we shared that we tested 86 hempcrete samples for thermal resistance. Here, we share the details of how we tested all these blocks.
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Massachusetts’ first hempcrete building is underway with the structural frame reaching skyward in early March. The timber frame, designed by Shelby Howland, and cut by the carpentry crew at Village Carpentry and Landscaping (with a wee bit of help by Catalyst).
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An image problem, that is.
The term hempcrete conjurs some misconceptions and concerns. In this post we explore these challenges and address how to overcome them.
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We’ve developed many different hempcrete mixes in order to find what works best for our New England climate. Join us for a sneak peak into our hempcrete shop and studio as we engage in making block tests.
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In Mid-February, we visited Peter Jensen n New York, learning about Ecococon, an awesome European strawbale system. Peter Jensen and Travis Toole are bringing this model to the US, and making beautiful architecture in the process! See what stunning sustainable structures can be made with straw.
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This winter, Catalyst (pictured on left) attended a mycellium workshop by Tom Sippel (pictured on right) at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke, MA. Tom is an inspired instructor with a passion for sharing knowledge, exploring ideas, and igniting curiosity. Come with us on the journey into FUNgus!
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Where your materials come from matter. Take a journey with us on the sourcing, and loss, of local lime.
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As a nascent industry, hempcrete is still building a supply chain. US builders naturally want to use US-grown hemp. There’s just a little hiccup - the supply chains are still being developed and refined. This creates a challenge, and an opportunity, to use local materials. We share our step-by-step process of making building materials from local CBD stalk.
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Sunchokes or Jeruslem Artichokes, provde beauty, food, and stalks which can be used in construction!
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I’ve been weighing the nomenclature used for a hemp and lime-based binder, a biocomposite mixed mass, commonly known as hempcrete. I’ve been evaluating the term against hemp-lime. After much consideration, I’ve embraced the term hempcrete. Here’s why….
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Gain hands-on experience and have a blast learning about hempcrete - the natural building material poised to take the industry by storm!
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By sourcing local materials, we can confirm the carbon and social benefits of our material choices. There’s nothing like seeing the fields that materials are grown in, of looking the farmer in the eye and shaking their hand. We support local farmers, processors, and manufacturers because we value accountability.
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