Bell Block could be the new centre for hemp in New Zealand, with an estimated 40 hectares to be planted in 2014. Work has started on the region’s first hemp home, to be built in Bell Block. Hemp insulation is attached to the timber frame and then rendered with a hemp plaster to form the exterior. Lance Palmer chose to make his house out of hemp as it achieves thermal mass and insulation, he said. “It’s exciting, but also in the same breath, if you take the romance out of it, being the first means you’re the first to go through the trials and tribulations.”It takes around six tonnes, or 1 hectare, of hemp to build one house.”I just think it’s really quite a fantastic plant,” Mr Palmer said.”The more I’ve learnt about it in the last 12 months, the more I’m impressed with its potential. I think it’s going to progressively grow in Taranaki. It’s going to come down to public and commercial acceptance.”Taranaki man Greg Flavall founded Hemp Technologies in 2008 after learning about the many benefits of industrial hemp. He said the industry “has got a lot of legs” and was assisting many new farmers planning to grow hemp this spring. About six new farmers are interested.
