The Hempcrete Book

November 15, 2014

Authors Stanwix and Sparrow are British building experts on hemp concrete, or hempcrete. Familiar to professionals in Europe and the UK, hempcrete is an alternative building material composed of lime and industrial hemp fiber--yes, marijuana plants. Industrial hemp has low THC content and is legal to grow in the UK and Canada but not in most of the United States. The use of hemp in building construction is detailed, as is its use to repair historical structures. After an overview, the main section of the book covers different aspects of construction and techniques. Some chapters are very instructional; others are more cursory. Oddly, project planning is at the end. Descriptions of inherent problems with hemp concrete, such as support, proper composition, moisture issues, and poor construction are included. Lists of suppliers and online resources are all British; the measurements used are metric without conversion; and terminology is not always familiar. A more approachable title for alternative building materials is Clarke Snell and Tim Callahan's Building Green: A Complete How-To Guide to Alternative Building Methods. VERDICT While highly technical, this book will have little here, where hemp or marijuana cultivation for any use is restricted by law in almost all states. Recommended for locations with access to industrial hemp only. Until then, this book is more a novelty than a practical manual.

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