Happy to talk about any Hemp building topics or direction the conversation goes.

(https://www.hempitecture.com/)

I call my listeners Green Future Growers. I had a guest on the east side of Montana, and one of the things he talked about the importance of having a market ahead of time. And then my husband and I have always been interested in building a hemp house, or straw bale house but hempcrete would be even better.

Yeah it totally would and it's exciting all the different applications of hemp being used across the United States. For that eastern Montana farmer what he said was spot on.

You gotta have an idea of where the plants are gonna end up and who is going to buy it and using it for what purpose before you even start farming.

Mike said you have to interview these guys and here is Tommy Gibbons to talk to us today from Hempitecture! Part of me feels like I have been waiting for this for so long, I thought this would pass back in the 1990's and I talked to Tara Caton last year at the Rodale Institute and I was like what is going on in our country finally?

Tell us a little about yourself.

There’s so much to tell about our business

people in the 90s who have been fighting this battle, it's been an accumulative effort and truly the future is ahead of us and that’s what we look towards

Hempitecture (https://www.hempitecture.com/) Ketchum Idaho

sun valley ski resort

2014

built the first commercial hemp concrete

we make building with hemp easyconsult on different projects

train people how to build with materials

sell building materials

sell

come to your job site and professionally install your hemp insulation products

Just hempcrete and hemp wool now but who knows where it's gonna go!

wool

really exciting!

Maybe it was 2014. I remember going to this business thing. Our Senator Jon Tester, is actually one of those Eastern Montana farmers. He wanted to pass a hemp bill, but he said the problem was the police not being able to tell the difference between a hemp plant and a cannabis plant and I thought that was lame because for me, I always think that any cannabis farmer is not going to let any hemp seeds near their cannabis so they are going to regulate it themselves in a way. But that is sort of off topic.

common interest in

cultivate grow

Youre just allowed to transport

people didn’t feel they could tell the difference between marijuana flower passing through the state and hemp flowers. 

difference

threshold 05

THC

send out for testing

Idaho police didn’t feel like they should pay, or didn't have the sources in place

ultimately

There is all this confusion about what is hemp and what is marijuana, but does come down to the THC content.

The hemp we use for building that looks nothing like smokable

0% THC content

stems or fibers

So we don’t bump too much into that problem, luckily now things are legal, the cultivation and transportation is legal

recently

in some states the battle persists and it was very important if it was 

So where do you get your hemp then from local people in Idaho?

No we don't. They are still not growing in Idaho.

our current supplier s out of quebec

We've had suppliers more local like

kentucky in the US

until this year

more growers

and need to processors

inner core, needs to be chopped up, then it needs to be bagged

2 phases to the materials

use them for

grow them

process them

inner wooden core of the industrial

hemp hurd

hemp core

bags are mixed with a lime binder

hemp crete material

takes the shape of your wall

thermal and moisture regulator

plant to

wall

transition

stage might be there

a lot of growers are growing for cbd and you can’t use the left over biomass from the plant for building...

https://www.advancingecoag.com/about (https://www.advancingecoag.com/about)

So excited because my guest today has this amazing green future grower story I KNOW listeners are going to absolutely love! So if you’re driving don’t worry I’ll make awesome SHOWNOTES because I know we are going to have a million golden seeds dropped with this amazing interview.

CEO of Advancing Ego Agriculture (https://www.advancingecoag.com) , John Kempf is on a mission to “produce healthier soil, stronger crops, and consistently higher yields!”What I love about his story is how he started out and I can’t wait for you to hear it too! His passion for growing healthy soil and healthy plants for profit is contagious!

Tell us a little about yourself.I love what I do I have fun!

I grew up in a family vegetable farm in snow-belt south of Lake Erie

Small scale market ~ fruits and veggies for wholesale markets

early 2000s we had 3 consecutive years

intense disease

we lost majority of crops to a variety of disease and insects

In the 3rd year in 2004, we observed that

plants which were grown on healthy soilbetter biology

were very disease and insect resistant

cantaloupe resistant to powdery mildew that was side by side

soil with he previous pesticide exposure for the prior decade of growing vegetables we lost the majority of the crop to powdery mildew, 80% of leaves

The new soil didn’t have pesticide exposure didn't have any powdery mildew. Not 5-10% you couldn't find any! ZERO! There was a knifelike effect right down the field.

really a major turning point

what was the difference between those two plants 

resistant to powdery mildew when the next plant 2 feet away was susceptible. asking that question and the things I learned

plant science and agronomy from asking that question were what led to founding

Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA) (https://www.advancingecoag.com) in 2006

AEA (https://www.advancingecoag.com)

Was the idea that we can grow plants that are completely resistant to diseases and insects based on how we manage nutrition.where we identified plants that are healthy

not only are they

resistant to diseases and insects but they regenerate soil health at the same timeprocess of this journey I was fortunate to be guided by

USDA experts

land grant universities

all over the world

realized this exceptional info that very wise people had was scattered all over the place

difficult to find

not recorded at all

some experiences were not being transferred

Led me to starting the Regenerative Ag Podcast (http://regenerativeagriculturepodcast.com/) with the intention and goal of interviewing

leading farmers

leading scientists

sharing their information with other professional agronomists and growers who wanted to produce in a regenerative agriculture context!Tell me about your first gardening experience?I grew up even from before I remember, we always grew our own food.

appreciate it as an adult

There were many years my parents purchased salt and pepper and spices and that was just about it

maple syrup

honey

stevia

sweeteners

grew many of our own herbs

2 farmed ponds where we raised fish

raised poultry

grass fed beef

family dairy cow

grew a large garden

small orchard

Lived an incredibly rich life from a food quality perspectiveMy parents started growing vegetables commercially in 1994, so I was still very young 

My earliest memories are working out in the fields harvesting fruits and vegetables.

Awesome! I love millennials. I thought you were older then that.

So you have this amazing journey. I am curious it seems like you almost have this test plot like at Rodale's, how did you have this plot without chemicals and the other part was getting...

Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm from Minnesota originally

family typical upbringing in the suburbs

career as being a chef

my extensive hobby as being a gardener

market gardeninggrowing up in the 80s food was sort of an after

reddish

so I got a degree in psychology

needed to do something a little more inspiring

lived in Europe for a semester in college

traveled around Europe and really saw food in a different light

experienced it really differently from what I had

Then I decided to go to culinary school, I ended up in Vancouver BCrelatives out there as well so I came back to the twin cities

Italian kitchens

owners

kind of moved around bit as chefs do is quite normal

I also started gardening at a fairly young age

early twenties

I ended up dating a woman from the Ukraine, she had a strong gardening interest

I had always been interested in nature as a young kidgardening with my parents

but very simple, chard and green beans and that kind of thing

I started working at a natural foods coop right next to a really old and thriving community garden

in St Paul and that’s where I met some really great gardeners who I would call mentors

One particular gardener there was a soil scientist at the university of MN, she took me under her wing learned some incredible techniques

raised bed

no till garden

cover crops

rotation

One thing that really inspired me from a young age to kind of continue this and do a lot more was just witnessing the differences in her garden and other community gardens

She made her community garden plot not tilled in the back row and the rest of the 90 plots were tilled once a year. In the other plots, the soil was still quite good but it was obvious she had the

best looking vegetables

earliest

largest vegetables in that garden

It was no mystery she was doing something different and right. It was from her I learned about 

Mycorrhizal fungi and the relationship to the plants and how important that was

using those techniques

I was able to follow in her footsteps in a way when she got done, working at an urban agriculture non profit in st paul, centered at gardens all over st Paul

children

form a market garden essentially

I was able to take over that job when she was finished, working on her phd

I got to be a market gardener for 3 years, all the while I was cooking at night, I couldn't do that these days, way too intense, way too much

So wait, are you a rockstar millennial?

I'm 42 so I'm more of an xer

yeah for me

For many years, I've been involved in both the culinary world and the growing world

I see that they are so intermittently intertwined, and kind of dependent on each other, the communities overlap so much. I find that really inspiring, such that I was able to go to the MOSES

MIDWEST Organic Conference for Organic Farming and meet a lot of great farmers and gardeners

move to the country and start a land based business

Alas I stayed in the city and am still working as a chef

After working at some great restaurants and for some people who are superstars 

for natural foods

local alice waters

worked for this woman for 7 years, after that ended

I started my own business as a personal chef, working in people’s homes

cooking Monday - Friday, everyday meals, it's different from catering 

Gives me a lot more time on weekends and evenings

being a chef is pretty awesome but the restaurant life can be hard on you, working 60 hours a week bare minimum. The end game is sort of to own your own restaurant but that takes lots of hours and lots of risk.

Well, I worked at a restaurant this summer, and I told the owner over and over it's amazing what you do here. How many people they employ and the pickle guy,...

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NE CT, the poor part of CT, we’re not in Hartford (https://blacksunfarmct.com/)

There’s a lot of farms in general in this part of CTit’s not where I started farming

my husband and I bought a little piece of property

it’s sort of an Urban farm

we have neighbors we can see

1.2 acres

Oh, it’s um.

My husband and I were Goth kids in school

I’m really into growing black vegetables

love the black carrotsalways buy those seeds

with the black tomatoesIf you forget to trim your tomato bush for a couple of weeks the busy parts are hiding inside are going to have big green splotches on themeither assume

the tomatoes are only going to be black

turn your tomatoes toward the sun

by the time that happens

bugs

slice them

they are black

from the top

taste great

make salsa out of

not as impressive if the whole

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black jalapenos (https://www.rareseeds.com/store/vegetables/bulk-vegetables/peppers/black-hungarian-pepper) I thought they would be super spicy

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2...

Check out the video version of the 2020 GREEN Organic Gardener Podcast Challenge here:

https://youtu.be/1Ki-9NNSBTI (https://youtu.be/1Ki-9NNSBTI)

Want to learn more join us for the (https://mailchi.mp/3e5a3ee84452/organicoasismasterclass)

Do you want to save time in your garden?Do you want to grow a garden full of healthy vegetables but feel you don’t have time? Do you struggle to get all the weeds pulled and watering done in the heat of summer when your friends are all headed to the lake? Are you tired of paying the high cost of organic vegetables in the store but struggle to grow your own?

Well, our 2020 Garden Goals Challenge will help you find success in your garden journey!SYLLABUSDay One - Brainstorm - No Dream is Too Big

Day Two - Make A Plan

Day Three - Create a SMART Goal

Day Four - Research Time

Day Five - Get Organized

Day Six - Photo Time - the Before shot

Day Seven - Reflect

Day Eight - VisualizeImagine anything is possible!

Now I want you to visualize yourself enjoying your garden this summer. You’ve done the hard work, you’ve mastered the challenges, your ready to harvest the fruits of your labor.

Close your eyes and imagine all of your garden dreams have come true. At least the goals we set out in the last few days.

What does that look like? What does it feel like? Can you smell it? Can you taste it? Can you hear it? What do you feel when you pick a fresh flower?

Are you drinking coffee or tea and enjoying the flowers? Are you taking pictures of a beautiful butterfly or flower? Are you eating a fresh garden salad or apple from your fruit tree? Are your grand children skipping through your earth-friendly environment? Are people raving over your fresh veggies at the farmer’s market stand?

What does achieving your 2020 garden goals really mean to you?

This is a great place to promote our blank garden journal!

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My Garden Journal (https://amzn.to/2Thas9L)

It’s always good to have a before and after photo to record your progress. When I look back at our place in the early 90s I can’t believe how far we have come. Take a picture now of your before and get ready for the after!

If you need more help with your 2020 GREEN Organic Gardener Podcast Challenge let us know. You are more then welcome to email me at [email protected] and I will answer as soon as possible. Or you can post in the Organic Gardener Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/OrganicGardenerPodcast/) or message me or Mike on Facebook.

(https://mailchi.mp/3e5a3ee84452/organicoasismasterclass)

(https://mailchi.mp/3e5a3ee84452/organicoasismasterclass) Starts Friday, January 24th and ends Friday, February 21st! Get in first and you'll have your workbook and journals before the first class! This $97 course can be had for $75.00 if you order before the 24th!

(https://mailchi.mp/3e5a3ee84452/organicoasismasterclass)

Do you want to save time in your garden?Do you want to grow a garden full of healthy vegetables but feel you don’t have time? Do you struggle to get all the weeds pulled and watering done in the heat of summer when your friends are all headed to the lake? Are you tired of paying the high cost of organic vegetables in the store but struggle to grow your own?

Well, our 2020 Garden Goals Challenge will help you find success in your garden journey!SYLLABUSDay One - Brainstorm - No Dream is Too Big

Day Two - Make A Plan

Day Three - Create a SMART Goal

Day Four - Research Time

Day Five - Get Organized

Day Six - Photo Time - the Before shot

Day Seven - ReflectDay Eight - Visualize

Imagine anything is possible!

Go back to your garden journal goals and see if there are any new goals you’ve decided on or any that you might have left out.

What other things have you decided you would like to accomplish this year?

Do you have something you want to accomplish each month?

Is there something you learned when you were doing research you think you might also like to take on?

This is a great place to promote our blank garden journal!

(https://amzn.to/2Thas9L)

My Garden Journal (https://amzn.to/2Thas9L)

It’s always good to have a before and after photo to record your progress. When I look back at our place in the early 90s I can’t believe how far we have come. Take a picture now of your before and get ready for the after!

If you need more help with your 2020 GREEN Organic Gardener Podcast Challenge let us know. You are more then welcome to email me at [email protected] and I will answer as soon as possible. Or you can post in the Organic Gardener Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/OrganicGardenerPodcast/) or message me or Mike on Facebook.

(https://mailchi.mp/3e5a3ee84452/organicoasismasterclass)

(https://mailchi.mp/3e5a3ee84452/organicoasismasterclass) Starts Friday, January 24th and ends Friday, February 21st! Get in first and you'll have your workbook and journals before the first class! This $97 course can be had for $75.00 if you order before the 24th!

(https://mailchi.mp/3e5a3ee84452/organicoasismasterclass)

So, I just wanted to tell you what's been new since I released the 2020 GREEN Organic Gardener Podcast Challenge and see if you are having the same problems I am hearing it, as well as talk a bit about January 2020!

Do you want to save time in your garden?Do you want to grow a garden full of healthy vegetables but feel you don’t have time? Do you struggle to get all the weeds pulled and watering done in the heat of summer when your friends are all headed to the lake? Are you tired of paying the high cost of organic vegetables in the store but struggle to grow your own?

Well, our 2020 Garden Goals Challenge will help you find success in your garden journey!SYLLABUSDay One - Brainstorm - No Dream is Too Big

Day Two - Make A Plan

Day Three - Create a SMART Goal

Day Four - Research Time

Day Five - Get Organized

Day Six - Photo Time - the Before shotDay Seven - Reflect

Day Eight - Visualize

Imagine anything is possible!

This is a great place to promote our blank garden journal!

(https://amzn.to/2Thas9L)

My Garden Journal (https://amzn.to/2Thas9L)

It’s always good to have a before and after photo to record your progress. When I look back at our place in the early 90s I can’t believe how far we have come. Take a picture now of your before and get ready for the after!

If you need more help with your 2020 GREEN Organic Gardener Podcast Challenge let us know. You are more then welcome to email me at [email protected] and I will answer as soon as possible. Or you can post in the Organic Gardener Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/OrganicGardenerPodcast/) or message me or Mike on Facebook.

(https://mailchi.mp/3e5a3ee84452/organicoasismasterclass)

(https://mailchi.mp/3e5a3ee84452/organicoasismasterclass) Starts Friday, January 24th and ends Friday, February 21st! Get in first and you'll have your workbook and journals before the first class! This $97 course can be had for $75.00 if you order before the 24th!

(https://mailchi.mp/3e5a3ee84452/organicoasismasterclass)

Appropedia (https://www.appropedia.org/Welcome_to_Appropedia) is for collaborative solutionsin sustainability, appropriate technology, poverty reduction, and permaculture.

To Catch The Rain (http://www.tocatchtherain.org/) Tell us a little about yourself.

So, I’m an instructor at Humble State University in far northern California. to make real projects all around the world

in summers we're teaching in other countries

India

Dominican Republic

Mexico

El Salvador

always with the same kind of intent which is to work together to find out what people need

not coming in with solutions, locally or internationally.

we don’t come in thinking know we know the answer we just come in with the excitement of working together.

We work with a lots of grade schools k-12

agriculture

garden infrastructure

Zane middle school

rain water catchment

edible landscaping

solar power robot stations

human powered sundials

permeable pavement

all type of projects to raise the educational experience with the engagement as well as an environment that’s really nurturing

You know if students are catching their own rain and using that to grow their own food on campus they're education is heightened.

I'm so excited this year to be somewhere were recycling is valued, recess is 4 times a day! There's an outdoor classroom! My kids are big into legos so solar powered robots sounds great! 

educational experiences

oh yeah so we pretty much just adapted that project

stay outside and be inspired by the sun!

You're organization sounds like my ideal of the Peace Corps. My question with the Peaces Corps is why do they not send 6 people to one place instead of 1 person to 6 places?

I do international work because I love learning. I have a bigger impact in my own local community because I know where to find stuff and who’s gonna donate

SHOW NOTES COMING SOON! Read unfinished notes here. (https://wordpress.com/page/mikesgreengarden.com/136566)

  (http://organicgardenerpodcast.us11.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=e3e16d6ddb7c0acd9e17348ed&id=b6a8f6bd31&e=e16e7400c4)

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If you like what you heard on the Organic Gardener Podcast we’d love it if you’d give us review and hopefully a 5 star rating on iTunes so other gardeners can find us and listen to. Just click on the  (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/organic-gardener-podcast/id962887645) .

and don’t forget if you need help getting started check out our new 

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You can   (https://mikesgreengarden.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/2018calendarjanuary.pdf)  while you’re waiting for it to come in the mail. 

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