Selfsufficientish.com

I have just bought a big bag of hemp seeds, apart from toasting them I am not sure what else to do. I would like to have a go at hemp milk but not sure if it is worth it, does it taste nice?

Also can you grow them legally in this country, it would be good to try and grow some to make into clothing. Again do not know too much about this either.

I'm not sure mate, over here I think that you get shot, hung, drawn and quartered for growing hemp.........and then they get nasty!

Nev

Wombat wrote:I'm not sure mate, over here I think that you get shot, hung, drawn and quartered for growing hemp.........and then they get nasty!

Nev

Yeah I think it is the same here, but I have seen a farm full of the stuff once. I am not sure if you have to get a special licence to grow it or what. I figure that if I can't grow cotton then at least I could have a go at hemp.

As I recall, the Eden Project has a display on hemp (hemmed in, appropriately enough, behind an intricate display of hemp ropes). It's a while since I visited, but I think it stated that you did need to get a special license. I imagine that is because a patch of hemp would be a really good place to hide a few marijuana plant!

How about flax as an alternative?

Wulf

Good idea Wulf, do you know where to get the proper linen flax seed? (as opposed to the edible linseed, seed )

Nev

I buy the Biona Hemp seeds and grind them. They are delicious in burgers! I also put them in smoothies and fruit juice along with flax seed/linseed (very nutritious my daughter tells me!). Once they are ground you can put them in anything, soups, stews etc.

Although the Biona seeds have no THC in them, as far as I'm aware you do need a license to grow them because they revert back to their natural state after a few years. I had thought about sprouting them but I would imagine that the same rules apply to any kind of germination. I will have a look round Internet and see if I can get more specifics.

This site has some information about commercial Hemp being grown in Britain.
http://www.motherhemp.com/cultivation.html
And this has lots of interesting info plus a shop
http://www.eyeofthesun.com/hemp.html

cheers Wulf, good point I must say that it did not cross my mind that the reason you need a special license is because of hiding a dope plant in the middle. Had a quick look around for Flax seed to grow and could not find any, I am sure that they are out there somewhere. Will have to have a look in some of my non-virtual seed catalogues.

Grinding them ah thankyou hay331 will have a try, do you have to cook or soak them first?

No soaking or cooking needed, enjoy!

Alas, I've no idea where to get flax seeds from - I think one of the sites I looked at when I typed 'flax' into Google did have some information about that but it was based in Canada.

Wulf

Linseed and Flaxseed are the same, also, there is no difference nutritionally between gold linseed and brown linseed (brown is cheaper). you'll get the brown linseed here (organic and non organic) http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/cgi-loc ... earch.html
or most healthfood shops stock it.

Taking the ground seed is a much more cost effective way of reaping the benefits, the oil is so expensive.

As a matter of interest, I started mixing a tblespoon into my old dogs dinner (she is very stiff/arthritic) and within a matter of days she was much improved! Also my friends dog nearly died 5 yrs ago, it had leukamia and it was the steroids that were killing it. She is quite a sceptic but she loves her wee dog so she was prepared to try this! Gradually she was able to reduce the steroids until the dog was kept on a very low dose, it is still alive and well!

not sure if you could make these yourself - could probably have a go adjusting a flapjack recipe or something like that. if you haven't tried a '9 bar' - do - they are DELICIOUS!
xx sophie

oops, forgot to put the link: http://www.wholebake.co.uk/products/pro ... egoryID=14

If I remember the script, edible linseed plants have shorter stems, so produce shorter fibres. I got some seed from a health food shop and have been growing it, soon should be time to harvest. I got an old stainless steel sink to ret the stuff in, so I will keep you posted.

Nev

linseed is very good to grow on soil you want very fine for the following crop - eg. carrots etc

pureportugal wrote:linseed is very good to grow on soil you want very fine for the following crop - eg. carrots etc

So you can use it as if it were a green manure? I found that growing mustard really improved my clay soil making it pretty fine.

not sure about the nutrients it would add to the soil if used for a green manure - would imagine pretty good though. but it is good for getting a fine soil - if only i could remember things like this at the right time - the carrots never went in after it last year...

and i know there's something i wanted to put in after the broad beans this year but i can't remember what now - no doubt it will come to me as soon as i've put something else in!

xx sophie