Proctor--Hemp, one of the newest crops to garner interest among growers in Vermont, not only diversifies the state’s agricultural economy, but provides value-added production opportunities, among them, new climate-conscious products for the bio-based green building sector.

On August 2, Zion Growers will offer a guided tour of its soon-to-be hemp processing operation, located at the Vermont Marble Museum complex in Proctor. The industrial hemp fiber processing company was founded in 2019 by cousins Travis Samuels and Brandon McFarlane in Barnet and moved to its current location three years later.

The tour begins at 9:15 a.m. and will be followed by a brainstorming session to discuss opportunities to design green building and home products using fibers from hemp and other crops grown in Vermont. The event will conclude by noon.

While “Hemp for Green Design” will be of special interest to anyone who grows, processes, supplies, sells,designs, specifies or works with hemp, the event is open to the general public. There is no charge to attend, but registration is required by August 1.

To register, go to https://go.uvm.edu/hemp-fiber. If requiring a disability-related accommodation to participate, contact Suzy Hodgson at sbhodgson@uvm.edu by July 25.

The event is sponsored by University of Vermont Extension and Zion Growers in collaboration with the Vermont Green Building Network; Vermont Green Building Network; Vermont Council on Rural Development; Vermont Marble Museum; Hemp Hollow Processing, Dorset; and Smokey House Center, Danby. Representatives from each organization will be on hand to lead the brainstorming session, which also will include an opportunity for participants to share their thoughts on the challenges and potential opportunities of growing and marketing hemp and what can be done to help more Vermont farmers grow and process hemp.

For questions, contact Hodgson at (802) 656-4557.