The journey from farm to shelf is one that involves some good old-fashioned tilling of the land. When we’re so accustomed to simply going to the store and grabbing some high-quality CBD from the shelf in the form of a candy edible or an easy-to-swallow pill or a lightly flavored and versatile tincture, it can be easy to forget everything that happened to the plant before it got to the point of consumption.

But isn’t it better when you know where the things you put into your body come from? The more you understand the beauty of the plant and the care required to produce a quality product, the more you can appreciate its benefits.

First of all, hemp is a strain of cannabis that has low levels of THC. One of the greatest things about hemp, though - apart from its numerous health and environmental benefits - is that it can grow pretty much anywhere! Apart from a few exceptions, such as desert-like dry conditions or high mountain elevations, hemp is a versatile crop that can thrive with a little care.

The Emerald Triangle

You may have heard of the Emerald Triangle. If you haven’t, it refers to a coastal region in northern California where hemp-growing conditions are supposed to be absolutely ideal. Hemp grows best in regions that have moderate climates with moderate rainfall. Also, the ground shouldn’t be too prone to flooding or excessive water retention. Ideally, the water gets into the soil, goes straight to the plant, and then moves along. These exact conditions can be found in the Emerald Triangle.

Of course, these conditions can occur elsewhere across the country, but due to California’s lax laws regarding hemp and cannabis growing and distribution, the industry has had the unique opportunity to grow and thrive there. That said, many other states now allow for the growth, cultivation, and sale of hemp and hemp products, so progress is being made on that front.

Growing Season

To get the optimal yield on your hemp crop, it’s best to take advantage of the warmer months. Of course, that will vary depending on where you’re planting, but for the Emerald Triangle, that tends to be right around the start of May, when the weather is consistently and reliably warmer and the days are longer.

The crop usually takes a few months to fully grow and mature, and they require some extra attention in their earlier days (just like every other baby!). Specifically, you want to make sure they’re getting enough water during the first month or two. From that point, hemp can actually grow decently well with less water than would probably be expected.

Organic Crops

One of the best things about growing hemp is how low-maintenance it can be.

Prior to planting the seeds, you’ll want to test the soil to make sure there are no harmful chemicals in it. If the test comes back less than favorably, you’ll have to treat the soil accordingly before planting.

Once that’s done, the plants can usually grow without the help of pesticides, allowing them to grow organically. Additionally, weeds aren’t really a huge concern with these plants, either, making life easier for you.