Strong networks depend on strong foundations, and for us on Earth, that foundation starts with soil. Healthy soil lies at the center of life on Earth. It fuels photosynthesis that provides food and oxygen to us surface dwellers while simultaneously drawing down carbon dioxide to stabilize our climate. The United Nations deemed healthy soil building as one of the superior methods to reverse global warming not only because of its multiple functions, but because it is an accessible and equitable method to communities worldwide. By learning to build healthy soil and grow food locally, methods like regenerative agriculture can significantly increase community resiliency in the face of looming uncertainty. For these reasons, Kiss the Ground has dedicated its mission to spreading resiliency and community through their programs and education.
Of course, these approaches excel through teamwork, which is why Kiss the Ground has teamed up with Asha Apothecary to co-create a regenerative future for both healthy soil and hemp. Like soil, hemp has immense potential to provide multiple solutions across different industries. Humans have been cultivating hemp for thousands of years, and today, hemp is being researched as a green alternative for medicines, textiles, fuels, building materials, and phytoremediation. Since the national hemp industry is in its infancy, Asha Apothecary and Kiss the Ground see a pivotal opportunity to help steward it in a positive direction for both people and planet.
It is no secret that we have contaminated much of our soil through industrial agriculture, chemical pesticides, and more. However, hemp has been identified as a superior candidate to decontaminate soil through phytoremediation due to its high absorption of heavy metals, high biomass, deep roots, and short life cycle. Phytoremediation can be defined as “the use of plants for the removal and containment of contaminants in soil, surface waters, and groundwaters”. Hemp phytoremediation had a moment in the international spotlight when it was used to help clean up soil after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster in 1986.
So, healthy soil grows healthy hemp while hemp can also remediate soil in a beautiful display of symbiotic teamwork.