By Janet Price
Hemp Farmer | Treasurer, iHemp NSW
Part 2: Resolving the early problems
To my relief Dick Clark and his wife, in their holidays, decided to visit family nearby and offered to drop in. From photos and a few measurements, we were on our way via email.
Upfront I need to acknowledge that no longer are hemp homers experiencing the difficulties I encountered in gaining approvals and insurances – when you are the first expect everyone to question!
The Certifier took several months to decide his licence wasn’t worth the risk of approving a hemp build, so for a couple of bottles of nice red we agreed to part ways. He did suggest the local Council which proved to be a breeze.
I employed a local builder to first build a shed. Structurally ok, but attention to detail proved too much, so I again was looking for a builder. Visited many a so-called sustainable build around Orange without satisfaction, so with my heart in my mouth I approached a previously bankrupt builder who assured me he wasn’t going to do that again, but he didn’t know anything about hemp. I paid for my son and the builder to attend a hemp building course in Queensland.
On the way
My father’s build was for a thousand years! Concrete saws, massive hammers and finally a tractor to pull down accessible walls. Dick had commented on dad’s simple but effective design principles as being ‘before their time’. This was the first time anyone had acknowledged dad’s foresight and still brings tears to my eyes, as it did to his at the time.
Sturdy foundations are a must for any build. With storms of ever-increasing strength, we need to build to beat flood, fire and wind. The possibility of ‘over-kill’ was raised as we dug and poured concrete into massive holes, but this proved a God-send when we later faced unpredictable flooding.
If you plan to venture down this road don’t be frightened of making decisions! Purchased a 710-litre mixer; the product from Klara at Hemp Masonry, planned the power needs for placement of conduit in walls. Found an electrician & plumber, decided on window manufacturer, roof and pool builder. Recruited tamping backpackers, a number of whom have since returned to admire their work! Then decisions on all the fittings, kitchen and bathroom essentials, key colours, ceilings and floors etc. etc.
Do prepare for bankruptcies, there were three! If you think you know how to identify these folk before engaging them, and putting down that requested deposit, my family want to hear from you! Given my time over again I would be checking credit ratings and putting any large deposits into trust accounts that could only be drawn on with appropriate invoices and signed off by the home owner. This might protect all parties.
(33 degrees)
In conclusion
We experienced the Eugowra floods of 2022; and since, the lack of tradesmen, and the inconvenience of being ‘out-of-towners’ has meant some internals are yet to be finished, but the joy of living in a hemp home cannot be surpassed!
