Hemp Voices: Danny Desjarlais, Lower Sioux Hemp Program/Hemp Lodge

Danny Desjarlais is the Lower Sioux Industrial Hemp Construction Project Manager and founder of Hemp Lodge in Morton MN

As the project manager I have a long list of daily tasks that can vary from day to day depending on the project. We try to do all of the work ourselves on our projects from start to finish. 

Hemp is reviving our community and I believe it’s the perfect blueprint for other communities –especially indigenous or underprivileged communities. That’s still what most interests me about hemp building.

What was a win for your organization in 2024? 

We had a few great accomplishments in 2024. We have people living in hemp homes on our reservation, built by a team of our community members. That’s pretty hard to top! Our office of environment was awarded an EPA grant for just under $5 million to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by retrofitting 30 existing homes on the Rez with hempcrete. The Patagonia Workwear Green Buffalo film produced by Joel Caldwell was a great opportunity for us to share our story with the world.

What is something about hemp building you didn’t know a year ago? 
We continue to learn and grow every day! We have been really fortunate to have such a supportive hemp community. We get to pick the brains of some really brilliant people and combine all the best techniques. 

What do you see as the biggest challenge to the industrial hemp building industry?

The biggest challenge for the hemp building industry is still the disconnect in the supply chain. We need farmers. The farmers need processors. The processors need buyers. It’s the classic chicken or the egg scenario. What comes first? If we could go back and start over, we would build first! 

Lower Sioux Hemp Program and Housing Project

Phone: 507-697-6185