*Filmmaker Jordan Berger (Center) and crew pose in a hemp field in Great Falls, MT. Photo courtesy of Sunflower Films*

‘One Plant:’ An Urgent Call for Hemp’s Redemption

By Kimmi DelPrado

One Plant is a documentary that delves into hemp’s industrial, environmental, and health benefits. Broken down into chapters that focus on fiber, grain and flower, the film aims to address misconceptions, hoping to bring more attention and awareness to the plant. Jordan Berger, a CBD farmer, director and film producer shared with HempBuild Mag his personal journey from the film's inception to execution.

Aware of existing films that cater to the stoner culture and the cannabis community, Jordan took a different approach by showcasing the plant beyond medical and recreational use. “We’re not focusing much on recreational use at all—not because we’re against it, but because that’s been done before. This is meant for people who don’t know anything about the plant or who don’t partake in recreational cannabis.”

Like most bold outspoken proponents of the plant, Jordan’s involvement in the cause started with a personal mission. “My mom was an alcoholic and addicted to opioids, in and out of the hospital. I was watching from the sides and realised that nothing was really helping her. Things seemed to be getting worse.”

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His frustration over conventional treatment led him to explore natural medicine. He discovered cannabis as medicine and was determined to take matters into his own hands. In his effort to make his own CBD products for his mom, he realized that he could grow industrial hemp for CBD in 2018 in his home state, Tennessee. Through the process, he continued to learn even more about the plant and quickly discovered that medicine was only a small part of the story.

Sadly, his mother passed away. But what began as a personal quest grew into a larger mission.

Inspired by the plant’s versatility, he decided to return to his filmmaking roots to make a film dedicated to educating others, sharing what he had learned along the way. “The bigger impact I could make was making a film that told the full story of this plant—not just the medical, but the immense industrial uses it has and all it can do for our climate, our environment, and our health.”

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Hemp’s role in sustainable construction

*The ‘One Plant’ crew interviews Cameron McIntosh of Americhanvre Cast Hemp. Photo courtesy of Sunflower Films*

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Alongside medicine and agriculture, he wanted to highlight industrial hemp’s potential to transform industries, particularly construction.

“Hempcrete in the building sector—that’s probably the biggest impact this plant could make, especially in the short term,“ he continued, “I get excited about it. I see the construction sector - I see hemp as being able to make the biggest impact in the construction sector just because of how great it is with being a building material.”

As we all know, hempcrete, a sustainable, non-toxic building material, could replace traditional drywall, insulation, and other products that emit harmful chemicals.

“Hempcrete creates a wall assembly that’s healthier, more natural, and even helps with carbon reduction,” Jordan said, he added that traditional construction materials are among the largest contributors to carbon emissions. “Construction is a huge carbon emitter, so if we can replace these materials with hempcrete, that’s a win for the environment and for healthier living spaces.”

He has become aware that toxic building materials can actually harm residents’ health. “It makes you second-guess every building you walk into,” he admitted. “What materials were used? Are they off-gassing? Is there mold? Most people don’t think of it at all, but it’s something that needs to be addressed.”

One Plant aims to promote hempcrete as a sustainable solution that could make homes safer while reducing heating and cooling costs, Berger said.

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”Nobody really knows or thinks about how sick their own home might be making them, or the materials that are behind the wall that you can't see that could be getting you sick.” he added.

In addition, the film highlights hemp’s impact on sustainable food and farming. According to him and as backed by science, hemp seeds are one of the most nutritious plant-based proteins that could help combat the toxicity in modern agriculture and improve the nutritional quality of our food. “Hemp is an incredible food source,” Jordan explained. “It’s one of the most nutritious foods out there. We’re learning how to make ingredients from the seeds that can be used in a wide range of foods. With so many issues in the way our food is grown and processed, hemp could help create a healthier agricultural system.”

Normalizing hemp in mainstream culture

To reach the widest audience possible, Jordan wants the film to normalize hemp in mainstream culture, he told HempBuild Mag,

“My goal is to reach people like my dad or grandparents—people who aren’t interested in recreational cannabis but would be amazed by hemp’s industrial and environmental applications.” Jordan and his team hope that by watching One Plant, people will change their perceptions and come to see how hemp can be a resource that can benefit everyone.

Of course, the production didn’t come easy as it was self-funded by Jordan and his team of four filmmakers. For the past two years, the team had been travelling, documenting stories and research, sacrificing both time and personal funds to bring this project to life.

“We've done what we can on our own and sacrificed a ton but we feel like we're really close here and we thought it was the right time to reach out to the greater community and say hey, this is what we're doing, if you believe in it, help us finish it. Help us get this thing across the finish line and get it out in the world” he added.

*The Sunflower crew interviews Ken Elliot of IND Hemp. Photo courtesy of Sunflower Films*

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Knowing that he is not alone in his mission, Jordan and the team launched a Kickstarter to cover the remaining expenses for editing, sound design, animation, and color grading.

“It takes a lot more than people realize to finish a film at the quality needed for streaming platforms like Netflix or Hulu,” Jordan noted. “We’re so close to getting this story out to the world, but we need a little more support to cross the finish line.”

So for those who believe in sustainability, holistic health, or simply the power of nature, supporting One Plant is a way to help make an impact. With the Kickstarter campaign deadline approaching on November 30, Jordan and his team are hoping to raise the last $40,000 to finish the film and bring hemp’s story to audiences across the country.

As Jordan puts it, “It’s a redemption story. The plant is returning to its former glory, where cannabis was just a normal thing growing in everyone’s garden. That’s the goal for this film—to normalise it again and remind people of the role it has played in our history and could play in our future.”

To learn more about the film:
https://www.oneplant.film/

To help fund the film:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/oneplant/one-plant

Photos from One Plant Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/oneplant.film