Hemp building materials took a prominent place at the Rocky Mountain Natural Building Conference Oct. 20-22. Hemp took the podium along with cob, straw bale, passive house, natural plaster and other natural building technologies, at the Natural Building Alliance's 20th anniversary conference.

In October, I joined a swarm of fanatics, innovators and curious observers, as they descended on Kanteen 25 in the northern outskirts of Amsterdam, Netherlands. One thing was on everyones’ mind at the 11th International Hemp Building symposium -- INDUSTRIAL HEMP and most importantly, how is it altering the future of construction?

Chicago union carpenters and bricklayers got an exposure to hemp-lime materials in a four-day certification workshop led by a Canadian hemp block maker this week.

Wolf Jordan, who transitioned from the world of traditional construction to become a fierce proponent of natural building solutions, and who inspired ecologically-minded builders the world over, has died at age 75.

A global enterprise based in Spain may seem an unlikely role model for a fledging American Indian initiative. But inspired by its success, Winona’s Hemp and Heritage Farm in Anishinaabeg territory is sowing the start of an intertribal cooperative consortium.

The Hemp Building Institute, in partnership with the US Hemp Building Association, completed the final steps to include hemp-lime in the US residential building codes this summer.

In a groundbreaking move this August, a Euro-based hemp block company began its first US construction project in Wildwood, GA. HempBLOCK USA marked dual milestones by commencing its first build and hosting the first HempBLOCK Master Builder training program in the United States.

Meet Henrik Pauly, head of the Hanfingenieur team: one of the only hemp-building teams in Germany.

Carbon credits and how they relate to the hemp construction sector will be featured during this year’s International Hemp Building Symposium, set for Amsterdam Oct. 10-11.

A Colorado startup modular home company unveiled a prototype last month that features HempWool batt insulation.

 Industrial hemp experts discussed opportunities in food, feed, farming, automotive and building materials at the South Dakota grand opening of the state's first industrial hemp processing center near Madison, SD in Lake County.

A long-abandoned General Store in Denton, Neb. is being transformed, thanks to a new owner and a giant delivery of hempcrete blocks. The restored building will be a space for the community to gather and shop, while showcasing the latest hemp construction materials.

The founders of Hempitecture have returned to their hempcrete beginnings by offering USA-grown hemp hurds and Idaho-sourced hemp binder through their online store.

The US Hemp Building Association board voted to support the creation of commercial guide specifications for hempcrete, making it easier for architects to choose hemp in large-scale projects.

A new hemp house being built in Georgia shows that with the right bank, even a new material like hempcrete can qualify for a construction loan.

A new hempcrete home in the southwestern Colorado mountains drew interest from local townsfolk because of its wildfire resistant property, the owner said. 

The US chief of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) said she was already familiar with hemp building materials when she encountered them on the National Mall at an exhibit of housing innovations in June.

Lori Daytner, of Disability Options Network, is working to advance the hemp supply chain in her hometown of New Castle, Pennsylvania. DON is making plans to build a regional decortication facility.

The Tennessee-based nonprofit that finalized hemp-lime’s inclusion in US residential building codes announced it was changing focus to bring natural building materials to affordable housing.

Builders, architects and homeowners will have new high-quality resource as HempBuild Mag and the Hemp Build Network roll out new interactive courses this fall through the new Hemp Build School Mastermind courses.