Such as cotton, flax, jute, the broom, stinging nettle and other plant species, hemp is a plant from "lime" or "fiber". It 's an annual plant vigorous and can be high up to about 2 meters, but can grow up to 4-6 meters.
Hemp is a crop to be renewed, which doesn’t impoverishes the soil and may succeed itself for several years, can be grown in different climates and is sown in spring, from mid March onwards.
It is grown for two purposes: for textile fibers or seeds.
In the first case the collection must be made 20 days after flowering and they get a 20% fiber, 10% of tow (which is a fiber of lower quality, not suitable for weaving and therefore intended for industrial purposes such as production of cellulose paper end) and 70% of the woody part - the "shives" - used in construction, carpentry or in order to produce cellulose for low-quality paper.
In the second case, in addition to the seeds produces a fibrous portion consists only tow.
In the first case, the harvest must be made 20 days after flowering and it get a 20% fiber, 10% of tow (which is a fiber of lower quality, not suitable for weaving and therefore intended for industrial purposes such as production of cellulose paper end) and 70% of the woody part - the "shives" - used in construction, carpentry or in order to produce cellulose for low-quality paper.
In the second case, in addition to the seeds produces a fibrous portion consists only tow.
In Italy hemp has been cultivated since the V century-IV a. C. The Romans - as other people - use it to manufacture sails, rigging and ropes and their legions to help spread the cultivation.
In the Middle Ages became increasingly important, especially for textile use, but also suitable for cellulose to produce fine papers.
Italian regions where the cultivation of hemp has historically been more common, are the Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna and Campania (in the provinces of Naples and Caserta).
In areas of Central Italy with a strong presence sharecropping, there were large tracts of land planted with hemp, but many farm families allocate small plots of land for this crop, enough to satisfy family needs (household linen, equipment for his daughters, bags and bales to contain agricultural crops).
The decline in cultivation of hemp, which began in the nineteenth century, ended in Italy around 1960-1970.
The work steps in the field (now all mechanized) consist of soil preparation (plowing, harrowing), in the sowing and harvesting: in the past all this was done by hand by the farmer, it was very hard work.
After harvesting, the "pipes" - also known as stem - are left to dry in the field.
So, deprived of leaves and buds, gathered and tied in bundles of equal length and subjected to the extraction of the fiber, beginning with the maceration, once performed only in running water or stagnant for a period ranging from 7 to 10 days. The maceration is considered completed when the fibers take on a golden color or gray and separate easily from the stem, giving rise to fine fibers.
After the soaking, the next step is scutching (also called scavezzatura, defibring, beating, according to Italian regions): the aim is to separate, albeit roughly, the fiber suitable for primary for textile use, from the secondary, shorter and rich in lignin.
The fibers are then combed scutched to get a better release of the long fibers. Then we proceed to spinning.
Today, post-harvest processes taking place in modern industrial plants, with special machines that have totally eliminated the long and tiring processes of the past. Current techniques also allow the fiber to work in a way so subtle, so that hemp can replace cotton and synthetic fibers.
The hemp fabric so obtained, is cool and breathable in summer and warm in winter, making it comfortable in any season. Absorbs moisture, is hypoallergenic, does not irritate the skin, does not conduct electricity, protects against ultraviolet rays. Can be easily dyed with natural colors.
The fabrics can be used in various ways: for women's clothing and men's, underwear, but also for table linen, bed and bathroom.
Hemp fabrics are gaining more and more the rating of the modern consumer, who is discovering the properties and qualities - even healthy - of this ancient fabric.
The Farmhouse "Canapaccia" is located in Val d 'Orcia, and lies along the historic Via Francigena or Romea, near Torrenieri in Montalcino, the ancient Turreiner remembered by Sigerico, the 'Archbishop of Canterbury.
The resort has a long tradition in the fiber processing plants: a national census made in 1775 by the parish priest on the population residing in the village, 29 women turned out well among those who lived there did their job the spinners, weavers and 8 were seamstresses 7 .
The tradition has been revived and developed using modern techniques from the prestigious couture handmade "Milletrame" which in his studio in Torrenieri manufactures women's clothing and men, day or night, exclusively sells hemp and other products derived therefrom.
The Farmhouse "Canapaccia” and tailoring “Milletrame” have designed a nature trail, approved by the Comunità Montana Amiata Senese-Val d 'Orcia, which develops in the spaces of the farm itself, in order to show the plant species' Cannabis sativa ", the techniques of cultivation and processing and textiles products.
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