October 12th marks National Farmers Day, a time to celebrate and honor the hardworking farmers across the country who provide the food, materials, and crops that sustain our lives.
For lost range.® CBD, this day holds special significance, as we take pride in sourcing our hemp from local family-owned farms in Hotchkiss, Colorado. Our commitment to using local industrial hemp grown with certified organic practices stems from our desire to create high-quality CBD products while maintaining sustainable farming methods.
In this blog, we’ll explore the importance of supporting local farmers, the unique qualities of Colorado hemp, and how sustainable practices benefit not only the environment but also the CBD you consume.
The Significance of National Farmers Day
National Farmers Day is a chance to recognize the vital role farmers play in our society. Farmers are the backbone of our agricultural system, cultivating crops that provide food, fiber, and essential raw materials. However, beyond the usual crops like corn, wheat, and soy, another crop is gaining attention for its versatility and benefits: hemp.
For years, hemp has been an underappreciated crop, largely due to its association with marijuana. However, with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill and the subsequent legalization of industrial hemp, the tide has turned. Hemp has rapidly emerged as a valuable agricultural commodity, particularly for its use in CBD products, textiles, and even eco-friendly building materials. It is a crop with a rich history and an even more promising future, and local farmers in Colorado are at the heart of this transformation.
The Rise of Colorado Hemp
Colorado has become a hub for hemp cultivation, thanks to its favorable climate and progressive agricultural policies. The state’s commitment to sustainable farming and organic practices makes it an ideal location for growing industrial hemp, particularly the hemp used in CBD production.
For lost range.® CBD, the Hotchkiss area in Western Colorado has proven to be an exceptional environment for hemp farming. Nestled in the high desert, Hotchkiss offers the perfect combination of altitude, sunlight, and rich soil that hemp needs to thrive. The farmers we work with operate on smaller-than-100-acre farms, using certified organic practices that help ensure the health of the soil and surrounding ecosystem.
But what sets Colorado hemp apart from other regions? It’s all about quality. The state’s stringent agricultural regulations and dedication to organic methods mean that hemp grown here is free from pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers. This makes for a cleaner, purer hemp that is rich in cannabinoids, terpenes, and other beneficial compounds that contribute to the “entourage effect”—the synergistic interaction of these compounds that enhances the potential benefits of CBD.
Why Support Local Farmers?
At lost range.® CBD, we believe in the power of local, sustainable agriculture. Our partnership with small-scale, family-owned farms in Colorado is rooted in our commitment to supporting local economies, promoting sustainable farming, and producing the highest-quality CBD products. Here are a few key reasons why supporting local farmers matters, especially when it comes to hemp:
- Boosting Local Economies: By sourcing hemp from local farmers, we help keep money within the community. Local farming supports the livelihoods of families who have dedicated themselves to mastering the craft of agriculture, often passed down through generations. This strengthens the local economy, encourages entrepreneurship, and helps maintain a thriving rural community.
- Sustainability: Small-scale, local farmers are often more attuned to the health of the land they cultivate. Large industrial farms may prioritize yield over environmental health, but family-owned operations like those in Hotchkiss place a high value on sustainable practices. Our partner farms utilize crop rotation, composting, and natural pest control methods to maintain soil fertility and biodiversity, helping ensure that the land remains productive for future generations.
- Traceability and Transparency: When you buy CBD products from lost range.®, you know exactly where your hemp comes from. We believe in transparency and can trace every batch of CBD oil back to the farm where the hemp was grown. This not only guarantees the quality and purity of our products but also provides peace of mind to our customers, knowing they’re supporting ethical and responsible farming practices.
- High-Quality Hemp: Local farms that use organic practices consistently produce higher-quality hemp. Organic farming methods lead to richer soil, which in turn yields healthier, more robust plants. These plants are full of beneficial compounds, including CBD, CBG, and a variety of terpenes that contribute to the potential therapeutic effects of our products. Unlike mass-produced hemp, small-scale farms can focus on quality over quantity, helping ensure that each plant is nurtured to its full potential.
The Environmental Benefits of Sustainable Hemp Farming
Hemp is often hailed as a supercrop because of its numerous environmental benefits. As a rapidly growing plant, hemp is naturally resistant to pests and requires less water than many other crops, such as cotton or corn. It also has a deep root system that helps prevent soil erosion and improves soil health by adding organic matter back into the earth.
For the farmers in Hotchkiss, these qualities make hemp an ideal crop for sustainable agriculture. They’ve taken this a step further by implementing organic practices that prioritize soil regeneration, biodiversity, and water conservation.
- Improving Soil Health: Healthy soil is the foundation of sustainable agriculture. The small-scale hemp farms we work with prioritize the health of their soil by using organic compost and natural fertilizers. They avoid the use of synthetic chemicals, which can strip the soil of essential nutrients and lead to long-term degradation. Instead, our partner farmers utilize cover crops and crop rotation to naturally replenish soil nutrients, helping ensure that the land remains fertile for years to come.
- Carbon Sequestration: Hemp is also a powerful tool in the fight against climate change. As it grows, hemp captures large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, storing it in its fibers and root system. This process, known as carbon sequestration, helps mitigate the effects of greenhouse gas emissions, making hemp one of the most eco-friendly crops available.
- Water Conservation: In arid regions like Hotchkiss, water conservation is critical. Hemp requires significantly less water than many traditional crops, making it an environmentally responsible choice for farmers in water-scarce areas. Our partner farmers employ irrigation systems designed to minimize water waste, helping ensure that their hemp is grown with minimal impact on local water resources.
- Biodiversity Preservation: By avoiding harmful pesticides and herbicides, our farmers encourage biodiversity on their land. This means healthier ecosystems, with a variety of plants, insects, and wildlife thriving alongside the hemp crops. Organic farming practices promote the balance of natural predators and pollinators, helping to maintain the delicate balance of local ecosystems.
lost range.® CBD: A Commitment to Sustainability
At lost range.® CBD, we are committed to minimizing our environmental footprint while providing the highest-quality CBD products to our customers. This commitment extends to every step of our production process, from the fields where our hemp is grown to the bottles and packaging we use.
- Sustainable Packaging: We continually seek out environmentally friendly materials for our packaging, reducing plastic use wherever possible and opting for recyclable and biodegradable alternatives. This not only helps reduce waste but also reflects our commitment to sustainability in all aspects of our business.
- Eco-Friendly Practices: Our entire production process is designed with sustainability in mind. We use CO2 extraction methods to create our CBD oil, which is a clean, solvent-free process that helps ensure a pure and potent product without harming the environment. Additionally, we prioritize local distribution to help minimize our carbon footprint and support our local community.
- Full-Spectrum CBD Products: By using hemp grown with organic practices, we help ensure that our full-spectrum CBD products are of the highest quality. Our full-spectrum oil contains not only CBD but also a variety of other beneficial cannabinoids, terpenes, vitamins, fatty acids, and proteins—all of which contribute to the entourage effect and the overall efficacy of our products.
Final Thoughts: Celebrating Farmers and Local Hemp
On National Farmers Day, we celebrate the hard work, dedication, and passion of the local farmers who make lost range.® CBD possible. By choosing to source our hemp from small-scale, family-owned farms in Colorado, we ensure that our products are not only high in quality but also environmentally responsible.
As consumers, your choices matter. By supporting companies like lost range.® CBD, you are directly contributing to a more sustainable, ethical, and transparent industry. This National Farmers Day, we encourage you to take a moment to appreciate the local farmers who are growing the future—one hemp plant at a time.
Happy National Farmers Day from all of us at lost range.® CBD! Shop our line of sustainable products at lostrangecbd.com.
CBD FAQs
1. What is CBD, and how does it work?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a natural compound found in the hemp plant. Unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), it does not produce a psychoactive effect, meaning it won’t get you high. CBD works by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which helps regulate functions such as sleep, pain, mood, and immune response.
2. Is CBD legal?
Yes, CBD is legal in many countries, including the United States, as long as it is derived from hemp and contains less than 0.3% THC. The 2018 Farm Bill federally legalized hemp-derived CBD, but regulations can vary by state or country, so it's important to check local laws.
3. Will CBD make me feel high?
No, CBD will not make you feel high. Unlike THC, CBD does not have psychoactive properties. Instead, it may promote a sense of calm and relaxation without the mind-altering effects typically associated with cannabis.
4. Why do people use CBD?
CBD is commonly used for a variety of issues, including:
- Anxiety and stress relief
- Pain management, especially for chronic pain and inflammation
- Sleep improvement
- Support for muscle recovery after exercise
- Skin health, including conditions like acne and eczema
While research is ongoing, many people report positive effects from using CBD for these purposes.
5. How do I choose the right CBD product?
When choosing a CBD product, consider the following factors:
- Type of CBD: Full-spectrum (contains all hemp compounds, including THC), broad-spectrum (contains multiple compounds but no THC), or CBD isolate (pure CBD).
- Potency: Check the CBD concentration in the product to ensure it fits your needs.
- Quality: Look for products that have been third-party tested for purity and potency, and ensure they are made from organic, non-GMO hemp.
- Form: CBD is available in various forms, such as oils, tinctures, gummies, capsules, and topicals, depending on your preference and desired effects.
