Hemp Farmer, Liga from Hampalov Eko Farm – Sweden
How many years have you been growing hemp?
Hemp came into my life when we started to grow it 8 years ago together with my ex-husband. I have been growing hemp ever since. Some years the hemp was grown in cooperation with other farmers and hemp enthusiasts.
How have you seen the hemp community grow in Sweden?
Yes, the situation for industrial hemp in Sweden is getting better with every year. The data from Swedish Agricultural agency is that there are more and more hemp growers that send the application for their hemp field every year. The area of industrial hemp grown in Sweden year 2019 was 141,1 ha, 2020 it was 129,7ha and 2021 there were 183,3 ha of hemp grown in Sweden. The data comes from Swedish Agricultural agency (Jordbruksverket).
What varieties did you grow this year and have you found any varieties that are particularly suited to where you are?
The soil that I grow my hemp in is a real blessing. The whole area has very nutritious turf soil and any variety of hemp seems to enjoy it. The roots of hemp plant can easily reach the moisture in the ground and that makes the plants very resistant to the wind, tall and lush. During the years of being a hemp farmer I have grown such varieties as Carmagnola, Finola, Kompolti, Santhica 70, Tiborszallasi, Fedora 17, Futura 75, Earlina and Loja. This year there are three varieties that are available for picking at Hampalövs Ekogård- Finola, Santhica 70 and Loja.
Hemp varieties that grow well in Sweden are the ones that have a shorter cycle of vegetation and are more suitable for the Nordic climate, such as Finola, Loja and Earlina. It is possible to grow some of the tall fibre-hemp varieties in Sweden as well, but the seeds and the buds might not ripen fully, because of the short summer here.
What products are you most passionate about and why?
It is easy to choose my favourite product, because it is also a part of my culture. Roasted hemp butter is a delicacy in Latvia where I come from. I love to introduce this nutritious, tasty and unique product to people in Sweden. Hemp seeds are full of protein, fat and vitamins that are easily to digest. According to me a bag of hemp tea is a must in every household. Whenever you want to slow down the paste of life, relax and sleep deep and well, treat yourself with a cup of hemp tea. I do love to play with different tastes and I blend my hemp buds with various herbs to create magical products such as Golden milk with hemp, Hemp Latte and Summer meadow tea with hemp.
Do you think there should be a better co operation between hemp growers and the government, if so how
There is always things that we humans can do better. I am very happy for the progress that I notice in the hemp society in Sweden during the past 5 years. I do wish to connect people for more amazing hemp projects to be born and developed here in Sweden. We still have a lot to learn from the countries that have developed industries to produce hemp textile, building materials from hemp and medicine.
What are your personal hopes for hemp in Sweden
I am looking forward the day when I can no longer need to update the Hemp map, because of the amount of farmers growing hemp has become a “normality”.
Seeing more organically grown Swedish hemp products in ICA or Coop around Sweden is also a hope that I actively work to fulfil.
