The Lower Sioux Indian Community has opened a new facility to turn hemp into a home insulation material known as “hempcrete.” The tribe hopes to build an industry with the help of a wider group of farmers and address a housing shortage for its citizens.
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The Lower Sioux Indian Community has launched a new facility to transform hemp into "hempcrete," a sustainable home insulation material. The tribe aims to address both a housing shortage and stimulate economic growth by partnering with local farmers to grow hemp. Hempcrete, made from the woody core of hemp mixed with lime and water, is a healthier, eco-friendly alternative to traditional building materials. It avoids carbon-based products that contribute to greenhouse gases and toxic chemicals found in manufactured materials.
Former tribal council member Earl Pendleton, who has researched hempcrete for years, sees this as a step toward "safer and healthier" homes for tribal members. The tribe has been growing hemp since 2021, but until now, it lacked the ability to process the crop into building materials.
Pendleton emphasized the dual purpose of the project: meeting community housing needs while also creating opportunities for economic growth and partnerships. The tribe recently invited local farmers to learn about hemp cultivation through demonstrations at the grand opening of the Industrial Hemp Campus in Morton, Minnesota.
Building a Local Hemp Industry
Danny Desjarlais, a tribal member and manager of the hemp construction project, said the new facility can process hemp from up to 2,500 acres. However, the tribe itself only has 500 acres of tillable land, meaning they will rely on local farmers to supply the additional hemp needed to operate year-round.
“We don't have enough acreage here in the community to build these houses,” Desjarlais said. “We'll always be needing the local farmers in the area to produce the hemp.”
So far, the tribe has constructed three homes using hempcrete sourced from outside the community. With the new facility and future partnerships, Desjarlais expects the tribe will be able to increase production and build more homes in the coming months.
Industry-Wide Potential
The grand opening of the Industrial Hemp Campus drew over 100 attendees, including farmers and industry representatives from states like North Dakota and Washington. John Peterson, from Dakota Hemp and the South Dakota Industrial Hemp Association, said Midwestern farmers are starting to recognize the potential of the hemp market.
“Getting exposure and introducing people to this is what’s really going to turn the tide for us in this industry,” Peterson said.
By partnering with local farmers and expanding hemp production, the Lower Sioux Indian Community hopes to build both sustainable homes and a thriving hemp industry.
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