S2 Ep 21 - Hemp Collective

05/27/23 • 27 min

We so often hear farmers say dairy or wool has been in their blood for generations. However, in the case of hemp, producers are having to start from scratch. When Maxine Shea was diagnosed with a rare pituitary brain tumour, she desperately wanted hemp for treatment. Accessing it though was not easy, so she and her partner Mike starting growing it themselves. Now they run The Hemp Collective out of the NSW Byron Bay region. It hasn’t been easy, not just learning how to harvest the product, but also external challenges from COVID, to floods, to fire. Despite all that, they are so passionate about this product and correcting some of the misinformation. To help us learn more about this emerging industry, Maxine joins me today to discuss

Located in the beautiful Byron Bay region, Maxine shares her favourite location.
Maxine entered the hemp industry with no experience, borne out of a very challenging time in her own life.
After being diagnosed with a rare pituitary brain tumour, she found hemp seed oil was a natural treatment but, discovered it was difficult to access.
To break down this barrier, Maxine established The Hemp Collective as natural approach for health.
She breaks down the differences between hemp and cannabis saying, think of them as cousins – similar DNA but not the same.’
The wide range of hemp applications as it produces flower, seed and fibre.
The hemp growing industry climate in Australia and some of the unique challenges they face.
Managing the lack of public education and confusion around what the product actually is and, how Maxine wishes to change this.
How this wonderful powerful plant has changed Maxine’s life personally.
Although the industry is challenging, Maxine shares the joy she receives from educating the public and sharing the health benefits.
The largest misconceptions around the industry.
Maxine created a Hemp Education course to support others on their journey.
The most unexpected thing to happen since starting The Hemp Collective
Maxine’s ultimate dream for the future of hemp in Australia.

We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.

Links:

Angie Asimus

Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers

Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

Hemp Collective

Follow @hempcollectivebyron on Instagram

Produced by Pretty Podcasts

Located in the beautiful Byron Bay region, Maxine shares her favourite location.
Maxine entered the hemp industry with no experience, borne out of a very challenging time in her own life.
After being diagnosed with a rare pituitary brain tumour, she found hemp seed oil was a natural treatment but, discovered it was difficult to access.
To break down this barrier, Maxine established The Hemp Collective as natural approach for health.
She breaks down the differences between hemp and cannabis saying, think of them as cousins – similar DNA but not the same.’
The wide range of hemp applications as it produces flower, seed and fibre.
The hemp growing industry climate in Australia and some of the unique challenges they face.
Managing the lack of public education and confusion around what the product actually is and, how Maxine wishes to change this.
How this wonderful powerful plant has changed Maxine’s life personally.
Although the industry is challenging, Maxine shares the joy she receives from educating the public and sharing the health benefits.
The largest misconceptions around the industry.
Maxine created a Hemp Education course to support others on their journey.
The most unexpected thing to happen since starting The Hemp Collective
Maxine’s ultimate dream for the future of hemp in Australia.

We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.

Links:

Angie Asimus

Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers

Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

Hemp Collective

Follow @hempcollectivebyron on Instagram

Produced by Pretty Podcasts

Previous Episode

S2 Ep 20 - Accidentally Organic

Life is busy for most of us but spare a thought for this couple from Sunnyside Tasmania. They run a successful dairy whilst raising nine children. Given that work load, it would have been easier not to completely overhaul the business from a conventional dairy to a large-scale organic operation, that has also radically progressed to once a day milking. Why do it? Well, they bought a block of land with all sorts of problems that lead to some health issues with the cows, The solution ended up being an accidental transition to organic production. To learn more about Mark and Roslyn Lambert’s unintentional business transformation, Mark is today’s guest and we discuss:

Mark’s favourite place on their farm in beautiful Tasmania.
Mark grew up on the farm and in fact left school to milk the cows on the dairy farm.
The farm at the beginning, had poor soil health which led to a range of health problems for his cows.
Seeking professional advice for health issues, Mark realised the solutions were focussed on managing the issue rather than preventing it in the first place.
Finally, Mark’s investigations lead him back to soil health and the numerous steps he has taken to solve the soil pH levels and healthy balance.
Loosing 50 head of cattle triggered Mark to dive even deeper into the role the land plays on his cows, and their health.
The ‘fruit-salad pasture’ where cows self-medicate and eat what they need.
Making the shift to once-a-day milking and the impact this has had for Mark, and the dairy cows.
This was a 10 year process to transform the land and, why Mark explains this as ‘Accidentally Organic.’
Thinking outside the box and the first hand transformation Mark’s dairy farmer family has seen.
The challenge is what Mark loves most about working and living on the land.
The most common misconception about farming
Mark’s ultimate dream for the future.

We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.

Links:

Angie Asimus

Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers

Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

Produced by Pretty Podcasts

Next Episode

S2 Ep 22 - Green Connect Farm

Most of us rely on our local farmers for our food but others rely on them for their livelihoods. On an urban 11 acre farm just outside Port Kembla in NSW young people and refugees are being offered work and mentorship. The produce is sold to the local community through fruit and vegetable boxes, and to local cafes and restaurants. Under the guidance of Farm Manager Emily Henderson, the property produces more than 40 seasonal fruits, vegetables and herbs all year round as well as free-range pork, lamb, honey and eggs. To learn more about this social enterprise, Emily Henderson joins me today to discuss:

Emily’s favourite place on the farm when it is quiet and still.
How she came to be involved with Green Connect Farm and growing up on a farm.
Emily is now the manager and explains the concept behind this little farm, with a big conscience.
Green Connect helps people with barriers to employment by showing them skills they can use for future employment.
They offer work to those who really need it including unemployed youth and resettled refugees.
The variety of food they produce – from fruits and vegetables to pigs and honey.
Although they are not yet officially labelled organic, they are using permaculture methods to manage the farm.
The land itself has its challenges – everything from weeds, fencing to finding cars in garden beds!
An average day in the life of a Green Connect Farm Manager.
The most common misconceptions about what Emily does on the farm.
The most unexpected thing to happen in her time on the land.
Green Connect Farm’s ultimate dream for the Future.