While it is still illegal to grow hemp in the US and in South Africa, innovative green builders have constructed the first eco-friendly hemp houses in both countries. Hemp is an incredibly versatile and eco-friendly material and for those aiming to reduce their carbon footprint it is an excellent building choice, resulting in strong buildings that are non-toxic and completely natural.

The main building material is imported from Europe – Hemcrete is a mixture of hemp and lime.

For more information about its qualities, read about the first hemp house in the US.

And compare it to the first hemp house in South Africa.

Both stunning buildings are a convincing argument for governments to seriously consider legalizing the growing of hemp to provide a sustainable source of building materials for the future. And for those worrying about the effects of the house going up in smoke, Mosrie puts it this way: “We tell folks they would have to smoke the master bedroom to get high! It would take smoking 2500 lbs of the hemp to get high, so it is a losing effort.”