S06 Episode 279 | Jono Salfield of Afends on DIY hemp farming for textiles & why hemp rules (from both a farming & carbon-capture lens)

<p class="" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">In episode 279, Kestrel welcomes Jono Salfield, the cofounder of Afends, to the show. A sustainability-focused brand based in Byron Bay, Australia, <a href="https://afends.com/blogs/behind-the-brand/weed-need-change-hemp-documentary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Afends</a> recently started their own Hemp R&D facility – Sleepy Hollow Farm — delving into farming to grow their own hemp for future collections.</p> <p><strong>“Sustainability is just an evolution and being more innovative and looking at alternatives and trying things, to basically improve the way that we impact. Because we’re always gonna <em>impact</em>. And if you say that you’re not impacting, then you’re lying, really.” -Jono</strong></p> <p class="" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">We’ve definitely explored HEMP on past shows. We’ve explored the challenges in cultivating the fiber commercially, due to legislation that prevented that for the last century or so. We’ve talked about the many uses of the plant – from feeding to housing to healing to clothing you.  </p> <p class="">And this week, we’re talking about how to actually <strong>GROW THE PLANT</strong> for <strong>fiber production</strong>. </p> <p class="">Our guest, Jono, is the cofounder of an Australia-based brand, Afends, and now, you could also say, a <strong>hemp farmer</strong>. Two things I very rarely encounter TOGETHER across my work in this space. </p> <p class="">In 2021, he and his cofounder purchased nearby farmland to build a hemp R&D facility –  <strong>Sleepy Hollow Farm</strong>. And recently, they harvested their first fiber, impressively growing enough to replace the hemp used in their current line. Throughout our chat, we get into the <strong>why</strong>, the <strong>how</strong>, the <strong>challenges</strong> and the <strong>wins</strong> they’ve experienced in their first foray into hemp farming.</p> <p class="">But for real – how do you go from running a brand to buying farmland, getting your hands in the dirt and figuring out how to actu