Back in the spring (you remember spring, right?), my From Seed to Field: Our Hemp Greenhouse Journey post shared how we source our hemp seeds, selecting high-quality varieties that will thrive in New York State. We talked about how we plant those seeds and nurture the seedlings in temperature- and light-controlled greenhouses before transplanting them to our fields once the weather is warm enough.
Now, it’s time to pick up where we left off and see what happens after our hemp plants finish growing and harvest begins.
Let’s Get Growing
When we last saw our plants, back in June, they had just been planted and were settling into their new home in the fields. From there, they continued growing for another six to eight weeks, until the shorter days of late summer and early fall triggered flowering. That extended growing period helps maximize each plant’s yield potential before harvest.
Under the right conditions, hemp plants can grow as much as three inches a day. By harvest time, they can stand around five feet tall. And as the plants begin developing buds, they’re also tested by state regulators to ensure they contain the appropriate amount of CBD and meet the legal requirement of less than 0.3% THC.
Bringing in the Hemp
Hemp plants planted in the spring have a growth cycle of approximately 108 to 120 days, which means they’re ready for harvest by early fall.
We harvest our hemp plants by hand. That takes us a little (okay, a lot) more time and effort, but it’s worth it to help protect the buds from damage.
Once harvested, we hang our plants upside down to dry, in an environment where temperature and humidity are carefully regulated. Proper drying is an important part of maximizing CBD yield while maintaining product quality and safety.
After four to seven days, the plants are fully dry. We remove the buds (again, by hand) and then it’s time for the next step: extracting the CBD.
From Buds to CBD
There are two common methods of extracting CBD: ethanol extraction and supercritical CO₂ extraction. At The Hemp Division, we use ethanol extraction.
Ethanol is classified as safe by the FDA and allows us to create a full-spectrum extract. Because it can also be recirculated several times, ethanol makes for an efficient extraction process. It’s plant-derived and evaporates during extraction, leaving no trace in the finished CBD extract.
For us, this method offers the combination of efficiency and quality we’re looking for as we create our CBD products.
During extraction, the hemp buds are processed into a crude extract, or biomass. This is the first step in transforming the compounds found in the plant into the ingredients that eventually go into our teas, tinctures, lotions, and more.
In general, a solvent (in our case, ethanol) is passed through the buds to separate the desired compounds from the plant material. Those compounds can then be further processed into granules, powders, or liquids, carefully measured and incorporated into our products.
One Plant. Two Ways to Extract.
During the extraction process, CBD can be produced as either a single-molecule CBD isolate or a broad- or full-spectrum extract. So, what’s the difference?
A CBD isolate is typically 99% or more cannabidiol, with other cannabinoids, terpenes, plant materials, and chlorophyll removed. The result is a CBD extract that contains no other cannabinoids, including trace amounts of THC.
Full-spectrum CBD, on the other hand, retains many of the naturally occurring compounds found in the hemp plant. These compounds can work together to create what is often referred to as the “entourage effect,” a term used to describe their potential synergistic interactions.
Both isolates and full-spectrum extracts have their own characteristics and applications, which is why The Hemp Division uses both in its products. Our Golden Milk Elixir, for instance, uses CBD isolate, while our tinctures are made with full-spectrum CBD.
From Seed to Field to Harvest to Your Hands
Once we’ve extracted the CBD into crystals or oils, we use those ingredients to create our from-the-roots-up products: everything from cold drinks and hot teas to gummies and other products.
Those products are then bottled and packaged at our facilities in Millerton and Hudson, New York.
And with that, our hemp plants’ journey comes full circle: from carefully selected seeds, to greenhouse-grown seedlings, to plants growing in our fields, to hand-harvested buds, to carefully extracted CBD, and finally to the products you enjoy.
Now you know the full story of our hemp plants’ journey, from seed to finished product. Thanks for supporting our high-quality products, and I’ll see you next time!
