Today’s interview is with Shadi Ramey, an artist, cook, herbalist, and author of the cookbook Hemp Can Change The World, which you can buy in digital or paperback on her website. Read on for her thoughts on why hemp can – you guessed it! – change the world, and what she’s doing to publish her book as sustainably as possible.
Tell me a little about yourself and how you got into the cannabis industry.
I have an academic background in cultural anthropology. My graduate research was on sustainable development and ecotourism in Nepal. I have been practicing culinary anthropology for years. I love exploring the food culture from around the world. I began growing hemp on my micro-farm north of Boulder, Colorado in 2015 and began living with the plant on a daily basis, creating recipes and doing hemp product development at that time. I have been connected to cannabis on a deep level since my late teens. I believe that Cannabis is the Goddess Mother and that it is high time to embrace the sacred feminine.
What made you want to write a cookbook involving hemp, specifically?
I knew I wanted to write a hemp cookbook back in 2015 when I started living with hemp and cooking and experimenting with it. I was really interested in highlighting high-end, unique and delicious recipes incorporating hemp. Spreading the gospel of hemp has high vibe nutrition is the mission of the book. A Gospel is a set of beliefs or principles. I believe that hemp is the ultimate high vibe nutrition. My goal is to disseminate this information to as many people as possible. As we spread the Gospel of hemp, we empower others to take their own vitality into their hands and eat high vibe nutrition.
So this is really one of the only cookbooks to be printed on hemp paper in a century? What is the benefit to printing on hemp versus other types of paper?
I am not claiming anything other than this is one of the first books printed on hemp in a very, very long time. Also, there doesn’t appear to be many books in modern history printed on hemp. Many books and pamphlets, including, Common Sense, were written on hemp paper. This is, however, one of the first books to be printed on hemp in many years. This is significant in that we can bring this awareness more into our mainstream consumption by asking for paper that is more sustainable than traditional paper which relies heavily on deforestation. This hemp paper is a mix of recycled paper and hemp. It is not perfect, but it is the beginning. Our planet needs some serious action right now! As conscious consumers we need to demand more sustainable paper and everything else we consume. The book is now a call to action! Hemp can change the world and so can we!
What efforts are you taking to offset the carbon emissions made from the production of this book?
All of the carbon created from this book project will be offset by purchasing carbon credits in Uganda. Our carbon finance program is in partnership with Cool Effect ORG. We figure out the carbon created by each book we print, our travel, shipping, etc. Then we “off-set” the carbon buy purchasing carbon credits. The carbon project we are supporting is a project in Uganda. We will be helping to remove toxic kerosene stoves and replace them with non-toxic cook stoves.
What are your favorite recipes to cook with hemp?
I have learned since publishing the cookbook that I don’t really have favorites. I could not possibly choose a favorite. I love the diverse and eclectic mix of recipes in the book – they are a reflection of my life and culinary interests. What I love is that cannabis has been a part of many different cultures in the world and that is represented in this book. I have different favorites for different reasons. To your point, I will name a few of the recipes I love so much:
Hemp heart tabboulleh, strawberry rhubarb hemp crumble, hemp shiitake lettuce wraps, and the hemp raspberry thumbprint cookies.
Your website also says you love mycology and cooking with mushrooms. What are your thoughts on mushrooms and psychedelic therapy becoming more mainstream?
My thoughts on mushrooms are wide and varied. I would say that I believe mushrooms can save the planet! I am honestly blown away on a daily basis by the power of the fifth living kingdom and all the amazing things that mushrooms do. As far as psychedelic therapy becoming mainstream, I think this has a lot of positive implications and some serious things to consider. I have been exploring psychedelics since my late teens. They played a powerful and paramount role to who I am and how I operate in this world. I was doing these things illegally for a very long time. I am glad to see all the momentum in the decriminalization movements for sure. Also, I do have concerns about “regulation” regarding psychedelic therapy. I think humans have been doing great with psychedelics for millions of years and I feel concerned about rigid guidelines, rules, etc. I believe that psychedelics could open the heart chakras of people world wide and I am open to seeing how this evolves.
What would you most like to see change the most in the cannabis/hemp industry?
I would like to see real sustainable business practices put to use. I believe that we should be the change and that we are the ones we have been waiting for. There are so many really serious problems with lack of sustainability in the cannabis industry, from single-use plastic to huge unsustainable conferences. I have been to conferences where there is no recycling or compost! This is unacceptable. We have to show up for the planet and the next seven generations right now in everything we do. Many people in the cannabis industry misuse and abuse the term sustainability. It is time that we walk the talk right now.
Where can we find you online and where can people buy your book?
You can learn more about the book project and purchase a book at hempcanchangetheworld.com. You can find more about me and my other projects at shadiramey.com.