Hemp and Home relocates

SHELL LAKE — As many small businesses do, Maureen Hoffman’s Hemp and Home venture started out as a dream, then became a way to keep the word “family” in the family farm she was raised on.

“I grew up on a dairy farm on the Dunn and Barron County line, but over time we realized we needed to diversify. I never dreamed we’d be raising hemp, but it’s a great way to keep the family involved,” Hoffman said, adding, “We’re only using a small part of the farm to raise hemp; the rest is in cash crops now. I really like the idea of hemp because it’s a renewable resource and we can make so many things from it. It was a good fit for our family.”

A shopper from California agreed when she picked up an order before leaving to catch a flight back home and was asked what she thought of the new shop on Shell Lake’s First Street.

“It’s just lovely; I really wish I could just load up my suitcase with things and bring them all back home with me,” she said.

Hemp and Home specializes in locally grown hemp plants that produce cannibidiol, better known as CBD without the THC that causes drug-like reactions in your body. Traditionally, CBD is used to help with anxiety, inflammation and nerve-related pain issues.

Both CBD and THC are products of the cannabis plant. Some of the CBD products sold at Hemp and Home have no THC in them, while others have no more than .3%, which makes them legal to sell.

“We have inspectors come to test our hemp plants to insure they aren’t over that level,” said Hoffman. “We primarily sell our CBD products in the form of lotions and creams, although we also have a natural sleep aid gummy that’s quite popular and a muscle relief cream. Our Pet Chews are popular, too; they’re designed to reduce the stress level in pets when they’re around activities like fireworks. The sleep aid gummy is another of our best sellers; people say they fall asleep and stay asleep. We promote the natural effects of the CBD in our hemp, promoting health for the mind, body and the earth. We also offer our soap in bulk refills at Hemp and Home. I love the concept of refilling and minimalizing plastic use; it feels good to do a small part.”

Like many other agricultural crops, the production of hemp begins with the spring planting season.

“We try to plant around Memorial Day and harvest in late September. We’ll hang the plants in the barn to dry them, then pull the weeds and flowers off and deliver them to Tony (in Rusk County) for further processing,” said Hoffman.

This process is sometimes referred to as “winterized,” making a crude extract which is a molasses-like substance. Then it’s transported to a plant in Baldwin where the crude is made into the products sold at Hemp and Home.

Besides her new business, Hoffman shows her support for the area by accepting the positions of vice president of the Shell Lake Chamber of Commerce and president of Washburn County Tourism. The Hemp and Home store, which also offers the work of local artists, will be celebrating its second-year anniversary over Labor Day weekend and invites all to stop in and say hello.