Grassroots Development Fargo

05/09/2024

A Heartfelt Thank You to NDSU and our Amazing Team of Students!

Over the past year, we've embarked on an incredible journey with the senior students in the Mechanical Engineering department at NDSU, and we couldn't be more grateful for the collaboration and dedication we've witnessed. Together, we've set out to expand the possibilities in the production of h**pcrete panels, aiming to transition from a fully manual process to a semi-automated one, all in the pursuit of consistency and replicability.

Our regular meetings with our exceptional student team, comprised of Calvin, David, Alex, Riley, guided by the invaluable expertise of Professor Long, have been nothing short of inspiring. We've delved deep into the intricacies of h**pcrete building, sharing ideas, asking questions, and celebrating each milestone along the way. The commitment and enthusiasm with which these students have approached this project are truly commendable.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to NDSU for fostering programs that facilitate such meaningful connections between academia and industry. This collaboration not only provides students with invaluable hands-on experience but also equips them with essential life skills such as conducting meetings, managing budgets, and upholding deadlines.

As we stand on the brink of new possibilities in h**p building in our area, we embrace the importance of exploration paired with testing and data. This team worked hard on not only the prototype, but also testing their samples for tensile strength and R-value to ensure alignment with current codes.

To Calvin, David, Alex, Riley, and Professor Long – thank you for your unwavering dedication, creativity, and expertise. Your contributions have been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition, and we couldn't be more proud to have worked alongside you.
Another thanks to Matt Marino of Homeland H**pcrete for the support along the way.

As you continue your academic journey and endeavors, we wish you all the success in the world. May the skills and experiences gained from this collaboration serve as a foundation for your future endeavors.

Here's to continued partnership and endless possibilities!

12/14/2023

Some incredibly humbling history from our beloved 700 block in Fargo. This block houses 716, our community gathering space, and used to house the grand Earle Hotel before a fire on Dec. 13, 1951 caused it to be torn down.

Fire tore through the Earle Hotel on Dec. 13, 1951, killing three, making news around the world, and turning a one-armed man into a hero.

07/24/2023

Coming online this fall, the next arm of the Grassroots Development community: Dakota Hurd Company!

Join us on Thursday August 10th from 11am-1pm in Wahpeton, ND for Field Day!
THIS IS A FREE PUBLIC EVENT
Whether you want to become a h**p farmer or just want to learn more, this event is for you!

Starting the day out in the field amongst the h**p, we will hear from speakers Clay Smith (farmer) and Aaron Templin (DHC Operator).
We will then reconvene back at the DHC facility for lunch and exploring the facility.

Please RSVP through the Dakota Hurd website: www.dakotahurd.com

Dakota Hurd Company is an industrial h**p fiber processing facility located in Wahpeton, ND.
We contract with local farmers to grow and bale h**p which we then process into value-added materials like animal bedding and building grade hurd for h**pcrete.

We hope to see you there!

08/09/2022

Calling all Red River Valley Farmers! Are you looking to remediate your soil and engage in a growing market? Join Valley Fiber Processing and SVEDA to learn more about farming h**p in the Valley, and how your service can make an positive impact on our economy and environment!

Learn about the h**p industry and it's impacts with a fiber processing facility startup launching soon in Wahpeton!

08/02/2022

Dan from MPR came out to the build site and here’s the story we made of it!!

Two new homes under construction in Fargo are offering researchers a chance to answer questions about the viability of h**p as a construction material. The homes are identical in size and layout, but one has h**p filled walls, while the other has fiberglass insulation.

07/28/2022

INTRODUCING!! Fargo, ND's 1st H**pcrete House! With the help of Homeland H**pcrete we managed to get this gorgeous, sustainable structure in the air in 4 days!

What is H**pcrete? H**pcrete is a bio-composite made of the inner woody core of the h**p plant and lime binder, both natural materials. H**pcrete provides incredible insulation properties as well as mold/moisture resistance, fire resistance, and acoustic benefits; it is not a structural concrete substitute as the name may suggest.

Why H**p? H**p can be grown without using plant protection chemicals, requires little water and contributes to agricultural soil regeneration. This highly renewable resource can provide farmers with another stream of income as the market continues to grow, as well as a means to heal their soil that may have been planted with nutrient-depleting crops like corn and soybeans. H**p also sequesters or stores carbon from the atmosphere as it grows, reducing the concentration of CO2 in our air, aiding in the slowing of climate collapse.

The purpose of this project at The Hive is to compare the building and operating costs of a h**pcrete v. a "conventional" dwelling, as well as the overall resilience/health of each type of dwelling. By collaborating with the Center for Energy & Environment and the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute we are installing several sensors throughout each unit to measure moisture, temperature, air quality, and the amount of energy used to heat or cool each unit.

This information will contribute to the growing field of h**pcrete research, and will give us a better understanding of how we can optimize the h**pcrete building sphere to be more competitive with the race-to-the-bottom, carbon and energy-intensive style of home building that we so often see in the market today.
We’re constructing these units so that people can experience a healthy, sustainable, low-carbon structure with the hopes that this exposure will give people the confidence to choose h**pcrete as it gains traction in the mainstream building industry. The Hive units will feature durable H**pWood floors, energy efficient appliances, and an outdoor patio space featuring a firepit and mindfully curated garden. The goal of this space is to bring people deeper into connection with each other and with nature; a place to relax and just bee. We are extremely excited to share The Hive with our Fargo-Moorhead community, anyone visiting who wants a healthy place to stay, and anyone curious about the benefits of living in h**p. Come see what all the buzz is about later this fall!

Project Designer & Manager: Sydney Glup

03/07/2022

Check this out!! Our favorite h**pcrete innovator doing what he does best- making the world a better place one hurd chip at a time!

Homeland has overcome the critical logistical challenge of transporting the pre-made panels, which can be fragile.

02/28/2022

Our favorite h**pcrete builder, consultant, and innovator, Homeland H**pcrete has developed pre-fabricated h**pcrete panels. Check out these design renderings for inspiration!