Description
Project Description
The Kendir Hemp Cultivation project is a regenerative farming initiative by Earthist DAO, aiming to restore soil health, biodiversity, and traditional agricultural knowledge in Türkiye.
We’ve been actively engaged in the hemp ecosystem since 2017—growing, cultivating, and processing hemp to support industry innovation and R&D. This experience, along with strong relationships and deep ecological knowledge, laid the foundation for this field-based initiative.
In 2024, we cultivated 41.6 decares of heirloom hemp using ecological methods and heirloom seed varieties to regenerate degraded land, support local communities, create a sustainable value chain, and revive cultural practices.
🌍 The Challenge We’re Tackling
Soil degradation has reached crisis levels, and our region is no exception. The decline of hemp (kendir)—once a keystone crop in Türkiye—has deepened this crisis. Hemp historically supported ecosystem health, rural livelihoods, and cultural practices through regenerative farming, but was pushed aside in favor of industrial systems reliant on extractive, polluting inputs like plastic, cotton, and fossil-based materials.
Yet hemp is one of the most versatile and valuable crops on Earth, capable of supporting a broad range of industries with sustainable alternatives. Its stalks, seeds, and fibers feed into textiles, construction, food, cosmetics, bioplastics, paper, packaging, and even biofuel—creating opportunities for local circular economies rooted in regeneration.
With deep roots that rebuild soil structure and a rapid growth cycle that sequesters carbon, hemp isn’t just a crop—it’s a climate solution. Reviving kendir means reconnecting to a forgotten value chain that supports ecology, economy, and community alike. It’s not just about growing hemp—it’s about catalyzing an entire bioregional regenerative economy
📜 Our Solution
In April–September 2024, we launched a regenerative hemp cultivation cycle using:
- 1.5 tons of organic manure per decare
- Heirloom seeds adapted to local soil and climate
- 100+ beehives integrated into the ecosystem
- No synthetic chemicals or deep tillage
We produced:
- 43 tons of hemp stalks
- 3,000+ kg of nutrient-rich seeds
- Cannabis honey, harvested from our pollinator-friendly ecosystem
The project empowered 15+ local workers, passed on traditional farming knowledge, and laid the foundation for community-based hemp processing and green jobs.
🌱 Our Organisations: Earthist DAO and Kendir Hemp
Earthist DAO is a regenerative bioregional network using Web3 tools to coordinate and fund nature-positive, community-driven initiatives. We connect farmers, ecologists, builders, and technologists to co-create projects that restore ecosystems and regenerate local economies.
Our work centers on hemp as a keystone crop for ecological and economic regeneration. The Kendir Hemp initiative, launched as one of Earthist DAO’s flagship regenerative ventures, demonstrates how traditional crops—when grown regeneratively—can restore ecosystems, empower communities, and activate circular value chains. Through education, open access, and transparent on-chain coordination, we aim to catalyze bioregional transformation from the soil up.
🧾 What This Hypercert Represents
This Hypercert certifies the full 2024 cultivation cycle of heirloom kendir hemp by Earthist DAO—our first regenerative pilot in this region, carried out across three separate land parcels.
📍 Location: Türkiye (40°40'25.3"N, 35°18'56.1"E)
🗓️ Timeline: April–September 2024
🌿 Impact: 42 decares cultivated using regenerative methods; heirloom hemp revived; soil fertility improved; pollinator biodiversity enriched; and rural livelihoods supported.
While the season brought measurable outcomes, it also came with challenges—including limited infrastructure and lower-than-expected yields in one of the three adjacent plots. As a first-year pilot in this region, the project provided valuable insights that will guide future improvements.
We believe tools like Hypercerts and data streams on Regen Network will be key to growing this initiative with transparency, community alignment, and long-term regenerative value.
We are committed to refining our practices each season and scaling impact with care.
🖼️ Hypercert Image
✅ Proof That It’s Working
📂 Proof of Impact Folder
View on Google Drive
🗳️ DAO Governance Records
💡 Join Us in Making a Difference!
Your support helps scale regenerative farming, empower local farmers, and build a community-led bioeconomy. With your help, we’ll expand to new lands in 2025, train more stewards, and deepen our impact through the power of hemp
🌐 Gitcoin Grants to support Earthist