BY KAREN BOSSICK
Idaho Basecamp will hold the grand opening of its Borah Basin Building—North America’s first public facility built with hemp--from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5.
The building, named and underwritten by the Elaine P. Wynn and Family Foundation, is located at 4921 Trail Creek Road on Trail Creek Summit this side of Mackay. There’ll be classes, music and refreshments during the afternoon.
The building is made of 75 percent recycled materials with a passive solar design. It will be heated with solar thermal.
It’s hempcrete materials use the wooden core of the industrial hemp stalk. When combined with a lime-mineral based binder and water, it absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and uses it to solidify into an insulating form.
In this sense, the walls have permanently sequestered carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to create a comfortable, insulated and natural feeling space, said Mattie Mead, founder of Hempitecture.
Idaho Basecamp offers summer camps focused on outdoor adventure, teaching kids values and life skills, along with information about the environment.
It also offers space for yoga and dance retreats, fishing and hiking getaways.
For information, go to www.idahobasecamp.org or call 208-720-1822.