Green Buffalo Filmmaker Joel Caldwell and Lower Sioux Hempcrete Builder Danny Desjarlais

Green Buffalo Filmmaker Joel Caldwell and Lower Sioux Hempcrete Builder Danny Desjarlais

Author: Eric Hurlock, Digital Editor March 21, 2025 Duration: 45:25

This week on the Hemp Show, we catch up with filmmaker Joel Caldwell and hempcrete builder Danny Desjarlais about the film "Green Buffalo."

Coming off of a win for the short documentary category at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, "Green Buffalo" is making waves.

Caldwell shares his experience on making the film within the limitations of the short documentary medium and how he was able to capture the resilience of the Lower Sioux in the film.

"I had the light turned on as far as this massive solution," he says. "We can create carbon banks and live in healthier homes."

Desjarlais explains how his crew is addressing the local housing crisis by rebuilding their community — one hempcrete home at a time.

"I came into this as a conventional builder, trying to find the bad in hempcrete, and I keep getting proven wrong," says Desjarlais.

Resources & Links:

The Lower Sioux Indian Community

✅ Watch the Green Buffalo film from Patagonia

Joel Caldwell's filmography, including The Issue with Tissue

The International Hemp Building Symposium, October 3 – 5, 2025, at the Lower Sioux Indian Community's hemp campus

Hemp Clothing at Patagonia

✅ Watch Legacy Regenerated, a Patagonia film about North Carolina hemp farmer Patrick Brown

Thanks to our sponsors:

IND Hemp – Family-owned hemp feed, food, and fiber company bringing new opportunities to farmers and manufacturers across the U.S

Forever Green – Distributors of the KP4 Hemp Cutter.

Music by Tin Bird Shadow


There’s a quiet revolution happening in fields and factories, and it’s centered on a single, versatile plant. Industrial Hemp Podcast, guided by Eric Hurlock, the Digital Editor at Lancaster Farming, moves beyond the headlines to explore what’s actually happening on the ground. This isn’t just theoretical discussion; it’s a direct line to the people driving the industry forward. Each episode features conversations with the farmers who are planting and harvesting these crops, facing very real agronomic challenges and opportunities. You’ll also hear from researchers, processors, and policy experts who are shaping the future of hemp for fiber, grain, and other industrial applications. The dialogue digs into the practicalities-from planting techniques and harvesting equipment to market trends, regulatory hurdles, and technological innovations that are changing the game. It’s a clear-eyed look at an agricultural sector finding its footing, reported by journalists with deep roots in farming communities. For anyone curious about the business, science, and sheer hard work behind industrial hemp, this podcast serves as an essential, grounded resource. Tune in for honest talk that cuts through the hype and gets to the root of this growing field.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Industrial Hemp Podcast
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