The hempcrete house being built near Beausejour

A husband and wife team are using hemp harvested in Manitoba to help build homes. CTV’s Joseph Bernacki has more.

Francesco and Amalia Zurzolo are reinventing the wheel when it comes to home building, saving energy and the Earth at the same time.

“No one was doing it here in Manitoba, so I decided I would try and start something new,” said Francesco Zurzolo, co-owner of Elm Natural Builders.

In 2018, the couple started their business and began building homes from hempcrete.

It uses the leftovers from hemp cultivation called hemp hurd. It’s then mixed with water and lime.

Francesco said once the material is cast into the walls, it offers insulation and also sequesters carbon.

“All these things make it a super attractive option for people looking to do something a little more environmentally friendly but have all of the performance of a modern material,” he said.

A home outside of Beausejour, Man., is coming together one block at a time. It offers shapes not seen in traditional building.

“We mixed up our hempcrete - which you can see here, hemp and lime - and we massaged it into place by hand,” Francesco said.

“Most of my clients have had a small or large hand in the actual construction. As soon as they start seeing us sculpting things by hand with the hempcrete, they want to get in there, get their hands dirty, and make a mark on their own home.”

Amalia Zurzolo, who owns the business with her husband, said the material provides an aesthetic similar to the adobe style of homes in Mexico. She added customers have been drawn to its look.

“People really latch on to those curves or arches, and we’ve had more than one person tell us they are reminded of a hobbit house with the different curves, and we take that as a compliment,” Amalia said.

The couple sources their hempcrete from Gilbert Plains, Man. They said the material offers advanced heating and cooling.

“It’s eco-friendly and it’s also breathable, and it allows for moisture to move in and out,” Amalia said.

Francesco’s background in civil engineering led him to an interest in this type of building.

The pair started with pizza ovens and then moved to homes and home additions after. Hempcrete was added to the American building code in 2024, with the couple saying this type of home caught on in popularity in the United Kingdom and France in the 1990s.

Permitting used to be a lengthy process, but now, they are hopeful more builders will consider this approach in Canada.

“It’s really a gift again to be meeting people who are interested and who want to try something new,” Amalia said.