Meet Micaela Machado | Landscape Designer- General Contractor- Hemp Building Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Micaela Machado and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Micaela, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The thought process behind starting this business was creating a healthier planet for my children. And my children’s children and your children’s children.

I truly feel blessed that this incredible knowledge of Hemp Building was bestowed upon me and I am compelled to share my experience and knowledge wherever I can. I had a calling to build to build healthier homes and I’m following it. It’s where I feel I can make the most impact in this industry and on this planet.

We have gotten to a point in our earth’s destruction that being Carbon Neutral and even Carbon Negative is simply not good enough. We need to focus on Carbon SEQUESTERING efforts and growing and building with Industrial Hemp is the #1 tool on the planet to reduce carbon emissions.

When I couldn’t find a General Contractor in AZ willing to build with Hemp, I decided that I would do it myself. I know AZ is a prime place for growing and building with Hemp and I want to do what I can to bring this industry to my beloved desert.

I also know I’m here to help break this stigma against Cannabis. This plant offers us so much and it’s my role to shed light to others on all the wonderful things it provides- including Non-Toxic, Carbon Sequestering, higher performing building materials.

What should our readers know about your business?
Old Pueblo Hemp Co is a full-service Design Build General Contracting service that specializes in Hemp Building.

For the health of our planet and our future generations, our GLOBAL goal needs to be to reduce Carbon Emissions.
Growing and building with Industrial Hemp is the #1 tool on the planet to do that.
There are thousands of chemicals that seep through the walls of our homes and undoubtedly affect our health. But we have the opportunity to grow and build our own NON-TOXIC homes!
Old Pueblo Hemp Co. strives to design and build not only sustainable and beautiful non-toxic homes but ones that are more efficient and forever perform higher with less energy consumption.
True sustainability means keeping the operation as local as possible so that our communities can grow and prosper together.

We use innovative, sustainable, cutting-edge materials that outperform traditional building materials.
Hempwool
Hempwood
Hemp Rebar
Hemp Lime
AgaveCrete
CocoCrete
Lime Plaster

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I think AZ is absolutely dynamic. From the weather to the Landscape, there is beauty everywhere. But Tucson has my heart.

My favorite things to do in Tucson are:
Mt Lemmon! From Mexico to Canada in one hour! Its stunning.
AZ Sonoran Desert Museum-great way to learn about the local plant and wildlife
February: The Gem Show and Fiesta de los Vaqueros
November: All Souls Day Procession
FOOD FOOD FOOD 21 miles of the best Mexican food in the USA!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Industrial Hemp in the USA has only been legal since the passing of The Farm Bill in 2018, so it’s still a baby industry, and the building part of the Industrial Hemp Industry is even younger still. But there are some major pioneers that are paving the way and deserve recognition, so thank you for the opportunity to give thanks to those that have led me along this Hemp Journey.

I’ve always been a Cannabis advocate and into sustainable design and had heard of Hemp Construction before but of course had never seen it so almost didn’t believe it was real. It wasn’t until I attended a Hemp Construction workshop hosted by Mattie Mead and Tommy Gibbons of Hempitecture in Sun Valley, Idaho that I had my shining moment of “this is exactly what I’m meant to do” and they saw that. Since then, they have nurtured me, introduced me to important resources and even invited me to host their annual building summits in Idaho and Texas. They have been instrumental in meeting the right people for my Hemp Building Future and continue to support all my efforts. I am forever grateful to them.

Though Hempitecture I became a member of The United States Hemp Building Association (USHBA) where such impactful networking led me to Stephen Clarke of Heavengrown. Stephen recently traveled to Tucson to Co-host with me, AZ’s first ever Hemp Building Workshop and really took my understanding of natural building to another level. He taught me so much about working with local materials and expanding our relationship with Mexico to source other natural sustainable building materials such as Agave leather, Coco Fiber and Bamboo. He changed the game for me.

These men taught me to be confident and believe in what I’m doing. To continue to go against the grain and follow my dreams. They share their experience, knowledge and friendship with me. I look up to them and want them to know how much they inspire me and changed my life.

I want to do for others, what they have done for me.

Website: www.oldpueblohemp.com

Instagram: @oldpueblohempco

Facebook: Micaela Machado- Old Pueblo Hemp Co