Bamboo's topics - tribe.net

best bamboo for pacificNW screen?

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 21:50:45 GMT

i'd be curious to hear what ppl in the pacific north west have to recommend for a bamboo that would grow fast, keep it's leaves and make a nice screen? i have a very large, open - uncovered patio which points south. we do get sun all summer all day, to the point of very hot, and get cool in the night and winter because we sit at the base of a mountain.

we get lots of rain as we are on the wet coast.

currently i've been gifted with some bamboo - i think it's the (running) arrow bamboo - i've noticed it also grows all around on our grounds but most of it is in bad shape - mites, scorched leaves...
i have it in a very large pot with soil full of organic matter and good drainage.
my greatest concern so far when it was warm was leaf curl...i'm hoping this is only due to the fact that it was freshly transplanted.

does anyone have any good spieces for growing in these conditions?
any tips for the arrow?

thanks!

posted in Bamboo - 4 replies

Fence quality

Greg — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 05:03:10 GMT

I'm new to bamboo and gardening in general and was wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to which variety of bamboo might be best for Japanese style garden fences?

posted in Bamboo - 4 replies

Bamboo joinery

Kama_ — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 14:52:43 GMT

Hi all.
Does anyone know how to join bamboo without using lashing? I've seen some great pieces, but haven't been able to speak with the artist. It doesn't look like it's pinned. More like mortise tenon joints, but how does it stay in place?

I've tried using screws. First, it doesn't look as good. Second, the piece usually fractures when it gets placed under force right where the screw is. Which tells me that screws weakens the structural integerity of the bamboo.

Thanks.

posted in Bamboo - 10 replies

Removal

LUCKYDYKE — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:02:04 GMT

Help! I love this beautiful plant but have way too much of it in my back yard and it keeps spreading like mad. It was already there when I moved in and no matter how much I remove, it keeps coming back in droves!

posted in Bamboo - 3 replies

bamboo for fuel

RusticRambler — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 20:56:31 GMT

Does anyone burn bamboo for heating? I've got a water stove, and tried burning some bamboo scraps in it from my workshop. It burns pretty fast and hot. I don't need to burn all night, cause the water stores the heat. I've been throwing bamboo scraps away, but it might be worthwhile to save them for heating. I haven't tried it with a firebox full of bamboo yet. I was wondering if anyone else has tried this. Certainly it is a more renewable resouce than wood.

posted in Bamboo - 4 replies

best outdoor finish for bamboo

RusticRambler — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 21:14:24 GMT

I was wondering what the best outdoor finish for bamboo is? I tried linseed oil, and that lasts a while but is not enough. Would a spar varnish or a wipe-on poly type of finish be good? I'm thinking of making a bridge and want it to last a while. Things that I don't put any finish on and leave outside get splits in less than a year and starts breaking down.

posted in Bamboo - 1 reply

great article

andy — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 17:16:10 GMT

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/7a1f016e-9bf6-11db-9c9b-0000779e2340.html

via darryl de boer, i was pointed to this article in the financial times of london. seems to be one of the better and more thorough articles on bamboos current popularity ive seen in a while.

posted in Bamboo - 2 replies

bamboo bicycles

RusticRambler — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 12:24:09 GMT

Found some interesting links on bamboo bicycles. I didn't think they'd be very strong, but with the right joints, they appear to work pretty well.

A nice carbon & bamboo frame:
http://www.bmeres.com/bambooframe.htm

Here are some commercially available ones, good pictures of details:
http://www.mcmwin.com/calfee%20bamboo.htm

Another one:
http://www.americanbamboo.org/Genera...le.html

Here's a bike trailer made of bamboo:
http://www.carryfreedom.com/bamboo.html

posted in Bamboo - 4 replies

Bamboo ewok village project south of New Orleans

solomax — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 19:36:27 GMT

I've help set up a community kitchen near New Orleans in St. Bernard Parish that serves over 1000 people a day. A old couple that comes often has given me the opportunity to develop 34 acres of there land into a permaculture project and cultural exchange center. The vision is to create an ewok village with Bamboo. There is 40 acres of bamboo near there. I'd like to start building this spring break.

The hope is to get many groups involved... and make it a network club house.... the Action Hero Network Tree house. I see a huge dome made of bamboo and bike innertubes.

I just set up a big dome at our site in st. Barnard Parish, which is now the Action Hero communityy center. You can see pics: http://actionhero.smugmug.com

Who wants to play? Suggestions?

-Cor

posted in Bamboo - 2 replies

bamboo treehouse slideshow

solomax — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 12:12:22 GMT

I had a dream a about a bamboo treehouse, which I wrote about in my blog, and needed an image to go with it, which lead me to this:
http://www.tropical-treehouse.com/hooch%20true%20believer%20slide%20show.html

posted in Bamboo - 0 replies

Talking from New Zealand

miere — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 13:31:55 GMT

We do not live in a tropical area...actually frost prone in the winter..however...what are the ways that we can plant bamboo in this type of temperament?

posted in Bamboo - 2 replies

What time of year is best to plant in Mexico

solomax — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 06:30:37 GMT

Between mid-jan and mid-april I'll be in Central Mexico and hope to plant bamboo there at that time. I'm new to it, and want to know what time of the year is best.

Do you know any bamboo sources on the central Pacific coast. I've been told of one, which i'm banking on, near San Blas.

If you want to join us (A crew of 20+ burners and rainbows)... feel free: www.solomax.com/roblito.html

posted in Bamboo - 0 replies

shoots and shovels

gorma — Wed, 25 May 2005 00:06:26 GMT

so i went and tried to dig up some black bamboo on my lunch break much to my delight and chagrin the roots were big. i got a few with effort and i got one out and the shoot, two inces in dia and 12 inches long broke off. can the shoot sprout roots and does any one have a favorite trick for getting big runners out, i was using a trenching shovel and now im going to have to sharpen it up more.

posted in Bamboo - 7 replies

Guadua Angustafolia

Douglas — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 00:17:22 GMT

Any guadua farmers here? I have about 4 hectares dedicated solely to Guadua Angustafolia. Anyone have experience growing, and curing, guadua poles?

posted in Bamboo - 1 reply

bamboo structures

heather — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 21:57:17 GMT

i'm looking to build a structure in the japanese "moon bridge" style, but i've been unsuccessful in finding image/text reference online. anyone privvy to info on building bridges or other interesting, complicated-looking structures with bamboo?

my camp is in the process of acquiring some harvested 2"d lengths we plan on using for a shade structure at the Burn this year, and why not a fabulous-looking, half-circle bridge with extended shade canopies? climbable and functional: the best of everything...

posted in Bamboo - 6 replies

abs in houston next weekend

andy — Sat, 15 Oct 2005 04:01:55 GMT

http://www.texasbamboosociety.net/abstheplan.html

the american bamboo society is having its annual comference in houston next weekend, including a bunch of amazing presenters. the two im most excited about are berkeley architect darryl deboer and costa rican furniture maker and builder martin coto.

anyone going?

posted in Bamboo - 0 replies

containing

shamanstar — Tue, 09 Aug 2005 02:43:56 GMT

hi!! i am new to bamboo... loved it forever but finally landed somewhere that i can grow some. i have a friend who needed a few tall pieces removed so i dug them up (i dont know how well i did) and planted them. i am wondering about containment. i noticed my neighbor who has bamboo has some thick black plastic surrounding his. i am wondering if i put each of these five pieces in a pot (pot size about 12" high by 8" diameter) and dug a hole big enough for the pot, if this would work for containing the spread. i dont care if it spreads but obviously my neighbor does.
thanks for advice for the newbie!!
star

posted in Bamboo - 3 replies

shipping?

gorma — Tue, 07 Jun 2005 21:48:15 GMT

how is the best way to ship bamboo by mail? peat , dirt,? because i would like to trade some bamboo with others on this tribe. i have limited access to black , and today i got some of the blur green i tried to identifiy it but i couldnt find a photo that matched. my friend said it was nigra, black, but i dont think thats right the black bamboo i can get is black and this unknown is blue green .let me know.

posted in Bamboo - 0 replies

start thinking about feeding...

Rain — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 03:12:12 GMT

it's just about warm enough to start thinking about feeding your bamboo. they are grasses and thrive on Nitrogen rich fertilizer. I have my own fertilzing regimen and will share but want to know what others use since i feel i may be stuck in my ways...

posted in Bamboo - 12 replies

Hi want to start Bamboo forests

Thu, 14 Apr 2005 20:16:25 GMT

Hi all would like to do all varities of bamboo groves . Live in east San diego in the mountains at 3500 elevation. looking for sources and the best way to get started. Many thanks peace love and light and many blessings to all

posted in Bamboo - 0 replies

strength....?

maryquitecontrary — Sun, 10 Apr 2005 23:07:43 GMT

I just moved to a place where there is a huge bamboo forest in my backyard.
Much of it is old growth, and i am busy building lots of structures with it.
I'm wondering if it is stronger dried or green. Yes there is a lot of shrinkage, but is there a treatment to keep it from splintering when drying fresh stalks while they are being formed into curves and shapes.
While being vice griped down i been able to produce some wonderful spirals and shapes. But after a month or so free from the vice they seem to form cracks but retain shape and flexibility.
Have any of you experimented with this?
I would love to find out more.

posted in Bamboo - 1 reply

Lots of bamboo in HB, CA

JustJennie — Sat, 02 Apr 2005 20:24:35 GMT

Hey does anyone want bamboo? I have a TON, that I just cut down.

Come by and get it. Tribe note me, and I'll give you directions.

thanks,

Jennie in Huntington Beach, CA

posted in Bamboo - 1 reply

clumping vs rhizomaceous

andy — Sat, 26 Jun 2004 10:02:03 GMT

hello sleepy tribe!
i want more bamboo postings - wake up folks!
hey, i need to know more about good species for landscaping in the sf bay area, probably clumping, and sources for them, nurseries, etc.
id also love to know more about how much bamboos that spread will spread and how fast.
thanks for your help.
andy

posted in Bamboo - 4 replies

bamboo building workshop in sonora, mexico - nov. 13

andy — Mon, 04 Oct 2004 07:46:35 GMT

this got posted in a few other tribes but didnt make it here -i wanna go, anyone wanna join me?

andy
----------------------------------------------------------------

Bamboo Workshop...

Hello everyone,

I hope this finds you all happy and healthy.
I am forwarding this from a relative of mine who leads this worshop which may be of interest to some:

This is to announce that the second in a series of workshops will be
held in
Obregon, Sonora Mexico to finsih the bamboo casita that was started
there
with this past springs workshop.

For those of you unfamiliar with this project, it started when Bill
and
Athena Steen, authors of the Straw Bale House, asked me to accompany
them on
one of thier trips to Obregon, "to see if bamboo would grow
there". "There"
is the 12 acre property of the Save the Children Foundation of Mexcio
whom
the Steens had been working with. They designed and supervised
contruction
of a 5,000 square foot office building for the Foundation there. I
went
along with them on one of thier trips and was taken by the work they
were
doing building low income straw bale houses. I was president of the
Tierra
Seca Chapter of the American Bamboo Society at the time and so I
wrote a
proposal to the Society for bamboo plants to begin a project in
Obregon
growing and using bamboo as a locally availble, sustainable housing
material. The plants came in and the Chapter facilitated thier
delivery to
Obregon where we planted them on the property around the rising walls
of the
office building.

That was nearly 8 years ago. The 20 species of tropical bamboo
(about 40
plants) are now mature and this past spring we harvested poles and
used them
to get the main part of the structure up. There is still much work
to be
done.
This fall well be harvesting poles and using them to finsih walls and
an
entry as well as the interior.

The date is Saturday, November 13. The workshop will go to the
following
Saturday. Free camping is available on the grounds around the bamboo
plants
and there is a full kitchen available in the office buiding for
cooking
meals. There are bathroom facilities in the straw bale office
building and
in a straw bale house on the property. Food will not be served.
There are
several inexpensive resturants within walking distance and motels and
higher
end resturants within miutes by car. Well stocked grocery stores are
nearby.
Since the program is non-profit the cost is being kept low to
reflect
this. The cost is $250. The hope is to have enough participants to
cover
the cost of material expensis for the project.

You will learn proper harvesting techniques, bamboo joinery for
construction, and how to use bamboo in concert with a cob like mix
that
makes efficient use of not only the bamboo but the clay and straw as
well.
The result is and incredibly strong building system that is easily
accomplished and requires much less labor than many other natural
approaches. The casita is architecturally unique in many respects.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
520-398-3034
mornings and evenings. Im rarely near the phone and I dont have an
answering
machine. Your best bet for communicating with me is to send me an
email.
Klyle
katbambu@hotmail.com

posted in Bamboo - 3 replies

Pereira Symposium

Raphael — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 15:46:19 GMT

Dear all,

the symposium at Pereira (Columbia) was awesome. Dr Liese, Simon Velez, Marcelo Villegas, Ximena Londoño, Luis Fernando Botero, Luis Castaño Nieto, Ruben Dario Moreno, Jorge Morán, Jorg Stamm... Many many specialists that shared their knowledge.

best wishes all

posted in Bamboo - 3 replies

help! my plants are dying!

p-a-tricia — Tue, 13 Jul 2004 17:05:25 GMT

i've had some bamboo in a little pot with water and rocks for over a year now, and i've never had any problems with them. all of a sudden, they're all turning yellow, from the bottom up. i tried rinsing out the pot, rocks and roots, but it's still going downhill. any suggestions?

posted in Bamboo - 4 replies

bamboo architecture

andy — Sun, 16 May 2004 21:37:15 GMT

a walk through of a simon velez building:

http://home.earthlink.net/~montecito/irongrass.htm

great book:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/9588156068/qid=1084743431/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-8247016-9123355?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

posted in Bamboo - 2 replies

new photos in album...

andy — Sat, 26 Jun 2004 10:46:20 GMT

... from a trip to hawaii. rain or anyone, wanna id some species?

posted in Bamboo - 2 replies

propagation

andy — Sun, 16 May 2004 21:33:32 GMT

ive got friends, neighbors and garden clients with happy healthy bamboo - what do i need to do to propagate it?
any tips appreciated, as are any sf folk with bamboo to share.

posted in Bamboo - 1 reply

high desert bamboo

lujak — Sun, 22 Feb 2004 02:43:21 GMT

Hi all,
I am in Santa Fe, NM about 7000ft. I have heard bamaoo will grow almost anywere. Is this one of the bad places? I can't think of any baboo around here, but would love to have a big grove.
Summer 80F +/- Winter 5F +/-
What do you think?
Michael "Vlad" Lujan

posted in Bamboo - 1 reply

Any advice on what type would be best?

Justin — Sat, 14 Feb 2004 16:33:30 GMT

I've been quite interested in bamboo for quite a while. Mostly for two reasons, I enjoy Japanese sword work and would definetly like to practice cutting far more then I currently can and bamboo seems to not only grow at a fast rate but the material can be used for many wood projects just as well if not better then normal tree wood to say nothing of the fun of simply growing it.

Basically, my question is, does anyone have any advice on what type of bamboo would be the tan/brown shade, grow up to 2 or 3 inches thick and would grow well and quickly. And then best advice as to how I could aquire the needed ryzomes and any special information reguarding it.

Thanks.

posted in Bamboo - 3 replies

starting it up...

Rain — Wed, 14 Jan 2004 05:23:12 GMT

ok the basics:

1) what do you currently have growing?
2) what do you want?
3) care and maintenence? ie: fertilizers, watering, shelter.

let's get the conversation going...

and a "hello" is in order as well.... *raises cup of tea as a toast*

posted in Bamboo - 8 replies