Answer: Bamboo

Here’s the question:

What is it that can

  • maximize the usage of the land
  • provide windbreak protection
  • shade out invasive species
  • cool off the streams
  • and provide food?

screen-shot-2016-11-22-at-4-45-45-pmThere are many varieties of bamboo. We’ve been looking for the kinds with shoots that are good to eat, in addition to providing all the other benefits.

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June and I went to Quindembo Bamboo Nursery this weekend and came back with my pickup truck full of bamboo. I want to maximize food production here on the farm, so we will plant bamboo on the south sides of the streams. That way the shadow will fall on the stream, keeping it cool and shading out pest plants. We’ll leave enough room so we can still access the stream banks. We want to reclaim all the stream banks on the whole property. This will be a fun project and there is a lot of land to cover.

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Since this will be on non-producing land, it will increase the property’s productivity. June points out that no matter what we end up doing with the bamboo, we can certainly give it to our workers for food.

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3 thoughts on “Answer: Bamboo”

  1. Richard/June,

    Great article on the usage of bamboo.

    I too have utilized homegrown/self-harvested bamboo out in my 100% organic garden for decades, here in Sacramento, CA.

    Everything from customizing my own tomato supports (no stinkin’ cages for me), to building trellises for my “Lemon” Cucumbers, “Green Machine” melons, “Fengyuan” eggplants, etc…

    My bamboo variety is called “Tonkin”.
    It’s a runner.
    And it’s invasive roots are a pain to deal with, as they easily spread.

    GL to ya, with your project.

    Regards,
    “Sacratamato”
    A.K.A.: Paul Williams

  2. I have often wondered why bamboo wasn’t planted more here. We have a stand in our driveway from which we recently shared poles with members of the Freecycle Big Island group – several members harvested over 5,000 pounds to use in construction… and our shoots are edible also!

  3. We could produce all of our own paper, furniture, clothing and building materials from bamboo. India and the Philipines have developed a strong bamboo industry and we could too…Especially if we cheap energy, then would be competitive in the global market.

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