A Typical Bamboo Forest | What is Bamboo? Bamboo is a grassy vegitation native to every continent, except Europe and Antarctica. The existence of bamboo dates back to the prehistoric age, or the time when the dinosaurs roamed the planet. The bamboo plant serves as a remarkably versatile and environmentally friendly natural resource. The bamboo canes grow quickly, reportedly at an astounding rate of 1 meter per hour, and do not require pesticides to thrive in temperate, wet climates, such as relatively warm areas with creeks, rivers, and marshes. |
Although bamboo is the oldest known building material, it is just now gaining notoriety as inexpensive and strong substitute for wood helping to shelter over 2 million people worldwide. Bamboo serves many other purposes besides building sturdy homes worldwide.
Top Uses For Bamboo Include : An environmentally friendly plant that succeeds in balancing the amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
contains antibacterial agents used for medicinal purposes, fast growing renewable resource that could replace wood in many cases
The pulp can be developed into fibers for making hypoallergenic textiles and paper
A natural barrier that digs its roots into the soil and helps limit soil runoff. |
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Chinese Bamboo History :
Revered as the Kingdom of Bamboo, totaling over 400 million acres, China holds the record for the most land used to harvest bamboo. Throughout history, China is noted as the first produce and discover valuable uses for this natural resource. Dating back at least 5,000 years, the ancient Chinese people used bamboo for making hats, shoes, paper, firewood, and even palaces and other buildings. During the Jin Dynasty in 265-316 A.D., a prized book was written detailing research about the many species of bamboo.
Bamboo History in North America :
Bamboo is grown on every content except Europe and Antarctica. Before the English colonists settled in America, a type of bamboo native to North America called arudmana Grammeae thrived in the marshes and other areas that provided a temperate climate. Herds of bison waded across the Mississippi River in search of bamboo. These North American bamboo plants grew in groups canebrakes and lined the riverbeds with some groups amassing up to 100 miles. When the English settlers made these areas in North America their home, they did not understand the value of the bamboo plants. Therefore, The English settlers cleared bamboo to make room for farmland in order to plant food that was more familiar to them. |
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A Bamboo House Located In Tzu Chi | | Forms of shelter built with bamboo are known to sustain themselves through natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis compared to structures made from wood and steel. The tensile strength of bamboo equals 28000 per square inch which is substantially greater than 23000, the tensile strength for steel. For example, after a violent earthquake that hit Limon, Costa Rica in 1992, the only homes that remained standing were the bamboo homes constructed through the National Bamboo Project. | |
Although bamboo is the oldest known building material, it is just now gaining notoriety as inexpensive and strong substitute for wood helping to shelter over 2 million people worldwide. Bamboo serves many other purposes besides building sturdy homes worldwide.
Tips for how to build with bamboo :
Directly nailing into a bamboo can will split it. Instead, holes must be predrilled.
A fine toothed hacksaw must be used when chopping bamboo canes.
Since bamboo will deteriorate after constant contact with the soil, a platform made from a different material, such as hardwood or concrete, must be built between bamboo and the ground.
When shortening the bamboo canes at the top, be sure to cut above the highest joint to help prevent collection of water inside the cane.
Bamboo poles are never straight and with age will undoubtedly crack and discolor. Fortunately, the cracking does not affect their strength. Keep these issues in mind when designing your bamboo home. |
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Bamboo Paper Making :
Countries, like China, that grow bamboo plants in abundance produce their paper using the pulp. Historians believe that a Chinese court official named Cai Lunfood developed the process of making paper using pulp in the second century. After the Chinese carefully kept the process secret it eventually spread to Japan and then to the western world. Many artists and calligraphers choose paper made of bamboo as the medium for their artwork.
Bamboo As A Nutricious Food Source :
Bamboo's popularity as an pliable building material outshines its reputation as an excellent food source. Although bamboo shoots have a crispy nature, they also have a fresh sweet taste. Bamboo shoots serve as a nutritious ingredient to Chinese dishes because bamboo shoots are low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Bamboo shoots are also a very good source of dietary fiber, Vitamin C, Phosphorus, Thiamine, Potassium, Vitamin B6, Zinc, Copper and Manganese.
Bamboo Fabric :
Dress knitted with 100% bamboo thread | Bamboo fabric is a natural material formed from the pulp of the bamboo plant. The bamboo fabric appeals to many people because of the fabric's moisture wicking qualities and smooth texture that does not feel itchy like other eco-friendly fabric made from wool or hemp. According to the Wall Street Journal, testing by research facilities in China and Japan reveals a long-term antibacterial efficacy. Soon bamboo sheets and pillow cases may replace traditional cotton sheets used in hospitals as a healthier alternative. Some even attest that socks woven from bamboo fabric help relieve the itching and burning of athlete's foot. |
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