CUT AND PUT STALK ON A STONE

[charndannio]

I have read that the best way to harvest the bamboo is to first go in the grove and cut the stalk of bamboo. Then pick the stalk up and place a stone up underneath the stalk and just leave it in place for it to dry out. I was wondering if this is the correct way to harvest large amounts of bamboo or is there a better way. I need for the bamboo to stay straight so does this help to keep it straight? If this is a good way how long does it take for the bamboo stalk to dry out? Then what do you do with it? Do you cut it to length in the grove and bring it home. Then how do you go about treating all this bamboo so it doesn't rot and also how do you get the sugars out of it? Any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance. charndannio

[CaroleMeckes]

Hi Charlene

Here is one way to dry bamboo after a harvest
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/535/thumbs/poles_on_blocks.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=1742)
Mark used cinder blocks and pavers and created an outside area to stack poles so that they would not be stored on the ground.

He also placed weed barrier under the pavers to help keep out the moisture. There is a tree (not visible in this picture) that the poles are leaning on. When the leaves of the tree fell and after some rains, I did move all the poles around and swept out the wet leaves which were making the bottoms of the poles too damp. I am currently sorting and working on the pile that is next to this pile for someone who needs a bunch of poles to support the straw bales of a guest house that they are building.

You can also place the bamboo on a stone in the grove, as you indicated - but if you are harvesting a quantity of poles and need to transport them, this is an alternative example.

Carole