Mark Meckes
7th July 2001, 11:26 AM
This is part of a 100+ft fence providing privacy between two properties. An extension was needed to be effective.
Bamboo was very suitable, because of it's light and airy presence.
The `Good' side of the wooden fence was positioned on the neibhors side so that the posts would be on the owners side of which the bamboo could be attached to. This also set the bamboo trellis back 6 inches, so as not to look to imposing on the neibhors side.
With the rock wall below, in some places the fence is 10+ft high. The neighbors also love it!
Wooden Fence / Bamboo Trellis
http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/524/thumbs/1Mvc-116f.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=602) - a section nearing completion, and ready for planting vines!
The bamboo weave work at the top of the following wooden fence required no use of strings etc for assembly.
It was woven into itself, based on:
- the ideas on mind at the time ...
- the available time and effort
- the availability and diversity of the materials
Up to this stage, the initial structural horizontal pieces were from Phyllostachys species harvested from Savannah, Georgia, USA in 1990 and stored till now.
The main X's attached to these horizontal bars, were from my first substantial harvest of Phyllostachys aureosulcata and nuda from my small groves in Pennsylvania, in 1993, and stored till now.
The smaller weavers for the top of the trellis (above the wooden fence) are the smaller culms harvested from my original planting of bamboo and their first year whips, circa 1987-90.
Zig-Zag Boo: Weavers Dream
http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/524/thumbs/1Mvc-117f.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=603)
Phyllostachys aureosulcata (yellow Groove Bamboo) is one species of bamboo that has a tendancy to send up some shoots which zig-zig (once) near the base.
These provide added character to structural elements.
Some thoughts about procedure:
Weaving (bamboo) is a process of overlapping, intertwining, and locking layers of materials into shapes, which are also strong and resilient, flexible, and also lightweight and bouyant!
Weaving enables the sum of the parts that are woven into a structure, to be stronger then the strength of the individual parts.
Some weavers distribute (share) the neccessary working-load of the object, while others help by their added presence and enhancement to the design.
The combinations of, and attributes of each weaver provides for the possibility of endless designs and uses!!!
TIP: Leaving branch stubs on a culm-weaver:
- increases the locking strength of the weavers immensely.
- provides extra grip for climbing vines
- and adds to the attractiveness of the trellis
BE CAREFUL!! WATCH OUT FOR SHARP POINTS AND EDGES!!
Top of fence weave work- Setting up work area
http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/524/thumbs/1Mvc-122f.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=604)
The extended trellis work could have been assembled separately, and attached into place on completion, but I chose to add it to the framework-piece by piece.
*** FOR ABOVE-GROUND WORK
- Make VERY SURE that all steps and ladders and scaffolding are stable and secure!!!
Especially with large bamboo fencework projects, there is a tendancy to reach out as far as possible during weaving as the trellis grows ever larger and longer.
Top of Fence - A closer view of work in progress
http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/524/thumbs/1Mvc-123f.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=605)
Design ideas, implementation, pace or momentum of weave-work - flows easily - if all the materials are:
- prepared (Trimmed, Cleaned, Polished etc) beforehand
- Graded and grouped into sizes, shapes and uses
- and positioned near the working area for easy access
Trellis weave - Work in Progress
http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/524/thumbs/1Mvc-124f.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=606)
Note - Young sapling tree at far end of step ladder is held away with a stick, - for better working space, and to protect tree leaves from the action of whipping bamboo weavers.
Every culm has a life, history and ultimate (individual) Destiny!
Knowing the life history of the materials that an artisan uses gives added meaning to feeling connected!
~ Mark
Bamboo was very suitable, because of it's light and airy presence.
The `Good' side of the wooden fence was positioned on the neibhors side so that the posts would be on the owners side of which the bamboo could be attached to. This also set the bamboo trellis back 6 inches, so as not to look to imposing on the neibhors side.
With the rock wall below, in some places the fence is 10+ft high. The neighbors also love it!
Wooden Fence / Bamboo Trellis
http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/524/thumbs/1Mvc-116f.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=602) - a section nearing completion, and ready for planting vines!
The bamboo weave work at the top of the following wooden fence required no use of strings etc for assembly.
It was woven into itself, based on:
- the ideas on mind at the time ...
- the available time and effort
- the availability and diversity of the materials
Up to this stage, the initial structural horizontal pieces were from Phyllostachys species harvested from Savannah, Georgia, USA in 1990 and stored till now.
The main X's attached to these horizontal bars, were from my first substantial harvest of Phyllostachys aureosulcata and nuda from my small groves in Pennsylvania, in 1993, and stored till now.
The smaller weavers for the top of the trellis (above the wooden fence) are the smaller culms harvested from my original planting of bamboo and their first year whips, circa 1987-90.
Zig-Zag Boo: Weavers Dream
http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/524/thumbs/1Mvc-117f.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=603)
Phyllostachys aureosulcata (yellow Groove Bamboo) is one species of bamboo that has a tendancy to send up some shoots which zig-zig (once) near the base.
These provide added character to structural elements.
Some thoughts about procedure:
Weaving (bamboo) is a process of overlapping, intertwining, and locking layers of materials into shapes, which are also strong and resilient, flexible, and also lightweight and bouyant!
Weaving enables the sum of the parts that are woven into a structure, to be stronger then the strength of the individual parts.
Some weavers distribute (share) the neccessary working-load of the object, while others help by their added presence and enhancement to the design.
The combinations of, and attributes of each weaver provides for the possibility of endless designs and uses!!!
TIP: Leaving branch stubs on a culm-weaver:
- increases the locking strength of the weavers immensely.
- provides extra grip for climbing vines
- and adds to the attractiveness of the trellis
BE CAREFUL!! WATCH OUT FOR SHARP POINTS AND EDGES!!
Top of fence weave work- Setting up work area
http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/524/thumbs/1Mvc-122f.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=604)
The extended trellis work could have been assembled separately, and attached into place on completion, but I chose to add it to the framework-piece by piece.
*** FOR ABOVE-GROUND WORK
- Make VERY SURE that all steps and ladders and scaffolding are stable and secure!!!
Especially with large bamboo fencework projects, there is a tendancy to reach out as far as possible during weaving as the trellis grows ever larger and longer.
Top of Fence - A closer view of work in progress
http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/524/thumbs/1Mvc-123f.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=605)
Design ideas, implementation, pace or momentum of weave-work - flows easily - if all the materials are:
- prepared (Trimmed, Cleaned, Polished etc) beforehand
- Graded and grouped into sizes, shapes and uses
- and positioned near the working area for easy access
Trellis weave - Work in Progress
http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/524/thumbs/1Mvc-124f.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=606)
Note - Young sapling tree at far end of step ladder is held away with a stick, - for better working space, and to protect tree leaves from the action of whipping bamboo weavers.
Every culm has a life, history and ultimate (individual) Destiny!
Knowing the life history of the materials that an artisan uses gives added meaning to feeling connected!
~ Mark