natural fixtures for bamboo fencework

[Guest]

hello all..
i've recently discovered the beauty and benefits of bamboo in my life as a landscape architect/ permaculture designer

ive just built a fence for a free range chicken zone around an orchard using bamboo, Phyllostachys sp poles.
the culms were cut into lengths ranging 1 to 1.5 metres long. they were not split. ive lashed the bamboo at 4 inch centres along a timber rail (about 30 metres in total) with sisal rope, using a continuous length of rope rather than tie each pole individually.
the material looks fantastic, but alas my workmanship has fallen short, and the sisal rope has slackened off and the poles have slumped down.

i dont want to have to use nails to fix the poles to the fence rail. i would prefer to use natural renewable materials rather than have to resort to steel.
also i thought that if i drilled through the bamboo it will hasten the process of decay by allowing in air and water.

is there a technique or material that has been tried and tested for lashing poles (uncut) as vertical uprights on a fence?

thanks and regards
Daniel Deighton

[kevinrl]

Daniel, you probably should have tied each pole with a short length of twine, the long length makes it difficult to get the ties really tight.
You could have used bamboo dowels to fix the poles to the rails, sure it does add another opening which will it turn allow rotting, but that is going to happen anyway, eventually. But it will look a great finish.

Regards,
Kevin Lang

[Mark Meckes]

The only natural material that I have used to secure bamboo fencing, that will last as long as the fence, is...bamboo !
(Of course, there are other rot resistant woods too)

There are numerous methods of weaving bamboo into itself for added strength.
Lashing a diagonal strip to bamboo uprights greatly increases the fence strength , and prevents sagging and slippage.

I do admit I am sometimes overly obsessive of the challange to make fences using ONLY bamboo, but my other favourite attacher is using recyled plastic coated, or bare copper electrical wire to secure the main frame ( the wire can be re re salvaged and re-used or recycled when the fence needs replacing )

For many (but not all) fence applications, it is (sometimes) easier and faster to make the fence in sections or as a panel.
Then a section can easily be repaired or replaced when needed.
But there is great pleasure in using 20 to 30 foot length poles, and shorter pieces, tapping some metal garden stakes into the ground, and then weaving these poles between the stakes for a quick fence !

~ Mark

[Guest]

We have tried on several ocasions to use old rubbertire tubes with very little cost and very little effort.
In fact we are meeting next week with a company that produces rubber bands and rubber strips to discuss prices
quality etc etc
Cordially
Derick Calderon
Guatemala

[Guest]

The difficulty in finding natural fibers can be harnessed for good. When I was in the Philippines, handmade cord of natural fibers was very cheap in the open air markets.
If one could contact a community activist there, probably you could import as much cordage as you can imagine wanting. The idea is to get hold of someone who works with village folks and who will give them most of the income.
While there, I saw a worker from IIRR who was in my permaculture class assemble an A-frame in less than 5 minutes with just a bolo and natural materials.
He made cordage directly from banana spathe, which did not
surprise anyone except me.

Basswood (tilia sp.) is a great carving wood, and the bark can be retted to provide exceedingly long fibers that can be spun (twisted) for long, unbroken cordage. I've not looked into this in any serious way, but I expect that there are many plants in about anyone's natural environment, and I expect that many of these can be cultivated.
Then there are traditional fibers.
Most anyone can grow flax.
I suspect that a good medium-stregth cord can be made from retted spanish moss, for example.
Poplar bark, which will grow anywhere temperate bamboo can grow, has an excellet bark fiber for cordage and the bark is discarded in paper making.

Have you ever considered weaving living vines, such as grape, into your fences?
I notice that our poultry netting is naturally woven in and out by wild grapes (and domesticated kudzu), smilax (making a thorny barrier in the fence), etc., etc.

Ad infinitum.
For Mother Earth
Dan Hemenway
Barking Frogs Permaculture Center
http://barkingfrogspc.tripod.com/frames.html

[Guest]

In Guatemala we have Bougainvillia which grows into and up into anything naturally. It is extremely strong, beautiful and it also includes free thorns.
Cordially
Derick Calderon
Guatemala

[Guest]

Dear bamboocrafts group,
I live in Bali in Indonesia and Have been making many bamboo fences, there are a few points that I will mention that you probibly already know.......
For the fence to last, mine have been up since 1986 the areas well ventilated and with some sun are perfect conditions.
There is a small roof on them to stop the water rotting them Fences here without a roof last 2 years maximum with the monsoon. The distance from the ground is 30cm which also protects from damp raising from the ground and the supports which hold it every 2 meters are set into cement so again no contact with the ground.
The ties I use are a waterproof vine called lygodium circinatum you will see a photo of it in 'Tropia' a color cyclopedia of exotic plants and trees by alfred graf ISBN 0911266-16-x on page 448, also called malay climbing fern, this fern stem has been used for centeries by the balinese to construct their roofs with bamboo it is as strong as a cable........the species of bamboo that I use for my fences is
gigantochcloa apus, or Tali as the balinese call it which means string as this is the one they make all there roofs and ropes from......I just recently joined the bamboo crafts group and find the discussion very interesting
thank you
LINDA GARLAND

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Linda,
Your posting jolted my memory of a similar roping from a fern, in the highlands of Papua New Guinea (40 years ago)
The (approx 5mm diameter) `roots' grew like a runner, just under the soil surface, and could be easily pulled up.
It had a shiny dark brown coating, similar to the shell of a beetle, and when it was cracked, it was possible to pull out a long ivory white, very flexible, and very strong roping.
This was also used locally to tie down roof rafters etc etc

See Ferns and Man in New Guinea ( http://www.anbg.gov.au/projects/fern/ferns-man-ng.html)

"...The scrambling climber Lygodium is used throughout the lowland regions of New Guinea as a binding and lashing twine. All species of the genus have an elongate climbing rachis that has the capacity for indefinite growth often reaching lengths of several metres. It is of uniform diameter and extremely tough, wiry and durable. All species would be suitable for binding but the most common and widely used is Lygodium circinnatum. In coastal areas, in the absence of commercial synthetic rope, it is used for the tying of floats to outriggers and other lashing requirements on canoes. However, the best known use of Lygodium stems is in the finely woven basket ware, originally from the Bougainville area and known as "Buka baskets", a technique now copied in many parts of the country.

In the central highlands the stems of Cyclosorus and Dicranopteris are used for lashings on houses and those of Gleichenia brassii are used for heavy lashing such as on pig fences (Powell 1976b). ..."

I was living in the Central highlands ...

This also reminds me of when, at 11, with a group of pre-teenagers we attempted to make a pedal-powered airplane. ...We set up shop in a clearing in the jungle and proceeded to make the plane body from saplings, lashing it together with this fern-vine cordage. By this time we were unable to lift up the framework, and so this idea was scrapped.
We opted instead to dig an underground cave (with a spiral stairway) to develop further plans.
The hole filled up with water, so that was the end of that!!!
~ Mark

[Guest]

And don't forget sisal. mostly made in Mexico from the hennequin plant. At one time, it was the world's recognized cordage for almost everything - from roping on down, and it led to their being more millionaires per capita in Merida, Mexico than anywhere else in the world... and then along came plastic.
And if you really want to contribute to restoring some balance in the world, use hemp !!

Bob Schreiber

[Guest]

Dear Folks:
I found a few rolls of hemp twine or string at an outdoor festival a few months ago which I bought for making bird toys. When I got them home I discovered that they smelled of incense so decided to use them elsewhere, as the birds have very delicate respiratory systems. I've been using the twine to tie up some holly tree trunks onto Bamboo stakes. The trees are still very young (in 3 gallon pots) and being trained to stand upright and straight and they need help for now. I was actually hoping that the string would decompose in a relatively short amount of time as the trees grow, so that the trunks won't be damaged as they expand in size. Also I don't have to worry about having a bunch of plastic around the yard if I end up having to cut them off.
Well, you get the picture, lol.

Pat B

[Guest]

thanks for all the feedback on binding bamboo poles
reflecting on all that has been said and done it dawned on me yesterday that if i turned the poles upside down then retained a small part of the branch at the node, as i lash the poles to the timber rail, the branch butt will act as a small hook over the rope, and thereby prevent the pole from slipping down as the sisal rope slackens off.
this way i wont need to drill through the pole, weakening it, avoiding the use of power tools and steel nailing.
however the suggestion of using a timber/ bamboo dowel would be very nice and i may try this.

regards
daniel deighton

[bambooda]

Hello Daniel,
You will have to excuse me for being late in responding to the binding poles question - I've been out of town and just now catching up to emails.
A very good reference book for building bamboo fences is
"Building Bamboo Fences" by Isao Yoshida - ISBN 4-7661-0997-X.
It illustrates techniques used in making traditional Japanese Bamboo fences, but more importantly, has very clear illustrations on very practical considerations of bamboo construction that can be modified for any number of alternative designs.
The lashing used is a 3/16" diam. palm fiber twine which has been dyed black and is very durable for outdoor exposures. It is also very hard to find. I bought some in Kyoto a couple of years ago and have not been able to locate any other
sources here in Hawaii. The fibers are stiff and wirery and judging from some fences 10-15 years of age, it seems to hold up very well.
I soak the twine before lashing and when the twine dries it shrinks tight.
The book also illustrates traditional knots used in Japan which are time tested.
I also noted in Kyoto that the Bamboo fence builders are not above using metal fasteners and hide the metal with the ties.
The book is a very good investment if you are going to do a major bamboo fence project.

Ciao, Cal Hashimoto

[bamboomessengerwoman]

Daniel & Cal ~ I have been searching for Yoshida's Building Bamboo Fences for months & have been told that it is out of print. I find that hard to believe since it seems to be such an important resource. I even called the publisher earlier this year & they were going to check if they might have any left in their warehouse but I never heard back from them.
So, Daniel, if you find a source, please do let me know. I would be most grateful! I must admit I haven't checked for 2 or so months, so maybe.... hopefully.... it is once again available.
And thank you , Cal for the info you shared re: the twine. It would be great if the palm fiber could be ordered & shipped from Kyoto but I imagine that if that were possible you would already be procuring it.

For indoor work I use natural jute that I dye black.
For exterior work I often use something known here as "maxi-cord" in black, which is sold in craft stores for macrame, etc.
I don't do "big" projects yet, so I buy skeins of relatively small gauge ( so it still has a somewhat refined "look" to it, i.e., in the bamboo context it doesn't look like macrame cord) & usually get a decent "quantity" discount. But maxi-cord is not natural & I do not like using it for that reason. It does
create the artistic effect & I burn the ends so it doesn't fray in an ugly polypropylene-way, & it certainly lasts in the weather, but I, too, so very much want to find a natural substance that offers longevity as well as being aesthetically beautiful.

Namaste,

[bambooda]

Hi Beverly,
I just checked the copyright (1997) and first printing (1999) of Yoshida's book so I don't understand how it is suddenly out of print. I think I simply ordered it from Border's Books if I remember correctly - anyway, keep searching and good luck - it's a great reference.

I also use 4 ply jute twine on some of my work - I soak it in Minwax - Dark Walnut wood stain and has yet to show any sign of deterioration in outdoor applications.

Ciao, Cal