Mark Meckes
16th December 2001, 10:17 PM
For a craftsperson, the primary reason for growing bamboo might be for
harvest and utilization.
However, bamboo provides a multitude of other functions beyond our intended uses, which can be equally important reasons for growing bamboo.
Basic functions and uses could be defined as:
* Landscape and aesthetics
- Enjoying it's beauty or growing it for a privacy screen etc.
* Direct Utilization
- for arts, craft and construction, growing plants, food, fiber, forage etc.
* Environmental and ecological Functions
These function are less obvious, but equally important, such as that:
- Bamboo can improve poor soil conditions by building up humus content,
increasing beneficial microbiological activity, and improving soil
structure.
- Bamboo leaves can filter air pollutants, recycle Co2, and replenish the
atmosphere with oxygen.
- Bamboo can help purify our streams/water supplies by taking up excess
nutrients.
- Bamboo can help prevent against landslides and soil loss by preventing
erosion.
This suggests that their are many combinations, and variations of approaches
to growing and using bamboo.
Bamboo for erosion control
Our Phyllostachys aurea grove was planted many decades (40+ years) ago probably with one purpose in mind - to stop erosion.
It wraps along a 50+ft high embankment that contains a cliff-edge and steep slopes which are gradually eroding into a stream at the bottom.
This region is known for having long periods with no rain that can be followed by torrential downpours and flash flooding- a major cause of erosion, because drought periods can cause loss of vegetation, and heavy rains can wash away exposed soils.
The only area that has stopped eroding is the 2+ acre bamboo grove that
wraps around our home and the steep slopes of our property.
Actually, we still have one remaining section at the back of our property,
which still has an 8 ft eroding cliff edge, and we're working with the bamboo to contain it.
In the year 2000 the cliff was 12ft high but we built up that area of the hillside by terracing with old bamboo poles, and added lots of leaves and organic clippings.
In some areas we had to drive bamboo stakes into the steep hillside and
then we layered bamboo poles horizontally to prevent the mulch (and eroding
cliff-face) from sliding down the steep hill.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/503/thumbs/1P_aurea1erosion.jpg
Phyllostachys aurea (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=808) Central TX USA
Claiming the cliff-edge. Growing at top and bottom
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/503/thumbs/1P_aurea2erosion.jpg
Phyllostachys aurea (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=809) Central TX USA
The over-hang. Notice the roots (at the right), that grow off of rhizome nodes from the bamboo, at the top of the cliff. They measure 5 ft into the earth!
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/503/thumbs/1P_aurea3erosion.jpg
Phyllostachys aurea (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=810) Central TX USA
Terracing the steep slope with old bamboo poles to help retain new applications of organic mulch
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/503/thumbs/1P_aurea4erosion.jpg
Phyllostachys aurea (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=811) Central TX USA
A stormwater culvert goes under the grove. It's a raging torrent after a storm. This 30ft steep hill had been filled in many years ago with concrete rubble from highway reconstruction projects to create a roadway (at the top of the hill) for vehicle traffic across the ravine.
One corner of our home is about 10 feet from the edge of the steep hillside,
and if the bamboo had not been planted on this property years ago, half of
our home would certainly be at the bottom of the hill by now.
Evidence on the steep hillside, of decomposing trunks from fallen trees,
show that prior to the bamboo, many trees could not anchor themselves
sufficiently to the slope, and fell over.
Now that the bamboo is established, the remaining trees are utilizing the
rhizome network as an anchor, and are standing firm.
The bamboo in turn benefits by the shade that the trees provide during the
hot, dry Texas summers.
And now the bamboo provides us (and many others), with lots of wonderful
materials to work with in our crafts.
When we need to get away from the worktable (or this computer), for some
refreshing exercise, we can climb up and down our terraced hillside,
returning with our harvested culms in tow.
Living amongst the hustle and bustle of a city of a million people, there's
no better place to unwind then in the depths of our bamboo grove.
The inhospitable topography surrounding three sides of this grove has
created a bamboo oasis among a sea of (often seemingly senseless) human
activity.
The bamboo can continue to roam into new acreage along the very badly
eroding cliff-edge behind all the neighbors properties.
It will continue to provide our neighbors with a valuable service by
preventing their backyards from disapearing into the stream below.
Is there such a thing as Happy Bamboo?
We think so!!!
Mark and Carole
harvest and utilization.
However, bamboo provides a multitude of other functions beyond our intended uses, which can be equally important reasons for growing bamboo.
Basic functions and uses could be defined as:
* Landscape and aesthetics
- Enjoying it's beauty or growing it for a privacy screen etc.
* Direct Utilization
- for arts, craft and construction, growing plants, food, fiber, forage etc.
* Environmental and ecological Functions
These function are less obvious, but equally important, such as that:
- Bamboo can improve poor soil conditions by building up humus content,
increasing beneficial microbiological activity, and improving soil
structure.
- Bamboo leaves can filter air pollutants, recycle Co2, and replenish the
atmosphere with oxygen.
- Bamboo can help purify our streams/water supplies by taking up excess
nutrients.
- Bamboo can help prevent against landslides and soil loss by preventing
erosion.
This suggests that their are many combinations, and variations of approaches
to growing and using bamboo.
Bamboo for erosion control
Our Phyllostachys aurea grove was planted many decades (40+ years) ago probably with one purpose in mind - to stop erosion.
It wraps along a 50+ft high embankment that contains a cliff-edge and steep slopes which are gradually eroding into a stream at the bottom.
This region is known for having long periods with no rain that can be followed by torrential downpours and flash flooding- a major cause of erosion, because drought periods can cause loss of vegetation, and heavy rains can wash away exposed soils.
The only area that has stopped eroding is the 2+ acre bamboo grove that
wraps around our home and the steep slopes of our property.
Actually, we still have one remaining section at the back of our property,
which still has an 8 ft eroding cliff edge, and we're working with the bamboo to contain it.
In the year 2000 the cliff was 12ft high but we built up that area of the hillside by terracing with old bamboo poles, and added lots of leaves and organic clippings.
In some areas we had to drive bamboo stakes into the steep hillside and
then we layered bamboo poles horizontally to prevent the mulch (and eroding
cliff-face) from sliding down the steep hill.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/503/thumbs/1P_aurea1erosion.jpg
Phyllostachys aurea (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=808) Central TX USA
Claiming the cliff-edge. Growing at top and bottom
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/503/thumbs/1P_aurea2erosion.jpg
Phyllostachys aurea (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=809) Central TX USA
The over-hang. Notice the roots (at the right), that grow off of rhizome nodes from the bamboo, at the top of the cliff. They measure 5 ft into the earth!
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/503/thumbs/1P_aurea3erosion.jpg
Phyllostachys aurea (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=810) Central TX USA
Terracing the steep slope with old bamboo poles to help retain new applications of organic mulch
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/503/thumbs/1P_aurea4erosion.jpg
Phyllostachys aurea (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=811) Central TX USA
A stormwater culvert goes under the grove. It's a raging torrent after a storm. This 30ft steep hill had been filled in many years ago with concrete rubble from highway reconstruction projects to create a roadway (at the top of the hill) for vehicle traffic across the ravine.
One corner of our home is about 10 feet from the edge of the steep hillside,
and if the bamboo had not been planted on this property years ago, half of
our home would certainly be at the bottom of the hill by now.
Evidence on the steep hillside, of decomposing trunks from fallen trees,
show that prior to the bamboo, many trees could not anchor themselves
sufficiently to the slope, and fell over.
Now that the bamboo is established, the remaining trees are utilizing the
rhizome network as an anchor, and are standing firm.
The bamboo in turn benefits by the shade that the trees provide during the
hot, dry Texas summers.
And now the bamboo provides us (and many others), with lots of wonderful
materials to work with in our crafts.
When we need to get away from the worktable (or this computer), for some
refreshing exercise, we can climb up and down our terraced hillside,
returning with our harvested culms in tow.
Living amongst the hustle and bustle of a city of a million people, there's
no better place to unwind then in the depths of our bamboo grove.
The inhospitable topography surrounding three sides of this grove has
created a bamboo oasis among a sea of (often seemingly senseless) human
activity.
The bamboo can continue to roam into new acreage along the very badly
eroding cliff-edge behind all the neighbors properties.
It will continue to provide our neighbors with a valuable service by
preventing their backyards from disapearing into the stream below.
Is there such a thing as Happy Bamboo?
We think so!!!
Mark and Carole