Created by Graceonline (contact me)
I work for a lively, entrepreneurial green biz by day and research and write the Village of Ordinary and its companion blog, Realizing Ordinary in... (more...)
Your fans are waiting!
Fabulous, versatile, sustainable bamboo
Bamboo is the eco-wonder of the world. It pumps oxygen into the air faster than trees, feeds the hungry, clothes the body, soothes the ear, carries water, digs potatoes, shelters the homeless as well as the privileged, and in case all that is not enough, bamboo is just plain beautiful.
Image courtesy Free Nature Pictures
Bamboo--eco-wonder of the world
What is stronger than hardwood, can grow up to 4 feet a day, and survived the bombing of Hirsohima? That's bamboo.But that's not all. Bamboo gives us clean air to breathe, consumes carbon dioxide and returns 30 percent more oxygen to the atmosphere than trees. Wait! There's more! Because of its rapid growth and root structure, it can, in a very short time, reclaim land destroyed by overgrazing and over-building and clean the soil of toxins.
Plus, it grows so fast, that it can be harvested sustainably for thousands of products from chop sticks to mansions. What's not to love about bamboo?
Image courtesy Free Nature Pictures
Choosing bamboo is a way of living consciously
Much of the information on this page first appeared in Realizing Ordinary, companion blog to Village of Ordinary, about a life lived consciously and with care for the earth and all living creatures. Here is the Realizing Ordinary feed.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byWhere doesn't it grow?
Native to all continents except Europe and Antarctica, bamboo grows in climates both tropical and frigid.There are estimated to be more than 1200 species worldwide, about 450 of them in the Americas, according to Gilberto Cortes, Regional Director of Bamboo in the Americas.
Only one species, Arundinaria gigantea, commonly known as Cane Brake or Cane Reed, is native to the United States.
Image copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Bamboo is a gardener's delight
Gardeners love bamboo for its texture, color, gracefulness, and versatility. You can solve dozens of problems with the right bamboo. Use it as a screen to hide an unsightly fence, a backdrop to set off a variegated border, or a sponge to sop up water in a sandy, wet area.In this image, 40 foot bamboos screen a brick wall, set the tone for lacy Japanese maples (in pots), cleanse and cool the air, and create an island of calm--one might say sacred space--in the middle of a bustling city.
Image copyright 2007.
All rights reserved.
Bamboo is a grass
Bamboo is a grass and comes in a variety of sizes, colors and textures. Some species are as tiny as blades of grass in your yard. Some are called tree bamboo because they grow like trees.Like other grasses, some clump and are easily contained, while others grow from rhizomes and will spread. When you choose a bamboo for your garden, make sure you know which kind you're getting. If you want a bamboo forest in your backyard, the spreading type is your best bet. If you want an isolated stand shading your Japanese water fountain, consider a clumping type.
Image copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
More gardens and gardener's tips to come
From time to time, this lens will feature gardening tips and landscaping how-tos. Here you can find links to good books like the one below for finding hardy bamboo that winters well in cold climates and suits your particular landscaping needs.Here, too, you can find tools, the innovative and the traditional, some used for thousands of years, as well as beautiful accessories for your garden and patio.
Image copyright 2007.
All rights reserved.
Hardy Bamboos: Taming the Dragon
BY PAUL WHITTAKER
Hardy Bamboos: Taming the Dragon
Bamboos are extraordinary in their ability to transform a garden, adapt to inhospitable surroundings, survive with little care and, most of all, surprise and delight the people who view them. Too long the exclusive pleasure of those with tropical and subtropical gardens, this hand-picked selection allows gardeners in cooler climes to experience the wonder and infinite variety of these magical plants.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $25.97 (as of 05/09/2008)
List Price: $39.95
Usually ships in 24 hours
How many ways do we use bamboo?
Macey loves bamboo!
Image copyright Bamboo Headquarters
Used with permission.
Stake and rake with bamboo
Highly regenerative, bamboo is the ideal raw material
Show off your viney plants with these u-trellises
BAMBOO LADDER/FAN TRELLIS 24 IN
The outside uprights on this versatile ladder style trellis can slide to create a "fanned" look. Terrific for supporting container plants. 24H, width adjusts 8 to 10 fanned. Priced per bundle of 50.
Amazon Price: $62.00 (as of 05/09/2008)
Trellis U-Hoop Bamboo Natural 4 Foot Tall By 8 Inc
Bond U-Hoop Style Natural Bamboo Trellis - Approximately 4' tall by 8" wide. - Ideal for flowers, vines, tomatoes and vegetables. - Quality bamboo trellis to beautify your garden. - Package of 3 U-Hoops.
Amazon Price: $4.49 (as of 05/09/2008)
If it's worked for centuries, maybe millennia, it's gotta be good
24" Bamboo Rake
24" Fan, Bamboo Rake, With 26 Teeth, 15/16" x 48", Painted Hardwood Painted Handle With Foam Grip, Head Teeth Reinforced By Steel Spring Wire & Metal Plate.
Amazon Price: $13.11 (as of 05/09/2008)
Bamboo sampler
A tiny sampling of the many uses of bamboo
Bamboo is one of the most versatile raw resources on the planet. It provides shelter, nourishment, and a source of income worldwide. Throughout this lens, I'll sprinkle little bamboo samplers like this one, with links to hand-picked sites that will give you a taste of the many uses of this amazing grass. Watch the lists grow as you add to them and contribute new ways you have seen folks use bamboo.
#1
CalfeeDesign - Bamboo Bicycles
Tour with some bamboo racing bikes and their riders.1 point
#2
Shinai - Weapon
Not my favorite use of bamboo, the Shinai is apparently a fairly popular weapon to this day.1 point
#3
Bamboo flooring dos and don'ts article - BuildDirect Bamboo Flooring Articles
Top do's and don't when installing bamboo flooring1 point
#4
Bamboo Kitchen Cabinets
A look at different bamboo kitchen cabinet manufacturers1 point
#5
A homemade bamboo bicycle
Engineer Brano Meres compared a homemade carbon composite bike with a homemade bamboo bike. Guess which ride was more comfortable?0 points
#6
Bamboo pharmacopoeia
The Environmental Bamboo Foundation shows us ways bamboo has been--and still is--used as medicine.0 points
#7
Bamboo as Medicine
The Institute for Traditional Medicine, uses bamboo many ways. Always check with your doctor before trying anything new.0 points
See the Calfee bamboo bicycle
by YouTube member snarp98
Calfee Bamboo Bicycle
This is a video I made about the bamboo bicycle made by Craig Calfee.
Runtime: 2:04
22461 views
10 Comments:
Food bamboo
Bamboo shoots have been used in cooking in China, Japan and other Asian countries for thousands of years. Try this recipe using fresh bamboo sprouts. Recipe page includes lovely photographs of the finished dish. Want the very freshest? Learn how to grow, harvest and prepare your own bamboo shoots. It's easier than you might think.Image courtesy UF/IFAS, document #HS548, copyright 1994, 2003
Tools for cooking - Gifts for the cooks in your life
Pinzon Santoku Knives and Bamboo Cutting Board Set
Includes 5- and 7-inch santoku knives, bamboo storage drawer, and bamboo cutting board; Blades stamped from 2mm-gauge stainless steel; double welding produces sharp edges; Alternating hollows on blades allow slices to fall away; tangs extend to handles; Hollow, stainless-steel handles are ergonomically designed
Amazon Price: (as of 05/09/2008)
List Price: $49.99
MIU Bamboo Cheese and Bread Board
When our ancient hardrock maple board splintered along its glue lines, we replaced it with one of these handsome bamboo cutting boards. Just the right size for slicing bread, making sandwiches, and trimming veggies. Bamboo is actually harder than maple wood.
Amazon Price: $11.19 (as of 05/09/2008)
List Price: $15.99
Usually ships in 24 hours
Joyce Chen 3-Piece Burnished Bamboo Stir-Fry Set
3 piece burnished bamboo stir fry Tool Set -- 9" Rice Paddle, 12" Mixing Spoon, and 13" Stir-Fry Spatula. Bamboo is stronger than wood and will not swell, split or absorb moisture. Bamboo is perfect for non-stick surfaces and is an earth friendly material. These Burnished Bamboo tools are oven-roasted to caramelize the naturally occurring sugars in the wood, which results in a beautiful honey color.
Amazon Price: $7.00 (as of 05/09/2008)
List Price: $9.99
Usually ships in 24 hours
Joyce Chen 12-Inch Bamboo Steamer
12" Bamboo Steamer - Steaming is a healthy, delicious cooking method, adding no fat or grease while bringing out food's natural flavor; steamer will not swell, split or absorb moisture
Amazon Price: $28.95 (as of 05/09/2008)
List Price: $28.95
Usually ships in 24 hours
Save the Panda! and the Lemur and the mountain gorilla
Buy bamboo products from sustainable plantations
Using bamboo does not mean we are off the hook environmentally. Bamboo is the major food for endangered pandas, bamboo lemurs, and mountain gorillas, whose habitat shrinks daily.Civilization increasingly encroaches on bamboo forests and plantations. Make sure the bamboo products you purchase are from sustainable plantations that do not destroy habitat or endanger other species.
Image copyright C. Basset, www.asianflora.com
Adopt a panda through World Wildlife Federation (WWF)
For over four decades the Panda logo has been a recognizable symbol of WWF and its efforts in wildlife and habitat conservation. These shy, lovable creatures are found only in remote areas of the Upper Yangtze forests, where they feed on bamboo shoots. A newborn cub is about the size of a stick of butter, weighs only three to five ounces, and is totally dependent upon its mother for the first few months of life.Image and text courtesy
WWF Adopt a Panda
Must have this adorable mother and baby panda poster
Panda Bears (Mother and Cub) Art Poster Print - 24" X 36"
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 05/09/2008)
Let this evocative image of a mother gently nuzzling her baby panda set the tone in your child's playroom, nursery or your classroom. Perfect companion to the adopt-a-panda program and the Wild about bamboo panda book.
The Panda: Wild About Bamboo
The Panda: Wild About Bamboo (Animal Close-Ups)
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: (as of 05/09/2008)
List Price: $6.95
The bamboo highrise
If you keep up with trends, you've seen items made of bamboo wherever you shop. You may already own a buttery-almond-colored cutting board. Maybe you own a tee-shirt or a pair of bamboo socks. But did you know that in some countries, high rise buildings are constructed of this strong material? Teach your children about the importance of bamboo to the panda and to all of us
Creativity Kit-Lucky Bamboo Wind Chimes
Here's a kit to share with the kids while you teach them about the reasons bamboo products are good for all of us.
Under $4
Amazon Price: $4.99 (as of 05/09/2008)
One billion people live in bamboo houses
One reason bamboo is so popular as a building material is that some species are stronger than steel. Another is that bamboo is plentiful, and if managed well, plantations can be grown and harvested repeatedly for many years. Plus, bamboo gives back to the environment by cleaning the air and saving valuable soil from wind and water erosion.
Imagine your feet on warm, naturally beautiful bamboo
Ditch that warped, cracked chair mat!
Bamboo Office Chair Mat in Cherry Finish by Anji Mountain
Amazon Price: $199.95 (as of 05/09/2008)
Replace your cracking, worn-out plastic chair mat with this handsome, cherry-finish bamboo mat made from sustainably-harvested bamboo. Simply beautiful. That's bamboo.
Bamboo sampler - Housing, furniture, flooring
More of the good grass
#1
Bamboo Flooring
Get the scoop on buying ecologically sound bamboo flooring at the flooring1 point
#2
Bamboo Village Hawaii
Note: The Bamboo Village web site is under construction. Let's hope they bring it back up soon, because it had a lot of excellent information.<br />
You hav...1 point
#3
Eco-housing
Enjoy images of this serene bamboo house, one of two green houses featured in the May 2006 issue of Architecture Week.0 points
#4
Versatile bamboo flooring, panels and veneer
Here is where you can get a taste of the beauty of bamboo floors - the images are gorgeous0 points
#5
Tassajara Designs - Makers of Fine Custom Furniture & Cabinetry
Check out these graceful pieces at Tassajara Designs0 points
#6
Bamboo Flooring Directory: find all suppliers - Bamboo Flooring Now
Track the latest bamboo flooring news, trends and new floor products at Bamboo Flooring Now.0 points
#7
Bamboo kitchen designed by our own lensmaster Fivecat
See the custom bamboo cabinetry newly built in the shop before heading on its way to installation in a kitchen designed by Fivecat Studio.0 points
Buy sustainably - Give sustainably all year long
Bamboo treasures for the home
Gifts for the home - Bamboo shades and light fixtures
Brighten their rooms with lights softened under earthy bamboo shades
Bamboo Tiki String Lights Set of 10 Dark Bamboo
You must click through to the larger image to see just how pretty these lights are. They'll make your patio parties this summer a big hit! This popular item currently out of stock. Ask Amazon to bring it back!
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: (as of 05/09/2008)
List Price: $25.00
Bali Dk Bronze Finish Wicker Woven Bamboo Shade Floor Lamp
You can't see it here, but this graceful floor lamp is adorned with a simple but elegant marble ball that compliments sinewy metal branches with amber orbs. Light brown wicker woven bamboo shade attaches with matching finial.
Amazon price 08/26/07: $137.70
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $186.71 (as of 05/09/2008)
List Price: $299.99
Usually ships in 6-10 business days
Unique Bamboo & Rattan Furniture - 48" Tropical Twig Floor Lamp w/ Glass Globe Shade
Beautiful hand sewn silk Shanghai style clutch purse, in exquisite detail, on brass base. Adds interest and splash of color to any room. UL approved wiring, socket, and switch for up to a 40 Watt bulb. Unique gift idea!
Amazon price 08/26/07: $119.33
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: (as of 05/09/2008)
List Price:
Bali 17' High Table Lamp in Wicker Bamboo Shade
Large marble ball compliments metal branches with amber orbs. Light brown wicker woven bamboo shade attaches with matching finial.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: (as of 05/09/2008)
List Price:
Handmade Natural Bamboo Table / Desk Lamp With Olive Green Shade
Illuminate your living space stylishly with this handcrafted lamp from the historical Golden Triangle region of northern Thailand. With a cool olive green shade, this beautiful lamp will infuse your bedroom, living room or entrance hall with soft, comforting light. Its handmade frame is crafted from genuine Thai bamboo branches that encircle the cylindrical cotton lampshade, creating a gentle glow when the lamp is switched on. Enhance your home interior with the unspoiled charm and skilled craftsmanship of this unique Asian creation.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: (as of 05/09/2008)
List Price: $149.95
Rat famine
Bamboo fruits attract hordes of rats in India
Bamboo plants bloom rarely, and when they do, the entire species usually blooms at the same time and dies, worldwide. Many species bloom just once a century, or less. Some species bloom as frequently as every 48-49 years.Right now, in India, rats are gobbling up the high protein fruits of vast forests of a bamboo species that blooms every 48 years. The rich diet kicks the rats' reproductive cycle into high gear and they multiply like Tribbles.
Once they've consumed the last of the bamboo fruit, their highly inflated population begins gorging on crops, devouring every living plant in sight. People die of starvation. This is called the rat famine.
Bamboo, which can live to be 120 years old, dies upon flowering. Entire forests can vanish in a season. Thankfully, bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on earth. Some species can grow up to 4 feet a day, so once the seeds germinate, a new forest crops up pretty fast.
Image courtesy Free Nature Pictures
Hot sites
Everything you want to know about bamboo
- NOVA: Nature's Miracle Material
- PBS' NOVA builds a bamboo bridge and more
- American Bamboo Society
- Lots of info bamboo plants, where to find them, and how to grow them
- 1000 Things Made of Bamboo
- Hundreds of images of things made of bamboo from the most mundane to the truly weird--have fun browsing!
- Wayne's Word
- Comprehensive scientific data presented in a lively format including good images and fun bamboo trivia
- NPR's Wendy Kaufman on bamboo as US crop
- Listen to Kaufman's story on how bamboo is becoming a sought-after agricultural product in the United States for everything from construction material in place of forest-harvested hardwood to soft-as-silk shirts
- Wikipedia on Bamboo
- Facts, good images, and more links
- Environmental Bamboo Foundation
- Environmental data as well as some cool animations showing how to build a bamboo house and a bamboo shelter (it appears they have them backwards, however, with the house on the shelter link and the shelter on the house link)
- Bamboo, 100 years, 2 continents, and a peaceful heart
- Enjoy Bob Czimbal's tale of joy and peace with the magic of bamboo in his Alternatives magazine column On the Path
- Smithsonian Magazine | Science & Nature | Bamboo Steps Up
- Bamboo steps up
- Grow bamboo plants without much experience
- Nifty little page about starting and cultivating bamboo indoors or out.
- Squidoo : Top 100 green lenses on Squidoo List
- View the top 100 green lenses on Squidoo right now
Build your bamboo libarary
Watch this space for great books about bamboo
The Craft & Art of Bamboo: Projects for Home and Garden
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: (as of 05/09/2008)
List Price: $17.95
Casting a Spell: The Bamboo Fly Rod and the American Pursuit of Perfection
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $16.29 (as of 05/09/2008)
List Price: $23.95
Usually ships in 24 hours
The Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses: Sedges, Rushes, Restios, Cat-Tails and Selected Bamboos
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: (as of 05/09/2008)
List Price: $49.95
Bamboo for Gardens
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $26.37 (as of 05/09/2008)
List Price: $39.95
Usually ships in 24 hours
New Bamboo: Bamboo architecture and design
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: (as of 05/09/2008)
List Price: $65.00
Bamboo sampler - Textiles
#1
Shirts of Bamboo
Another great place where you can find fantatsic products made from bamboo.1 point
#2
Clothing in the US
Discover the softness and luxury of bamboo fiber--Dubbed both the new silk and the new cotton, bamboo can be spun to many different types, weights, an...0 points
#3
Organic bamboo clothing in the UK
Bam--Europe's first bamboo clothing brand--Soft, organic, eco-friendly, breathable, moisture wicking, anti-bacterial; the most comfortable casual or a...0 points
#4
Sumptuous bamboo yarns
Look at the sheen and color on these yarns--scrumptious0 points
#5
Bamboo-Wear--UK
Bamboo socks, boxers and t-shirts - very keen prices.0 points
How green is your bamboo?
WHERE IT'S HARVESTED AND HOW IT'S PROCESSED MATTER
Don't stop there, though. Dip deeper into the pros and cons of using bamboo fibers with this hip article from trendy Little Green Rock. Surfers-come-entrepreneurs, they're purveyors of bamboo tees, togs and other beach duds, but that's not all. They make skateboards of bamboo, too.
The use of bamboo textiles is growing, and there is much to learn. If you have information about these important issues, please leave a comment below or use the contact button at the top of this page.
Bamboo baby
Cuddly bamboo gifties for your wee one
Bamboo Weave Baby Blanket
Bamboo is the latest eco-friendly fabric. It is not only very soft, but is also breathable, cool, and safe for baby's skin because it is grown without pesticides. This fabric is not chemically treated and seems even softer with every washing.
Price: $27.50
* Natural color
Amazon Price: $35.99 (as of 05/09/2008)
List Price:
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Bamboo Baby Bodysuit
Another great bamboo product, this bodysuit in kimono styling with snap closures is soft, lightweight and snuggly warm. In natural color, fits babies in a versatile 6 month size (18-24 pounds).
Price: $16.99
Amazon Price: $24.00 (as of 05/09/2008)
List Price:
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Bummis Bamboozle (Bamboo) Fitted Diaper - Size Large (10-35lbs)
A fitted diaper consisting of 4 layers of bamboo fabric that is fantastically soft and beautiful! You will fall in love with this gorgeous, silky fabric - it truly is irresistible! Bamboo is a miraculous and eco-friendly fibre. It is a renewable resource with a very short growth cycle and it is grown without fertilizers or pesticides. In short it is the perfect environmental choice for diapers!
Price: $18.99
Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 05/09/2008)
List Price:
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Bye Bunting Baby Gift Set - Squeaky Clean
From the Old English Nursery rhyme, we also "went a hunting" and collected an amazing assortment of natural items for baby. CareGifting is a gift company focused on beautiful, natural gift collections that support the body's ability to heal. We carefully choose natural, pure and organic products to the greatest extent possible. We have designed exquisite packaging to make a CareGift a beautiful gift to give and receive. From the satin ribbon, to custom dyed tissue, to the unique card that includes a personal gift message, a CareGift helps deliver your message of support with a touch of luxury. A perfect shower gift, and sure to be one of the most unique. From the Australian baby wash, lotion and bum cream, to the bamboo baby beanie and organic hand wipes, this is a rare find. Bye Bunting Collection - Squeaky Clean arrives in the signature CareGifting cream color quilted tote, which is perfect for use as a diaper bag.
Amazon Price: $81.99 (as of 05/09/2008)
List Price:
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Hot, new Eco-Chic bamboo
IT'S WHAT YOU'RE WEARING
Bamboo Hot New Eco-Chic Fashion Trend
As more people try to go green with their lives, the eco-clothing business is booming.
Runtime: 3:16
3920 views
0 Comments:
Hip bamboo fashions for her
DreamSacks Women's Bamboo Fiber Nightshirt
DreamSacks Women's Bamboo Fiber Nightshirt. Simple and comfortable to sleep in. Styled with short sleeves, a rounded neck and it falls above the knees. Enjoy the comfort of Bamboo all year round with this delightful soft knit breathable bamboo.
Price: $39
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: (as of 05/09/2008)
List Price:
MARRIKAS Bamboo 3/4 Sleeve Crossover Top "LIME" MEDIUM (10-12)
An amazing top that you love next to your skin. The extremely comfortable and flattering crossover detailing will compliment your entire wardrobe. Naturally hypo-allergenic. Superb for travel. More styles available in my other Amazon listings. Natural bamboo apparel offers UV protection, bacteria and odor resistance, and excellent wicking ability to keep you dry, all taking place naturally.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: (as of 05/09/2008)
List Price:
MARRIKAS Bamboo 3/4 Sleeve Crossover Top "POMEGRANATE" X-LARGE (16)
Here it is in red. Pure bamboo fiber with a touch of lycra for body with comfy crossover detailing; Naturally soft, breathable, and renewable, bacteria and odor resistance; Makes a great transistion from daytime to evening; Machine wash, gentle cycle, cool water, mild soap; Lay flat or hang to dry; Color: Pomegranate Size: X-LARGE (16)
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: (as of 05/09/2008)
List Price:
Of the Earth Star Dress - Women's
When Of the Earth decided to make the Women's Star Dress with a blend of organic cotton and bamboo, it officially ended your search for a new summer dress. The knee-length, cross-top Star Dress includes elbow-length sleeves and a tie waist to create a casual look that works whether you decide on dinner at a nice restaurant or red wine on the beach.