Bamboo

Images courtesy of Scilit, http://flickr.com/photos/scilit/1891513939/, Julioc, http://flickr.com/photos/cjulio/2693657138/, Linda, http://flickr.com/photos/linda_230/2604311406/

We believe bamboo is one of the most important building materials of the future. It is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet.  Timber bamboo grows to the size of trees and yet is ready for harvest in only 3 years. It is incredibly strong, versatile, and creates stunningly beautiful structures. 

After an area of bamboo is cut back, it will regenerate quickly with even healthier shoots, and cutting back bamboo actually increases future stock. A bamboo forest sequesters 17 times as much carbon as a typical tree forest, [1] and 40 times as much carbon dioxide per hectare than a pine tree. [2]  It grows so fast that it may be useful in reversing the effects of global warming if planted on a massive worldwide scale. With just 100 square meters, a person could harvest enough bamboo to build a two-story house with a double roof for around $2,000 or less, if they build it themselves. [3]

Bamboo typically reaches maturity in 3 to 6 years, with maximum size and strength reached at around 10 years.  Douglas fir, on the other hand requires more than a hundred years to reach maturity [4], and most other timber used by the conventional building industry requires at least 40-60 years.  Generally, bamboo has twice the compressive strength of concrete and nearly equal strength to weight ratio as steel. [5]  Our nursery and garden plot plans for Wild Earth Stewardship Center include many varieties of Bamboo, each with slightly different strength properties, and those that are not all are suitable for building are intended for furniture building, wattle and daub non-support walls, and many other uses.