BAMBOO
A few years ago, I learned about DRAWDOWN: The Most Comprehensive Plan ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming, edited by Paul Hawken and published in 2017 (https://drawdown.org). To quote Dr. Jonathan Foley, ED of the California Academy of Sciences, who wrote Drawdown’s Foreword: “It’s important to remember that climate change stems from many sources, such as energy production, agriculture, forestry, cement and chemical manufacturing; thus, the solutions must arise from those same many sources.” There are also social and cultural solutions, including changing our diets and consumption patterns, that are hands-on practices that benefit society and the environment in multiple ways. For the Drawdown contributors, there were 75 research fellows, from 22 countries, and an international Advisory Board who came up with the one hundred most substantive ways we can reverse global warming. No one solution alone can solve our problems.
Well, I chose to learn about one of the solutions: bamboo, a grass. Did you know that “bamboo rapidly sequesters carbon in biomass and soil, taking it out of the air faster than almost any other plant.” It’s a sustainable, biodegradable resource — one of the world’s most useful plants. Bamboo has the compressive strength of concrete and the tensile strength of steel. In China, it’s called the “friend of the people”. As a replacement for pulp used for paper, bamboo can produce six times as much pulp as a conventional pine plantation. (see DRAWDOWN, p.117). Think of where you’ve seen or heard of bamboo being used. I’ve found bamboo coffee filters, bamboo combs and toothbrushes, cups, pillows, fabric, furniture, musical instruments and, of course, construction materials, where it replaces wood and plastic. I’ve also seen a bicycle frame made of bamboo. One of the positive impacts of bamboo, is that it can thrive on inhospitable degraded lands, such as steep slopes. The stalks are soil-friendly and cleaner than crops like cotton, which require added water and fertilizer to grow.
Maybe you think bamboo only grows in Asia, but I can assure you it grows well on this side of the Pacific, too. In fact, 2 houses close to mine have bamboo growing in their front yard. It reaches its full height in one growing season and, if left to grow, matures over four to eight years. Unfortunately, it’s an invasive plant and can spread, underground, if not managed well. If you cut the stalks, new ones will grow next year.
When I began to grow plants in a raised garden, I wanted to support my peas and beans, so I looked for ideas for stakes to make a support structure. Well, bamboo is strong and straight, so I was happy that my neighbours graciously allowed me to cut down some of their bamboo. My peas and beans climbed to about 6 feet tall and the bamboo was perfect. And I saved the stakes for the next year. I feel good about reducing the amount of plastic that I buy, and looking to nature for solutions.
Fiona