Bamboo: Finding Solutions Where Others Only See Problems
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 06.27.08
Bamboo grows wild in forest grooves in Asia, shutting out the sunlight and making forest management difficult. Instead of just complaining, some people at a non-profit group called Tojiba started using bamboo as raw material for market tents that are getting popular here in Japan. An old solution perhaps - using bamboo is as ancient as people have shared the land with the fast-growing plants - but the design is nice and the tents feel great.
Using the bamboo tents turns out to be pretty easy. The bamboo poles are more light-weight than ordinary iron poles, and can be transported easily. Assembly is easy, and people using the tents say they like the fact that they help with forest management and feel a connection to farmers in rural areas.
Bamboo is easy to cut, and the design includes a white hemp canvas roof that gives shadow on sunny days, yet allows enough light in when it is overcast.
Tojiba is a group of clever young people who will gather this weekend to plant soy beans, as part of a 10 year project to increase production of this important crop. This weekend they want to gather 1000 people for their summer event in Chiba, east of Tokyo.
They are also one of the leading groups at the Earth Day Market events in Tokyo, giving city consumers a chance to talk to farmers and purchase organic vegetables and other fresh produce. Environmental education is another speciality, with lectures and seminars on current topics.
But most of all, these cool guys and girls seem to love being out in the fields, getting their boots dirty, working with nature - rain or shine!
Brought to you by Martin Frid at greenz.jp
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Here some GREEN cool light fixtures made out of Bamboo and lit with LED. Organic Light Sculptures
I cant wait when Bamboo will finally replace wood for building houses.
In china, it was once the case that structures made of stone and metal (which are permanent) where only used for the dead, whereas the living used only wood and bamboo, which are transitory. Just an interesting sidenote. from a time when people wanted to be in harmony with their surroundings. Often wealth begets waste. Now we see that waste begets poverty in the long run, though, so maybe we can break the cycle.
I believe this to be very pretty and practical. These would be great for "tianguis" (Mexican flea markets) here in Mexico, instead of the metal ones. And the fabric instead of plastic, is very appropriate, too.
Bamboo grows like a weed in much of the Washington DC area, and I suppose in other warm areas of the US. I wonder why this couldn't be taken advantage of as a locally-supplied resource?
Thanks for the comments!!
Daniel, I love your lamps. You might want to add some information on your website about where you get your bamboo from, many people are thinking full life cycle these days, and want to know such things!?
Anthony, yes I think more people are beginning to remember how to appreciate the simple things in life.
Chris, I had no idea you had bamboo in DC, I'm sure you could find ways to use it. Bamboo is light-weight, easy to cut, and there are many uses - garden decorations and markers are often made from bamboo here in Japan, and I like the way it ages from bright green to light brown. And in the end - easy to burn or compost or use for soil management.