My name is Fred Hornaday and I’ve been active in the bamboo industry since 2006 when I opened America’s first all-bamboo boutique in San Luis Obispo, California. Since 2020, I’ve been committed to promoting bamboo cultivation and value additional and expanding its impact on a global scale.

Today, my team and I work as consultants with bamboo growers and producers all across the world. Some of the most interesting projects I’ve been involved with are in Thailand, Cambodia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Kenya, and Malawi. As tropical bamboo thrives most successfully in the developing world, where resources can be scarce, I specialize in helping growers develop effective strategies to turn this giant grass into a profitable crop that can restore degraded landscapes and revitalize vulnerable communities.

From project assessment to species selection to monetization strategies, I’m determined to see bamboo growers succeed. We all have our roles to play in the existential struggle against Climate Change, and mine is to promote bamboo. This miraculous plant can work wonders for landscapes and for the atmosphere. But bamboo farming also needs to pencil out financially if we want to see it take off on a large scale.

Take a look at my TESTIMONIALS page to see what others are saying.

Below is a short list of bamboo consultation options. But we understand that every project is unique, so we can always be flexible. At the end of the day, what it’s important is that the best bamboo farming and agroforestry projects can move forward successfully, while those that are overly fantastic and unrealistic are held back for further review and refinement.

We all want to see massive bamboo forests proliferate across the equatorial belt, but if an enormous and unreasonable plantation ends up a spectacular disaster, then it’s a major setback for the entire industry and for bamboo growers everywhere. We aren’t just here to promote bamboo, but to do so with prudence and care.

Bamboo Consultation options

BRAIN-PICKING SESSION – MOST POPULAR OPTION

For small-scale bamboo projects and those who are just flirting with the idea, a specially priced, one-hour brain-picking session may be the best choice. This usually includes a high-level overview of the bamboo industry, with specific attention to your region or location. We cover the basic principles of bamboo cultivation and how to make a business out of it. Of course, we can focus on whatever areas you are most interested in and address your chief concerns.

SCHEDULE A CALL: $100/one hour

SCHEDULE A CALL: $55/half-hour

Before signing up for a project assessment or a plantation development, let’s start with a short consultation. Should you decide to move forward with a higher level of service, we can apply the initial consultation fee to the balance.

NOTE: For ongoing support and guidance with any bamboo project, my standard rate of $125/hour will apply.

For ongoing support with any bamboo enterprise, you can keep a specialist on staff to oversee all manner of bamboo-related activities, including researching specific conditions, collaborating with peers and colleagues, planning business strategies, developing financial models, etc. Bambu Batu can commit up to three members of our uniquely qualified team to support your projects.

SITE VISIT AND ASSESSMENT

Whether you’ve already got bamboo in the ground or you’re still planning a cultivation site, we are available to visit the project and assess the conditions for planting, harvesting, and so on. Species selection, plant spacing, nursery establishment, and intercropping are just a few of the topics we’ll address.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Bamboo is hot on the market, but it’s not as easy as plucking dollar bills from a tree. A successful bamboo business enterprise requires planning, strategy, and focus. Based on local context and individual conditions, we can help identify the most practical monetization strategies, to help you launch a successful nursery, factory, processing facility, and/or education center.

LOCAL ENGAGEMENT

Through Bambu Batu’s vast network, we can help up-and-coming bamboo entrepreneurs connect with the right players and partners in their own country or region. In this young industry, cooperation is essential in order to achieve the benefits of scale and collaboration.

TRAINING & CAPACITY BUILDING

If you’re looking for ways to advance bamboo skills and knowledge in your area, Bambu Batu is also available for week-long training workshops. Based on the needs and interests of your project or community, we can provide three to six bamboo experts with a range of specializations to deliver theoretical and practical trainings on plantation planning, carbon credit markets, species identification, harvesting, charcoal and biochar production, bamboo shoot collection and preparation, and bamboo building. These training workshops can also be combined with site visits and assessments.

Speak with an expert

Due to the very high volume of emails received through the website, I’m no longer able to respond to every message personally. I continue to provide an abundance of free content on this website and through my YouTube channel.

To speak with me personally, please book a call through my Calendly: $100/one hour or $55/half-hour.

If my schedule doesn’t work for you, just e-mail me and we’ll set up a convenient time that works for both of us and as many of your team members as necessary. I’m happy to use Zoom, Google Meets, Whatsapp, or the platform of your choice.

Further reading

To learn more about bamboo, bamboo farming, and the enormous potential of this remarkable plant, take a look at some of these other articles.

• Growing bamboo for Carbon Credits
• Bamboo for Charcoal and Biochar
• Investing in Bamboo
• Bamboo for Land Restoration

South-South Technology Learning for Bamboo Development: Approaches, Lessons, Actors and Enablers