Bambu Batu
Values
Bambu Batu
The Bambu Batu story
The first and only store of its kind, Bambu Batu of San Luis Obispo opened in 2006, with a room full of bamboo tables and bar stools, a stack of bamboo t-shirts, and a patio full of Phyllostachys. The brick & mortar shop closed in 2020, but the spirit lives on.
Today we work with bamboo growers and producers all over the world, helping them make their projects more profitable and sustainable. We offer consultations to guide farmers and aspiring farmers as they navigate the exciting and fast-changing bamboo industry.
Bamboo ambassador
Fred Hornaday’s passion for bamboo and renewable resources dates back to the early 90s. He founded Bambu Batu in 2006, the first all-bamboo boutique in California. A decade earlier, he opened one of the state’s very first all-hemp stores. Both shops ran successfully for many years in the charming town of San Luis Obispo.
Now he focuses on helping farmers, investors, and individuals at all stages of the bamboo journey. His consultation services address all areas of cultivation, including species selection, plantation set-up, monetization strategies, sourcing of supplies and machinery, as well as finding ways to achieve sustainability goals and generate carbon credits.
A prolific wordsmith, Hornaday has written thousands of articles about bamboo, green living and world travel. And he’s published three volumes of metaphysical limericks. You can peruse his thought-provoking poetry at KingOfLimericks.com.
In his free time, Fred enjoys playing guitar, hiking the Pyrenees, educating his feisty children and watching foreign films with his spunky wife.
Speak with an expert
Although I continue to provide an abundance of free content on this website and through my YouTube channel, I’m no longer able to respond to every message individually.
To speak with me personally, please book a call through Calendly: $90/one hour or $50/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.
I’ve worked with bamboo growers and producers pretty much everywhere, except Russia and Antarctica. Visit out Testimonials page to hear what other satisfied customers are saying.
Values
Sustainability
For close to three decades, we have been advancing the cause of natural, renewable resources through activism, education and commerce. Sustainability is way more than just a selling point. For us, it’s a way of life. It’s how we get around, how we shop for groceries and how we raise our children. At Bambu Batu, we strive to inform the public about the amazing properties of bamboo as an abundant resource and a life-giving alternative, as well as provide a platform where conscious consumers can support the kind of sustainable, local and ethical economy they believe in.
Green Living
Living a socially and environmentally responsible lifestyle doesn’t require perfectionism. And it’s not about changing our habits out of guilt, or shaming those who are reluctant to follow our lead. It’s about healing the planet because we love it. We love the giant trees of the forests, the soft sand on the beaches, and the clean air of the mountains. We love the snowy plovers, the giant pandas and the disappearing orangutans. We believe the Climate Crisis is not the result of one enormous mistake, but billions of individual actions. And if we each strive to take small but positive steps, on a daily basis, then none of us has to be perfect. And with a little luck, and a lot of love, our children can grow up in a world of thriving forests, pristine waterways and abundant wildlife.
