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Hemp and Marijuana: What’s the difference?
When you work with natural fibers and sustainable materials, one of the greatest sources of confusion is the relationship between hemp and marijuana. Are they the same, or are they different? I can't tell you how many times I've brought up the subject of hemp clothing...
Introducing Bamboo: Genus by Genus
Bamboo is more than just an amazing plant. It's more like an entire family, made up of nearly 2,000 plants. But technically, according to the botanical taxonomy, bamboo is a sub-family within the grass family, Poaceae. The subfamily Bambusoideae includes 3 tribes,...
Phyllostachys vivax: Running timber bamboo
If you want to plant some giant timber bamboo but don't live in the tropics (or subtropics), Phyllostachys vivax might be your best choice. Tall, thick, golden-green, and full of leaves, Vivax has just about everything that most bamboo lovers are looking for....
Oeko-Tex Certification for bamboo fabric
When you shop for bamboo and other natural fiber clothing, chances are you want to purchase and wear fabrics that have the fewest chemicals and the smallest carbon footprint. But measuring those factors is not always easy. In most cases, we have to rely on a...
Hemp vs Bamboo: The Ultimate Comparison
In the arena of natural alternative resources, two towering crops dominate the field. In some ways strikingly different, but with a great deal in common, hemp and bamboo have each risen to prominence in recent decades. And because of their similarities, the temptation...
Water Bamboo: Growing bamboo in ponds, swamps and wetlands
Sitting quietly by the koi pond, listening to the trickling of the fountain, and breathing deeply from the abundance of zen, I wonder if I can plant some beautiful bamboo in my water feature. With all those tropical varieties of bamboo, and all those ponds and...