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11 Reasons I like bamboo better than cotton
The more I learn about bamboo, the more reasons I discover for loving it. It adds a sense of elegance and tranquility to the garden. It withstands the brunt of the elements and tolerates the neglect of an absentminded gardener. Bamboo also provides a marvelous...
Art After Dark in SLO
NOTE: The article first appeared in October 2015. The city suspended Art After Dark in 2020 during the Pandemic, and Bambu Batu closed before the event was reinstated in 2021. This week marks the fifth anniversary of what has become something of an institution here at...
Several ways to treat bamboo for building
Building with bamboo is fun, cheap and easy. Bamboo grows faster than anything on earth, with a tensile strength comparable to steel. But unlike steel, it can rot, crack and grow mold. That is, if you're not careful. So is it necessary to treat or season your bamboo...
Preparing bamboo for winter
If you're living in an area with definite seasons and freezing winters (not Coastal California), then now is the time to start bracing yourself for the cold. Be sure you have enough firewood on hand, begin to think about changing your tires, and start to winterize the...
7 Reasons to love your bamboo boxers
The first time you hear about bamboo boxers and bamboo underwear, you might have your doubts. This exotic grass produces a timber as hard as oak or maple. So how would you expect that material to feel around your tender privates? Whatever assumptions or expectations...
Woody vs Herbaceous Bamboo: Introducing Olyreae
Most of us who enjoy growing bamboo are aware of two very general types of bamboo: the running bamboos and the clumping bamboos. This is a pretty useful way of categorizing bamboo varieties based on their growth habit. But there is another, higher order of distinction...