Among the great qualities of bamboo is that it is naturally antibacterial and it is also water resistant, which makes it a better option than other hardwoods that can stain or deteriorate when in contact with any type of moisture. It is also an extremely durable piece of material that is easy to move and has a natural gold color. Bamboo furniture is an attractive addition to your home or office, as well as helping our precious planet and animals. Bamboos are home to several endangered species, including the giant panda, so increasing bamboo growth helps them too.
Bamboo, being one of the most prolific plants in the world, can reach maturity in about four years, compared to the typical 25 to 70 years for commercial tree species. Although most people are generally familiar with this beautiful and graceful plant, the average person is usually stunned to learn that there are more than 1,000 documented uses for bamboo. Bamboo is actually a tropical grass, with an extensive root system that produces an average of four to six new shoots per year, replenishing itself naturally and growing to heights of 50 feet or more. Some species of bamboo grow up to 4 feet a day and can be harvested every 3 to 4 years. As a result, bamboo is one of nature’s most sustainable resources, as it is naturally regenerative. Bamboo is an abundant and renewable natural product with many remarkable characteristics. It is natural and chemical free and is grown without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Bamboo fiber is 100% biodegradable.
Another excellent natural plant is hemp, often considered an environmental ‘super fiber’. Hemp fabric is made from the fibers of the herbaceous plant of the Cannabis Sativa species. It is a high-yielding crop that produces significantly more fiber per acre than cotton or flax. Hemp is a durable material and is great for bags, backpacks, laptop cases and shoulder bags and when mixed with organic cotton it has a lovely soft and supple texture. All products made with hemp are ecological, sustainable and free of psychoactive substances. They are also an ideal unique gift, showing that you care about our planet.
The plant that produces this ecological tissue is a different variety of the Cannabis plant. Due to the similar leaf shape, hemp is often confused with marijuana, although both plants are ‘cannabis’, hemp contains virtually no THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the active ingredient in marijuana.
Hemp farmers do not need to use herbicides or pesticides. Hemp suppresses weeds and improves the soil for crop rotation and is therefore well suited for use in organic and sustainable agriculture. The massive introduction of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides has helped to keep down the price of cotton and other fiber and oilseed crops. However, as pests have become more resistant to these chemicals, larger amounts are required to poison both the land and the water supply. It is planted so tightly that it leaves no light for weed growth and pests are not attracted. A large percentage of the nutrients hemp uses for growth are returned to the soil as the leaves fall, thus reducing the need for fertilizers. It also fits well in an organic crop rotation where soil fertility must be maintained.
Hemp’s main competitors are cotton (paper and textiles), flax (fiber and oil), and evening primrose (health). All of these are grown using large amounts of pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals. Hemp also provides a sustainable alternative to many oil-based products. These can be extremely damaging to the environment, both in terms of waste from oil refining, spills during transport, and disposal of end products, which are often non-biodegradable. Plastic, nylon, polyester, PVC, cellophane, fiberglass resins, and many other common everyday products are often petroleum-based, but hemp is now used to make plastics.
Nature itself is giving us the answers to help our planet; we just need to make the most of our renewable natural resources.
Hemp and Bamboo – we love you!!