Tiki Camp - Bamboo Poles

[MikeVDS]

I'm looking for bamboo poles for a project I'm working on. If anyone in So.Cal has some they want to get rid of, or willing to donate let me know. Or if you planted some bamboo that's gone out of control I'd be willing to help cut it back in exchange for some of the poles.

If you're interested in the project, we are doing a Tiki themed camp in Gigsville. We're building a 50' dia dome with 2 or eventually 3 stories. Eventually an elevator made of bamboo that's powered by a tiki god statue. So we'll need a lot more bamboo than what we currently have for decorations, furnature, a bar etc. I think I need more just to finish my little project, which is a shower. It is basically going to be a bamboo structure and platform that holds a sunshower and rests above a tub to capture the water.

If you know of somewhere I might be able to get bamboo free or cheap let me know. I'm also going to need a lot of cargo netting. A large part of the second floor is probably going to be a big cargonet hammock. Any other ideas or polynesian stuff for cheap or free are welcome. :)

[Chippyrat]

I don't know about So.Cal, but up here in northern Cali flea martkets and swap meets are great for that. I've seen plenty of cool tribal/tiki/african stuff, and all sorts of misc. cool things. Give it a shot if you know of a good one to swing by.

[MikeVDS]

That's actually a good idea. I'm not much of a shopper so I usually don't think about places like that. I'm usually the in and out type of shopper. Will probably find some decent stuff to go with the theme. I won't hold my breath for bamboo poles there though.

[Chippyrat]

Another idea could be to grow your own bamboo, it could end up being a little pricey, but bamboo grows incredibly fast, and you could have some ready to use by BM2007 probably. link! http://www.bambooheadquarters.com/

[MikeVDS]

Also a good idea. I know my brother is planning on planting a lot in his yard. Thanks again. I'll look into that.

[theCryptofishist]

If you grow it, do it in pots on cement. This stuff is WEEDY and easily gets out of control. In China, they apparently grow it on islands in ponds and still have trouble controlling it, apparently.

[Kinetic IV]

Fishy's advice is definitely worth paying attention to. And on the subject of planting bamboo one of our local papers out here has a section where people write in with horticulture questions for the local University Extension people to answer. Here's a question that came up about bamboo...the answer and the info on the root systems is enlightening:

Q. I have bamboo in my yard and it is spreading to my field. Roundup will not kill it. Any suggestions on how I can get rid of it?

Bob Myer, Mount Vernon

A. Bamboo is a very invasive plant. Personally, I don't know why anyone would want to plant it unless it is restricted.

Start with physically removing as much of the rhizomes and root mass as possible. For large infestations, this will require the use of power equipment.

It is impossible to remove all pieces. Therefore, follow-up treatment with herbicides will generally be required. Casoron combined with summer spot sprays of Roundup is suggested. The Casoron will kill many of the new sprouts and prevent others from re-establishing through early summer.

Roundup is not overly effective for post-emergence application, but it works better than other post-emergence herbicides for this purpose.

Jay Chism, an agronomy specialist in Barton County, says bamboo can be killed by keeping it mowed off until all the food reserves in the rhizomes are used up. This may take several years due to the extensive rhizome system and invasive nature of the plant.

However, I think the combination of herbicides and cultural practices may be your best approach to control.

Keeping it cut back will help deplete the rhizomes' food supply as the new growth begins. Repeated sprays of glyphosate may reduce plant vigor and slow down the spread.

If you need bamboo in your landscape, it can be restricted by using a barrier. One option is to plant the bamboo in a bottomless, large plastic container that has been sunk in the ground up to its brim.

Cite: http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... 6610150304

[MikeVDS]

Thanks. He's done some research into it. Luckily (I guess) he lives in hisperia where the ground is basically concrete. No, really it is. To pound in rebar you need to drill a hole first. So he figures he'll use a jack-hammer to make a hole, fill it with real soil and water it. He's hoping it stays there, which is probably a good bet.

[theCryptofishist]

I don't know enough to say. Just remember that rock is made into soil by plants growing in it. Don't know if bamboo is strong enough, but he might want to talk to local nurseries or something just to make sure.

[lebarondescarteun]

If you have no recoarse, there's a place in Whittier California that sell all that's needed!

[Ugly Dougly]

I'm looking for bamboo poles for a project I'm working on. If anyone in So.Cal has some they want to get rid of, or willing to donate let me know. Or if you planted some bamboo that's gone out of control I'd be willing to help cut it back in exchange for some of the poles.

If you're interested in the project, we are doing a Tiki themed camp in Gigsville. We're building a 50' dia dome with 2 or eventually 3 stories. Eventually an elevator made of bamboo that's powered by a tiki god statue. So we'll need a lot more bamboo than what we currently have for decorations, furnature, a bar etc. I think I need more just to finish my little project, which is a shower. It is basically going to be a bamboo structure and platform that holds a sunshower and rests above a tub to capture the water.

If you know of somewhere I might be able to get bamboo free or cheap let me know. I'm also going to need a lot of cargo netting. A large part of the second floor is probably going to be a big cargonet hammock. Any other ideas or polynesian stuff for cheap or free are welcome.

If you go to drainage ditches, etauaries and other moist places in S California, you can find a reed/cane that everyone mistakes for bamboo. I think it's Phragmites australis or Arundo donax or something. San Diego's Mission Valley used to be thick with it. Anyway, it's cheap/free and easier to cut that bamboo.

[MikeVDS]

That's a great idea. I know of a place where I can find some a few miles from here. I still need bamboo but it'll be great to mix some of that in. Thanks.

[diane o'thirst]

I need bamboo regularly (for walking sticks). I put out on my local Freecycle, asking folks if they'd like their local/resident bamboo morass preyed upon. I got three replies in the next hour and a total of five the first day.

Some people might have already preyed on a bamboo patch and are Freecycling on what they can't use.

[dougatious]

Hey-


I am working on a bamboo dome this year. I have found a source in N. Cal that is really cheap for bamboo. If the free way doesnt work, you can check out the website. They are in Benicia, Ca for you bay burners that are reading.

www.tikifocus.com

dougatious

[MikeVDS]

Looks a little pricey to me. $3 for 1" dia. 6' long. Craig's list has been having some freebies and if I advertise on there I bet I'd get more. Need to finish up a few other projects this weekend before I work on some of the fun stuff. I got code enforcement out on me for storing (burningman) junk on my side yard. I had to organize it and put it out of sight. People didn't like a pile of military cots, bamboo and stainless steel dome sitting in view? Naw.....

[diane o'thirst]

50¢ a foot is definitely too much to pay. Not when people have it besieging their properties and it can be had for sweat equity. Take along a Sawzall, they can get as thick as your arm.

Yeah, definitely put out the word on Craig's List or Freecycle. You'll be ditty-bopping around town with armloads of it strapped to the roofrack in no time.

[Fex]

If you do grow your own, or your brother does, just carefully select what kind you grow. There's "running" bamboos and "clumping" bamboos. The clumping kinds grow in tight clusters and it's easy to trim the patches back and keep them controlled, like bushes. Running bamboo is like fucking kudzu; that's the kind people get the infestation problems with. They see a plant they like and say "ooh, pretty!" and don't research it before they plant... never a bright idea when introducing a species into a new habitat.

[Heavy D]

I have been researching bamboo suppliers for similar project on much smaller scale, note several commercial suppliers in No. CA on the web at reasonable prices, tho not for the quantities Gigsville will need. May I ask if you found a cheap supply? Thanks

[MikeVDS]

I got some for free off of craigslist, I have not collected enough but I've been working on other stuff anyway. The current stuff is still in a pile in my yard. I better get working on the shower though. I should have enough to finish that up at least.

[gyre]

Looks a little pricey to me. $3 for 1" dia. 6' long. Craig's list has been having some freebies and if I advertise on there I bet I'd get more. Need to finish up a few other projects this weekend before I work on some of the fun stuff. I got code enforcement out on me for storing (burningman) junk on my side yard. I had to organize it and put it out of sight. People didn't like a pile of military cots, bamboo and stainless steel dome sitting in view? Naw.....

There are a lot of things you can do that code enforcement can't prohibit, like the code enforcement paint job.
Most of what they do is illegal anyway.
Someone here supposedly chopped up one of these guys real fine and no has found him yet.
They just forced someone into a plea bargain for it today.
No evidence at all that he's dead.
I think he was about to be indicted and skipped town.
They let these sociopaths carry guns here now.
BTK serial killer was code enforcement and said it was more satisfying abusing people than killing and that is how he stopped for so long.
He was the true face of code enforcement.

If you don't like what a neighbor is doing (Does anybody ever?)
you can buy his property or mind your own fucking business.
Under the current government you no longer can even own property in a city.
DC Institute for Justice is working on that, but it's a long road.

[Badger]

How long do the pieces need to be? I'm assuming you want pieces that are >1.5"-2" in diameter??

[MikeVDS]

Small pieces are fine. Even 1/2" x 3' is good. A lot of it will be decor. If we have a lot of extra poles we'll lash together some towers and stuff, but at this point we're planning on the shower, and then lashing it to our other stuff for decor. Time is running short so we're finishing up our other projects.

[Isotopia]

If you're in the bay area Home Despot probably has what you're looking for back in their gardening section. There's also a few smaller plant and garden stores in San Francisco that might have what you're looking for. I'll keep an eye out.