Bamboo has been around for a long, long time and it's uses have been wide and varied. From ancient times right through to modern day, bamboo has fascinated people with it's versatility.

From flooring to window shades; from fishing rods and clothing - bamboo amazes with it's varied and wide range of uses. A case study close to home: my neighbor decided he wanted to create some extra privacy to his home when an apartment development bordered his property. I suggested a row of bamboo along his fence line and he took my advice. Within a few short months, he had a thriving hedge of bamboo plants creating the privacy he was after. Problem solved.

Bamboo - A Way Of Life In Some Cultures

In many parts of the world bamboo provides the raw materials in people's day-to-day lives. These days, industry is also making use of bamboo, particularly in the construction area; house-frames, walls and roofs... you name it and bamboo can more than likely be adapted to it. What about music? Bamboo instruments have been making music right around the world; flutes, fiddles and drums, just to name three.

Some bamboo variety can shoot to 35 to 40 meters in height making them the largest grass species in the world. Some varieties will spring to just a half a meter but short or high, they produce woody perennial stems, a key to their much sought after use.

Bamboo Flooring

In recent years, western society has taken a shine to bamboo flooring. Providing a great finish and known for it's tough qualities, bamboo flooring has rapidly gained popularity during the past decade.

The use of bamboo flooring is catching the attention of environmentalists as an alternative to hardwoods. As a member of the grass family, its rate of growth is faster than most hardwood trees and is seen as a renewable resource. Additionally, the glues used to hold the layers of bamboo flooring together lacks many of the petroleum products used in most laminate flooring, making the materials biodegradable.

In addition to the strength and durability of bamboo flooring it is also being promoted as being more resistant to insects such as termites, which for some reason are not naturally attracted to this grassy growth.

Window Shades & Blinds

Window shades and window blinds; fishing equipment; food; decorative items such as mats and baskets and fashion. We haven't even scratched the surface.

Bamboo blinds have been around for a long, long time. You have probably seen these blinds before they became chic, bamboo matchsticks strung together horizontally, hanging on the outside of a home to shade a southern or western facing window.

Today's bamboo blinds have a modern twist. Modern technology flattens the bamboo canes and provides great uniformity in the width and shape of each individual can that is used to make up the blind. In addition, these natural window coverings are lined with light filtering fabrics and room darkening fabrics.

Bamboogalore.com will form part of your bamboo library with information and resources on this hardy plant and if you don't find the information your looking for here, then we can point you in the right direction to find the answers your looking for elsewhere.

	9GreenBox - Live Spiral 3 Style Lucky Bamboo Plant Arrangement with Ceramic Vase Brown Sale Price: $13.99
	We're selling one of this rare treasure! , The diameter of this plant is about 6"-8" , 8"-10" and 10"-12" tall. Ceramic Vase IS 2.5" IN LENGTH & 5 " WIDE & 5" IN HEIGHT. Please see the picture for the detail look for this Lucky Bamboo...

	Lipper International 826 Set of 6 Bamboo Kitchen Tools, in Mesh Bag Sale Price: $5.95
	Lipper International has developed a complete line of woodenware products consisting of tableware, salad bowls, storage items, pantry ware and home organization items. These collections are continually refined and expanded...

	Totally Bamboo 20-7930 3-Piece Cutting Board Set Sale Price: $12.99
	This 3-piece bamboo cutting board set includes three cutting boards. Boards measure 6 by 8 by 3/8-inch, 8-1/2 by 11 by 3/8-inch and 9-1/2 by 13 by 3/8-inch. Don't be caught again without an extra cutting board...

	25 + GIANT MOSO BAMBOO SEEDS Sale Price: $2.39
	The leaves are smaller than those of many other bamboos and present a pleasant contrast to the massive culms. Moso bamboo pole stalks are considered among the largest and most beautiful, growing to a diameter from 3 to 7 inches and towering to 80 feet in tropical areas...

	Brussel's Lucky Bamboo, Pyramid 1 Layer Sale Price: $17.00
	In China, Lucky Bamboo is thought to bring good fortune. Although it is not considered bonsai, this unique plant is very elegant and extremely easy to grow. In order to display your lucky bamboo, simply secure the canes in the decorative rock and fill the container with water...

	Totally Bamboo Round Salt Box Sale Price: $7.95
	Totally bamboo's round salt box is distinctively attractive, super strong, and totally "green". It's perfect for any and all dry "spice rack" items. Small magnet on base and lid ensures a tight seal. Durable material; box made of sturdy bamboo...

	Natural Bamboo Step Mat, Dark Wood Sale Price: $12.15
	Natural Bamboo floor mat measures 21 x 34 inches and comes in dark wood. This mat is water resistant and includes matching fabric border and backing. A great addition to any kitchen, entry way, or bathroom.

	Joyce Chen 10-Inch Bamboo Steamer Set Sale Price: $14.99
	Joyce Chen opened her first restaurant in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1958. She found that the selection and quality of Chinese cookware in America didn't live up to her high standards… so she developed her own...

	Cook-N-Home 15-Piece Bamboo Tool-In-A-Tub Set Sale Price: $29.99
	15 piece bamboo tool in a TUB includes 13 inch medium spatula,13 inch ladle ,13 inch salad fork and 13 inch solid turner,13 inch solid salad and 13 inch slotted turner,13 inch bamboo whisk and 13 inch salad fork,13 inch slotted spoon and slotted salad,13 and pastry brush spoon,13 and bamboo meat tenderizer and bamboo crock

	Rayon from BAMBOO Sheet Set - King Size Ivory 1200 Thread Count Cotton Sheet Set (Deep Pocket) Sale Price: $129.99
	Package contains 1 Flat Sheet, 1 Fitted Sheet and 2 Pillow Case in a beautiful zippered package. These sheets are soft, luxurious fusion of 60% Rayon made from Bamboo & 40% Egyptian cotton The sheet sets are as soft as silk and naturally breathable...

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Bamboo has been used since the beginning of time in thousands of different ways. The amazing versatility of this plant has made it easy to use in the manufacturing of acupuncture needles, kites, bridges, ships, violins, blowguns, windmills and many other innovative objects, both for art and every-day use.

In the tropical regions of the world, bamboo has been the center of the livelihood of many people. It's the fastest growing plant on the planet and has been reported in some areas to have the capability of growing up to a meter in a single day. Bamboo is a member of the grass family and the only one of a woody nature. Even though it is a member of the grass family it's not recommended to run over it with a lawnmower!

So what about it's uses? Well, the Asiatic region have been extracting all kinds of uses from bamboo. From decorative features such as mats and baskets to home features such as window blinds. Bamboo has played a great role in the clothing industry in this region used for making hats to garments and fashion jewelry. It's use as a food source is widely known through bamboo shoots which are also exported to western countries and considered a gourmet food in some.

Bamboo has played a vital role in the production of tools while as a hardwood floor, it has gained rapid popularity, particularly during the last ten years in western society.

How about comparing bamboo against other well known fabrics. Western culture adopted cotton as a fabric but compared to bamboo, it's use is limited. After all, you can't build fences from cotton as you can with bamboo. Acrylic proved to be machine washable but you cannot eat it while wool serves it's purpose well during the cold winter months but try producing a hardwood floor with it. Not likely.

Bamboo has been used since the beginning of time in thousands of different ways, from food preparation to food graters to flooring and furniture. It's natures Mr. Versatility of the plant world.

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The fact that bamboo is so long-lasting makes it a symbol of long life in China, while in India it symbolizes friendship. In contrast, due to its rare blossoming, the flowers are often regarded as a sign of imminent famine.

The bamboo plant is surrounded by a rich mythology. In the Andaman Islands, as well as other Asian cultures, there is a legendary belief that the humanity has emerged from a bamboo stalk. The Philippine creation myth states that the first bamboo stalk showed up on an island that was created after the great battle of the two elemental forces of Sky and Ocean. This stalk was the origin of the first man and first woman. A similar legend exists in the Malaysian mythology, where a man awakens after sleeping on a bamboo plant; then waking up and breaking it's stalk to discover a woman inside.

For the Chinese people, the bamboo, is held in high esteem, along with orchids, plum blossom and chrysanthemum. Each of these plants represents a season.  In Confucianism, each of them symbolizes a certain aspect of the junzi (noble person). The bamboo is also admired for its great resistance under harsh weather conditions, along with the pine tree and plum blossom. These three plants are referred to as the Three Friends of Winter.

A bamboo forest in Japan will form a barrier against evil.Bamboo is highly regarded and is incorporated into the language when ordering such things as sushi.

The bamboo holds an unique place in several Asian cultures and is regarded as a very special plant due to its unique characteristics. It is surrounded by a wide variety of symbols, all of which used to be very important in people's life during ancient times.

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