America Needs Bamboo

America needs bamboo! In fact, much of America’s land is suitable for growing bamboo, for instance Georgia, in the United States, which has the perfect climate for growing this plant. There is an incredible emergence of interest for products made from bamboo fibers. This amazing plant offers people a chance to enjoy many of the comforts of modern life without causing a negative effect to our environment.

8 Reasons America Needs to Plant More Bamboo:

1. Bamboo is a Renewable Resource – Depending on the kind of bamboo (over 1,000 species), it can be harvested within 1 to 5 years. Regular trees, hardwoods, can take about 40 years to mature before they can be harvested.
2. Bamboo Absorbs Greenhouse Gases – Bamboos can absorb carbon dioxide and can release 35% more oxygen into the atmosphere than the same amount of stands of hardwood trees.
3. Bamboo Growth Rate – It has been reported that some species of bamboos can grow more almost 3 feet each day! There is no plant on earth that features a faster growth rate.
4. Bamboos Have Very little Waste – After harvesting bamboos, virtually every part of the amazing plant is used to make products. You can make soil-enriching mulch to beautiful furniture. Every part of bamboos can be utilized.
5. Bamboo is Extremely Versatile – Bamboos can replace wood for nearly every use. You name it, paper, flooring, furniture, charcoal, building materials, weapons, and much more. Bamboo fibers are much stronger than wood fibers and have a smaller chance of warping because of climate changes.
6. No Fertilizers, Pesticides, or Herbicides Required – Unlike most cash crops, bamboo does not require any chemicals to live. Cotton, on the other hand, which is one of the most intensely sprayed crops in the world, rapidly depletes the nutrients in the soil. Bamboo cultivation does not add chemicals to the environment.
7. Protects The Soil – Once hardwood forests are cleared and the stumps are burned to provide fertilizer and space for the next growing crops, erosion inevitably occurs and the nutrients are washed away by the rain. The soil that eroded then clogs rivers and affects the lives of people and animals living down the stream. On the contrary, bamboo roots remain in place after harvest. They prevent erosion and help hold the nutrients together for the next crop.
8. Bamboo Can Grows In Several Climates – Bamboo can grow in arid areas, where droughts cause other crops to not grow, since the roots are left in place after harvesting, it helps to preserve vital moisture in the soil. From low wetlands to higher elevations in the mountains, bamboo thrives in a wide range of climates.

Why Doesn’t America Plant More Bamboo?

Up until recently, America was not in the market for bamboo textiles because there was little/no consumer demand. Well, that has certainly changed, and the demand is really growing. There is now an increasing interest in growing bamboo as a environmentally friendly, sustainable supply for high quality, durable products.