Gone full circle

[Wombat]

Hi there ! I first became interested in Permaculture in the 1970's when we were first married and expanded my interest more in the late 80's when we moved to Torquay in Vic and lived with a wind generator on 17 acres. I was secretary of the Geelong Herb Society for a while and a member of the Organic Gardeners group. In the 90's we moved to the Sunshine Coast on a 5500 meter property but didn't do much 'growing' A 9 year work break in Brisbane saw even less contact with the land but now things have changed a bit and we are back on the Coast and the chook shed and veggie garden are under way. We work in Brisbane 3 days and escape back to the Coast for 4 day weekends - pity I don't finish till 8pm on Thursdays as I miss being able to attend the Noosa permaculture meetings on Thursday night :(

[eco4560]

Greetings fellow Coastie! Tis a pity you can't make the meetings as they are very good. Geoff Lawton is speaking next month - so you might want to book a sickie.... I'm in Nambour. Permasculptor is a Coastie as well.

[permasculptor]

Hello David welcome to the board.I have had a similar MO it took me a while to get back to the coast too.If I can be of any assistance don't hesitate to ask.
Eco (city slicker) are you coming tomorrow night? I have some Vetiver potted for you if you like.

[eco4560]

I'm planning on being there. Would love to relieve you of some spare vetiver. Do you need a dozen green loofahs in return?

[permasculptor]

Yeah why not, I,m almost out of dried ones from the season before last. ta.
anything else you need ?

[Wombat]

Thanks for the welcome - unfortunately I work until 8pm in Brisbane on Thursdays some can't get to the meetings in Cooroy ( and they are just down the road too ! ) Love some Vetiver - anyone need some bamboo for construction or shoots to eat ? Here is our 'little' clump.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs452.snc3/25896_331396231723_594006723_3639339_7275992_n.jpg

[permasculptor]

David your welcome to come and get some vetever whenever. send me a private message when your ready I'm at Verrierdale

[eco4560]

Thanks Permasculptor - I can't think of anything else I need at present.

Nice bamboo David. Do you have any that is thinner? I was hoping to try to make a light weight dome (or 3) to go over recently planted beds to keep chooks out.

[Wombat]

Nice bamboo David. Do you have any that is thinner? I was hoping to try to make a light weight dome (or 3) to go over recently planted beds to keep chooks out.

Sorry any thin stuff (early shoots) are in the middle and most have rotted - the clump is 10 years old and is well established. Those culms are 30 ft tall. - probably wrong time of year to harvest - they say harvest at the end of the dry season when sugar content is at its lowest. Those new shoots came up overnight during that heavy rain in March.

[Speedy]

Nice clump Wombat.
Cant go wrong with Bambusa oldhamii.
Nice eract habit, easy to propagate and grow, good tasty shoots, good timber and take temps down to -9degC

eco4560, those culms are the perfect size for a lightweight dome if you use splits.
Split the culms into 6-8 longditudinal pieces with a heavy blade and mallet, then weave them in a hexweave pattern.

Here's a pic from the last Byron Bambuild workshops we ran in Byron Bay last year.
scroll down to 'Jules' hex weave dome'
http://byronbambuild.posterous.com/?page=3

[eco4560]

Wow Speedy that looks fabulous! Hey David I'm game to give it a try - do you reckon you could drop and split the bamboo like that?

[Grahame]

I would really love some oldhamii - it's hard to find around here. Anyone have a 'cutting' or clump or something I could have? Happy to trade, pay for post or what ever you need.

Peace

[ppp]

hi wombat

I'd really love a sucker, to start a clump. So the shoots are good to eat? I'm keen on that.
I live on a couple of acres near samford.

Do you ever get near brisbane?

[Wombat]

I work in Brisbane 3 days a week so can bring some down - as to harvesting - I haven't put my mind to the details yet other than finding out what to do - I'll told best time to harvest is at the end of the dry season when the sugar levels are at their lowest - probably Sept/Aug
Grahame - want to try some in the post?

[Grahame]

Grahame - want to try some in the post?

I would really love that Wombat - I'll PM you