When Institute staff located non-native, clumping bamboo in the wetlands at Chinook, we were faced with controlling its growth to prevent ecosystem imbalance.
A sustainable solution arose when we decided to harvest the poles for use! The garden is now full of bamboo as a construction material: it’s been used for staking hoops for row covers, supporting tomatoes, and trellising beans.One of our most enjoyable staff work parties on the land involved bamboo, as we erected A-frame supports in the pole bean bed out of stakes and twine.Through harvesting this useful plant, we’ve made do with the resources at hand, saving time and resources, and we’ve reduced the potential negative impact on native species in the wetland. As a bonus, we’ve created some fun garden memories as a team!