Bamboo for fuel?

[wotavidone]

My oven is still damp.

[nissanneill]

Re: Bamboo for fuel?

I had promised the missus a drive over the ranges,

A trip through the Port Germain George and into Wirrabara and especially into the forest is a great days outing. My very first home back in the late 40's and I still have friends and relatives living there. You can get some great hardwood slabs right in the forest for your bench tops and tables/benches.
Also a great place to source your hardwood for cooking, there is a retired wood merchant for the best price and selection of wood. He will also deliver to you for a very reasonable price. Send me an email for the contact details.
I love the place!!

The question is, is bamboo OK to cook with?

If it burns readily and heats up quickly, why not. I am not aware of any adverse emissions or effects so why not use a ready supply. If you don't keep it under control, it won't be long before it has entered your property and taken over your back yard. Still, if you have the room, you could end up with your own firewood lot.

Neill

[cobblerdave]

Re: Bamboo for fuel?

Gudday
Sounds like you should....that bamboo sounds perfect for heating your oven up to temp. I burn palm fronds myself there full of oil and burn like a bomb, and saves the problem of taking them to the tip. Makes heaps of ash though and I always use hardwood for the finish for the flavour it inparts to the food

Regards Dave

[nissanneill]

Re: Bamboo for fuel?

Have you seen their wood oven?

No I haven't but I did offer a couple of years ago to build one for them.

Your timber bloke isn't the timber preservations guy is he?

No, my mate (married a second cousin) is an old wood cutter come orchardist, now retired but does a lot of firewood and makes goods for the souvenir/handcraft shop.. He left school and cut wood from 13 years and is in his early to mid 70's now.

Neill

[petanque]

Re: Bamboo for fuel?

Would putting the ashes back on the bamboo patch help it grow?

Sounds about as environmentally friendly as you can get.

[TropicalCoasting]

Re: Bamboo for fuel?

Yes it would but it is alkaline and high in potash so will encourage flowering
Dont know of bamboos PH or Potash requirements.
Bamboo is a very sustainable product because of its fast growth
Only downside is its high silica content is tough on saws and if you dont cut the sections you have explosions.
Coppiced gum trees if you have the room are good renewable source as are pigeon peas giving you nitrogen fixing and good fire wood ,you need to keep planting though.

[pogojoe]

Re: Bamboo for fuel?

I have a thicket of bamboo in the back of my yard, with most of the pieces higher than my three story house - and since they seem to grow and die off pretty quickly, I have a neverending supply of dead dried bamboo. As long as I crack the sections before I put them in (so they don't explode) it's the best kindling I've ever used. It lights immediately, is easy to break apart, and burns like made. If you haven't tried it, next time you drive by some bamboo, stop and grab a few dead sections - you'll never wish for fatwood again!