Bamboo Question

[kalos1972]

A friend asked me this the other day and I couldn't find an answer...

It appears that bamboo grows very quickly, could it be used as a self sustaining source of wood for heating your home?

[Aamylf]

Most bamboo is invasive and forever, so be careful what you plant!

Yes, grows like crazy -- on a quiet night you can hear it grow when it's young (the joints crack), but it's hollow, so not a lot of 'wood' for the size. I know when you dry it correctly, it is a very hard wood, so I would think you could burn it, but I'm wondering if it burns very hot and so very quick.

[TEX]

What she said - bamboo should be outlawed. Once you get it you can hardley get rid of it short of a backhoe.

[nhlivefreeordie]

There are slower growing, less invasive species, but what is most commonly available is not and lots of precautions have to be taken to avoid liability from your neighbors. I am not thinking it would be a good source of heat, too much volume and no density.

[kalos1972]

Is there a species of tree that people suggest for my purpose then? A fast growing tree that can be planted to supply a homestead with a self sufficient supply of wood?

[West_TX_Desert_Rat]

Here is a link you might be interested in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo_charcoal

[keydl]

There is a patent Popular tree that makes over 30 foot in about 3 years - best as protection for a shelter belt that is growing and to draw snow drifts for the water and insulation while the other species of trees and bushes grow. It is better than pine for firewood.

There are a lot of different bamboo - some are not invasive and some are a cash crop.

[nhlivefreeordie]

Kalos, he is a link to our paper, there is a firewood chart there that shows heat values from different wood species, unfortunately most of the wood that is good heat is rather slow growing, the denser the wood, the higher the BTU value, to get dense wood takes time, your faster growing trees are usually poor firewood.
http://issuu.com/the-valley/docs/thevalleynov2010

[Faye]

I have a cousin who has bamboo( they call it cane poles around here) and sometimes she cuts a lot of it and lets it dry then burns it. It pops like crazy. Sparks going everywhere and sounds like gunfire. I would never put it in a woodburning heater or a fireplace.

[nhlivefreeordie]

I would like to grow it for that express purpose. I use mostly bamboo in the garden for stakes and trellis'.

[MichaelK]

Is there a species of tree that people suggest for my purpose then? A fast growing tree that can be planted to supply a homestead with a self sufficient supply of wood?
Black Locust, Robinia psuedoacacia. It's fast growing, drought tolerant, a nitrogen fixer, and the leaves can be used for animal feed. The only wood with more BTU's/cubic foot is hickory.

It is also very rot resistant and makes good fence posts. It sprouts from cut stumps so it can be copice farmed.

[jdphish]

Bamboo makes for good fishing poles and building material. I hope its allowable to give a link, because here is an interesting thread on building a shed with bamboo. (if not I understand).

I would love to have a patch of it in the back corner. Handy stuff.

http://www.forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,46710.0.html