When I moved into my house there was a large patch of bamboo “trees” (they’re in the grass family) growing thick and tall in the corner of my back yard right up to the fence bordering my neighbor’s yard. I had my yard service cut down a big swath along the fence to comply
with city regulations, and trim them to below the height of the fence since they would bend over the fence onto the roof of my neighbor
during our frequent windy days. Knowing the usefulness of bamboo on my urban homestead I gathered up the cut bamboo and
saved them for future use. I grabbed two good looking long specimens with no side shoots or leaves, just straight bare stalks, and turned
them into walking sticks with no further modifications needed. They’re incredible! Super strong since they grow in segments, yet super
lightweight since they’re hollow which is why they’re great for flutes and for pipes (smoking, irrigation, etc.). One of them was cut at an
angle on the top creating a sharp point, so it will serve as an effective weapon if needed (think spear) while on my walks, among other
things. Since they make such great walking sticks I thought it would be good to market them, but I don’t have the skills to smooth out the ends and the rough edges or to decorate them, so I just use them to make my own personal ones and for other projects like building
fences and trellises for climbing plants. Grows really fast and really easy for those with the tools and the skills to make them into
marketable walking sticks. Peace pipes and flutes are always in demand too.
