Ian Rice

The idea of making briquettes from bamboo is an interesting one but I am thinking of this as a potential fuel for a rocket heater and the "chop saw / bamboo splitter" approach is I think perfect! I have a piece of land that is connected to my main property by a narrow section (very easy to trench and install a barrier) and the rest of it is bordered on all sides by road...planning on turning the entire section into a little forest of timber bamboo! We shall see!

Confining the "invasive" varieties of bamboo is a subject worthy of it's own thread I suppose? Regarding the fastest biomass producing types...I am choosing to think of multiple use as part of my own equation. Garden stakes, edibles and as I am into primitive archery...even material for arrows (in the case of Arrow Bamboo). From what I have read so far, timber type bamboo will probably end up being the most "productive" but I won't know until I have experimented a lot more. In any case, I have already made up my mind to pursue bamboo in many different directions and I am beginning to understand why it has been mentioned high on just about every list regarding permaculture. If there is a bamboo nut out there with a lot of varietal experience, I would love them to chime in with their insights regarding biomass and the like........thanks!

Thanks for the post on the bamboo splitting tools; with all of the sizes I think almost any variety could be easily split for fuel. This is great!! Best!!!

I need to do a lot more research about different kinds of bamboo as regards their individual abilities to produce biomass with burning in mind. The big thing that I have gleaned thus far is that invasive bamboo is the running type. These also seem to be the ones that produce edible sprouts. Clumping varieties do just that and are not very invasive....but inedible. As to speed and usability goes...I'll bet the so called "timber" bamboo (such as Vivax) produces the most fuel fastest...just a hunch. It (V) is also edible and is very invasive and probably should be contained in some way. Smaller varieties might be tough to split...just a thought.

Regarding bamboo and it's tendency towards being invasive. There are running and clumping varieties. Clumpers are not invasive as I understand it and although these varieties are not edible, they are really great candidates for building/gardening materials. Really good windbreaks too! I'm thinking about a small contained amount of running (edible) bamboo and a much larger amount of privacy/windbreak/fuel and building (clumping) bamboo (behind my hazel row) with an eye towards the Rocket Heater....still to build. It is an interesting thought experiment. Thanks for all the feedback...love you guys!

So granted Osage is premier in one sense but it doesn't grow nearly as fast as bamboo, right? This fact in conjunction with the burning within a Rocket Heater and the ease of harvest and preparation.........and the fact that you CAN EAT IT.......again.......isn't this a perfect permaculture plant? Almost every book on permaculture lists bamboo......but none of them mention it as a fuel source. I think that this marvelous potential is being overlooked.

Great link; thank you!

Anyone have any experience or comments regarding the use of bamboo as a fuel for a Rocket Stove? I have read that it needs to be split (to avoid the "POP" when burned whole) but I have also read that it burns hotter than hardwood and produces less ash. Sounds like a perfect fuel source to me.....and bamboo is (if you choose it right) edible and makes the very best garden stakes!

Yea, that's what I thought! I'm growing Japanese Arrow Bamboo, very easy to lop into lengths and you can split the lengths in half with ease.....it ought to eliminate the popping!

Regarding Bamboo as fuel again. What about splitting it to avoid the TNT reaction when burned? More importantly though, has anyone got any experience using bamboo as a fuel for a Rocket Stove? Since it burns so hot and results in so little ash, wouldn't it be a PERFECT solution for a Rocket Mass Stove? Thoughts?