Bamboo is an increasingly popular building material because of its durability, versatility and eco-friendliness. Bamboo is an easily replenished plant resource, growing much faster than typical lumber. Unfortunately, bamboo poles are difficult to work with. Bamboo poles are rounder than the usual modular building supplies on the market, and dried bamboo poles are hollow in the center, making them more susceptible to external cracking. However, with the right tools and know-how, you can effectively build with bamboo poles. more »

Create custom bamboo pole frames and painted mats as wall art for your home. You can decorate the inside of the bamboo pole frames with dried flowers or banana leaves decoupaged onto an artist's canvas. Ready made botanical prints, tribal masks or any other natural or exotic artifacts would also complement the bamboo poles. This simple craft project will help you create a focal point along a hallway wall or bring natural design elements to any room in your home. more »

Depending on how you intend to use them, bamboo poles can be a beautiful accent, a useful tool or both. Yet even with the increased popularity of this material, it can still be somewhat difficult to get a hold of. Here are some tips for shopping for bamboo poles. more »

Bamboo may look and feel like wood, but it is actually a member of the grass family and is grown primarily in East Asia and Southeast Asia. Fresh bamboo is the favorite food of those cute Chinese panda bears, but when dried and seasoned, cut bamboo poles are great for making fences, furniture, decorative borders and torch holders. Because bamboo splinters easily, it must be cut with care using a few simple steps. more »

Before the advent of clay cooking pots, natives in the Philippines used to cook their chicken using bamboo poles. This method dates back to prehistoric times, particularly among tribes in the forested areas in southern Philippines where bamboo trees abounded. Indigenous natives living in the mountains in the present time still use this method. more »

If you grow beans, peas, tomatoes, or any type of vining plant, you need to provide a support structure so that your plants don't lie on the ground. Here is the easiest-ever trellis, made from bamboo poles and wire. more »

For kids' art, a stick puppet can be made with a cardboard box, some stuffing, wooden skewers and a length of bamboo pole. Make a stick puppet with tips from an art teacher in this free video on art for kids. more »

Spring fishing season is almost upon us, and even if you're not into fishing, here's a humane spring and summer activity that brings kids close to nature. Outdoor activities for kids in any season that include nature are sought out today more than ever. And Huck Finn would have loved this form of crawdad fishing. When I’ve gone crawdad fishing with kids this way, they squeal with delight. Your kids can participate from making the bamboo pole all the way to making the catch. Whether you call them crawfish, crayfish, or crawdads, this method allows you to toss the crawfish back unharmed, or keep it short term as a home science project pet (see Tips). more »

Fly fishing is a type of fishing that has an understated elegance. You can catch fish with a bamboo pole and a worm, but the fly fisherman craves the grace and beauty of this ancient sport. Beginners don't have to spend a fortune to find a good fly fishing rod. They just need to know how to get the basics when purchasing that first fly rod. more »