Among the great qualities of bamboo is that it is naturally antibacterial and is also waterproof, making it a better option than other hardwoods that can stain or deteriorate when in contact with any type of moisture. It is also an extremely durable piece of material that is easy to move and has a natural golden color. Bamboo furniture is an attractive addition to your home or office, as well as helping our precious planet and animals. Bamboos are the habitat of several endangered species, including the giant panda, so increasing bamboo growth also helps them.
Bamboo, being one of the most prolific plants in the world, can reach maturity in about four years, compared to the typical 25 to 70 years for commercial tree species. Although most people are generally familiar with this beautiful and graceful plant, the average person is usually flabbergasted to learn that there are over 1,000 documented uses for bamboo. Bamboo is actually a tropical grass, with an extensive root system that sends out an average of four to six new shoots per year, replenishing naturally and growing to heights of 50 feet or more. Some species of bamboo grow up to 4 feet per day and can be harvested every 3-4 years. As a result, bamboo is one of nature’s most sustainable resources, as it is naturally regenerative. Bamboo is an abundant and renewable natural product with many remarkable characteristics. It is natural and chemical free and is grown without using pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Bamboo fiber is 100% biodegradable.
Another great natural plant is hemp, often considered an environmental ‘super fiber’. Hemp fabric is made from the fibers of the herbaceous plant of the species Cannabis Sativa. It is a high-yield crop that produces significantly more fiber per acre than cotton or flax. Hemp is a durable material and is great for handbags, backpacks, laptop cases and shoulder bags, and when mixed with organic cotton it has a lovely soft and supple texture. All products made with hemp are ecological, sustainable and free of psychoactives. They also make an ideal unique gift, showing you care about our planet.
The plant that produces this ecological tissue is a different variety of the Cannabis plant. Because of the similar leaf shape, hemp is often confused with marijuana, although both plants are ‘cannabis’, hemp contains virtually no THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the active ingredient in marijuana.
Hemp farmers do not need to use herbicides or pesticides. Hemp suppresses weeds and improves the soil for crop rotation and is therefore highly suitable for use in organic and sustainable agriculture. The massive introduction of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides has helped keep the price of cotton and other fiber and oilseed crops low. However, as pests have become more resistant to these chemicals, larger amounts are required to poison both the soil and the water supply. It is planted so tightly that it leaves no light for weed growth and pests are not attracted. A large percentage of the nutrients that hemp uses for growth are returned to the soil as the leaves fall, thus reducing the need for fertilizers. It also fits well in an organic crop rotation where soil fertility must be maintained.
Hemp’s main competitors are cotton (paper and textiles), flax (fiber and oil) and evening primrose (health). All of these are grown using large amounts of pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals. Hemp also provides a sustainable alternative to many oil-based products. These can be extremely harmful to the environment, both in terms of waste from oil refining, spills during transportation, and disposal of end products, which are often not biodegradable. Plastic, nylon, polyester, PVC, cellophane, fiberglass resins, and many other common everyday products are often petroleum-based, but now hemp is used to make plastics.
Nature itself is giving us the answers to help our planet; we just need to make the most of our renewable natural resources.
Hemp and Bamboo – we love you!!
http://www.goecostore.co.uk