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Bamboo is one of the most iconic plants in the natural
world. Soaring well over 30 meters in places and able to hold more weight than
steel per square inch it truly is one of the natural wonders of Thailand!
Bamboo (or Mai Pai in Thai) is entwined in Asian culture, in fact the very existence of many peoples in Thailand would not be the same if it were not for this incredible plant. Being part of the grass family, bamboo grows quickly to say the least. Bamboo is actually the fastest growing plant in the world. To date the most growth recorded by any single Bamboo plant is 121cm (47.6inches) in 24 hours! It can reach a maximum speed of 39 inches per hour and it is no wonder that many hill tribe people in the north of Thailand say they can actually see it grow! The tallest species of bamboo in Thailand can reach upwards of 30 meters, however Prehistoric Bamboo exceeded heights of 75 meters!!
Of the 1,250 known species of Bamboo, 12 in Thailand are known as a “cash crop” and can be harvested and sold for varying purposes. If you find yourself in the rural north of Thailand in or around Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai you will see Bamboo being used in the everyday life of the villagers. From a food source (the young shoots are exported to Taiwan, Hong Kong ad Singapore) with high amounts of vitamin A, B1, B2 and C to building material for walls, roofs and everything in between the cost of bamboo to local life is invaluable.
It is not unusual to see a whole house made from Bamboo, walls made from weaving strips of bamboo together in a cross work pattern, benches made from cut mid length of bamboo and even guttering made from split halves of bamboo with the diaphragms knocked out. When young,the shoots are cut at around 6 inches in height and can be sliced horizontally or into strips and cooked in many delicious Thai curries. They can also be pickled and add a distinct flavour to any meal.
Working with bamboo requires skill and generations of knowledge of the techniques used to cut, split, strip, fix together and harvest for food. It may look easy at first for an onlooker but when you see the ease at which these people work with this material you can see it has taken much practice.
It requires no nails or screws when working with bamboo,
thin strips of bamboo can be made into twine which will be stronger than the
strongest screw available in the hardware shops. Pegs can be fashioned and
inserted into sections to secure them and thin slices can be woven together.
The many uses of bamboo and the speed at which it grows, combined with its strength and aesthetically pleasing look when finished means that bamboo is not only on of Thailand’s natural wonders but is also an invaluable sustainable resource for use in natural building and sustainable design.
Truly a wonder of the natural world!
