As the world becomes more and more polluted by the minute, many people are doing what they can to help save the environment. Recycling, planting trees, and buying eco-friendly cars. All of this is a great start and is a major benefit to our environment. But even little things we do can have a big impact on the planet.

For instance, did you know when you go shopping for baby clothes, you could be hurting the environment? Did you know that most baby clothes are made using synthetic fibers, which require harsh chemicals that can not only put the environment at risk, but your baby as well?

Many of the materials used to make these clothes use deadly pesticides that are harmful to both the planet and humans alike. These chemicals can cause reactions to many people wearing the clothes, and people with conditions such as asthma and allergies are at a greater risk.

People foolishly believe that these chemicals magically go away when the clothes are washed. Wrong. They remain on the clothes long after they have left the manufacturing plants. In many cases the chemicals can be released and enter through your skin and into the blood stream.

Scary thought, isn’t it?

Naturally, infants are at the greatest risk when wearing these chemically treated clothes, because their immune systems aren’t fully developed like a full grown adult. This is a big reason why organic baby clothes have become so popular over the last decade.

Certified organic baby clothes are manufactured without using pesticides, harsh chemicals, or dyes. This makes the clothes as close to nature as possible and ironically enough, most organic clothes are softer than their synthetic fiber counterparts.

While some may argue they can’t afford organic baby clothes, they are actually more durable than regular clothing. Most brands won’t shrink and break down after 50+ washes. This alone will save many parents a significant amount of money in the long term.

When buying organic baby clothes, pay special attention to the labels to make sure they are certified organic products. These labels may vary depending on the origin of the clothes, as most countries have their own rules and regulations.

The next time you are shopping for baby clothes and are hesitating to go organic, ask yourself this very important question; “is it worth saving a little bit of money and risking not only my baby’s health, but the planet’s health as well?”

Construction Material — in East Asia, the South Pacific, Central and South America, bamboo is very commonly used for construction materials. In general, it is used for scaffolding, as well as for building bridges and houses. They also have decorative uses for fountains, fencing and the like. And of course, more so in the Western world, laminated strips of bamboo are now being used as an alternative to hardwood floors.

Textiles — the Chinese developed the original processes for converting bamboo to textiles. Today, several products including towels, sheets and clothing are made out of bamboo. Not only are these products safer on the environment, but better for people who often have allergic reaction to synthetic fabric.

Musical Instruments — several traditional musical instruments used in the Asian region are made from 100% bamboo. These include wind instruments, percussion instruments, and things like flutes, rattles, pipes and harps.

Medicinal Products — bamboo has long been thought to be effective at healing and treating infection. In India, it is specifically used for treating respiratory diseases. It is also a low calorie source of potassium which we all need as part of our diets.

Bamboo has become so popular because it is quite eco-friendly. As previously mentioned, it is actually a grass which grows much faster than any hardwood you can think of. A bamboo crop is harvested in 3 to 5 years, compared to the average hardwood which is harvested between 30 and 50 years.

Bamboo grows freely without the aid of pesticides or chemicals. This is another reason to prove its eco-friendliness. It is a fully degradable product and regenerates on its own, thereby classified as a renewable resource.

Modern technological processes are making it possible to use bamboo for more and more products every day. As long as we continue to harvest it at the due time, we can start to preserve the hardwood resources that help keep our environment stable.

Here are several benefits of bamboo cutting boards:

1. They absorb less moisture. You may not think this is a big deal, but it can be. Some boards, those made of other woods, have the tendency to shrink or swell during use or when being cleaned. Since bamboo absorbs less water you never have to worry about this.

2. Durability. Since bamboo is a very durable wood it is much more difficult to leave knife marks. As you know, this can be a big problem with other types of cutting boards – those that are not as strong. No matter how much stress you put your bamboo cutting board through, it will come out just fine in the end. This helps to keep your board looking new for many months (or longer).

3. Easy to take care of. Have you ever tried to clean a cutting board with little to no success? This can be a waste of time, not to mention very frustrating. It is easy to care for a bamboo cutting board. Hand washing is all that it takes to keep your board clean and looking new. One thing to keep in mind is that you should dry the board after cleaning. This will help to ensure its longevity.

4. Bamboo is environmentally friendly. This is one of the most important factors for some when buying a cutting board. Bamboo can be grown and harvested time after time without negatively impacting the earth. This is why so many household products, including cutting boards and floors, are now being made of bamboo. With the ability to grow as much as one to two feet per day, there is always enough bamboo to go around.

5. Low cost. Bamboo cutting boards are not overly expensive. You can buy a small 6 inch by 8 inch board for as little as $10. Even when you move up in size, you should not expect to pay more than $50.

Now that you know the benefits of a bamboo cutting board you can decide if adding one of these to your kitchen would be in your best interest.

The main benefit of choosing this type of flooring is that it is considered the new “friendly green” type of wood choice for flooring. That’s right! Bamboo is considered “environmentally correct”. Bamboo is now being harvested in order to protect the elimination of other types of woods that help to protect our environment. It is considered an “alternate” source for flooring, and other types of home improvement projects. This alone makes it a very appealing option when it comes to many homes and businesses around the world.

Many individuals who implement the bamboo hardwood floor do not realize that it is actually more of a grass than a wood. As the bamboo plant matures, the stalk of the plant develops into a strong substance that resembles wood. In case studies, it has been determined that this substance is often just as tough and durable as many of the world’s strongest types of woods. This is one reason why it makes an excellent choice when it comes to flooring. Home and business owners can purchase bamboo hardwood flooring for much less than standard wood types due to the fact that it grows quickly, and there is not a large demand for it.

The next benefit when it comes to integrating a bamboo wood floor in your home or business is that there are many different types and designs that can be chosen. You can find bamboo flooring to match any decorative theme, of any room, in any type of structure! In today’s modern flooring market, you can choose bamboo flooring that is light in color, dark in color, and everything in between! You can also select from natural bamboo, engineered bamboo, or even synthetic bamboo. You can choose from tongue and groove panels, basic panels, and even bamboo tile!

As you can see, the benefits associated with a bamboo hardwood floor are many! If you want to save time, effort, money, AND the environment as well, bamboo flooring could be the right choice for you!

Visit us for more information on refinished hardwood floors, tips for refinishing wooden floors and how to clean bamboo floors.

Lightweight Material – Bamboo shades for windows are typically made of lightweight material. This means they are easy to manage and are least likely to damage the hanging mechanism. The lightweight quality of bamboo however is also visually noticeable and lends an air of casual relaxation to a room.

Natural Appeal – These shades are the most natural in appearance. If you have a nature theme or if you have plants inside your home, these shades are the perfect match. The natural look is one that many homeowners would love to have because of its invigorating effects.

Maintenance – Bamboo blinds and shades require very little maintenance. You do not need special cleaning agents for them and you do not have to take them down regularly for washing. These shades do well with occasional dusting or gentle vacuuming.

Energy Efficient – Shades made of bamboo filter light naturally. Woven bamboo can allow only a portion of the sunlight in through the slats or small spaces in between. The structure of some bamboo shades also diffuse sunlight for maximum daylight use, thereby reducing the need for artificial lighting in the morning.

Styles – In the past, bamboo window shades were simply hand woven pieces of plain bamboo. These days, these shades can be customized according to modern needs. They can for example, come with liners for privacy. Some liners have also been created to help reduce heat transfer and therefore conserve energy.

Different Options – There are many different options for these shades depending on your decorating needs. You can have bamboo shades of the matchstick or flat blinds types. Bamboo shades can also be made to replicate Roman shades. Bamboo looks especially attractive in the cascading pleated design of Roman shades.

Unique – The design and lightweight nature of bamboo makes it perfect for use and display outdoors. Your bamboo shades are therefore not restricted for window use only. With a little creative designing, bamboo shades can also be used in patios and decks for a cooler, more natural and inviting appearance.

The only real problem with bamboo shades is that it is not always very durable. This may be because it is naturally lightweight. Then again, the brand name of bamboo shades plays a big factor in ensuring durability. If you want shades that will last you a lifetime, get those from a trusted name in the blinds and shades industry. You would know if a company is confident enough about its products if it offers reasonable guarantees and warranties.

Buy your bamboo window shades from a good company. You will be able to appreciate this most if you need help with making custom adjustments for your shades. Well known brands will provide or help you find the right resources for your special needs.

Tired of your old boring blinds for windows? Find out how bamboo window shades can add a fresh charm to an old room.

There are two types of bamboo: runners and clumpers. Runners spread quickly and as far as they possibly can go. Clumpers expand more slowly from the original plant. Other varieties are a combination of both runners and clumpers. Generally speaking if bamboo is growing in a tropical climate, it will probably be of the clumping variety. Runners tend to grow in more temperate climates.

Bamboo is often thought of in reference to giant pandas and it is very common in the panda’s environment. However, there are multiple uses for bamboo, both decorative and useful. In some parts of the world, it is used for animal feed and as construction material. It can also be used for a variety of items, including furniture, musical instruments, paper, kitchen implements and even as a medicine that has been used for hundreds of years.

Bamboo is a very attractive plant to grow in your garden. There are many varieties and you can choose from these depending on your climate and what exactly you want from bamboo. Caring for bamboo is very easy. It does need quite a bit of water, so if you are having a dry season, you may have to water more than usual. You can find varieties of bamboo that do well in every condition from full sun to full shade. It is even self-mulching, since as its leaves drop off, they may be left on the ground near the plant as mulch. Plants usually gain their maximum height in the first year and each following year they will branch out more and become “fuller”. One of the great advantages of bamboo is its remarkably quick growing rate.

Since bamboo can be used for so many of the same uses that hardwoods can, it will end up saving many trees all over the world. For example, a 60 foot hardwood tree can take up to 60 years to replace. A 60 foot bamboo plant only takes around 60 days to replace! Therefore, it makes more sense to use bamboo for as much as possible, since it so much faster to grow and has so many uses. Bamboo is a common plant in many parts of the world, but it is one which most people don’t give a second thought too. It is a vital plant to many country’s economies and may even help save the environment as a replacement for the slower growing hardwoods.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Bamboo

Bamboo rug can be placed outside of entryways in your backyard and/or front lawn to create a welcoming and relaxed environment. If your backyard is decorated around a tropical or Japanese-style aesthetic, bamboo mats are the perfect compliment.

Bamboo mats are usually made out of sanded, smoothly finished split bamboo canes, each about ½ inches wide. A lot of bamboo mats will also have a coat of varnish to make the surface extra-smooth, but you will also find mats that come untreated for a more natural look: it all depends on what you want the style of your backyard to be. Light-colored and untreated bamboo rug create an airy, relaxed look that exudes a feeling of openness and breeze. A coated, darker colored bamboo mat connotes more warmth and earthiness. Most if not all these kind of mats you’ll find out there can be easily rolled up for easy storage. Cleaning a bamboo mat is also much, much easier that cleaning a traditional carpet rug.

If you don’t want to keep the bamboo mats out all the time, you can put them away and simply take them out for special outdoors activities. One such activity in which large bamboo mats can come in handy is a backyard barbeque. Bamboo rugs can serve as an impromptu outdoors floor or even performance stage.

And last but not least, keep in mind that bamboo carpets are environmentally friendly. Bamboo is one of the earth’s most easily renewable raw materials, and if you pick bamboo other conventional materials, you can help reduce our consumption of products whose production causes harm to the environment.

There are so many fun and innovative ways to utilize bamboo mats. Next time why not try using for your backyard decor?

Raw Bamboo
If you are purchasing raw bamboo, make sure that the company you’re purchasing it from uses fully matured bamboo stalks. A lot of wholesalers will try to decrease costs by selling immature bamboo stalks, whose strength and durability is much less than those of properly harvested and well dried bamboo.

Domestic or Imported
Even though bamboo is not native to the West, there is no reason to pay extra to buy directly from companies in Asian countries. The bamboo that is harvested in Florida and the North Eastern region of the U.S. is of high quality. By buying domestic you are cutting down on expenses and also reducing your carbon footprint.

Bad Drying
Read up on a wholesaler’s drying process before you decide to purchase from them. If the bamboo is not properly dried, it will get humid and rot quicker, especially if it’s used in a hot or moist climate. Many Asian bamboo mills will let the bamboo dry for two or three years. Shorter drying periods, however, don’t necessarily mean lower quality bamboo. If the company is domestic and located in a hot, desert region, for example, long drying periods are not necessary.

Advantages of Online Business
Buying and selling online is a good idea. Retailers that function exclusively online (whether they be commercial or wholesale retailers) have fewer overhead costs. This translates into lower prices for the buyer and bigger profits for the seller.

However, don’t just go for the first great-looking online deal you find. Make sure to check the shipping costs and other expenses that might end up landing on you.

Remember, when you are ready for your tropical themed yard or room, there are many things to look into before buying wholesale bamboo.

Bamboo needles warm to the touch, and offer a consistently smooth surface to work your yarn on, so that it does not snag or get caught, as may happen with some other types of needles, but neither does yarn simply slide off of them as it can with plastic or metal needles. This cuts down on frustration, especially during a lengthy project or for a brand new knitter.

Bamboo, in nature, is a tall, flexible plant and this characteristic is shared with the needles: their durability and slight flex make them difficult to break and long-lasting. The lightweight nature of bamboo needles makes them perfect for long projects, or for knitters who can’t stand to let a day go past without picking up a project and letting the yarn slide through their fingers.

Bamboo is a very sustainable plant, quickly covering its allotted farmland and growing at a rate that makes it much more eco-conscious to use than any other material. Bamboo has recently become popularly used in everything from dinnerware to flooring, and yarn made from bamboo has received rave reviews. Bamboo needles are perfect for people trying to live a greener life and reduce their carbon footprints across the board, or simply for people who have been looking for the perfect needle without finding it yet.

When choosing the material for your knitting needles, the most important thing to keep in mind is that you will be holding them and working with them for long periods of time. Some knitters don’t change or replace their needles for years, and their needles almost become part of the family.

Bamboo needles have really caught on and nearly every size and type are available at your local craft store. If you can’t find them there, they are easy to find online. Another bonus is that they are often less expensive than metal needles and creating a full matching set is not at all difficult (if you care about that type of thing!).

Use your bamboo knitting needles when knitting with the Rowan yarns. Rowan Cashsoft DK offers the pleasure of extra fine merino wool, microfiber and cashmere in a sensational palette and serves it up with the convenience of machine washability.

The bamboo’s flexibility is reflected in its various ways that you can use it. In tropical countries like the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, this fast-growing plant is commonly used as materials in making beautiful cottages and relaxing chairs that are usually seen in hotels, resorts and beaches. And there is more! Aside from its usual uses, here comes the idea of using the bamboo for many other useful things. This is what the American Bamboo Society’s Southeastern Chapter is focused about.

There is an event known as the Bamboo Festival. Now this is organized and hosted by the mentioned chapter of the American Bamboo Society. This year marks the third year that it has taken place and the North Carolina Arboretum was the chosen venue. This is a wonderful place to hold such an event because it is beautiful and is very scenic. It all happened on the 11th and 12th of July. Visitors and participants in the said event have been able to gain knowledge about the many uses and functions of the plant.

The organization also promotes bamboo awareness by encouraging botanical gardens to grow and propagate this very useful plant. They also want to further the knowledge about the bamboo by engaging in projects as well as by doing research that will open opportunities to help to identify the ways that we can use the plant. With all these activities going on, the mentioned chapter of the American Bamboo Society has seen to it that they are able to comply with state laws just like the USDA guidelines regarding bamboo importation and quarantine. These are just some of what has been discussed during the Bamboo Festival.

Another good thing is that those who were interested to join the event can do so without having to shell out money. It was free! The only fee to be paid is the parking fee which amounts to $6.

To cite an example about the many new products that can be made from bamboo, you can refer to the all natural candles which have been mixed with aromatherapy essential oils. These are just a few of what has been showcased during the festival meant for the bamboo.