If anyone were to tell you that the shirt they were wearing was made out of bamboo would you believe them? It is not likely. But, it could very well be true. Not only is this plant being used in making clothing that is beautiful and long lasting, it is also being used to make high quality furniture and flooring, and it is also becoming a popular gardening and cuisine item. It is also a highly renewable resource that has been around for millions of years.

Flooring And Furniture:

Bamboo has a naturally occurring bug resistance and durability that makes it a natural for use in flooring and furniture products. The flooring is installed much like the pre-fabricated flooring products like Pergo that you see on the market today, but the difference is, that it really is a natural flooring product and it looks like real wood (or bamboo as the case may be.) The furniture comes in two basic styles with many variations on each style. You can get bamboo furniture that looks much like the type you would find on ?Gilligan?s Island? with a slightly more sophisticated air if you want to duplicate a tropical paradise in your home or patio. Or you can get furniture that looks much like the other hardwood furniture on the market with clean lines and elegant shapes. You can get bamboo dining room sets, coffee tables, chairs, and other pieces of furniture.

Fabric:

Synthetic materials are becoming more and more popular. You can get a shirt or a pair of shorts made from the same material that they make drink bottles with. Bamboo is a new environmentally friendly alternative. It is able to naturally eliminate or reduce odors because of its anti-microbial capabilities. It looks much like silk and it is even softer than cotton fabrics. It is lightweight, breathable, and can be made into shirts, blouses, skirts, shorts, and capris. It is also made from pesticide free plants.

Cuisine:

You should not run out into your garden and start chewing on a stalk of bamboo. Not only will it probably taste terrible, but it is toxic if you eat too much. However, scientists are working to discover the healing and anti-oxidant benefits of adding this plant to your diet. It also has potassium, which is beneficial to heart health. In order to prepare it for eating you will need to peel it and cook it. It can be used in many dishes such as scalloped bamboo.

Gardening:

Contrary to what many people might believe, you can grow this plant in nearly any climate from the dry, arid country like Arizona, to the cool mountainous climate of New England. It is not just a tropical plant. It can be grown nearly anywhere. Some bamboo is only a few inches tall, while others can grow to more than 40 feet high. It can be an indoor container plant or it can provide a natural privacy barrier or screen between you and your neighbors.

As we learn more and more about how to use our natural resources wisely, so that they can be more easily renewed, we will be better equipped for the future. When we do this, we are becoming better stewards and more responsible citizens of the planet.

Written By Margarette Tustle. Learn more about bamboo and bamboo products from msbamboo.com.