Bamboo harvesting?
Bamboo harvesting?
The reason for I have been asking if people knew bamboo groves in Europe is that I am thinking about whether it would be possible for the ESS to organise bamboo harvesting for its members.
There might be places where it can be done.... but I have to go and do "fieldwork" or "location hunting" first.
But I would like to ask out in the open here: Would you be interested in participating in bamboo harvesting here in Europe?
During the harvesting trips we do the harvesting, abura-nuki and prepare them for storage. Then people take them back home and can then participate in making workshops at the ESS Summer Schools.
That is my very green idea. It would be nice to hear your feedback and perhaps some ideas you may have - before I begin to travel around harvesting bamboo.
There might be places where it can be done.... but I have to go and do "fieldwork" or "location hunting" first.
But I would like to ask out in the open here: Would you be interested in participating in bamboo harvesting here in Europe?
During the harvesting trips we do the harvesting, abura-nuki and prepare them for storage. Then people take them back home and can then participate in making workshops at the ESS Summer Schools.
That is my very green idea. It would be nice to hear your feedback and perhaps some ideas you may have - before I begin to travel around harvesting bamboo.
A couple of thoughts as I have been harvesting for several years now.
For Europe the best period would probably be Feb/March/April or late Winter after this years growing season.
It is tricky knowing how old a culm is. If there is still a 'leaf' around the base it is still in it's first year, there will be almost no taper. By pulling the culm back and forth you may get a feel for how rigid it is, the more rigid the thicker the wall growth and the more taper will be in the base. You might explore this, make a decision, then carefully cut the culm several nodes above the length you want for a flute, then see how thick the wall is, also the diameter of the bore.
Use a fine tooth saw as this will do less damage to the skin. Be careful not to bend the culm while cutting as it could split and ruin the flute, one reason to cut several nodes above the flute length.
I cut through the roots with a bolster and heavy weight hammer. see my film http://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/10629/Shakuha…
Straight culms make for better Shakuhachi.
Take your time harvesting as a potentially good flute can be lost by forcing the process.
If you have the right situation leave the culm whole with all the leaves on as they will draw moisture up from the culm, helping the drying.
You know the culm is well dried as the colour has changed from greens to browns. Again, though a flute may be crafted with a green culm, it is far better that the culm is cured dry.
Gloves are useful, if bamboo splits it is razor sharp and cut fingers are no good to play shakuhachi with.
If you make a mistake, do a retake !
Be kind to the bamboo and it will be kind to you.
Have a wonderful time, it is well worth doing.
K.
For Europe the best period would probably be Feb/March/April or late Winter after this years growing season.
It is tricky knowing how old a culm is. If there is still a 'leaf' around the base it is still in it's first year, there will be almost no taper. By pulling the culm back and forth you may get a feel for how rigid it is, the more rigid the thicker the wall growth and the more taper will be in the base. You might explore this, make a decision, then carefully cut the culm several nodes above the length you want for a flute, then see how thick the wall is, also the diameter of the bore.
Use a fine tooth saw as this will do less damage to the skin. Be careful not to bend the culm while cutting as it could split and ruin the flute, one reason to cut several nodes above the flute length.
I cut through the roots with a bolster and heavy weight hammer. see my film http://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/10629/Shakuha…
Straight culms make for better Shakuhachi.
Take your time harvesting as a potentially good flute can be lost by forcing the process.
If you have the right situation leave the culm whole with all the leaves on as they will draw moisture up from the culm, helping the drying.
You know the culm is well dried as the colour has changed from greens to browns. Again, though a flute may be crafted with a green culm, it is far better that the culm is cured dry.
Gloves are useful, if bamboo splits it is razor sharp and cut fingers are no good to play shakuhachi with.
If you make a mistake, do a retake !
Be kind to the bamboo and it will be kind to you.
Have a wonderful time, it is well worth doing.
K.
I have a fair amount of harvesting tools from the days in Japan. I have learned to see the age of the bamboo by counting how many branches a bamboo branch has devided into. I hope it will be possible to do this in the near future. This was just a way to see ud people were interested. Now I have to check out the different spots to see if they will be suited for a bunch of us...
Hi Kiku,
Please tell me more about deciding the age of a culm.
I know clumping varieties will put out many branches at each node, but running varieties such as Madake only have two at each node.
I will look more closely, perhaps you mean how many nodes there are with branches.
This would be helpful as it seems that to get a thick wall and good taper the culm needs maybe five years growth.
Kel.
Please tell me more about deciding the age of a culm.
I know clumping varieties will put out many branches at each node, but running varieties such as Madake only have two at each node.
I will look more closely, perhaps you mean how many nodes there are with branches.
This would be helpful as it seems that to get a thick wall and good taper the culm needs maybe five years growth.
Kel.
Bonjour Kiku,
I'm interess about your proposition...i now some place in France and eventually other ressource (bambou flute maker) ...since juillet and the wonderfull 2.1 i'ved made with John on Europa shakuhachi meating in Barcelona , i'ved made other flute with some good bambou i've collect from a friend of mine (great bass player and have very good talent to use bamboo in is house for "aménagement" like bed, scale etc...) ...unfortunely when he collect it he didn't take the roots..only pole just cut near the ground...but the bambou are very thick...and i've made good 2.0 with it...so i suppose we can find some place in Europe with good quality of bamboo...i'm' ready to follow you in that research!
Cordually
Jean-luc peilhon
I'm interess about your proposition...i now some place in France and eventually other ressource (bambou flute maker) ...since juillet and the wonderfull 2.1 i'ved made with John on Europa shakuhachi meating in Barcelona , i'ved made other flute with some good bambou i've collect from a friend of mine (great bass player and have very good talent to use bamboo in is house for "aménagement" like bed, scale etc...) ...unfortunely when he collect it he didn't take the roots..only pole just cut near the ground...but the bambou are very thick...and i've made good 2.0 with it...so i suppose we can find some place in Europe with good quality of bamboo...i'm' ready to follow you in that research!
Cordually
Jean-luc peilhon
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