American Bamboo Society

jack farrell · Post by **jack farrell** » Tue Aug 31, 2010 11:43 pm

Several months ago I made contact with these people and last weekend went to Austin, Texas for their annual Bamboo Festival. The agreement was that i would present my bamboo bows and arrows and they would give me several tables in a tent with electricity. This worked out just splendidly. Most of the members were conversant in the many species growing in the USA. There was a large sale of potted plants and lots of info on growing and maintaining them.

My bamboo bows and arrows were a big hit. As I was not selling anything, several people bought large diameter poles from the venders to make their own bows. Apparently quite a few had access to arrow bamboo. I directed others to the local DYI store for a supply. Some folks were so inquisitive that they would sit for hours straightening shafts and carving nock pieces at my booth.

Before the weekend was over, the organization gave me the largest diameter bamboo that I have ever seen in the USA. It was about 5" by 8 feet.

Now here is my message. These kind of MOSO poles are available and free to members of the ABS in exchange for part of one day spent pruning the grove. I was told that there is a giant supply for the taking. Select poles can be had for $5 and less. After that the others are free to participants.

As many people in the ABS are craftsmen who sell their wares, I would suppose that commercializing the poles would be acceptable. I was told many were left unwanted.

I would suppose that a few ATARNites might want to look into joining the ABS. I did. -j-

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 1:06 am

How is it that traditional archers are such great lateral thinkers?

S

jack farrell · Post by **jack farrell** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 2:44 am

It is just safer to shoot laterally than vertically! -j-

daryush · Post by **daryush** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 5:54 am

Damn, why is all the good stuff across the Atlantic!

Daniel T. · Post by **Daniel T.** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 6:08 am

Daryush, I would argue that we have the better yew, but you guys used it all up a couple hundreds years ago!

Daniel

daryush · Post by **daryush** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 11:15 am

Daniel T. wrote:Daryush, I would argue that we have the better yew, but you guys used it all up a couple hundreds years ago!

Daniel

My ancestors were on the other side of the Caspian at that time!

jack farrell · Post by **jack farrell** » Thu Sep 16, 2010 4:22 pm

The bamboo club just posted the pictures of the festival. Some pictures of my stuff and me working up bamboo are near the end of the pictures.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2 ... 8e65460876

Jos?Dom · Post by **Jos?Dom** » Thu Sep 16, 2010 4:31 pm

Jack, very good work there. Nice Japanese style arrows too.

jack farrell · Post by **jack farrell** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 3:55 am

My bamboo newsletter reports that there is a European Bamboo society with groups in about ten countries.

This weekend there is an event in Cornwall, UK, June 9-12. Surely these folks would have access to bowmaking material. Google for info.

jack farrell · Post by **jack farrell** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 12:08 am

Harvest day in Houston! If anyone nearby needs bamboo they can fill up a truck for free. All you need to do is clean up the mess. I have only used this for kids self bows and mid size bows. Works well. Up to 10 cm with 18 mm walls. Two men needed to fell a pole. Not a business.

And you thought Texas was all desert. Ha!

ravenbows · Post by **ravenbows** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 7:07 pm

That looks like a great time. Are these only held in TX?

jack farrell · Post by **jack farrell** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 11:58 pm

Joseph; This is a friend whose garden has too much bamboo.

Russ Mitchell · Post by **Russ Mitchell** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 7:49 pm

Thanks for the reference; I'll check it out. I'm growing three varieties, but it'd be fun to meet folks -- and even better to learn how to make arrows in person if and when possible.

jack farrell · Post by **jack farrell** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 1:59 am

After making several presentations of bamboo archery material over the last two years, the organizers have asked me to give a talk at their annual meeting on the uses of bamboo in archery, September 28 and 29, 2012, in Austin Texas.

These are people expert on the botanical properties of bamboo but may not know so much on heat treating or the spin test for a bamboo arrow. Later in the year they will publish my paper on the subject in their journal.