Save the Planet
American Bamboo Society Conference
Speakers
People Registered!
Bamboo Tours
Bamboo Demos
Get a fresh perspective
Meet folks who are currently growing bamboo in the American Southeast. Hear their stories about what works and what does not!
Explore new areas
Learn something new about bamboo. Make new friends. Create a new bamboo manifesto. Shape future ABS actions to save our planet!
Perry, GA - the place to be
Experience the rural south where bamboo runs wild and there's so much potential to plant at a large scale.
Conference Hotel
Holiday Inn Express
1502 Sam Nunn Boulevard
Perry, Georgia 31069
478-224-3000
** 9/14: Original ABS Block of rooms sold out, they've added more!
Ask for the ABS conference rate. Fingers crossed!
Conference Schedule
Day 1-Wed (9/29)-Kickoff Day
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Board Meeting 11 AM
All members welcome to attend.
Please register separately so we can include lunch for you. -
Registration 3 - 7
Check in with us in the hotel lobby & pick up your conference packet
-
Meet & Greet 4 - 7
Get to know folks before the conference starts!
Appetizers will be provided by the Southeast Chapter. -
Dinner
On your own tonight
Day 2-Thur (9/30)-Daphne's Farm
-
Arrive at Farm 8 :30
Last-minute check-in.
Grab coffee or tea before the program starts. -
Welcome 9:30
Southeast Chapter Team will review the plan for this jam-packed day!
-
Speakers 10 - Noon
- Travis Hargett, Bamcore
- Mark Neeleman
- Daphne Lewis, Bamboo Farming USA -
Membership Meeting 12
- Annual General Membership Meeting
- Arts & Crafts Contest Awards Presentation
****Includes lunch catered by The Columns of GA -
Farm Tour 2 - 3:30
-
Speaker 2 - 4
- Tom Thomsen, Thomsen Bamboo, Making Household Good from US-sourced bamboo
-
Panel Discussion 4
Making a living using
US-sourced bamboo! -
Dinner 6
Enjoy a feast cooked in bamboo poles!
Day 3-Fri (10/1)-Tours, Demos, Auction
-
Ocmulgee 9 - 1
Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park Talks:
"River cane restoration @ Ocmulgee" - Christina Valdes, NPS
Kay Koppedrayer shares Roger & Shawna Cain’s craft & restoration with A. gigantea (cane brake)
Tour Mounds river cane restoration work & visit museum
** Includes catered picnic lunch -
Daphne's Farm 2 - 6:30ish
The USDA is currently closed to visitors, so we'll head back to the farm early.
-
USDA Bamboo 2 - 2:30
Mike Hotchkiss shares history of the USDA Byron, GA bamboo collection
-
Demos 2:30 - 4:30
2:30 - Vincent Math - shows building with bamboo
3:30 - Daphne hauls bamboo poles with Big Boy (Guernsey steer)
4:00 - Tom Thomsen makes bamboo charcoal -
Live Plant Auction 5
ABS annual fundraiser
**NO shipping this year; you must take plants with you or arrange your own shipping. There's also a "virtual option" to bid on plants -
Dinner after auction
On your own tonight
Day 4 -Sat (10/2)-Tours, Demos, Panel
-
Moso Grove 8:45 - 10:30
Depart by 8:15 AM for Unadilla Moso Grove Tour & discussion with owner Tobaris Holmes
-
Lunch 11:15- 12:30
@ The Columns in Hawkinsville. Continued discussion on the moso grove with Tobaris Holmes
-
Drive to Odum 12:45 - 2:45
Enjoy scenic 2-hour drive with you new BBFFs (Best Bamboo Friends Forever).
-
Koppedrayer's Farm 2:45
- Partake of refreshments after the arduous journey
- Tour groves
- Demo of bamboo machinery
- Demo of bow & arrow making -
Dinner 5:30
- Southern-style buffet @ Western Sizzlin' restaurant (pay for your own)
- Bamboo Discussion after dinner (topic TBD)
Day 5-Sun (10/3)-Options
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Self-Guided Tours All Day
We'll provide a map so you can visit local farms & nurseries.
-
DAPHNE'S FARM
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Topic Discussions All Day
Gather with folks who share your enthusiasm to plot next steps or just hang out at Daphne's Farm
-
Bamboo Workshop 9-12
NEW!
- Hands-on bamboo construction basics with Vince Math
- General bamboo construction basics--how to split bamboo, concepts & use of bamboo splits in design & construction—plus Q&A session
- If driving, please bring any bamboo crafting/building tools you have -
Lunch
On your own today
-
Gilligan's Island Contest PM
This may be cancelled due to lack of interest
- Form teams with those new BBFFs
- Compete to build something useful from bamboo that coulda/shoulda/woulda been on the classic 60s tv show
- We'll provide the bamboo
- Bring your own tools--if you're driving -
Dinner
On your own tonight
Save your spot
Take action to save the only planet we have
Regular Price
ABS Members ONLY
$ 300
September 4 - 22
-
For members who couldn't commit earlier or just plain forgot!
Price includes Wednesday night Meet & Greet, all the fantastic sessions + 4 meals.
Best Option
Regular Price
Non-Members
$ 350
September 1 - 22
-
Not an ABS member? Don't worry! Non-members are welcome + we'll throw in a 1-year digital membership so you can try us out.
Price includes Wednesday night Meet & Greet, all the fantastic sessions + 4 meals.
See y'all Real Soon
The world’s climate is not getting any better
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