Thanks to Shanti and the Florida Caribbean Chapter for hosting the 2022 American Bamboo Society Conference!

2022 American Bamboo Society Annual Conference Oct 21-23, 2022

Thanks to the Southeast Chapter of the American Bamboo Society for hosting the 2021 annual conference in true Southern Hospitality!

Daphne Lewis with Bamboo Poles

Thursday, September 30, 2021

  • We spent the day at Bamboo Farming USA, owned by Daphne Lewis, in Hawkinsville GA. The farm has eleven major bamboo plantings, each 7 years old, and many smaller plantings of various ages.
  • Mingled with bamboo people, listened to speakers, and wandered the farm.
  • In addition to speakers & panel sessions, there were grove tours, charcoal making and pole hauling by steers (bovines).
  • Thomsen Bamboo is located at the farm. Tom demonstrated using bamboo–from the pole to candle to charcoal. 
  • Many members donated items for the silent auction.
  • Meals were catered at the farm by the Columns of Georgia.

Friday, October 1, 2021

  • We visited the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park, which has an ongoing program to revive and replant the native Canebrake collection along the river and wetlands.  We walked the beautiful grounds observing Arundinaria gigantia (Native American Bamboo) growing and seeing how the cane was used in ancient ceilings and walls.
  • Then we headed back to Daphne’s Farm for more demos, discussions, spending more time touring the research plots.
One of many of the managed bamboo groves at Daphne Lewis' Bamboo Farm
Arundinaria Gigantea at the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park

Saturday, October 2, 2021

  • We began at the Moso grove of Tobaris Holmes in Unadilla. Tobaris and his family showed us the grounds and talked of “learning from mistakes” and future plans.  It was amazing to see what had been accomplished in a short number of years.
  • We had lunch at The Columns of Georgia
  • After lunch many of us visited the home of Kay and Jaap Kopperdrayer in Odum, GA. The Koppedrayers build and sell traditional bamboo arrows and bows. Jaap is a renowned maker of bamboo bows both traditional Japanese or any style. We toured their groves and were treated to a demonstration of their modern Taiwanese bamboo processing machines for splitting poles and planing the split for perfect lamination.

Here is a link to more pictures of the 2021 American Bamboo Society Conference.

Listening to Tobaris talking about his experiences with planting Most Bamboo
Tobaris' Family with Dain Sansome and Daphne Lewis
Jaap Kopperdrayer demonstrating making a Bamboo Bow
Bamboo Art Contest Winners!