Whole Life Times: Bamboo Brother

April 2005 | Whole Life Leaders

Bamboo Brother

by Harriette Yahr

Melting ice caps? Rising tides? Global warming? What to do? Reduce consumption, switch to renewable energy sources and… plant bamboo?

Blair LeMire thinks so. LeMire, AKA “Bamboo Brother,” is on a mission to spread “bamboo consciousness” through his music, art and passion for bamboo. While some people walk their talk, LeMire drives his. He can be spotted around Los Angeles behind the wheel of “VanBoo,” his natural gas-powered GMC decked out in bamboo and placards espousing the benefits of what LeMire calls this “PSP” or “Planet Saving Plant.”

LeMire cites a mystical revelation as inspiration for his bamboo-loving alter ego. His epiphany occurred in the hills of Denton, Texas, in 1999. “You could say I got a spark of ‘solutionism’ in those hills. Bamboo can save the world!” With childlike wonder that belies his age, he continues, “I’m in complete awe. Bamboo is such a powerful friend and healer to the planet.”

So what’s so special about bamboo?

It’s strong, it’s beautiful, you can eat it, wear it, play music with it, use it for flooring, ride a bike made out of it and more. It’s also used for building homes—structures in Lima, Peru, built in part with bamboo, withstood the devastating earthquake of 1992. Bamboo is sustainable, annually renewable and in some places grows up to three feet per day. And, LeMire’s favorite characteristic, bamboo absorbs four times more carbon dioxide than any other plant, making it a seemingly potent partner in curtailing global warming.

Bamboo has long been a staple of the economy and culture in places such as China and India. Its popularity is beginning to take root in the U.S. where members of the American Bamboo Society (ABS), albeit more traditional in their support, share LeMire’s enthusiasm. Says Theo Smith, president of the Southern California chapter of ABS, “It’s clearly an enchanting plant.”

LeMire’s new CD, Bamboo Can Save the World, is available at BambooPower.com, as is information about his upcoming book, Bamboo Power: What It Can Do for You, and his film-in-progress, The Great Bamboosical. With every new claim that surfaces about the earth’s dwindling natural resources, LeMire’s “Plant bamboo!” call to action appears more worthy of investigation. Catch LeMire and VanBoo around town or in the hills of Topanga, where he’s contemplating building a house—out of what he calls “ this magical wonder of plantdom.”

Before You Plant

Wanna bamboo? There are over 1200 species of bamboo, comprised of two general types: runners and clumpers. While investigating the two, keep in mind: Both need proper placement to thrive and runners require barriers to prevent the enthusiastic plant from traveling where it’s not wanted, such as under driveways, sidewalks and house foundations.

For more information, visit www.americanbamboo.org or tap into the local chapter of ABS at www.abssocal.org.

Harriette Yahr is a writer and filmmaker living in Los Angeles.

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