The Art of Bamboo Preservation

Hello! I'm Marjolein, a Dutch traveller. Besides backpacking and exploring Costa Rica, I also thought it would be good to participate in a community and truly experience daily life here. Back home, I worked as a communication advisor in Dutch Agriculture for a large cooperative, focusing on sustainability goals. When the opportunity arose to learn more about permaculture, I seized it. I think it's essential to think about the future, and I'm curious about new natural solutions or alternatives for pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. I'm also interested in Bioconstruction because it seems wonderful to be able to create your own sustainable place. During my stay at Finca Sol y Valle, I collaborated with Nico, Joe, Edgar and Jeff to create a horizontal curing system for Guava bamboo, to safeguard it from biological threats and to able to make beautiful structures construction.

About the project 

We began by digging a hole for the horizontal curing system. The idea is to submerge the bamboo in a pool with a non-fixing preservative, consisting of boric acid, borax, and water. This salt is used as an insecticide and is also effective against fungi and algae. The bamboo will be protected forever as long as it doesn't get wet, so we installed the construction under a roof. The cure is an eco-friendly alternative to harsh chemicals like Roundup. Unlike persistent chemicals, this solution dilutes over time, posing minimal risk to the environment. The combination of boric acid and borax, is in a ratio of 1:1.5, resulting in a specific concentration of 5% while the remaining is water.

We dug a little tube for the drainage, so it becomes possible to empty the system and clean it. We put sand and water on top to make it firm and prevent the ground from shifting. To get the curing system horizontal, we used the water level technique. The size of the hole is big enough that it can fit the six-meter-long bamboo. This ensures that the bamboo doesn't touch the wall thus preventing any potential leaks. The hole is able to fit 40 or 50 pieces of bamboo.

Process of curing the bamboo

It's possible to cure the bamboo five times with the liquid cure; the time does not matter, it stays good for years. You can only use it 5 times because after you've done a bunch of bamboos, it gets dirty and you need to clean the system. The remaining curing water can optionally be filtered and reused if it's not too old. Or it can be used as a herbicide to kill grass on the public road.

Besides volunteering at Finca Sol y Valle

We also share two large meals a day and engage in activities like yoga, acro partner yoga, and other fun activities together. Personally, I'm not vegan or vegetarian, but I don't miss eating meat at all! I truly enjoy the fact that everyone contributes to the community. The atmosphere is incredibly cosy, and it already feels like home, even though I've only been here for five days. We celebrated Jeff's birthday together with lots of food, people from different nationalities, a campfire, and music, and I found it to be a particularly beautiful experience to be a part of.

By Marjolein de Wit