PDA

View Full Version : Grow your own fuel



stevep
02-May-07, 22:12
Has anybody tried growing willow or something similar to harvest their own fuel?

emb123
02-May-07, 23:02
No, but probably one of the best plants you can grow for fuel is Bamboo - surprisingly. It's quick growing and survives very well in the UK, even in northern climes apparently.

A friend of mine who has a degree in conservation mentioned that it is something of a pest if allowed to grow out of control because it dominates native species but if you harvest it then this won't be a problem.

Jeemag_USA
03-May-07, 01:36
I am just curious, what do you mean by fuel? Are you talking firewood? How is Bamboo used for fuel, I wouldn't have thought it would have lasted long on a fire?

ABC
03-May-07, 11:30
Haven't tried it, but saw it last night on Grand Design!

Dog-eared
03-May-07, 12:19
For info on willow growing / harvesting in the North see North Highland Forest Trust in Golspie or their website. They run free courses too.
Bamboo sounds interesting but I think that on a small scale the processing would be time consuming.

stevep
03-May-07, 13:02
It was to be used for firewood.

emb123
03-May-07, 14:33
Did a bit of Googling and came across a link re bamboo for fuel:

http://www.indianchild.com/agriculture/bamboo_plants.htm

Apparently it is the fastest growing plant (technically a grass) on the planet and it makes an excellent fuel for burning because it is so porous that the charcoal gives out more heat than some other 'woods'.

It is also used also to make briquettes for burning but that would be beyond the scope of personal use.

I suppose that if you had a pile of bamboo for burning it would be a much bigger physical pile than say of a hardwood, but if it grows fast then that wouldn't be a problem.

http://www.d.lane.btinternet.co.uk/bamboo.htm
(site about growing Bamboo in Northern UK (Manchester is in the north apparently, LOL))

A few hardy bamboo varieties
http://www.bamboogarden.com/descriptions.html

addendum:
http://www.bamboo-society.org.uk/

this web site is down so not sure if the company are still trading but maybe worth giving a bell:

Scottish Bamboo Nursery (http://www.thescottishbamboonursery.co.uk/)
Middlemuir Farm, Craigievar, Alford, Aberdeenshire, AB33 8JS; tel: (019755) 81316; fax: (019755) 81411. Some 87 species and varieties offered, all hardy in Scotland.

stevep
03-May-07, 21:40
thanks for that. I will have a look. I wonder if bamboo will grow on the coast?

emb123
03-May-07, 22:07
thanks for that. I will have a look. I wonder if bamboo will grow on the coast?
I was wondering the same thing myself! :)

Jeemag_USA
03-May-07, 22:57
Bamboo would be fast growing in the right conditions, but don't expect it to grow fast in Caithness unless you have a really sheltered space to grow in.

stevep
07-May-07, 20:30
Thanks for all the really useful information. Gealbhan are you near the coast? If yes, have you had any problems with the wind and salty air?

changilass
26-Jun-07, 19:17
Bamboo grows fine in Caithness, we have some in the garden and its doing fine.