Over 100 bamboo culms, most are 3–4 m long by 3–4.5 cm in diameter, and some shorter ones with diameters of 2.5–7 cm, are available for free. They are of different bamboo species:
1, Bambusa textilis, Weaver's Bamboo, ไผ่ช่างทอ (phai chang tho);
2, Thyrsostachys siamensis, Monastery Bamboo, Siamese Bamboo, ไผ่รวก (phai ruak);
3, Dendrocalamus copelandii, Pig Fat Bamboo, ไผ่มันหมู (phai man mu).
Most species are useful bamboos with diameters of 3 to 10 cm, thick-walled or even solid on the lower culm, and lengths of 10 m and more.
To harvest the culms of these clumps, we need the help of at least one person. We saw off all the culms at the base ourselves, but all other work must be done by the person helping, e.g., cutting off the branches from the culms, and uploading the culms and branches onto the person's pickup truck. This person can receive all harvested culms for free if they want them.
If not all cut culms were taken away but remain, they will be offered to other people, also free of charge, through advertisements in up to 40 Chiang Mai Facebook groups, on Sam's Facebook page, Dieter's Facebook page, and on Sam's blog, BAMBOO AVAILABLE FOR FREE (ไม้ไผ่ให้ฟรี), or this blog in Thai (automatic translation by GoogleTranslate). So, if you want to get cut bamboo culms that meet your requirements, we need your help harvesting them.
Culms of other species, especially those with a lower height, small diameter, and thin walls, can be cut by ourselves and are also offered to everyone free of charge. These culms are not usually very suitable for construction purposes but for making furniture, handicrafts, and splitting the culms for various purposes, such as fence strips or pickets, and woven products such as basketry.
We at Baan Sammi do not offer bamboo culms for sale, nor do we have anyone who will transport and deliver bamboo poles to any destination for a charge.
To contact us, please read the last “Contact Us” post on this blog.
— UPDATE 28 MARCH 2024: All poles were picked up and are no longer available. —
There are numerous bamboo fencing constructions and designs, most are of three main elements, each of which works best with poles of different bamboo species:
 |
| Examples: Phai Sang Mon, a Dendrocalamus species, is ideal for thick fence poles (left), Phai Ruak Dam, Thyrsostachys oliveri, is good for fence rails (center), and Schizostachyum zollingeri can be easily split for fence strips (right). |
×Thyrsocalamus liang, ไผ่เลี้ยง (phai liang), is indigenous to Thailand but can also be found in neighboring countries. Its stems can be used for numerous purposes, including in light construction as pillars and beams. Young shoots are edible and delicious.
Stem harvesting requires your assistance and the cut stems are free; the procedure:
Location: Baan Sammi, 15 km (10 mi) northeast of Chiang Mai, please see Google Maps.
For further help to find Baan Sammi, please see the blog HOW TO FIND BAAN SAMMI (บ้านแซมมี)?, particularly Chapter 9 which helps identify the property from the public street.
Viewing, visiting: Any day, but a 1-day prior notice is required.
Contact: Private message in English or ภาษาไทย via Facebook Messenger or email.
— UPDATE 1 MARCH 2024: All poles were picked up and are no longer available. —
— UPDATE 1 MARCH 2024: Piles #37 + #38 are now reserved for a third party and no longer available. However, further stems will be cut during this month and offered in a new post. —
● Your job: Select the species (out of over 15 species) and the number of stems you want from the list below, but we also strongly recommend that you visit us (contact us for a date) and choose from the living bamboo clumps.
● Our job: We will saw off the stems close to their base. We will lay the cut stems on the ground nearby, if possible. We will cut off the few meters long top of the stem.
● Your job: You do all the other work that comes up, e.g. cut off the branches from the pre-cut stem, reducing the pre-cut bamboo poles to the desired or transportable lengths (with your own saw, machete, secateurs), uploading and transporting.
This work can take from a few hours to about half a day: the taller and thicker the bamboo, the longer it takes. More details about the procedure on request.
The length of the stems, the length of their internodes (segments), the color of the stems, the diameter and the wall thickness vary depending on the species.
The number of stems to be harvested varies depending on the current growth situation of a certain bamboo clump.
Viewing, visiting: Any day, but a 1-day prior notice is required.
Contact: Private message in English or ภาษาไทย via Facebook Messenger or email.
For types and the availability of bamboo poles, please enter the "Read more" link below.
Thyrsostachys oliveri, ไผ่รวใหญ่ (phai ruak yai), is a native of Thailand and occurs also in neighboring countries. Its stems can be used for numerous purposes, including construction as pillars and beams. Young shoots are edible and delicious.
Stem harvesting requires your help and the cut poles are free; the procedure:
Location: Baan Sammi, 15 km (10 mi) northeast of Chiang Mai, see Google Maps:
https://goo.gl/maps/ZLoQTW4n8UJWsEYz6
Viewing, visiting: Any day, but a 1-day prior notice is required.
Contact: Private message in English or ภาษาไทย via Facebook Messenger or email.
— UPDATED 21 JANUARY 2024 —
Species of bamboo that can grow 22 m (72 ft) and more are known as giants. Living plants of giant species at Bambusetum Baan Sammi are usually available for distribution during the late dry season and early rainy season from March to June, and poles from November to May/June.
For types and availability of bamboo species, please enter the "Read more" link below.
— UPDATE 10 FEBRUARY 2024: Pile #35: All poles have been reserved for a third party, no longer available. —
— UPDATE 10 FEBRUARY 2024: Pile #34: All poles have been reserved for a third party, no longer available. —
— UPDATE 8 FEBRUARY 2024: Pile #33: All poles have been reserved for a third party, no longer available. —
— UPDATE 8 FEBRUARY 2024: Pile #32: The entire culms have been picked up, no longer available —
— UPDATE 31 JANUARY 2024: Pile #30: All culms have been picked up and are no longer available. —
