Bamboo is not new to our Culture.

It’s only in the last 50 years, we have abandoned it and we are already seeing the effect of it. Landslides and Floods are becoming more common in hilly terrains. Replacing Bamboo and other grasses indeginous to the hills with commercial crops like rubber, arecanut, Coffee etc has created overall instability in the Soil structure underneath.

Now, the question is, if we move away from the commercial crops and grow grasses like Bamboo, what are the livelihood options available? So, its important to develop knowledge and skills based on Bamboo and other natural materials that can provide rural livelihood options that can promote biodiversity and environmental stability.

Fortunately, Bamboo provides various livelihood options on this regard. Bamboo Diaries along with the renowned Bamboo Craftswoman Mrs. Valsala has organized a 5 day training program to the women self help groups of Kurumbalakotta hill. The local women are to be trained in the following”

• Identification of the right Bamboo spcecies for Craftwork

• Bamboo cultivation and Harvesting

• Bamboo Strips making

• Bamboo strips treatment

• Bamboo weaving & craftwork

• Marketing options & strategy for Bamboo products

Subsequent to the training, a production setup is being established at this Kurumbalakotta Bamboo Craft Center venue where training and production happens in parallel continuously.

The larger goal is to create a local market for the products and not just sell it to faraway markets. Bamboo Diaries is happy to work hand in hand with the local women of Kurumbalakotta on this regard.

The program was ably supported by the local Panchayat Member and the Kudumbashree organization.

The Photo album can be found at:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/d66D9dU2KrbT4in86

A 3 day workshop was organized at Wandoor village, Nilambur for learning the art of Bamboo weaving. The trainer Mrs. Valsala has 3 decades of experience in making bamboo crafts and her dedication and passion showed in the training activities. In 3 days, she could make all the novice participants do bamboo crafts on their own. The feeling of converting a raw bamboo to a craft with your own hands is both meditative and blissful.

A Bamboo workshop organised with the intent of providing basic awareness about the material and setting the context of Sustainability and Development. It was attended by a diverse group of Individuals and families from Kerala, Karnataka and Tamilnadu. The first day was theoretical and second day was hands-on.

Day 04 - 14 May 2017

The morning session went in collecting of materials - 40mm and 20mm jally, cement, 8mm steel cage, Alum for fungal cleaning, cut granite stones. And second half of the day was spent in segregation of the bamboo poles and choosing the right ones for structural components.

Day 3 - 07 May 2017

With limited human resource (just the 2 of us), we finished the foundation pit digging (upto 21"-23"). And as usual, planted a sapling of Angustifolia and watered all the plants. After work is done, it rained nicely!!

Day 2 - 01 May 2017

Dug few more pits for foundation. Thanks to the Rain God, digging was made easier. A simple tool like spade and crowbar demands such attention in its utilization and maintenance. Learing about the tools and efficient utilization of them is very important in today's mechanized world. We also planted another Bamboo sapling at the premises. Another satisfying day at work!

Day I - 30 Apr 2017

Debris cleared and marking completed. Digging of 2' x 2' foundation pits in progress

Learning by Doing is effective and fulfilling.