Kitsune Bamboo Nursery

This is the first Epiphany Now post to emmerge from my space phone blogger app bluetooth keyboard device.  I hope all goes well, and the many batteries it requies stay charged long enough to complete this communication (although currently I could just plug in and recharge but that doesn't sound as dramatic).  I plan to write much more here at Epiphany Now, but for now I'm just unveiling some intention into the digital cloud.

Shortly after dropping out of the Matrix I moved to my current residence.  My intention for my new unplugged lifestyle was to learn Permaculture and to create a garden of eatin' into the landscape.  I was following my bliss (and still am) and activeily writing the story of my destiny.  My words shapped the land and fostered the birth of an ecologically healthy landscape filled with intentional spiritual energy and meaning.  Essentially I've created a Druid food forrest painted in the Ogam ( the Ogam, or Ogham, is a celtic tree alphabet I happen to study).  

I bet I sound crazy as a shit house rat to a lot of people reading these words.  I don't care really what I sound like.  I'm authentically on fire and refuse to apologize for it.  

Anyways, when I moved here I dubbed my abode, outside of the actual house, "The Fox Den."  I mostly live outside.  Being that I'm domesticated I am forced to spend time indoors, but I am constantly attempting to minimize that time.  I blame it on Aspergers, at least to use the modern psychiatric explanation for my irregularities (than's an entire other bag of worms).  I'm a shaman at heart, and I have a theory that Aspergers may be displaced shamans, displaced by suburban sprawl and cookie cutter jobs complete with required behavior patterns.  It may be that I'm not an aspie, but a shaman, and it just so happens that the diagnosis for Aspergers overlaps qualities of a shaman.  Whatever the case, I have a very strong need to minimize my interaction with people.  I'm perfectly fine one on one, however, which would make sense following my shaman theory.  

I want to make it clear that I have no desire to fill some egoic need to be special.  I'm no more, or less special, than you or anybody else.  However, I am fundamentally different, and science explains that via a neurological difference...so be it.  

Kitsune is the Japanesse word for a fox, but it has strong mystical and magical associations in Japanese folklore culture as well (if you want an interesting read on the subject than I'd reccommend the wiki article for Kitsune).  When I moved here, and essentially devoted my life to Permaculture and Druidry, I had just found the fox to be a spirit animal that was following me around.  I resonated with fox, and so embraced that friendship and guidance that was being offered.  

Then the Bamboo Monster revealed itself to me.  I fell in love with that monster and was unable to resist the overwhelming need to suddenly begin digging up bamboo to plant it at the Fox Den.  Bamboo even began showing up at the Fox Den in pots due to a serrendipitous friendship that started one magical day in the woods at a near by park.  I have since began an internship with Keiji Oshima of Haiku Bamboo Nursery.  He has been teaching me everything he thinks I'm ready to learn about bamboo.  I am interested in the culture of bamboo and not just the growing of it.  Bamboo is very familiar to the shaman in me, and I know that is because I have known bamboo intimately before, just as I have known Kitsune.  

Therefore, to honor the relationship that I have with fox, bamboo, and Japanesse culture, I have decided to dub this bamboo nursery (with very heavy Permaculture overtones) Kitsune Bamboo Nursery.  To kick off the declaration I figured that I would share pictures of all the characters of bamboo that reside here.  I also want to publicly decree that the Bamboo Monster regurlarly hangs out here at Kitsune, but don't worry because he's a nice, and useful monster.  

Here at Kitsune Bamboo Nursery we have 11 varieites of bamboo (not counting two which we're trying to propagate rhizomally which are Moso, and Makinoi).  Two of those varieties are in pots only, they are Green Onion, and Koi.  Currently we have only Buddha Belly and Medake for sale, however next fall we will have several other varieties for sale.  Within four years all of our varieities will be for sale, hopefully.  I'd also like to note that I plan to have only four varieties growing at this site.  We will be moving bamboos to our Rock HIll property as they grow and we run out of room.  Kitsune Bamboo is already expanding habitate for the Bamboo Monster to inhabit.  

The picture below is a fall Madake shoot (phyllostachys bambusoides), planted August 2015, given to KBN (Kitsune Bamboo Nursery) by HBN (Haiku Bamboo Nursery) and showing how bamboo plays with water.  The presence of morning dew on bamboo auricles is considered a sign of good health.  This, however, is rain water.

The same Madake plant showing rhizomal character.  Phyllostachys like to snake in and out of the ground.  I'm performing an experient with this rhizome.  If you look closely at the left hand sid eof the picture you can barely see a rhizome leaf about to hit that rock.  I placed that rock there, and one under it in the ground, to study what the rhizome will due upon encontering it.  It appears that it is already aware of the rock and is simply going to go up and over it...but I'll see as time moves forward.  

Same Madake plant with a gift given to Ayden Zen by Stefani Oshima at the final intern day of the 2015 season.  Madake is one of the two most useful bamboos (according to Japanesse Culture, the other is Medake featured later).  Madake is a timber bamboo capable of 72 foot tall canes that are 6 inches in diameter.  Madake is very hard and it grows straight.  It's great for building structures or for splitting and weaving.  Madake is my favorite bamboo because it's the most useful to humans.  It's also used to make flutes (which Keiji Oshima makes and sales).

Koi (phyllostachy aurea 'Koi'

Some potted Buddha belly (phyllostachys Aurea).  This was the first bamboo plant I ever dug up.  Buddha Belly is valued due to its ornamental appeal for crafts because of it's compressed internodes.

Some more Buddha Belly, in the ground, with Hairy Vetch planted as a nitrogen fixing cover crop.  I'm trying to keep the bermuda at bay.

Medake (Pleioblastus simonii) purchased at HBN and planted here spring of 2015.  Medake and Madake are considered the most useful bamboos in Japan, and with good reason.

This is Phyllostachys Vivax which I propagated rhizomally.  The rhizomes were given to me by Gary McPhee (the serendipitous friend I met at the park)

This is fall growth.  Here you can see how beautiful this variety of Vivax is.  It's a timber bamboo that is celebrated for it's beauty.  It's wood is not very hard and often breaks due to the weight of ice in the winter.

Phyllostachys Aureosulcata f. Spectabalis.  This bamboo has the most character and a lot of beauty in my opinion.  It has variagation on the leafs like Koi, it geniculates (the can zig zags as it finishes the growth of the last couple of internodes), it changes colors in the sun, and it has the green sulcus with bright yellow canes.  It truly is a spectacular site to behold, but it is not a very useful bamboo...just beautiful.  

Showing the green sulcus of Spectabilis

Another timber bamboo I propagated early spring of 2015.  This is Phyllostachys Nigra Boryana, also known as snake skin bamboo.  Right now it's a sleeping giant capable of 60 foot canes that are 4 inches in diameter.

Bamboo island with two species of bamboo.

This is Phyllostachy Nigra Henon.  This is another bamboo that is considered to be one of the most beautiful, especially in Japan.  This is the original "Nigra," although it does not have black culms.  It's a very useful bamboo.

Close up of a Henon culm showing how it plays with slight color variations.

Psuedosasa Japonica, or Arrow bamboo, so called because the Japanesse used to make arrows with it due to it's straight growth and perfect diameter for crafting arrows.  It also makes a very effective screen for making neighbors dissappear.

This is yet another planting of Buddha Belly with some new growth.  This growth is from the last month.

Evidence of the Bamboo Monster?

Let me take you on a journey through a magical land inhabited by Pagans, Druids, Witches, and Bamboo Monsters.  It's located in the Upstate of SC and is home to the SUN Foundation.  Ancient Earth Design also resides in this location, as does the Fox Den and the Gypsy House.  Tribanns are to be found, as are treasures, gourds, and bamboo bones (I think they are the phalanges of the Bamboo Monster himself).  Legend and myth is unfolding here, and if one looks closely enough fairies can be spotted racing from earth mound to earth mound.  It all amounts to hope in a hopeless time.  In other words, beyond monetary value, and beyond business as usual.  For there is very little BAU to be found here.  It's cordoned off and kept at bay by intentional magic.  As in the esoterically occult kind.  The kind that uses natural objects to weave meaning, purpose, and intentionality.  Join me on this journey.  Captured in one windy, unusually chilly, overcast and drizzily day after a storm had passed.  

There is a tribann composed of 6 Earth Mounds

A hidden mushroom

Me

gourds

more gourds and a bamboo staff altered by sun, rain, and druid magic

reflection of phyllostachy spectabilis in a rain water filled swale

Wind blown spectabilis

A bee on a gourd blossom

gourds gourds and more gourds

Zen pointing out evidence of the Bamboo Monster.  He leaves behind bamboo bones as he passes through to check on the welfare of our chickens.  We're certain he lives here. 

Bamboo bones left by the Monster.  Zen says he was "keeping them safe from the ostrich."  Apparently "The Ostrich" likes to eat Bamboo Monster phalange's left behind by his passing.  Zen threw them all into the pond. 

a gourd and a booga

Blueberry being "gourdtacked" as Wendy likes to call the process of being overtaken by a gourd plant.  We've gotten 2 blueberries so far this year.  This is the second year of growth. 

One of many bamboo trellises held down by stone with a message to the future about what we do to televisions in this land

our fire pit

A fugi apple tree along with several different gourds, concord grapes, and Saint John's Wort.

One of the three black locust trees next to the main swale.  In five years it should be around 20 feet tall.

Zen's leg in the main swale

Aji Crystal with one of last year's gourds.  The same gourd that was broadcasted throughout the garden by me

Montmorecny Cherry Tree in the front attached to a staff with a Georgia Belle Peach tree behind surrounded by gourds and pepper plants

This maple tree grew from under our deck, went through the deck wood, and emerged in the corner of our deck.  It grew to about 10 feet high.  I had to remove because it was right next to the house.  I planted it here.  You can see the curved branch at the top of the maple, that was the main branch.  What I planted was actually what was beneath the deck.  This maple wants to grow. 

A maple tree cut down with the Sergent Major.  That's a size 13 chacco.  I'll be burying it in a Spiral Earth Mound this week. 

One of my two compost bins

Maygold Peach tree

Gourd central

Ripe Aji Crystal

Lavender, tomato, gourd, Saint John's Wort

Comfrey

Granny Smith guyed with bamboo

raspberry

Saint John's Wort growing behind the lavender and beneath gourd leaves

Bamboo Island

Ghost pepper with Pseudosasa Japonica

The soon to be pond (it's not been lined yet)

The Fox Den

Phylostachy Aureus, aka fish pole or Golden bamboo

Aurea

Aurea with the power line above

Rooster Spur pepper with Phyllostachy Negra or Black Bamboo.  There's are no canes yet.  What you see are just stems coming off of the rhizome

Pseudosasa Japonica, aka Arrow bamboo due to the Japanese using it for arrow shafts due to it's perfectly straight growth. 

Here you can see how straight it grows

Arrow Bamboo at the tip of the bamboo island

Phyllostachy Aurea Koi.  The rose color is south and the green is north. The canes change rose colored with sun. 

One Koi cane, and by this time next year there may well be 30 canes. 

Bamboo island

Phyllostachy Spectabilis

Here showing the idiosyncrasy of spectabilis.  Twisting out of the ground.  It also sometimes grows in a zig zag formation.  

Bo Peppa's (my late dog) memorial.  She's burried beneath those Fresno pepper plants and likely has spectabilis rhizome growing through here by this point.  Maybe it's morbid to point that out.  I think it's beautiful. 

my favorite wild edible, Sorrel.  I never knew it before my business partner showed it to me.  Since it's spread like wild fire through my yard.  It's everywhere!!!  It taste like lemon. 

Most of the chickens

"Little Chicky" with the broody hen.  He had a sister but she drown in the water bowl on day two.  He's a redstar rooster.  We didn't incubate his egg, the broody hen did. 

the new "eggmahal" located in the chicken shack.    I made it from mostly salvage and bamboo.  I designed it to be an egg laying chicken house capable of keeping dry on it's own, without the benefit of the old ass tarp that kind of keeps the chickens dry.