Bambu Salubre
The Bamboo Masters
We at Bambú Salubre work with passion to support the growth of the bamboo industry in the Philippines. For more than two decades, we have strived intensively to promote the planting of bamboo by forest and farming communities; to prove that it is a bio-resource that provides not only economic benefits but most especially ecological services.
One of our projects gave rise to a photo documentation of the social, cultural, environmental and economic uses of bamboo in the Philippines. In developing models of bamboo-based agroforestry systems, our goal is to stimulate a deeper understanding of the applications of sustainable bamboo farming to all age classes (from 5-99). We have on-going studies on the ethnobotanical uses of bamboo. Our bamboo journey has taken us to a number of bamboo-rich areas in the Philippines and other parts of the world. This provided us a first-hand experience in planting bamboo.
Bambú Salubre
Recently, we rebranded ourselves as Bambú Salubre in order to truly reflect and recognize the full breadth of our offerings as the only manufacturer of bamboo leaf products in the Philippines.
As a result of product development, we made changes in our business operations, including a research and development (R&D) function that is needed to introduce new products to our existing customer base
We have developed new products from the bamboo leaves for food, aromatherapy and cosmetics: bamboo loose leaf tea, bamboo wine, bamboo essential oil and hydrosol and bamboo charcoal soap.
Salubre means “healthy or health-giving” not just in one but in several languages. It has almost a universal meaning. Bamboo is truly a miracle plant that provides health and healing properties.
Bambú Salubre MEDITATION GARDEN
Bambú Salubre has developed a healing and meditation garden. In this garden, plants are specially chosen for their medicinal properties or for their traditional uses in cleansing and restoring our natural balance. We have made use of as many natural features as possible. This includes the contours of the ground Bamboos, herbs, shrubs, flowers and trees form a solid natural link with the earth energies and enhance their flow. Bamboos are particularly important as they create a canopy of energy over the garden. People in frequent contact with bamboo experience increased strength, stamina, and energy. The ancient Chinese recognized this and used bamboo to clear negative energy and to revitalize energy flow. Bamboos stimulate creativity and improve artistic communication. They supply a rustle, a gentle background noise that helps to concentrate and to soothe the weary mind
We set up the Marga Bambusetum, a private effort to collect, to classify, to protect, to conserve and to preserve Philippine bamboo species as well as other tropical, sub-tropical and temperate taxa all over the world. We have studied and collected over a hundred species of bamboos and continue to discover their other usage.
More than just a tea. Bambu Tisane is an advocacy.
Bamboo for Biodiversity Conservation: A Bamboo Agroforestry Project in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan
Bamboo is a fascinating plant intricately woven in the lives of Filipinos. It has a wide range of uses (more than a thousand identified by various researchers.) It plays a significant role in biodiversity conservation and contribute to soil and water management. Bamboos are of conservation significance in their own right. They are important indicators of biodiversity in the ecosystem.
Bamboo forests provide valuable environmental services such as erosion control and windbreak. Their extensive rhizome system stabilizes soils on slopes and river banks. Thus, they are important for securing the hydrological function of catchments and rivers.
Being the fastest growing plant in this planet, their photosynthetic rates are extremely high making them the best crop for carbon sequestration. Their ability for biomass production has also made them an excellent candidate for biofuel.
A bamboo agroforestry project has been established at the property of R&S Capital Holdings Co in Upper Ciudad Real, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan. Essentially, this project demonstrates how planting of bamboos could contribute to biodiversity conservation and how it could be used as a resource material for tisanes and other leaf products. Herbs, fruits and indigenous berries have been intercropped with bamboo as companion plants. They are also blended with bamboo in the preparation of tisanes for richer flavor and healing powers.
Processing of bamboo tisanes blended with fruits and herbs have been integrated as a livelihood project where women and out of school youth are employed. This will ensure that the project will become self-sustaining.
The agroforestry farm was established in conjunction with the efforts made to collect, classify and to preserve Philippine bamboo species as well as other tropical, sub-tropical and temperate taxa all over the world (bambusetum).This farm was formerly a cogonal (Imperata cylindrica), with a few mango trees before it was converted for agro-forestry. The natural forest was cut down and land was converted to subsistence farming and horse raising exposing the land to erosion and to heavy downpours further damaging the soil by leaching valuable nutrients.
Reduced evapo-transpiration alters the water cycle resulting to hotter and drier climates. The destruction of forests is positively correlated to the loss of biodiversity. Our experience in the farm shows that the growth of bamboo clumps has improved the micro-climate resulting to an increase in the population of earthworms, birds, micro-organisms and other small animals. Bamboo forests are habitats and food to a variety of flora and fauna.
A botanical inventory and vegetation survey is conducted every three years. The survey will include a species inventory, vegetation analysis and photo documentation to monitor changes.
Bamboo matters.