Jon - keeper of the bamboo

18 FEBRUARY, 2006

Through the fence at the end of the property and just a little way from our house there's an incredible bamboo forest. Hundreds of species of bamboo grow there and are maintained and propagated by our friend Jon. We often walk down past the creek and into the bamboo forest (the fence has disappeared at the point where we cross) and we find ourselves amongst the singing bamboo, and usually Jon is there somewhere close by.

He lives in a dwelling similar to ours, and has a food garden outside it and a ring of rose bushes. Everything he touches can't help but flourish. He's proficient in permaculture and holds courses at the local hall, where he's established a huge permaculture garden. I took photos during a course recently where he's explaining how to propagate comfrey by digging up its roots and replanting them.

That day he also taught us how to build a herb spiral.