• Composition: The smooth solid look of fine furniture is accomplished by cutting the bamboo stalk (bamboo is actually a grass, not a tree, hence a stalk, not a trunk) into small, narrow strips and then the knots are ground off and the strips are put through a boiling tank to remove any insects. Then they are put through the carbonization process. Next they are kiln dried for several days. The strips are then finely planed so they are ready to be bonded together. Then they are glued together to produce large planks and boards. Then the planks are put into a heat and pressure hydraulic press to create a bond that it makes the bamboo stronger then wood. Depending on which face is used, the end result is bamboo plywood or vertical grain bamboo planks.

• Durability/Cost: Moso bamboo is the best species to use to make fine bamboo furniture. The hardness of this bamboo is what is really amazing about this furniture. Bamboo is actually harder and more durable than oak. Because of the process bamboo goes through it makes it a little more expensive. But it will cost you less than most comparable furniture made from hardwoods such as oak, maple, and cherry.
Environmentally Friendly
The other reason customers are drawn to bamboo is its well-earned reputation as a green, eco-friendly material. Bamboo grows faster and can be harvested a lot more frequently than trees. Therefore, it doesn’t need to be re-planted after each harvest since it will just send up new shoots. In other words, bamboo plantations can continually harvest the same stand of bamboo every few years, without harming the plant (it’s like mowing your lawn). Once you cut down an oak tree, however, it’s gone forever.
Buying fine bamboo furniture you’ll be getting one of the strongest, most durable and beautiful pieces of furniture you’ve ever had. And you’ll also be investing in a piece of furniture that you can enjoy with good conscience for years to come.

From a quote by Satish Kumar; one of the world’s leading environmentalist “We cannot make peace in the human world unless we make peace with the earth, peace with nature. Humans and nature are not two separate entities – humans are nature.”
I believe that most people understand the danger our planet is in from global warming and are doing more things to be earth friendly, from the simple things like recycling, to the sophisticated technologies of renewable energy resources. We can all do our part, and the accumulative effect will restore the health of the planet and be one of the greatest economic booms of all time. I know that we can do it by breaking down the old ways of doing things that have harmed the earth. A mind shift, a new paradigm, a new respect for nature that has alluded so many people for so long.
When we shop and buy goods and services, make sure that with each purchase we understand the affects a particular product has on our environment, pre consumption and post consumption. Is it made without harming the eco system, does it benefit plant and animal, does it contain a by-product and what are its effects? Is it made from eco friendly, sustainable materials? Is it made from recycled or reclaimed materials? All of these things are very important as we collectively move forward to building a sustainable world.
With my background in horticulture for over 30 years, somewhere along the line I became interested in bamboo and its sustainability. I really liked the old cane bamboo furniture that I grew up with in the fifties and sixties. But then about four years ago I discovered a line of bamboo furniture like I had never seen before. It was a whole new way of manufacturing and construction. It looked like solid wood furniture with the beautiful grains of bamboo. After careful research to ensure the manufacturing process was being done in a safe way I bought a couple of pieces and since then I have become a passionate advocate for this style of furniture.
Bamboo furniture is undergoing a revolution, and a new type of furniture is being made. It is milled, sanded and finished, to make fine bamboo furniture. It is equal to any hardwood furniture in durability, hardness, and beauty. It can be formed into many styles but currently you will see it mostly with a contemporary flair. The smooth, fine furniture look is created by cutting the bamboo stalk (bamboo is actually a grass, not a tree) into small, narrow sections and then gluing those pieces together.
Bamboo is one of the most sustainable plants on earth and it sequesters more carbon than most plants. Its rapid growth allows for sustainable forests to produce quality bamboo in 3-5 years. The ultimate environmentally friendly plant makes living green easy.

We live in a very interesting time in world history.  The evolution of getting to this point has never been so dynamic.  Even though all the events that have taken place prior to this point in time have great significance, and the fact that it is what brought us here, our current world environment has been propelled into the 21^st century with lightening speed. The advancement of technology in communications, information and the internet has created the instant information age. And with that our conscious minds have become more inter connected with the world than ever before.

What is interesting is that this phenomenon is the staging ground for all of us to become more enlightened. We are, and always have been connected to the entire universe. We all have roots in the universe because consciousness affects our physical world, which includes all living things right down to the individual cells. Our minds have a great influence on our health and well being and on how we view the world. Our existence in the universe is born of a sense of participation and kinship with all others and all matter. The basic oneness of the universe is the central characteristic of the mystical experience, but is also one of the most important revelations of modern physics, (i.e. quantum physics). But I don’t want to talk about quantum theory; I want to talk about the human connectedness, and what I detect as a shift in the thinking of more and more people.

Because of the information age, a fast paced lifestyle, what’s in it for me attitude, and a win at all cost mentality, too many people began losing sight of the connection we all have with each other and the universe. The ideal of we are all in this together was fading, and taking responsibility for the common good of all, had begun to disappear. Over the last decade, an exponential amount of negative actions and the pursuits of an ideology of egotism have brought us to this juncture. But there is hope because I see the beginning of a change in the minds of many people.    

All you need is love….and a few good ways to express it. Now, more than ever people are placing an increased importance on relationships. Taking stock of what really matters, like family, friends, and community. There is a new awareness that we are all connected to the universe, and that human consciousness and the physical world are intertwined. The understanding is that there is a profound interaction exists between conscious mental activity and the physical world itself.  
We cannot separate our own existence from that of the outside world. We are not only associated with the earth that we inhabit, but with the furthest reaches of the cosmos. We affect all of those about us, so events such as caring, loving, and confiding exert profound consequences on the universe.

Like the Laws of Attraction, the universe gives us what we want if follow our dreams and our passions, but it also takes away if we lose sight of that connection that exists between us all. I believe that there is a change in the winds of time because there is the beginning of an understanding of this relationship. Maybe, just maybe it could be the start of the Age of Enlightenment.   http://www.enerchilivingspaces.com/

3 Steps of Feng Shui:

Feng Shui is the Chinese art of detecting Chi, the energy in and around our physical world that affects our well being, sense of comfort and peace of mind. The spaces you live and work in are powerful forces in your life. Home is where you physically manifest your beliefs about the world, and it affects you just as you affect it. You can shift its energy to restore balance and encourage growth by integrating feng shui into your design choices on many different levels, depending on what resonates with you. Each design choice has a physical aspect, a psychological/emotional aspect, and a cultural aspect.

Step 1: Ready your space by clearing it of negative energy. Most experts agree space clearing will improve the quality of our lives more effectively than any other feng shui technique.

- Thoroughly clean and organize the space as much as possible.
- Focus your mind on your intention to clear and energize your space.
- Light a sage wand or incense and walk through the entire space, saturating the atmosphere with the cleansing smoke.
- Ring bells at a slow steady rhythm while moving around the space.
- Refocus your attention to what your intention is for that space.

Step 2: Consider how Chi flows. Some physical aspects should be considered at the outset.

- Doorways and windows that are directly across from one another allow Chi to flow straight through the space. Redirect the energy back into the room with screens, plants, crystals, etc.
- Long hallways that dead end may block the flow of Chi. Move the energy back out of an enclosed space through mirrors, chimes, and/or crystals.
- Rearrange the placement of furniture that blocks walking through a space.
- Arrange rugs to direct movement through the space.
- Soften sharp corners with plants, crystals, chimes.
- If there are any unused doors, place a folding screen in front of it.

Step 3: Locate the areas in your space that relate to the areas of your life you wish to enhance. Begin with laying out the space in relationship to the Baqua Map.

- Sketch a floor plan of your space
- Sketch the areas of the Bagua Map over the plan
- Place the main entrance to your space in line with the bottom of the map.
- Small sections may extend beyond or intrude into the map
- Determine what specific life aspect(s) you wish to enhance.
- Place objects that have meaning and reflect those aspects so your intention for enhancing that area of your life is personally significant

An important note: Only use those feng shui adjustments that make sense to you and reflect your intentions. Placing something in your home that you don’t like just because it is “good feng shui” will not enhance your home or support your personal growth.