Bamboo Masterclass August 2025

Masterclass Registration Fee: $495  includes 2 weekends tuition, notes, use of tools and materials, morning and afternoon teas and a delicious vego lunch .
Free camping on site .
Please bring work gloves, sun hat, and wear practical work clothing and boots.
Numbers limited – register now to reserve your place.
• Special 10% Discount for members of Permaculture Australia, use the Supporters discount code for Permaculture College -Djanbung Gardens

Weekend Workshop Programs

Part 1: Bamboo Basics  Aug 9-10

• Essential biology, terminology, types  and varieties
• Tips on clump management for running and clumping bamboos
• Best time of year to harvest and how to select suitable culms
• Harvest techniques, tools, safety, protective gear
• Post harvest curing, de-branching and storage
• Treat bamboo against powder borer beetle: infusion and transpiration methods
• Tools & equipment for harvesting, crafting and construction
• Essential techniques for splitting, cutting & lashing
• Constructing a large tipi tripod with giant bamboo for transpiration treatment

Boot Camp Aug 12-14 **

• Advanced harvest and treatment techniques,
• Advanced clump management
• Maintenance and care of bamboo structures
• Whittling, crafting and heat bending
• Making flattened bamboo panels
• Advanced splitting and bending
  ** Free if you have registered for workshops Part 1 and/or Part 2.
  for those only doing the Bootcamp $100 to contribute to costs

Part 2: Crafting & Construction Aug 16-17**

• Traditional lashing, different joinery and construction techniques
• Use of contemporary materials & power tools
• Making fences, panels and trellises
• Weaving techniques, hex weave and brush screens
• Bamboo roofing
• Designing and planning a bamboo structure
• Practical construction projects to learn through hands-on action
• Basic whittling – make bamboo spatulas and utensils to take home
  ** This workshop assumes knowledge and skills of Part 1 Bamboo Basics

PLEASE COMPLETE the REGISTRATION FORM

Djanbung Gardens has an impressive collection of established bamboo clumps and practical examples of creative ways to use this abundant and beautiful resource.This coupled with an inspiring collection of bamboo tools from around the world makes Djanbung Gardens the ideal location to dive into the essential knowledge and skills to work with this magical plant.

Trainers:

Robyn Francis, permaculture teacher and designer, has been growing bamboo on her property, Djanbung Gardens for the past 30+ years. She has gleaned techniques for using this amazing material from some of Australia’s leading bamboo experts and her permaculture work in the bamboo cultures of Asia and Latin America. Robyn loves sharing the practical and creative potential of this incredible plant through facilitating these annual bamboo workshops at Djanbung Gardens for over the past 20 years. She will be retiring in a few years so don’t miss this special opportunity.

Read Robyn Francis’ article about Bamboo

Nat Rolls-Gordon, Nat grew up in the Northern Rivers with an abiding love for nature and creative play. He has been involved with permaculture for over 15 years, and spend the last 7 years working with bamboo with Djanbung Gardens, Cave Urban, and Woodford Folk Festival. Nat brings diverse experience from Events Production, Construction, and Landscaping, and loves working with the versatility of bamboo as an unparalleled renewable building material.

BamBooT Camp. Want to immerse yourself further in bamboo skills? Join us for the mid-week Bamboot Camp between the masterclasses.  Learn advanced techniques for harvesting, treating and splitting,  Weather-permitting we’ll be making some bamboo biochar in our cone kiln. Bootcamp free for those enrolled in weekend workshop, or $100 if only doing the Bootcamp. Onsite camping available plus kitchen facilities.

Gallery of past Bamboo workshops at Djanbung Gardens