~ Fresh-Water ~ Shrimp, River Prawns, Langostino, and Crayfish

Why does it seem so confusing?

It can be greatly confusing, especially in places where cultural diversity is a way of life. Costa Rica embraces a great number of cultures, and every one of them contributes to the tropical cuisine experience.

It is somewhat normal to have a “where am I” experience when we try to buy seafood in Costa Rica and/or order from the restaurant menu. Many times we end up feeling a little disappointed and confused when we are sold or served something we do not recognize as the ‘fresh water shrimp’ we have been expecting to enjoy.

I think it is important to acknowledge that the same delicious crustacean can be known

by several different names in different parts of the world, and to make matters a little more complicated, the same name can be given to different variations of the species. That rather explains why is almost impossible to lift the veil of confusion all at once.

To begin with, the terms' shrimp and prawn originated in Great Britain.
Shrimp is applied to smaller species. The word prawn is never given to the very small species, but always applied to most of the larger forms.

There are some exceptions in Australia, where small species are called prawns, and some prawn-like crustaceans are referred as shrimps.

 

Nevertheless, it is fair to say: that most commonly, shrimps are the small crustaceans with a length of three inches or less, often found in shallow waters and caught by net. Prawns can be as large as twelve inches long, and sometimes harvested by trapping and trawling.  

 

Interestingly enough, in the United States the term shrimp is used for almost all species, including the most commercially attractive. The word prawn is not very common, and it usually applies specifically to large shrimp living in freshwater.

Even though sometimes the freshwater prawns and the saltwater shrimp, look very similar, and even their texture is alike, the freshwater prawns don’t have the strong flavor of the saltwater shrimp.

River prawns have a fresher taste, and their bodies absorb any type of marinade in a manner of minutes. It is a real treat!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freshwater_prawn_farm

 

Here in Costa Rica, we have the variety of fresh water shrimp (Macrobrachium carcinus) also known as langostino de río, camarón de río, or camarón de agua dulce, and it is one of the largest freshwater shrimp of the east coast of the Americas, it is commercially fished in certain parts of the region.

In exceptional cases, after several years of growth, the adult M. carcinus can reach up to 18 inches (45.7 centimeters) in length and may weigh up to 1 pound (.45 kilograms).

Langostino or River prawns come in different shapes and colors. The average langostino is never larger than 15 cm; the body is long and slender with a big head and protruded eyes. Their abdomen is somewhat flat, and the most common color is pale pink. It has 10 legs; the first three pairs resemble a pincher, and the last pair has some sort of nail. Their antennas are quite long.

Farming fresh-water shrimp or river prawns has been a growing practice in many countries, before the year 2000, the only species farmed was the giant river prawn, marobrachium resenbergii; currently, there are around 200 species of the genus' marobrachium living in the tropical and subtropical climates of many countries and continents except Europe and Antarctica.

The river prawn (marobrachium resenbergii) is known for it large size. Depending on

the climate, it can have blue or orange claws, blue, brown, or gray bodies.

They have 10 legs; the second pair of equal size legs is the biggest and has a pincher. Its head is as big with stalked eyes. It has two sets of antennas, the second larger than the first.

Species of the freshwater prawn are distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical zones of the world. They are found in most of the inland freshwater areas, including lakes, rivers, swamps, irrigation ditches, canals and ponds, as well as in estuarine areas. Some species prefer rivers containing clear water, while others are found in extremely turbid conditions. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decapoda

Now, let’s talk about the Crayfish; many people believe it to be the same than the River prawns; however, it is not. It is a little confusing, and to make it more puzzling; these creatures are also called crawfish, crawdads, mudbugs, and even freshwater lobsters, since somehow they are related to the lobster. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crayfish

Crayfish is technically a decapod crustacean, related to lobsters, and crabs. 

Crayfish is found in lakes, streams, and rivers, just like the fresh water prawns and langostinos.

Keep in mind; however, that the crayfish in other countries around the world is probably a different species, and may have quite distinct habits.

“Prawns” and “shrimps” are pretty much the same; the only biological difference is that

prawns have their second abdominal flap (counting from the head towards the tail) overlapping the first and the third. And "Crayfish" and "crawfish" are names given to both of those freshwater crustaceans.

At the end, prawns, crayfish, and shrimp seem to share similar space and identity.

http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/faq/fishfaq4a.html

Hopefully, this will help you to see the difference where there seems to be only similarities. One thing I can tell you for sure, when you taste it, you will experience the difference.

Enjoy Costa Rica and its Seafood Gifts. 

 

Papaya ~ “Believe it or Not” ~

Papaya

It is one of the user-friendly fruits available worldwide. 

I consider it user-friendly because every part of the plant, from “top to roots” can be consumed, and what is even more interesting is that each one of those parts has nutritional and healing properties. 
Personally, I think papaya is the gentle spirit of nature giving itself to us in a very colorful and sweet package with the purpose of nourishing and healing our bodies.

It seems like no one knows the exact area of origin of the papaya; however, many believe it is native to tropical America, perhaps southern Mexico, and Central America. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/papaya_ars.html#Origin and Distribution

There are some records suggesting that before 1525, the papaya seed arrived in Panama and Dominican Republic, and spread through warm elevations in places like South and Central America, Southern Mexico, West Indies, Bahamas, and Bermuda buy 1616. Around 1550, Spaniards introduced the papaya seed in the Philippines, traveling to Malaysia and India from there. In 1626, the seeds were sent from India to Naples, Italy. As you can imagine, this user-friendly plant spread like the wind all over the world. 

The papaya thrives under warm and humid conditions.

Some people believe papaya is a tree; some others consider it a large herbaceous plant. It is usually a single straight trunk reaching up to 30 ft. Its leaves are big and lobed. The old leaves fall as the new ones emerge, maintaining a palm-like shape. The flowers and fruits arise from buds growing on the trunk at the base of the leaves.

I never thought about papaya plants having gender, and of course; it didn’t occur to me that besides male and female, they have that “one-gender fits all (hermafrodite)," well, it actually makes sense.

By now, you might be asking yourself “why would that matter?” 

Well, it only really matters if you want to grow your own plants. You could actually grow them from the seeds of the fruit you eat; in this case, if you buy the papaya at the store, it would be convenient to buy the kind with an elongated shape, since it comes from hermaphrodite heritage, you will have a better chance of growing a producing papaya plant. Unfortunately, neither a female nor a male plant can produce fruit on their own, they need help, you know! The great thing about the bisexual plants is that they self-pollinate and produce fruits without additional help. 

Lets look into the benefits of all the papaya parts.


To get a better idea of why papaya is so well-known and appreciated by most of the world, I want to start talking about the health properties of the fruit since it is the most familiar part to many of us. 

The ripe papaya always shows beautiful orange color and a delicious sweet smell; it is



extremely rich in potassium and help us to meet our daily potassium requirements. Eating papaya on a regular basis can help to keep your blood pressure within the normal range, reducing  the risk of heart disease. It is also rich in vitamin A, C, and B complex, amino acids, calcium, iron, and enzymes. The protein in papaya is highly digestible, and helps to break up hard-to-digest proteins. Among the many compounds found in papaya, the two most important ones to provide health benefits are chymopapain and papain; they can be found in the fruit, latex, leaves, and roots.

Surprisingly, the papaya skin is edible and contains the same properties as the fruit; so if you are able to overcome the thought of eating the peelings, try eating your papaya with the skin on; it is good, especially if you sprinkle some sugar or honey over it. Yummy!

Ripe papaya is often used to promote good digestion. It is also used as a laxative and diuretic.

The unripe fruit is not usually eaten raw; it is commonly cooked either with honey or made into some savory dish where the chopped green papaya is the main ingredient, in Costa Rica ~picadillo de papaya~ is a traditional dish. This green fruit has higher nutritional value than the ripe one.

Let’s talk about the flowers; they are very fragrant and have five petals, ranging
from cream-white to yellow-orange, and the stamens are bright yellow.

The flowers are different in the male, female, and bisexual plants.

Female flowers are large and round at the base. They have a stigma, but lack the stamens. They have a miniature papaya fruit inside the base of the flower petals. They need to be pollinated to become productive. These flowers grow from the trunk.

Male flowers are thin and tubular. They seem to be perfect, because they contain the male and female organs, but the small vestigial ovary is nonfunctional. These flowers grow on a long flower stalk.

Now, the bisexual flowers have it all. They look identical to the female ones; however, they have the stamens around the miniature papaya inside the flower petals.

Surprisingly, the flowers are edible; some people in Costa Rica use them to prepare traditional dishes. More commonly, the extracts of the flowers mixed with honey are used to treat respiratory problems. http://www.medicalhealthguide.com/articles/papaya.htm#b

The leaves, to my surprise, are edible too, and plentiful in vitamins and minerals such as beta-carotene, calcium, carpaine, fats, flavonols, niacin, papain, tannins, and vitamin C, in higher concentration than in the fruit. 

Some physicians in the nineteen century used papaya leaves to treat bloating, nausea, and flatulence caused by the excessive consumption of fermented foods.

The “West Indian medical Journal” published in 2008 the use of papaya leaves extract in the treatment of gastric ulcers. 

Papaya leaves are good for the digestive system due to their content of chemical compounds that help to eliminate microorganisms. http://www.gaiahealthblog.com/2012/05/28/the-power-of-papaya/

• Tea made with boiled papaya leaves is used to treat heart problems and fever.
• Decoction of dried papaya leaves is used to treat stomach problems.
• Papain extracted from the fruit, and leaves, is the main ingredient in many ointments destined to cure rashes, cuts, stings, and burns.

The papaya roots are less used than other parts of the plant because the healing properties are not very clearly determined; however, since ancestral times, the roots have been cooked as a tea, and used with the purpose of getting rid of intestinal parasites, alleviate kidney colic, and as aid in cases of jaundice.

• Decoctions of pounded papaya roots are used as a digestive tonic, also to cure dyspepsia.
• Papaya root extract can be used to treat insect bites.
• There are some stories about women in the old days, using the extract from papaya roots to stop early pregnancy.

The papaya seeds are edible, and they have a peppery taste, sometimes they are dried, grounded, and used as a substitute for pepper.    

The seeds are full of two super enzymes: papain, myrosin, and the alkaloid carpaine. Some people use them to eliminate parasites because they have antihelminthic and anti-amoebic properties.

Papaya seeds have been used successfully in the treatment of liver cirrhosis.

The seeds have antibacterial properties; they can be used in the treatment of skin wound and ulcers. Whether they are fresh or dried, the seeds do not lose their healing properties.

Papaya plant may not be the most beautiful, outstanding, or scrumptious fruit in nature; however, it is without a doubt, a continuous source of healing nutrients in every bite and in every form you take it.

Here in Costa Rica, we have been blessed with great availability all year round; it is amazing to see the papaya plants growing in a wild fashion on the side of the road, on pieces of property that are empty because they are for sale or no one owns them. Of course, with a bit of love and care, homegrown papaya plants are spectacular. They are a gift of nature for so many of us, in Costa Rica and the rest of the world, and all we need to do is reach for them and enjoy them.

Talk about a cornucopia of natures’ wealth, “that is Costa Rica.”

"SQUIRREL" The cutest fast-forward moving animal in the forest...

Have you ever taken the time to observe a squirrel moving all over and through the trees?  Wow!  Talk about fast- forward movement… they seem to be in a hurry or on some sort of deadline to accomplish whatever it is that they are doing. 
No wonder we call "squirrely" a person who acts in a way that shows too much energy, hype, and a bit of craziness. 

Do you remember Chip and Dale, the cartoon chipmonks? They are, in fact, part of the Sciurus family, which are also cousins of cute squirrels we have here in Costa Rica. 

Squirrels come in all sizes, colors, and combinations.  Here in Southern Costa Rica we are blessed with an abundance of variegated squirrels (Sciurus variegatoides).  This squirrel belongs to the family of tree squirrels; it has large bushy tail and a shiny and bristly coat.  There are 14 different subspecies, exhibiting a wide range of colors and color patterns.  For example, the dorsal-area color ranges from blackish to reddish brown to yellowish-gray to white.  On the belly side, the color ranges from white to Cimarron-buff.  Every subspecies have different combination of dorsal and lateral stripes, and forehead patches; the underside is rarely banded.  They have a bushy tail and its underside usually, is lighter in color.

Whatever the combination of their coats, it is an amazing camouflage when they are commuting for food on the palm trees.

This type of squirrel consumes nuts and fruits of various kinds, including hard-shelled and soft, thin-shelled seeds, as well as some vines, flowers, and fungi.  The squirrel visiting my house seems to enjoy coconuts.  It is a cute one and it works for hours on the fibrous exterior of the coco until the shell opens up.  When the water starts pouring, then it makes the hole bigger, sometimes big enough to go for a dip inside the coconut and drink the water.  It loves to eat the meat, sometimes I see it just nibbling directly from the coconut, other times it breaks a larger piece to take it to a more comfortable place.

A very important collateral contribution resulting from the squirrel eating habits is the dispersal of seeds.

 

This type of squirrel tends to be solitary; they often build their nest in tall and slender

trees, usually in the junction between a limb and the main trunk of the tree.  Squirrels are diurnal; therefore, they are more active during the early morning.  They spend most of their time in the trees; it is amazing to see them running and leaping from one branch to another with great agility.  When they need to cross an open area, they do it via fences and lower trees.    

There is very little information about the mating system of this type of squirrels.  What we know is that because of their solitary personality, when they get together, it is with the sole purpose of mating.  The female goes into estrus once a year and only for one day.  The male knows when the female wants to mate with him by reading the olfactory cues and her behavioral changes.  During that, one day a year, more than one male might enter the scene, if that happens, they will fight in order to mate.  After mating the male and the female go their own separate ways, there is no “happily ever after” bond.    

The female squirrel builds a nest high up in a tree, where she will have her babies. 
 
The nest is typically made with twigs and leaves, and is usually waterproof, something very important in tropical areas.  The gestation period lasts between 33-46 days.  The newborns are blind and naked; their digits are fused together, and their weight is less than one ounce.  At four days old, they become vocal, emitting squeaky noises.  The fur starts developing during the third week.  The babies develop teeth and open their eyes after 30 days of being born.  Then the road to independence begins, by the fourth week they learn to groom themselves, and when they reach the sixth week, they leave the nest.  These squirrels become mature somewhere between 12 and 15 weeks of age.    

Squirrels have a lifespan between 8 and 14 years in the wild, and up to 16 years or more in captivity.  Unfortunately, it is also known that a large percentage of them do not live past their first year in the wild, becoming victims of opportunistic predators such as wildcats, eagles, owls, and snakes.

These cute variegated squirrels live in tropical regions, specifically in the forest and rain forest.  They can be found in North and Central America, from southern Chiapas, Mexico to Central Panama.



When you visit or move to Ojochal, Costa Rica; you will receive frequent visits from Mr. Squirrel and many of his amazing friends.  If you are a nature lover, you will be in for a treat, and if you are not used to nature, you will fall in love with it.

A bit off the beaten path, it is a worthy vacation choice!

  

Aloe Vera - Myths and Realities about this Misterious Plant

Aloe Vera is without a doubt a very extraordinary plant.

Aloe Vera is a plant with a long history; some of the most ancient cultures like the Greek, Egyptian, Indian, Chinese, and Roman talk about it in their writings; they describe the therapeutic advantages and healing properties of this plant.  According to some historians, the earliest records were found on a Sumerian tablet from 2100 BC.  For example, Nefertiti and Cleopatra used it as part of their regular beauty regimes.  Alexander the Great, and Christopher Columbus used it to treat their soldier’s wounds.  By the early 1800s, Aloe Vera was in used as a laxative in the United States, but in the mid-1930s, there was a turning point, and it started being used for chronic and severe radiation dermatitis with enormous success.
 

Aloe Vera continues being an alternative source of healing.  You might remember your mom, grandma, or any friend of them talking about how Aloe Vera helped to cure some illnesses or heal skin problems, or simply to calm down the sunburn after spending the day at the beach.

I remember seeing my mom scraping the jelly from an aloe leaf, and using to heal my abraded knee, after I had fallen of my bicycle; Doctor Mom knew what she was doing, it always worked like a charm.

Living in Costa Rica, has taught me to appreciate the natural resources that Mother Nature has set up for us in each one of the plants, fruits, and many other living beings in the jungle.      

Aloe Vera has been a wonderful and continuous source of health and healing for me.  For the last two years, I have been growing my own plants.

Healing Powers of the Plant

 

Aloe Vera gel contains active compounds that help to reduce inflammation and prevent bacteria from infecting damaged and vulnerable organs, including the skin.  Some people believe that the gel can aid cell regeneration, reason why the healing time seems shorter after using aloe gel.

One study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in Jun 2010, found that the Aloe Vera gel/cream reduced patients’ postoperative pain, sped up wound healing, and reduced significantly the need for analgesic and painkillers.

Aloe Vera also shows to be a natural healing aid for gastric ulcers; according to other studies, Aloe Vera can be used internally to reduce gastric inflammation, induce ulcer healing, and help to protect the intestinal lining.

Another promising benefit of taking Aloe Vera internally is its anti-diabetic effects.  A paper published in the Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal in July 2009, points to several studies that support the plant’s blood sugar-lowering effects in patients with type-two diabetes.

http://www.wellnesstimes.com/articles/aloe-goes-beyond-burn

There is also scientific documentation that Aloe Vera is useful for the following health issue:

Dermatitis
Psoriasis
Herpes simplex virus-2
Burns type-2
Diabetes
Wound healing
Acne
Frostbite
Constipation

Traditional literature suggests empirical evidence that Aloe Vera can be used in the treatment of alopecia (hair loss and baldness), parasite infections, and arthritis.
thehealersjournal.com/2012/09/05/mainstream-doctors-finally-recognize-the-incredible-properties-of-aloe/

Aloe Vera structure

Aloe Vera is a stem-less plant with thick and fleshy green to grey-green and serrated leaves.  The leaf structure is made up of three layers:

The Rind – is the outer protective layer.
The Sap – is the layer of yellowish-bitter fluid; it function is to protect the plant from animals.
The Mucilage Gel – is the jelly-like substance we have come to know for its healing qualities.
 

Aloe plants contain two key substances with therapeutic properties: gel and latex. 

The gel is the translucent, kind of gooey substance found in the inner leaf, and the latex is the yellowish layer found beneath the skin in most aloe varieties.

How can we grow Aloe Vera?

The Aloe Vera plant can be reproduced from pups and from seeds.

When the Aloe Vera plant reaches maturity, produces tiny plats called pups, which sprout from the base of the plant.  The pups can be safely removed from the mother when they are over 2 inches tall.  When you detach the pups from the other, make sure the root system remains intact.

Aloe plants can also be reproduced from the seeds released by the flowers.

Unbelievably, the Aloe Vera plant produces flowers; they come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. The truth is that most people are not very familiar with the flowers because a plant can take several years to produce one, and sometimes, some varieties of Aloe, do not produce flowers.

The Aloe flower is slender and tubular, growing in massed groups at the top of thin spires.  It is a very peculiar type of flower; it is made up of a tall stem, a peduncle, and a colored flower. The flower is supported by the peduncle. It is called a raceme and can be open or compact.

Most flowers are not self-fertile.  It requires a mobile pollinator; birds are the most common pollinators, being the most usual, and the hummingbird.  The seeds are fertilized and then dropped on the soil, then transported by the wind or water run-offs.

Since the aloe plant has powerful regenerative abilities, a broken stem, leaf or rosette can also create a brand-new plant. Many gardeners choose this technique to grow new plants.

Many uses of the Aloe Vera Plant
 

 

Aloe Vera is used in alternative medicine, and as home first aid.  People in different countries acknowledge its properties as wound healing, burn recovery, laxative, antiviral, antibacterial anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, moisturizing, etc.

In markets all around the world a variety of Aloe Vera products are available, which are used in many remedies and cosmetics.  Those products are sold as Aloe gel, shampoo, body wash, body lotion, sunscreen cream, soothing night cream, arthritis cream, and soap among other.

 

Even though Aloe Vera has been commercialized in yogurt, beverages, and skin products, the greatest benefit is obtained when it is fresh from the plant.
 

It can be used topically as well as taken internally.  It is especially helpful on a variety of skin diseases.

It has a rejuvenating action.

It acts as a moisturizer and hydrates the skin.

As you can see, Aloe Vera is an old fashioned, and still in fashion aid for everything that needs some help in the healing process of our body.

 

I can’t be anything but grateful to Mother Nature for such a multifaceted gift that seems to be timeless.

Could Bamboo be one of the best sources of well-being in our future?

What is it really?  Is it, a tree, a plant, or something else?

Bamboo is a kind of grass with a hard, woody, and hollow stem.  It is green and grows straight up.  The bamboo actually has leaves; however, there is not much energy going into them until the plant matures, then, and only then, the leaves start showing up on the top of the stalk.  In tropical climate, bamboo grows and stays green all year round.
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-bamboo.htm
The main stem of the bamboo is called culm; it is the support structure for the branches and leaves, culms are the main vascular system and storage organs.  The culm has sections called nodes, and the space between the nodes is called internode.  The nodes are always solid and the internodes are hollow.  The hollow internodes give the bamboo flexibility and the nodes give it the strength.
The Branching occurs at the nodes.
The culms have leaves, also called culm sheaths, and their purpose is to protect the new culms in the early stages of its growth.  When the new shoot is strong enough the culm sheath dries up and falls away.


Where the bamboo has its origins?

According to some records, seven thousand years ago, this “grass” was used to make arrows, paper, building materials, books, and as many other products needed by different cultures given the fact that bamboo was, and still is readily available, and a quickly renewable resource.
Many people have thought through the years that bamboo originated in China, mainly because there is where the first records of items made with bamboo were found. Subsequently, bamboo bicycles started to show up in India, as well as a variety of products and ornaments that rapidly spread through Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Bamboo grows almost everywhere, except in super cold climates; nevertheless, some species are able to withstand frost in North Europe.  Asia is by far the biggest producer of bamboo products, with China as the biggest exporter. 

The main markets for bamboo products are the US and Europe.  The interest in bamboo cultivation is growing around the world, and many countries in Latin America have started to develop technologies for processing it; in view of the fact that almost 50% of the world’s bamboo biodiversity is from South and Central America.
Brazil has the largest number of species, around 134, followed by Venezuela with 68 species known.

There are some estimates showing that around 11 million hectares of Latin America are covered with bamboo.  That could represent a multibillion-dollar market.

Have you ever wondered how bamboo can reproduce so fast?

Bamboo can spread by root division, single node cuttings, and air layering.  If we remember that it is a kind of fast-growing grass, we need to be aware that once we have planted bamboo, we will start seeing individual stems or shoots emerging from the ground. They tend to reach their full diameter and grow to their total height in a single growing season of three to four months, depending on the climate.  During this period, each shoot grows vertically with no branching out until it reaches most of it maturity.  Then the branches extend from the nodes and start leafing out.  During the following year, the wall of the shoot starts hardening.  During the third year, it reaches full maturity and
hardening.

Bamboo shoots or culms grow from the dense root rhizome system.    
There are two main categories: monopodial and sympodial. 
Monopodial rhizomes grow horizontally, and very often, at a surprising rate, reason why they are known as “runners” or “running bamboo.”  They generate open shoots with a good distance from each other, and they can be invasive.
Sympodial rhizomes are short and thick, and the shoots above the ground are close together in a compact clump, which expand evenly around its circumference.  They are known as clumping bamboo, the development of shoots around the core is predictable, and they are non-invasive.


Spiritual value given to the bamboo by ancestral people

Bamboo has a significant cultural and religious connotation such as the need to remain morally straight.   Bamboo makes a great symbol for spiritual living.   It is sturdy and strong, but also flexible without being easily breakable.  These are the qualities we need in our spirituality.Since bamboo is hollow, it could represent the hollowness of being a conduit to the divine for healing, compassion, guidance, wisdom, and self-awakening.

Another very important symbolism of the bamboo is in relation to developing a spiritual backbone.

 The Parable of the Chinese Bamboo Tree 

"In everything you do in your family, keep in mind the miracle of the Chinese bamboo tree. After the seed for this amazing tree is planted, you see nothing, absolutely nothing, for four years except for a tiny shoot coming out of a bulb.  During those four years, all the growth is underground in a massive, fibrous root structure that spreads deep and wide in the earth.  But, then in the fifth year the Chinese bamboo tree grows up to eighty feet!

Many things in family life are like the Chinese bamboo tree.  You work and you invest time and effort, and you do everything you can possibly do to nurture growth, and sometimes you don't see anything for weeks, months, or even years.  But, if you're patient, and keep working and nurturing, that "fifth year" will come, and you will be astonished at the growth and change you see taking place.

Patience is faith in action.  Patience is emotional diligence.  It's the willingness to step aside so that others can grow.  It reveals love.  It gives birth to understanding."
http://spirituallythinking.blogspot.com/2012/03/parable-of-chinese-bamboo-tree_13.html#ixzz2Sg1gUpgs

Types of Bamboo

There are hundreds of varieties growing around the world; however, for practical understanding, we can say there are two major classifications of species: clumpers and runners.

Clumpers grow from the soil in a slowly expanding tuft.  Clumpers are generally short, and slow growing. 

Runners send underground rhizomes to produce shoots several meters from the parent plant.

Uses of Bamboo and Economic Sustainability

People around the world use bamboo on everything they can think of, from construction to source of food.  For centuries, it has been used in the construction of houses in the eastern countries.  It was not until 1920 that started to get some traction in the western cultures because of a research conducted with the purpose of finding alternative material to replace some types of wood starting to become scarce.

http://www.guaduabamboo.com/bamboo-construction.html
Besides being used as construction material, bamboo is being used as an erosion control system.  Planting bamboo in tropical areas where the rain is abundant and the land is susceptible to erosion, allows the land to create a cohesion trough the connection of the thick, strong, and continuously growing root system.
Growing bamboo is considered eco-friendly agriculture because unlike other crops, it needs very little or no pesticides to grow, holds the soil together, and the debris falling from a growing clump of bamboo actually fertilizes the ground where the clump is growing.  Call it self-nourishment.

Different countries grow bamboo for different purposes:

Ornamental – landscaping, gardens, and decorative items.
Food – bamboo shoots.
Construction Material – bamboo lumber, fencing, scaffolding, pipes, and roofing tiles.
Musical Instruments – flutes, drums, and saxophones.
Furniture and crafts – chairs, tables, sofas, armoires, picture frames, weapons, rugs, bed frames, blinds, curtains, baskets, and jewelry among others.

Some other practical uses of bamboo in agricultural farms are:
Irrigation pipes

Shade laths

Irrigation ditch linings
Fencing

Edible Bamboo

Bamboo shoots are harvested in a similar fashion than asparagus; it is cut just at the underground stem.  The shoots are very common in Asian dishes, for example, in China; they love it stir-fry; in Indonesia, they boil it in thick coconut milk, and in the Philippines is the basic ingredient of a dish called lumpia.

In Costa Rica, the consumption of bamboo shoot is not as popular as it
is in the Asian countries; however, it is starting the make its appearance in some dinner tables.  Editable bamboo is a low-calorie source of potassium.
Always keep in mind that not all bamboo shoots can be eaten. Make sure you buy them from a trustworthy source.

It is simply unbeliebable to realize that "Bamboo" has alway been by our side, and always willing to give us everything we need. 
All we need to do is to apreciate it, study it, and decide how we can use it to improve our life.
 
It could be one of the best sources of well-being in our future!