Could the Original Jack and the Beanstalk Tale Be Based on a Real Plant Used Around the World?

Most people have heard of Bamboo. Some create furniture with it. Some build fences with it. There are places around the world where it is used to build homes. Many people eat it. But how much do you really know about the magical qualities of Bamboo?

For instance, did you know that China has a variety that can grow as much as 4 feet in one day? Yep, you can actually watch it grow if you had a day to burn – or if you were studying it – whichever. Amazing, right? Not as amazing as the fact that it can grow to 100 feet tall. Jack and the Beanstalk – need I say more?

What about its durability… were you aware that it’s actually stronger than steel? Hard to believe with such a light weight, flexible plant, or more accurately, a grass.Here are some other facts you may not know:

• Because it’s both inexpensive and extremely strong and durable, people have relied on it to construct homes, bridges, and even bicycles for commuting!
• Bamboo products are considered eco-friendly and have been used to produce footwear, pens, cooking utensils, dishwasher safe dinnerware, toilet paper (yes, toilet paper), countertops… it seems the list is unending.
• Of course, some find bamboo aesthetically pleasing and use it in their home design ranging from artwork and frames on the wall to decorative (and fully functional) fencing to add an exotic character or charm to the home.
• Right now, researchers are developing ways that bamboo might be used as a source of fuel. Apparently, this plant can be used as a substitute, not just for gasoline, but for diesel as well. Imagine, at some point in the future, we could be running our vehicles with bamboo???
• Bamboo is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. What does this mean? People with allergies would do well to invest in clothing, bedsheets, or other items made from Bamboo because it’s natural qualities keep allergens away.
• Bamboo can be harvested every 3 years for use in a variety of ways, including those mentioned above. What if, instead of cutting trees in forests that take generations to mature, we used bamboo as a replacement?

Whether its magical properties stem (hehe, get it? “stem”) from old folklore or from modern use, Bamboo’s eco-friendliness and versatility has inspired a great deal of creativity, from construction to storytelling to artwork to, yes, toilet paper. That’s right, I’m going to end this article with the words “toilet paper”.