Sheltered from the hustle and bustle of a busy intersection on the edge of North Beach is a leafy oasis on the corner of 704 Filbert. Edwin Toy, founder of Bamboo H2O, can often be found tending to the mini bamboo “forest” that has taken root and transformed this slice of weathered urban jungle into one of serene refuge.
“You see those plants across the street? They’re new,” he gestures across the busy intersection, where some young foliage seems to have found a new home. “The owner planted them just after we planted our bamboo. I think it’s great. It’s sort of like a domino effect — you improve the landscape in one corner and slowly the rest becomes greener, too.”
New to San Francisco, Bamboo H2O is the first company in the Bay Area devoted solely to bamboo and bamboo products, and caters to all and to the green-conscious in particular, with environmentally friendly products as an alternative to the traditional landscape.
While many may already know how bamboo can dramatically reshape a landscape, few also know their potential to reshape our impact on the environment. It is this green element, combined with a personal affinity for the bamboo plant that compelled Eddie to leave his corporate career to pursue his passion.
Unlike most traditional wood products, bamboo can be harvested in a wholly sustainable way. A hardy and adaptive plant, bamboo can be cut without harm to the roots and plant itself, meaning it is a self-healing, regenerative plant that won’t risk depletion and environmental destruction from mass cultivation. Not only is it one of the fastest growing plants, but it is also one of the most renewable resources. Eddie points out that most bamboo plants grow in cycles of five years – the time it takes each generation to reach maturity, and can grow up to 10 ft. tall. Some of the young bamboo plants in the shop are already at a towering 7 ft. tall.
“My first bamboo plant was from when I was a kid, so I’ve always liked them, but when I learned how useful and how good for the environment they are, I became more interested,” Eddie recalls.
He decided then that although use of bamboo at the time was a little unconventional, it was a creative solution to the growing concern of sustainability in materials-use. Although Eddie expertly describes how sustainable bamboo is, it becomes clear that his initial attraction to the bamboo plant was mainly spiritual. Eddie confides that he is a firm believer in feng shui and the healing properties of the bamboo plant. The composed vibe emanating from his neat, tranquil shop makes a persuasive argument.
Traditionally, bamboo is valued for its power to transform a landscape and its feng shui. Walk through the blaring horns and screechy brakes of enraged drivers ripping through Columbus Avenue and the ruffled walkers stomping down the concrete, and one will find the sudden Zen calm just outside Bamboo’s storefront a welcome relief. Eddie describes his own discovery of bamboo’s healing powers while working on his home garden one afternoon, “I looked around and I suddenly felt calmer, better. I really do believe that it is has a certain energy that is very healing, very soothing.”
Can bamboo really have such compelling powers? There is something undeniably attractive about those tender, baby-green leaves. It is easy to see why the bamboo plant has been the long-standing symbol of strength and grace, of a sturdy toughness wedded with gentle flexibility, across Asian cultures.
Because of its unique qualities — both aesthetically and physically — bamboo holds a powerful and familiar place in Asian culture as a positive, life-affirming symbol. In China, bamboo is a symbol of longevity, no doubt owing to the spirited buoyancy of the plant, but it also represents tranquility, simplicity and humility. For many, the use of bamboo engenders a space of peace and positive energy. It was cherished tradition for a traveler to enclose a bamboo leaf with their letters home, as a symbolic missive of peace and well-being and well-wishes for the same to the family. The Japanese admire bamboo for its resilience and vigor, as it thrives even in the harshest of unforgiving winters. So admired is this plant that forests of bamboo are often grown to shelter and protect Japanese Shinto shrines against evil spirits and negative energy. Not only is bamboo considered a lucky symbol; it is apparently tasty, too. The bamboo is a symbol of steady friendship and peace in India, but its young shoots are also used to make delectable vegetarian dishes. 
While the bamboo plants and products at Bamboo H2O are not exactly made for culinary stints, they do bring about practical utility and an elegant aesthetic to an environment, whether indoors or out. Eddie’s shop boasts a beautiful range of high-quality, sustainable bamboo materials — from edging and fencing to flooring and building — and potentially, clothing and accessories. The products and materials are versatile and highly functional, offering endless possibilities with the right imagination. Luckily, Eddie and his staff also provide consultations and experienced advising.
Eddie walks over and points out the bamboo slats bundled neatly in one area and the stalks of bamboo poles resting against the wall – “raw” materials to one eye, but functional beauty to another. The slats are finely crafted, while the tall, thick and sturdy bamboo poles are surprisingly lightweight for their size. Lifting one of the giant poles with ease, Eddie remarks that these poles, though simple, can be used to build anything from a tall fence for privacy to a hip bamboo gazebo. They also make for eye-appealing and Zen-inspired or natural minimalist decor.
“I just really believe in the power and beauty of bamboo. I’m passionate about it, but what draws me to bamboo is its spiritual quality,” Eddie says, as he leans in to prune a young, thriving bamboo plant, gracefully dancing in the light afternoon breeze.
