TALL TALE: Meet the man behind Ocoee Bamboo Farm

For Ocoee resident Jason Gage, bamboo has been a lifelong passion. 

Born and raised in Minnesota, Gage moved to Ocoee as soon as he was able. He followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, uncle and father, who also made the trek south before him.

“When I was younger, because my dad (John Gage) lived in Florida, he had bamboo and all that,” Gage said. “He had bamboo canes, so he brought those canes to Minnesota when we were kids, and we would always play with the bamboo canes, making big huge Indian tepees. It was really cool stuff.”

BAMBOOZLED

For Gage, the Ocoee Bamboo Farm originally started as an experiment, one that provided many trials and errors prior to the first sale two years after the initial attempt to grow healthy and fast-growing bamboos. 

“I am a very passionate person, and that just sucks me in,” he said. “I don’t only want to know bamboo. I want to know how it works and how to experiment (with it). I spent thousands and thousands of dollars experimenting — this whole farm was an experimental farm — it was experiment after experiment. Some of them failed, but that 10% of learning is what moved me ahead.”

Fourteen years ago, when Gage began to feed his passion toward the plant he adores, he wasn’t sure he would be successful pouring his heart and soul into his hobby. Today, the 20-acre farm located in the heart of Ocoee has more than 50 varieties of bamboos ready to be the new addition to any homeowner’s property. 

“People think they are buying it for ornamental or privacy purposes, but when they get (the bamboo), they realize that there is a new joy and excitement there that they never new existed,” he said. “I’m not talking small way, it’s a big way, for these people, this is their joy, they come home to watch their (bamboos grow).” 

CLUMPING BAMBOO

The type of bamboo that Gage sells is known as clumping bamboo, which differs from the type of bamboo people don’t want in their homes — running bamboo. 

“Clumping bamboo, unlike running bamboo, grows in tight clusters and does not spread rapidly, making it a perfect choice for those who want a bamboo privacy screen without worrying about it taking over their property,” he said. “In addition to privacy, clumping bamboo also makes a beautiful ornamental plant with its tall, slender canes and lush green leaves.”

Clumping bamboo creates a tall, and natural, fast-growing privacy screen, which can provide a dense barrier to block unwanted views from neighboring houses. It also can dampen loud noises and unwanted sounds such as highways, noisy neighbors and industrial noises, and can even serve as a wind barrier when needed. 

“(The plant can) provide shade to people and homes, cutting down on electric bills … can soften and mask bright lights … and … is an attractive plant that adds beauty and texture to a backyard or garden,” Gage said. “Its slender canes and lush leaves create a tropical and exotic feel, making it a popular choice for landscapers.”

Aside from its decorative benefits, clumping bamboo also provide environmental benefits, such as helping reduce the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. 

“It’s a reusable resource that can be used in a variety of ways, including construction, paper and textiles,” Gage said. 

AMAZING GROWTH

Before the bamboos are available to any consumer, the plants already have been growing at the farm for 12 to 18 months depending on the gallon size of their pots — three gallons, seven gallons or 15 gallons. 

“People literally get amazed watching these things grow,” Gage said. “They can grow one to two (feet) in height a day, so (my costumers) are going out there and counting the shoots every day and text me telling me they got this many and then they send beautiful pictures of their homes with the bamboos. ... That to me is what it’s all about.”