During the wet seasons, bamboo is more starchy and will be more difficult to cut and could cause splitting. Plan to harvest your bamboo during the fall or winter so the bamboo is the easier to harvest. Start your harvest before sunrise since the starches will still be held in the roots at that time. Shorter shoots will grow on the outer edge of the bamboo patch. Avoid using shoots that are soft to the touch since this could mean they are diseased. Don’t use bamboo that has visible mold, fungi, or cracks in the shoots. Hold the loppers near the end of the handles to have the widest range of motion. Open them until the stalk fits between the blades and close them slowly so the bamboo is not damaged. Cut the bamboo as close to the ground as you can.  Loppers can be purchased at any gardening store. Closing the loppers too fast could crack and damage the bamboo stalk, preventing it from regrowing. Stab the blade of the shovel into the ground underneath the shoot you’re pulling out. Push down on the shovel handle to loosen the shoot and the dirt. Once the dirt is loose, pull the shoot from the ground. Try pulling the shoot sideways with your hands first. They may be loose enough to pull by hand. Use a sharp paring knife to cut into the outer skin of the bamboo, but do not cut all the way through the shoot. Twist the woody outer layer off of the shoot and dispose of it.  Fresh peeled bamboo only keeps for 1 to 2 days. You can cut the shoots to any size that is convenient for you. Use ½ teaspoon (3 g) of salt per 1 cup (240 mL) of water in a large pot. Bring the water to a boil and then turn down the heat so they simmer for 5-10 minutes. This helps remove the bitter flavor but keeps them crunchy.  Store the shoots in salted water for up to 5 days. Put the blanched shoots in a jar of salted water with ½ teaspoon (3 g) of salt per 1 cup (240 mL) of water. Label the date you prepared the bamboo and place the jar in the fridge.  You can also freeze the shoots in salted water to preserve them for longer.

Summary: Harvest bamboo at the start of the dry season. Choose shoots less than 6 in (15 cm) tall with a wide base. Use loppers to harvest bamboo less than 1.5 in (3.8 cm) thick. Dig the base with a shovel to get the whole shoot. Peel the skin off of the bamboo. Blanch the shoots over medium heat.


As you're not using conventional nail polish remover, you'll need to let the product sink in. Leave the product resting on your nails for about a minute.  The longer you let the product sit, the better. If you've tried this already, or need stronger remover, soak your nails directly in the solution for 4-5 minutes beforehand, then continue from this step.

Summary: Let the product sit for a minute.


Before you attempt a front walkover, you'll need a spot where you can play around with new techniques and exercises without worrying about hurting yourself. Look for spots that are outside or have enough space for you to move around freely. If you're practicing outside, try to find an area with grass, sand or loose dirt, which can help cushion the impact if you fall.  Make sure your outdoor practice space is clear of rocks, twigs and other debris that could cause a painful mishap. See if you can spend the afternoon learning the front walkover in your school gymnasium or the local community center. Parks and playgrounds with rubberized flooring make great places for safely trying out new skills. Pull a friend, parent or sibling aside and ask them if they can spot you as you get the hang of difficult or scary skills. A spotter can guide you and support your weight as you run through the movement, which lets you focus on your technique. Almost anyone can be a spotter, so there's no reason not to have one on your first few tries.  To properly spot a front walkover, have your spotter place one hand across your lower back and give you a lift as you stand up out of the bridge.  Your spotter should be someone who is tall and strong enough to help hold you up. Mats and protective padded surfaces will serve to prevent injury in case you land incorrectly. They will also take away a good deal of fear, as you know you're unlikely to get hurt even if you mess up. Once you get more comfortable with the skill, you can slowly start building up the courage to do it without pads. Testing the waters with a mat can really speed up the learning process, so that by the end of the day you'll be doing walkovers with no hesitation.  You can buy fold-up tumbling mats designed specifically for gymnastics and cheerleading at most sporting goods stores. These will lay over any flat surface and store easily when you're finished with them. If you don't have mats available to you, use folded blankets, pillows or couch cushions to break your fall. Even though your goal is to learn to do a front walkover in the course of a day, there's no need to rush yourself. The bigger a hurry you're in, the more likely you are to make mistakes or develop bad habits. Spend a couple of hours or longer breaking down and drilling each phase of the technique and take your time overcoming intimidating challenges.  Create short-term goals for the day, such as "I'd like to be able to hold a bridge by the end of the afternoon," or "I'll try my first walkover without a spotter after dinner." Don't forget to take rest breaks occasionally. Tumbling is a strenuous activity, and you won't perform as well if you're tired.
Summary: Find a safe place to practice. Grab a spotter. Put down some mats. Go at your own pace.