jrbaja - 5-3-2004 at 09:56 AM
For those interested in a new or different side to Baja, you may be interested in the project I have going on in south Baja.
I am building a camp area/houses entirely out of bamboo and the first are in the hills above San Bartolo. We will be offering wagon rides and a
number of different Baja experiences including trips to the coastal areas but mostly focusing on the mountains and historic places in south Baja,
healthy and natural foods and plants from the local areas, bird watching and swimmin holes.
It is a remote area with lot's of animals and is quite different from any of the other amenities Baja has to offer.
When traveling through San Bartolo, stop at the Oasis restaurant and ask about the Bamboo guy (Jaime) and we can get you to the ranch of Baja
Bamboo.
Dave - 5-3-2004 at 05:35 PM
You've been talkin' about this for months. So, where are the pictures?
jide - 5-4-2004 at 08:06 AM
That sounds like a great experience !!
I'll stop by next time I make it all the way down the peninsula.
Eli - 5-4-2004 at 02:47 PM
JR, Your mention of wagon rides and trips to the coast sounds like a lot of fun, I wish you well in your endeavours.
Are you planning on going over hill and dale and thru the arroyo to get from San Bartope and come out around Rancho Pescadero or will you be taking an
established road, for instance the gravel road from San Antonio that runs to Los Planes ? Or the next to not maintained route that runs from just
North of San Bartolo and comes out around Boca de Alamo?
There is yet another route that I heard about from a dear friend of mine who is just a few years older than me. She has told me stories of when she
was a young bride, she and her husband would load up the horses and mules with their 3 little kids, gallons of water, coffee, pots and pans,
tortillas, machaca and what ever else they had to eat and they would take off at dawn from "Pames Ranch", (just South of San Bartolo) and by night
fall, they would reach their other ranch on the coast at Rancho Pescadero, (half way between Los Barriles & Punta Pescadero). At the time, (early
60's) this was the most efficent way to get from San Bartope to Pescadero. I heard her husband took the same "path" in his Rover in the late '90's'
when he was in his wild and drunken modes and wanted to avoid all humanity and the highways (thank god). I have not heard of anyone taking this route
since and assumed that it is overgrown and forgotten. I bet that would be an awesome trip though.
I am always in amassment that someone of my generation was living the "Old West way" in the same moment I was skateboarding the sidewalks of the
suburbs of Southern California. My, my, my, what a wonderful world of diversity this little plant we all call home truly is.
JESSE - 6-6-2004 at 12:42 PM
Jr,
We call those bamboos "carrizos" here in Baja, but your probably knew that already.
bamboo
Keri - 6-6-2004 at 01:44 PM
Hi JR , Are you the one building the bamboo house across from Las Gaviotas? k
Bambu house?
jrbaja - 6-6-2004 at 02:00 PM
Nope, but I'm back in Rosarito so I'll be checkin it out .
How are you guys anyway. Sorry to have missed the booksigning as again it sounded like a blast. Congratulations!
Bruce R Leech - 11-12-2004 at 09:53 PM
Jr. is there a web site where I can learn moor about Baja Bamboo
Bruce
jrbaja - 11-12-2004 at 10:49 PM
I will be heading down soon and I will stop by to discuss it.
bajajudy - 11-17-2004 at 09:10 AM
Here you go Bruce. this is a start
I just went to ask.com and asked for carrizo grass. there was more but this link seemed to have good info
http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=16&fr=1&...
Mexitron - 11-17-2004 at 09:20 AM
The link for carrizo isn't for a bamboo.....try this one for bamboo and its useful applications:
http://www.tifac.org.in/nmba/fact_const.htm
"Bamboo has been used by people since ages in many ways in construction of doors & windows, interiors, furniture, handicrafts, transport, fish
culture, food, sericulture etc. Bamboo in a modern form can substitute plastics, steel and cement in new applications for housing, furniture
construction and agricultural tools & implements with the application of sophisticated design knowledge and with the use of improved composite
technologies that are today available in this sector"
[Edited on 11-17-2004 by Mexitron]
bajajudy - 11-17-2004 at 12:22 PM
Now I am confused. Is your house out of the local what you call bamboo but which is actually a grass or did you import bamboo?
Either way I, also, will be stopping by on my next trip north to check it out.
Saludos
Baja Bamboo
jrbaja - 11-17-2004 at 12:54 PM
is not about carrizo, which grows everywhere in Baja. I do use carrizo combined with Bamboo for some projects as they go very well together as their
appearance is similar.
What I am dealing with and growing is Bamboo. It grows up to a 6 inch diameter and there is a lot of information available on the different
species.
There are many species native to Mexico with a good portion of them on the endangered list.
I am working on getting some of these species from the mainland and particularly, Guadua Bamboo because of it's many versatile properties.
I have many areas in south Baja growing bamboo for the projects and will be heading down soon to check on progress.
Last time I was down there, some of the plants had grown 4' in two weeks so I am hoping for the best.
There are many things involved with growing and using bamboo. Drying, preserving against mites, special tools as well as the fact that it seems to
be a delicacy to them dang vacas! (Bamboo shoots!).
So far
jrbaja - 11-17-2004 at 01:41 PM
There isn't much to see. I have been concentrating on acquiring different types of bamboo and getting the people set up to grow it.
I have a frame for the 1st structure up as well as the entrance area to the park but am basically focusing on the growth aspect rather than the
construction aspect for now.
This will change when I get back down there in a couple weeks. Back to work !
As far as bamboo being native to Baja, because of the few groves there are, I doubt it is a native species. But, it is in Mexico so you never know.
My guess is that it was brought over with the first missionaries.
I bet AA may be able to find time to chase down that info. It would be very interesting to find out.
I have many pictures of my trips and projects at http://groups.msn.com/TheBajasBestGuidesPhotoAlbum
Photo is combination of bamboo and carrizo kitchen
bajajudy - 11-17-2004 at 02:17 PM
Way cool!
I definitely will stop by to see your bamboo.
Good luck with your projects
Mexitron - 11-17-2004 at 02:31 PM
Arundo donax(Giant Reed, Carriso), which is not a true bamboo probably came with the missionaries, being native to Europe. It is now an invasive
species in Southern Calif. and Baja waterways and arroyos.
On bamboos native to Mex:
http://www.americanbamboo.org/GeneralInfoPages/BambooOnTheIn...
Gib Cooper wrote: ?Gilberto Cortes asked me to announce the electronic publishing of his article ? Native Bamboos of Mexico.? The article discusses
the genera and species found in Mexico. It has been only in the last few years that there has been greater understanding of bamboo in Mexico. Some
species are very rare and endangered. The more than 40 bamboo species range from sea level to 2,500 meters in elevation. Completing the article is a
list of species. The article is in Spanish.?
G?neros y especies de bamb?es nativos de M?xico
Aulonemia
A. clarkiae Davidse & R.Pohl
A. fulgor Soderstrom*
A. laxa (Maekawa) McClure*
Merostachys
M. sp.
Arthrostylidium
A. excelsum Griseb.
Olmeca
O. recta Soderstrom*
O. reflexa Soderstrom*
Guadua
G. aculeata
G. amplexifolia J.S. Presl
G. longifolia (Fourn.) R. Pohl
G. paniculata Munro
G. velutina Londo?o & L. Clark*
Otatea
O. acuminata (Munro) C.Calder?n & Soderstrom
O. acuminata ssp. acuminata
O. acuminata ssp. aztecorum R.Guzm?n, Anaya & Santana
O. fimbriata Soderstrom
Chusquea
C. aperta L.Clark*
C. bilimekii Fournier*
C. circinata Soderstrom & C.Calder?n*
C. coronalis Soderstrom & C.Calder?n
C. foliosa L. Clark
C. galeottiana Ruprecht ex Munro*
C. glauca L.Clark*
C. lanceolata A. Hitchc-ck
C. liebmannii Fournier
C. longifolia Swallen
C. muelleri Munro*
C. nelsonii Scribner & J.G.Smith
C. repens L.Clark & Londo?o*
C. repens ssp. repens
C. repens ssp. oaxacacensis L.Clark & Londo?o
C. perotensis L.Clark, Cort?s & Ch?zaro*
C. pittieri Hackel
C. simpliciflora Munro
C. sulcata Swallen
Rhipidocladum
R. bartlettii (McClure) McClure
R. martinezii Davidse & R.Pohl*
R. pittieri (Hackel) McClure
R. racemiflorum (Steudel) McClure
Yep
jrbaja - 11-17-2004 at 02:47 PM
And thanks Mexitron!
Bruce R Leech - 11-17-2004 at 05:38 PM
Jr. This is good info, cant Waite to talk to you about Bamboo .
Dave - 11-17-2004 at 05:39 PM
JR, did you ever research for that article in Architectural Digest? I looked for my copy but it must have missed the move to Mexico. Knowing what kind
of homes the magazine features you can imagine how incredible this house is. Jaw dropping gorgeous and made entirely of bamboo!
elgatoloco - 11-17-2004 at 07:44 PM
Bamboo rocks!
I would sleep well in a bamboo house. 
http://www.wayofdesign.com/ebook/adigest.htm
http://www.filipinoheritage.com/crafts/bamboo/house2.htm
Bamboo Rocks
jrbaja - 11-17-2004 at 08:28 PM
and guess what, it's not that new of a thing either.hahahahahaha
What's new about it is structural testing, experimenting with multiple uses, and using it as laminates and structural members in many phases of
modern construction.
That, and the fact that the western world is finally beginning to become aware of it's potential in so many thousands of uses. A tree huggers
fantasy so to speak.
And in the case of Baja Bamboo and San Bartolo Bamboo, a lot of people are investing together in something for the community rather than having to
become maids and gardeners for the foreigners.
They are into it !!!
poco mas
jrbaja - 11-17-2004 at 08:32 PM
Bambu Burros y Vacas Vecinos
jrbaja - 11-17-2004 at 08:36 PM
elgatoloco - 11-17-2004 at 09:01 PM
cool stuff. keep it coming. 
Bamba?o
jrbaja - 11-17-2004 at 09:14 PM
Custom Bamboo Cups
jrbaja - 11-17-2004 at 09:25 PM
Work great for coffee and stuff! These are made with vaca de las Gigantas, Vibora y Caballo del Mar.
I'm having more made with local turquoise and arrowheads.
Pretty cool way to stay cool!
elgatoloco - 11-17-2004 at 10:19 PM
Bamba?o!
We long ago decided on bamboo flooring when we re-model. We also are getting a bamboo curved bartop and some other accent pieces in some other areas
in the house. If I show the wifey these shots the whole house may be bamboo!!
BajaGrrls - 11-18-2004 at 08:16 AM
The cups look awesome! Does the bamboo have any insulating qualities that help keep drinks hot or cold?
I'm also thinking that the lucky bamboo I got in Chinatown might make a good straw, but since I need a bit of luck, I've decided not to sacrifice it
just yet.
Yes indeedy
jrbaja - 11-18-2004 at 10:43 AM
they insulate very well in both directions. But, for some reason, coka cola seems to foam up in bamboo.
Like when you pour it on fresh ice cubes.
Frente de mi casa
akbear - 12-1-2004 at 03:18 PM
Hi JR, I just talked with Mike, who hangs out at Buzzards in Los Barriles, on Mon. night. He wants to get in touch with you. I guess you guys talked
there after he say your truck rack. I told him you are on this site, so he might get to you. He lives in a brick house just south of KM 108 up the
hill from Hambergusa/Modelo store in Buena Vista. Look him up when your down there.
Thanks Akbear
jrbaja - 12-1-2004 at 03:46 PM
I remember Mike, I caught him fondling my bamboo rack
Seemed like a really nice guy and we discussed bamboo etc. I will find him when I'm down there but what about you? I sent you a u2u earlier I
think.
pappy - 12-1-2004 at 07:21 PM
jr- very nice looking work-awesome!
Thanks Pappy
jrbaja - 12-1-2004 at 07:55 PM
This is just the beginning. I have more pictures of bamboo stuff as well as some fairly interesting stories and pictures of my trips into the
mountains and some pretty "unvisited" places in Baja at http://groups.msn.com/TheBajasBestGuidesPhotoAlbum
JR
Skeet/Loreto - 12-3-2004 at 01:44 PM
JR; Will you please let me know the easist way to get rid of unwanted Bamboo?
Can it be stopped with Chemical? Dug up? etc.
thanks
Skeet/Loreto
Bamboo or Carrizo ?
jrbaja - 12-3-2004 at 03:14 PM
So far Skeet, I haven't tried to get rid of any other than using it for projects and I can't get enough!
But, if it's any indication of what you are in for, bamboo was the first thing to sprout back up after the Hiroshima incident!
Your best bet is to dig it up including every little piece of it. I would then put something nasty in the ground where it was, (Roundup) comes to
mind.
You will have to repeat this procedure!
To contain it to a certain area, you must dig a minimum 3' deep trench (5' is better) and put in a block, cement, or thick plastic barrier.
Fortunately, it only flowers every hundred years, (all of the same species flower at the same time around the globe!) Good communications?
So spreading by seeds isn't much of a worry.
If it trury bamboo, those shoots all velly velly good to eat flesh, and healthy for you body!!