BajaNomad

Astro Baja- how is your road?

thebajarunner - 4-8-2012 at 08:16 PM

We drove past your gate last week, but it looked securely locked, and I seem to remember major problems with washouts going in.

So, do us "happy wanderers" need an invite?
and, is the road passable?

just wondering

David K - 4-8-2012 at 10:34 PM

Yes, he has posted to just contact him when you need to get through... otherwise out via the Coyote to Observatory road. Search his posts of the last 3-6 months.

astrobaja - 4-9-2012 at 08:21 AM

Hi Bajarunner,

If you drove by last week it probably just had a bungie cord securing it. We share the road with our neighbor Soren Meling who has been harvesting yucca on his land so hes in and out a lot. Just use the contact info on our website next time you want to pop by for a visit and we'll leave the lock off the front gate!

cheers


Mike

astrobaja - 4-9-2012 at 08:22 AM

Oh yes and ours roads in pretty good shape, 2 or 3 short upgrades where you might spin your tires a bit, but doable even in 2WD

thebajarunner - 4-9-2012 at 03:24 PM

OK
May be a while but we will zap you up and come on in

Thanks


no road too tough for my F150 except sandy washes.
man does it hate sandy washes....

woody with a view - 4-9-2012 at 06:48 PM

you need to let some air out of the tires and then the sand becomes a non factor.

David K - 4-9-2012 at 07:21 PM

Sand?

Sand- my only fear

thebajarunner - 4-9-2012 at 07:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by woody with a view
you need to let some air out of the tires and then the sand becomes a non factor.


After 12 years of racing in Baja I only ever feared one thing- SAND!

Big V-8, 2 wheel drive truck, not much weight in the back = stuck city

I been stuck so bad that no air would not get me out.
Thank goodness for the expanded metal sand mats we carried under the spare,
those babies were life savers....
Never stuck so bad that the mats and a little shovel work did not solve the problem, fortunately.
But it sure takes time off the clock while you are futzing around with the digout and the mat placement, not to mention getting them back in place, bolted down and on down the road.

wilderone - 4-11-2012 at 07:34 AM

what does Meling do with his yucca? Is it planted as a crop for harvest or is it harvested from the wild? Which part is being harvested?

astrobaja - 4-11-2012 at 08:21 AM

Wilderone: I was a bit concerned and confused at 1st too, but apparently it does not kill the plant. They use the stalk which is above ground, if theres 4-5 stalks in a clump of yucca (yes it is the wild stuff they harvest) then one is left. It does grow back but its a once in a lifetime harvest. It is regulated you have to get a permit of sorts.
I guess the main use is for cosmetics, shampoo, etc.

I can't see it being a big buck type of thing, as its very labor intensive.

Yucca Shidigera

Gypsy Jan - 4-11-2012 at 08:39 AM

Harvested under license by Agroin (Baja Agro International), a fifth generation ranching and agricultural family enterprise.

The harvested yucca is processed into a powder and liquid. It is used to relieve joint pain and reduce toxins and joint pain in horses (especially racehorses), cattle, pets and people. It certified 100% organic.

We visited their headquarters/processing plant location in Ensenada and were very impressed by the modernity, cleanliness and efficiency of everything.

http://www.yucca.com.mx

Loading Yuccas (Apr., 2006)

David K - 4-11-2012 at 09:58 AM



Yucca trees are being chopped out of the desert for the cosmetic/ personal care industry.

This was being done on the former El Arenoso runway (turnoff to Los Martires and San Juan de Dios at Hwy. 1, Km. 103+)

Here is one of the few yucca trees that has escaping being chopped down:





[Edited on 4-11-2012 by David K]

Yucca for arthritis?

El Camote - 4-11-2012 at 10:08 AM

Funny this subject would come up. I was going to post an inquiry about it. A wise-old-man, Peruvian neighbor swears by Yucca for joint pain/arthritis. He takes it everyday and says he can really tell the difference when he misses a day. He strongly recommended it for our 15 yr. old Baja pooch.

Pregunta: Does anyone have experience in taking yucca for this purpose? I imagine it's quite expensive so am hesitant to experiment with it and the pup isn't forthcoming on her medicinal critiques. :yes:

astrobaja - 4-11-2012 at 12:07 PM

El Camote: don't have any experience using Yucca for joint issues but we used Glucosamine extensively at our horse barn. Also check out devils claw it worked wonders for our aging dog.

I am skeptical that yucca is a terribly sustainable sort of product given how very slowly it grows!

Heres a link to the devils claw:

http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-devils-claw.html

El Camote - 4-11-2012 at 02:04 PM

Thanks for that, Astro. The devils claw looks worth a try. Also have an arthritic mother so could possibly kill two birds with one claw. :)

Hi, astrobaja

Gypsy Jan - 4-11-2012 at 07:34 PM

The people at Agroin told us that they abide by PROFEPA supervison.

For every yucca plant they harvest, they plant five more. It takes twelve years for the new plants to mature.

Hi, El Camote

Gypsy Jan - 4-11-2012 at 07:39 PM

Yucca is very available in the U.S., either at health food stores or by mail order. It is not expensive, just do an internet search.

Hubby sprinkles the powder on his cereal every morning and his wrists and ankles no longer give him trouble.

wilderone - 4-11-2012 at 07:45 PM

Very interesting - thanks so much for all the yucca input.

astrobaja - 4-13-2012 at 11:55 AM

Jan that might be what they told you but its not what the ranchers do here anyway. They cut a few of the trunks (say if its a clump of 5-6) and new young shoots come up from the base. They are not planting new yucca here. Plus what I've been told is that the next "crop" may take 50 years at this elevation!

David K - 4-13-2012 at 12:00 PM

Nothing new planted where they were hacking to death yucca trees outside of El Rosario...

DavidK, Sorry to Hear That

Gypsy Jan - 4-13-2012 at 12:41 PM

But I don't think that Agroin is has any kind of harvesting going on in El Rosario. During their presentation they showed us a map of the areas that they harvest/farm and it did not extend that far south.

I think what you saw/took pictures of may be an entirely different organization harvesting the yucca illegally.

Sadly, there is a lot of that of activity, because the yucca product is especially in demand in Europe and Asia.

David K - 4-13-2012 at 12:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Gypsy Jan
But I don't think that Agroin is has any kind of harvesting going on in El Rosario. During their presentation they showed us a map of the areas that they harvest/farm and it did not extend that far south.

I think what you saw/took pictures of may be an entirely different organization harvesting the yucca illegally.

Sadly, there is a lot of that of activity, because the yucca product is especially in demand in Europe and Asia.


Yah, most likely a different company... I also saw just the flower stalks off of small yuccas or perhaps agaves being cut... I was told it was food for livestock...




[Edited on 4-13-2012 by David K]