amazing agave ("century plant")

[jhond]

fellow survivors
After years of experiments i want to begin sharing my wondrous experiences with the amazing SW desert agaves. Well known in certain circles as the source of tequila, mescal and pulque, the agave holds many useful secrets.

The tall rapid growing (June-July) "stalk" (technically a calyx) reaches 10 to 40 ft in its once in a lifetime bloom. The material is extremely lightweight when dry, with a soft balsa like core and strong thin bamboo-like walls -an ideal engineering cross section for high strength to weight. The walls and the sharp leaves have long strong fibers similar to hemp in strength.

After about a year of natural drying, a section of the "stalk" at least 2" diam. makes a "dynamite" torch. Here's how:

Jab a strong (mesquite) wood stick, 1/2-1" diam about a foot down thru the center of your agave section, leaving a tapered hole. Now add wax, lard, lamp oil, candle or any combustible fat or oil. Light it and watch it burn slowly (about 2" per hr) into an inverted cone at the lit end.
Once the cone is formed it is virtually windproof; I have successfully used them in a 25 knot breeze. Very low sparking and a stable flame. A small piece of pre-charred and wax filled stalk makes an excellent "survival candle"; can even be used to cook over. I've used them in snow caves for heat and Lassen lava caves for light. (Admin;this should be copied to Fire)

The porous core acts like a hundred wicks and supports a steady flame.
The pre-charred surface is the ONLY spark catcher I've found that matches charred cotton for flint & steel starts. The center can be easily burnt out while outside walls left, if outside is kept moist during burning; Makes a handsome quiver size container with protective soft insulated walls. A carrying cord can be woven directly from attached leaves.

I make handsome SW barbarian steins from stalk base, decorating them with beads, stones silver and other stuff and sell them for $40 -$80 ea.

I have also made them into knife sheaths, eyeglass cases, jewelry boxes , quivers, walking sticks & map tubes. I'll post some photos later and talk about other uses: food, fiber, shelter, soap, incense/smudge/insect repellent, fire sticks, water filters & containers. Other uses are didgeridoos and, believe it or not, surfboards! All this later, it's late and I'm tired. G'night. Jhond Wild Wise -Felton CA

[RobertRogers]

yes, an excellent plant. I like the sweet syrup too.