Anyone know where to find Mule fat in the bay area?

[psy-ops]

I am living in the Bay area for the summer. I also read Dick Baugh's article on good woods for friction firemaking. He said he has had the most success with Mule fat (Baccharis Vimnea.)

So I am hunting for it. Some one told me a place but it is a little further south than I want to travel. Del Valle regional park near livermore has some or so I am told.

Anything closer to SF?

 

[tknife]

It's the first wood I used and made my first handdrill coal from, great stuff! Don't know exact locations to tell you, but you'll find it in washes, along fire roads and lots of it near water. Here is the best pic I have of it if you haven't seen it before.

 

[mtnfolk mike]

psy-ops---- where abouts are you living in the bay area???

mule fat is great stuff... around here it grows around the water ways.. creeks,streams and rivers etc..
i have a couple bundles of it... my wife, brings it to me, she works around the stuff all the time...

 

[Hartsell]

Here on the central coast I find it all over in seasonal creeks and dry washes. I almost always find Willow and Cottonwood in the same area, if that helps.

 

[lumpymike1]

I would head in more towards Sacramento to look for mulefat. Might not be I don't remember the Bay having ideal conditions to find it.
I always find it in hotter/dryer conditions in LA and SD.

 

[mtnfolk mike]

I would head in more towards Sacramento to look for mulefat. Might not be I don't remember the Bay having ideal conditions to find it.
I always find it in hotter/dryer conditions in LA and SD.

it's all over the bay area.... my wife works in san jose, she maintains a lot of the creeks, water ways and surrounding areas.... that's where you have to look... they're there for sure..

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

Thank goodness you are looking for a plant- I couldn't figure out why you would use fat for a fire drill!!

 

[3wolves]

Thank goodness you are looking for a plant- I couldn't figure out why you would use fat for a fire drill!!

Lubricating the handhold. I have seen similar plants around here, don't know if they are the same ones though.

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

Somehow a double post

 

[psy-ops]

Thanks all,

Mtnfolk mike,
I am in Berkeley for the summer. I have been up to Tilden park and have already harvested Elderberry and CA buckeye. Both of which are good for friction fire making.

I am so close to getting an ember I can taste it. I hear Mulefat is the best.

 

[mtnfolk mike]

psy-ops-- drop me a line if you can't find any and i'll hook you up.. i have a bundles in the garage..

you should also check out "the society of primitive technology's" website.. they hold all sorts of classes through out the year...
http://www.primitiveways.com/Friends of PT.html

east bay regional parks also has a few cool primtive gatherings held at coyote hills park.. www.ebparks.org

mike

 

[bikermikearchery]

I'm down here in SD county and I find Mule fat in every water course.

 

[psy-ops]

Thanks mntfolk mike,

I will give it a try this weekend. If I don't find any I give you a holla.