Avila Beach Life • June 2023

As the sun gradually awakens from its winter slumber, flirting with the promise of warmth, we anticipate its full glory for the summer solstice, that magical day that marks the longest period of daylight in the year. This year, the solstice falls on June 21, bringing with it the vibrant spirit of a season marked by jumping through the waves and long summer days full of laughter. Speaking of the solstice, there’s no better place to witness this celestial event than here in Avila Beach. Our small coastal paradise transforms into a lively tableau, as the sun paints vibrant hues across the expansive sky. To truly enjoy this occasion, I recommend heading to the shoreline just before sunrise. Wrap yourself in a blanket, sip your favorite morning brew, and behold the celestial spectacle. As the day unfolds, perhaps take a leisurely walk along the Bob Jones City to Sea Trail, enjoy a picnic in the park, or even take a refreshing plunge in the ocean.

But remember, with the arrival of summer, Avila Beach won’t remain our secluded little sanctuary for long. The delightful weather and irresistible charm of our town will draw visitors from far and wide. Tourists will fill our beaches, streets, and local businesses, and while they bring with them the hustle and bustle that’s somewhat foreign to our tranquil winters, they also bring life and laughter, reaffirming our town’s allure.

As we navigate through these busier times, let’s not forget the importance of supporting our community and local news. It’s through mediums like Avila Beach Life, generously brought to you by the Avila Beach Foundation and the wonderful advertisers you see in these pages, that we stay connected, aware, and supportive of each other. So, extend your gratitude to them, and if you have any stories or information beneficial to our community, do reach out to us at editor@13starsmedia.com.

As Margaret J.Wheatley once beautifully put it,“There is no power for

change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.”

Let’s embrace the summer solstice, welcome our visitors, and continue to support and cherish our lovely Avila Beach community. Let’s discover and celebrate what we care about together.

Before I sign off, a special shoutout goes to my husband, Nic. As we approach Father’s Day, I’m filled with immense gratitude for the man who’s not only the rock of our family but a beacon of strength and kindness in our community. Nic, thank you for being an extraordinary mentor to our children, teaching them the true essence of being a strong, compassionate man. Here’s wishing a joyful Father’s Day to all the Dads!

We hope you enjoy this issue of Avila Beach Life.

Rick Cohen avila beach foundation

Greetings, fellow Avilones. Here we are, in the month of June, only days away from the official start of summer on the 21st. I don’t know about you, but summer has always meant something special to me, mostly because harkening back to my youth, it meant a break from school with many visits to the beach. The aroma of salt water, cotton candy, hot dogs, and tanning oil can transport me back to those wonderful times. Back then, I only dreamed of living at/near the beach, and here I am now, living the dream with you all in Avila Beach. How lucky can a guy get?

One of my favorite summertime songs was released in 1964 by the duo Chad and Jeremy. Titled “A Summer Song,” the poetic lyrics so aptly captured the feeling of the day, especially for young lovers. Here are the opening stanzas: “Trees, swayin’ in the summer breeze, showin’ off their silver leaves, as we walked by. Soft kisses on a summer’s day, laughing all our cares away, just you and I. Sweet sleepy warmth of

Foundation News and Views

summer nights, gazing at the distant lights in the starry sky.” It’s a song worth listening to, so take a few minutes to Google or YouTube it and take a ride back in time.

While I’m sure these dates are on your calendar, I nevertheless remind you of Father’s Day on Sunday, June 18, a day honoring all fathers, grandfathers, and father figures for their contributions. And let us not forget Juneteenth on the 19th, a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. It is also called Emancipation Day or Juneteenth Independence Day. The name “Juneteenth” references the date of the holiday, combining the words “June” and “nineteenth.”The 2023 June solstice happens on June 21 at 14:58 UTC. That’s June 21, 7:58 a.m. PDT in North America. This solstice — the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere — marks the sun’s most northerly point in Earth’s sky.

Moving along, in the spirit of sharing my sometimes-rambling thoughts and opinions, I wonder how many of you “elder adults” resort to comparing life as it is today with life as it was “back in the day.” I must admit to being guilty of this more and more as the older I get. I recall both my grandparents and parents falling back on this habit, and how I shook my head and laughed at them. I owe them all an apology, since I now get the same type of response when speaking to those of a younger

generation. But experience counts, and it seems that we wise old folks have a responsibility to express to those younger than us our complaints and lessons learned, even though we rarely change their minds.

In that regard, I share with you a trip my wife and I took in May to Angel’s Camp, which is located up in Gold Country, southwest of Sacramento. We drove the usual and most direct route up Interstate 5, which turned out to be a mistake. Unfortunately, a considerable portion of the road was in horrible condition. I found myself dodging potholes large enough to force vehicle wheels out of alignment, particularly in the slow lane. It was a bit better in the fast lane, but even that came with perils. Driving up Interstate 5, with a posted speed limit of 70 mph, you better be ready to ramp it up to 85 mph in the fast lane, or become the victim of tailgaters in a great hurry that force you back into the slow lane. So, the choice was to use the fast lane like a race car driver, or use the slow lane and dodge potholes while stuck behind freight trucks kicking up pebbles that always seem to find your windshields. Bottom line is that road conditions were deplorable.

Okay, so we finally reached the Highway 4 intersection at Stockton, and for 50 or so miles of eastbound travel found smooth, recently repaved roads. Most of this portion of the

trip was truly in the middle of nowhere. I was humming the John Denver tune lyrics, “Country roads, take me home, etc.” We didn’t see many cars in either direction while traversing the sometimes-winding narrow stretch. During the trip, we also took a ride south on Highway 49 to Sonora, another 16 or so miles of a country road in perfect condition that was also lightly traveled.

My point being that somehow these out-ofthe-way roads shined, while the highly traveled and important portion of Interstate 5 described earlier was dangerously terrible. Is it Caltrans that decides which roads need attention, or do counties have a say in the matter? Then, it was time to head home, and I vowed not to use I-5 again, instead opting for Highway 99 south. Meh! 99 was better than 5, but the work being done to add lanes in certain areas resulted in some harrowing driving as concrete barriers, non-existent medians and shoulders bring you just inches from the vehicles next to you. Needless to say, it was another “white-knuckle” drive on the way home. But we arrived safely, a bit worse for the wear.

Perhaps I’ll just stay here in Avila Beach and enjoy listening to “A Summer Song.” That’s it for now, fellow Avilones. See you at the beach!

Hope Against Hope

Everyone has heard or said the phrase “hope against hope,” but what does it really mean? When we have “hope,” it means there is a logical reason to believe things will change. Someone is doing something that is creating a belief that, whatever the situation, it will become better if the work continues. “Hope against hope” is essentially wishful thinking. Whatever is necessary for the situation to change “ain’t happening,” so hoping it will change is no different than wishing one could fly.

Right now (May 15, 2023), it seems like most of the major stock indexes are in the “hope against hope” mode, which is to say that, despite all the evidence a recession^ is looming (if not already here)^*, the large cap stock indexes continue to hang in there and have had a nice rise (with some ups and downs) since Oct 2022. Makes it easy to forget the last two long term bear markets had frequent rebounds causing investors to believe the worst was behind and “blue skies ahead.” In 7 or the last 8 recessions, losses were greater than 20%, and 2/3rds of those losses came during the actual recession, not before.*

There are ways to insulate oneself from possible losses. Maybe it’s time to look at new ideas for a new paradigm of high inflation and high interest rates. One’s gains can be linked to the major stock indexes while reducing one’s risks substantially.^^ Fixed rates of 5%+ are also available. To learn more, please visit our website and/or call for a 15 minute no obligation, no fee discussion.

^https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/hartnetts-dirty-dozen-doom-12-charts-coming-recession

^*https://seekingalpha.com/instablog/48075864-eric-basmajian/5876955-employment-diffusion-and-turning-points-epb-market-update? mailingid=31463435&messageid=service-rta-blog-post&serial=31463435.1224

* BofA Global Research Data from 1927 to May-2023

^^Buffered accounts may provide up to 20% protection from index declines while also allowing for 100% participation in the index chosen. Please refer to a product prospectus for specific information on costs, crediting methods, current rates, and buffer protections.

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A View From the Beach

Hi All – It is always nice to be able to brag about one of our local businesses … and today I would like to tell you about KINDRED — A Beauty Collective that was voted the #1 Salon in the San Luis Obispo County New Times 37th Annual Best of SLO Readers Poll.

Located at 310 Front St., they are so very proud of their accomplishment and believe it is a testament to the hard work and dedication that their team of incredible women put in each and every day. They wanted to offer a special thank you to their families, friends, and community and amazing clients who have been a huge part of their success as well as their growth … and know they couldn’t have done this without all of you who continue to support them. Thank you from the owners/stylists Amy Maggipinto, Brooklynn Truderung, and Natalie Spencer; stylist Becky Mejia; and massage therapist Christel O’Rourke. Be sure to stop by and congratulate the ladies. Another local who deserves acknowledgment is Kathy Mastako, a volunteer

docent, researcher, and writer who wrote a book entitled “The Lighthouse at Point San Luis” last year. Her book “highlights the rich history of this local landmark from its construction, through its various operators, until its turnover to the U.S. Coast Guard and eventual automation.” With so many modern electronic aids to navigation, lighthouses have gone out of style and use. Kathy wrote a very interesting and entertaining book, and all proceeds are being shared 50/50 by donations to the United States Lighthouse Society and the Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers, two nonprofit organizations dedicated to preserving lighthouse history.

Once again, it is time for our Avila Beach Civic Association annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast being held on Tuesday, July 4, from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the Avila Beach Community Center, 191 San Miguel St. Tickets will be available online and at the door. Our annual Doggie Parade will follow at 11 a.m. on the Avila Beach Promenade … and there will be tables in our

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

A Journey of Rescue and Love: Tripp’s Story of Finding Home

By MARY FOPPIANO

For Avila Beach Life

Tripp is the newest member of the Harris-Stengel household. Anne, Mark, and June, their other dog, welcomed him on Valentine’s Day when they adopted him at Woods Humane in San Luis Obispo. He had been transported there a few weeks earlier from the shelter in Avenal by Anne, who volunteers as a transporter for both California Coastal Transport and California Transport. Both organizations consist of volunteers to facilitate the transportation of animals in need of rescue from overcrowded or high-kill shelters on the West Coast, usually driving a leg of a relay to get the animals to fosters, rescues, or shelters that can accommodate them.

Tripp was a passenger of one of Anne’s transports, along with six other small dogs. By the time she got all the dogs to Woods that day, it was clear that Tripp was going to

eventually be a new member of their family in the San Luis Bay Estates. Tripp had been picked up as a stray street dog and taken to the Avenal shelter. Avenal is a small town, but their shelter is terrific, unlike so many larger area shelters. The staff are wonderful and caring, and they do their best to help the animals find forever homes. Tripp is a fun little guy who has settled in nicely with his new family. He loves meeting his neighbors, both canine and human. He is a wonderful walking companion with a lively pace that helps Anne and Mark get lots of exercise. His middle name is Hazard because he is quiet like a cat and they have to make sure they don’t trip on Tripp.

If you are interested in getting involved in volunteer work with California Coastal Transport or California Transport, please check them out on Facebook. You can also talk to Anne when you see her walking Tripp in the neighborhood.

Healing Garden with puppy sitters for pet lovers to eat their breakfast prior to the parade.

All dogs must be registered and checked in to walk in our Doggie Parade and participate in our Doggie Costume Contest — Best Costume, Best Dog/Owner Look Alike, Best Holiday Theme, Funniest, and Best in Show. Each participant will receive a doggie treat bag from Petco Arroyo Grande and will entertain all who come each year to our parade. Please contact me at (805) 627-1997 or avilabeachcc@gmail. com with any questions and to get involved or check out our website avilabeachcc.com. See you on the 4th!

Finally, San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department gave us 100 COVID19 test kits for distribution to members of our community. If you are interested in receiving any of these test kits, please let me know and you can pick them up in our office. Thanks and have a great and safe month.

FURRY SPOTLIGHT

Gus is Pet of the Month

By MARY FOPPIANO

Gus lives in Avila with his pet parent Monica Stillman. He is a rescue, about 3 1/2 years old, and the best guess is that he is a Chiweenie. Gus gets in a good run on the beach every morning and an amble through town every afternoon. He

loves people watching and likes nothing better than someone stopping to tell him how cute he is, which is how I met him at the Post Office a few weeks ago. Gus is making a lot of dog friends in Avila who have taught him how great it is to have dog friends.

Mary Foppiano Avila Beach Civic Association

Majestic Orcas Grace Monterey Bay: A Rare Encounter with the CA140 Pod

by CHUCK GRAHAM

There was no denying the 6-foottall dorsal fin cutting through the open ocean above the Soquel Canyon State Marine Conservation Area within the teeming waters of Monterey Bay, along the Central California Coast.

Black and steeple-shaped, the dorsal fin belonging to a mature, male orca glistened in the morning sun. This apex predator is known as Ben. A quarter mile off the bow of the whale watching boat his plume of mist shot out of his spout as did the rest of the other orcas in the pod, an array of seabirds circling above.

There were four orcas in all, and Ben’s mother was on hand as well. Her name is Emma. The other two orcas were her offspring, and as of this writing it is not known if they are males or females and thus far, they are unnamed. They are part of an orca pod known as CA140. Orca culture is that of a matriarchal society. The moms rule the roost, and their sons stay with their mothers their whole lives. They are mamma boys.

Wanderers

There are no resident orca pods in Central and Southern California. Resident pods rely on a specific food source like salmon. Instead, transient pods maraud the offshore waters feasting on whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions. They travel constantly in search of marine mammals, and sightings of orcas in the Santa Barbara Channel do not happen often. Whereas in Monterey Bay they are seen frequently.

Monterey Bay is sometimes referred to as a “Pelagic Serengeti”. That is due to the super deep, underwater canyon inside the bay reaching 1,000 – 6,000 feet down. Cold upwelling currents stirred by consistent northwest winds swirl upward towards the surface carrying tons of zooplankton and phytoplankton, satiating a throng of pelagic species. Therefore, food is aplenty for predators like orcas that reign at the top of the food web.

Emma and her pod were not hunting when we came across them. They were merely surfacing and moving at a gradual pace, slicing southward through the calm waters like a porpoise.

The last time I saw Emma and her pod was two years prior in the Santa Barbara Channel. I was returning from Santa Cruz Island after several days of guiding kayak trips through toothy sea caves. So, whenever traveling to and from the islands there’s always a slim chance of experiencing something amazing.

Emma was with her younger brother

Liner. He was born in 1990 and is 32 years old. Emma was born in 1981. She is 41 years old. The pod was traveling through choppy seas to the west, perhaps out to Point Bennett on San Miguel Island, where the largest seal and sea lion congregation in the world takes place.

Female orcas in the wild can reach 75 to 100 years old. Males generally live 50 to 70 years old. Generally, males don’t do as well after a mother passes.

CKWP

The California Killer Whale Project (CKWP) is a nonprofit devoted to all thing’s orca, including their complex life histories and conservation up and down the California Coast. The nonprofit has taken the responsibility of archiving documentation dating back to the 1950s and continuing the collection of data with their commitment to those transient orcas.

To identify pods and individuals within those groups. biologists look for blemishes in their white eye and saddle patches, and on their impressive dorsal fins. For example, Emma from the CA140s, possesses an E-shaped notch on the backside of her dorsal fin. Another male orca from the CA51s is known as Bumper, a proper name for an orca with a noticeable bump or warble in his dorsal fin.

The CKWP gathers their data from scientists, naturalists, photographers, fishermen, and the like. They observe each pod’s travels and behaviors and document

their lives in the offshore waters off the coast.

I remember back in 2012 photographing the CA51s in the East Santa Barbara Channel off Santa Cruz Island. It was before 11 am. By the end of the day the CA51s had gathered on the southeast side of Point Bennett where an abundant food source awaits any predator. There are six different species of pinnipeds that utilize that active, year-round rookery smack dab in the middle of the California Current.

Stealthy Cetaceans

There were several whale watching vessels enjoying Emma and members of the CA140s that early November day in Monterey Bay. The pod seemed to be in no big hurry to hunt. Instead, they basked in the sun while constantly changing directions.

They would surface, and then stay down for several moments before revealing themselves with their majestic spout, plumes wafting skyward on the immediate horizon. The boats would then maneuver carefully toward the pod keeping a safe distance not to disturb them.

Arguably, the most intelligent mammal on the planet, when orcas don’t want to be seen or socialize, they can ghost a flotilla of whale watching boats like no other cetacean. From bow to stern, every passenger on each boat kept an eye, but the CA140s had vanished from view in the dark depths of Monterey Bay.

Whale watchers recently were able to observe the four-orca CA140 pod in Monterey Bay. Contributed Photos

Transient orcas enchant whale watchers as they glide through the rich waters of California’s Central Coast

Story and photos

By BETTY HARTIG

For Avila Beach Life

Rarely are mammals spotted in Avila’s estuary, but on occasion, a round dark head may be seen popping out of the water. Rest assured, you are not imagining things or hallucinating. What could it be? An exploring pinniped, better known as a seal. Specifically, harbor seals, an important member of the sea life that entertain us by Port San Luis. Curiosity, along with the agility to roam waters, brings them to additional territory. Seals have been spotted snoozing on the estuary shore areas. To the surprise of Bob Jones Trail walkers, seals can and have gone into the San Luis Creek. Remarkably, seals can live in fresh or saltwater.

Correctly identifying a flippered mammal can be an intriguing task to do. Several physical and behavioral variations exist between harbor seals and sea lions. The most noticeable difference is size, along with their ears and flippers. Sea lions are large, with an average weight of 600 pounds. During the breeding season,

Pinnipeds in the Creek

weight can increase to 1,000 pounds, whereas harbor seals are smaller and more tapered. The harbor seal’s structure allows them to move fast in water, like slick speedsters.

Another anatomical distinction is ears. Harbor seals have no ear flap, only an ear hole. Sea lions have ears with visible flap. How they received the name “lion” is interesting. There is obviously no resemblance to the four-legged king of the jungle. Sea lions do not roar, but adult males have longer fur on the back of thick necks, just like male lions that live on land, hence the name sea lion.

When comparing the two marine animals, take notice of front and hind flippers: Harbor seals have fur-covered, long claws on front flippers. Hind flippers of a seal and sea lion have a sharp contrast in design and function. The sea lion flipper can rotate under its body, which allows the ability to walk on land. On the other hand, a harbor seal’s back flippers point away from the body and cannot rotate under the body. Therefore, it scoots on its belly while moving on land, resembling the

JUNE Calendar of Events

JUNE 17

TREVOR HALL AND THE GREAT IN-BETWEEN FEATURING THE CALIFORNIA HONEYDROPS

AVILA BEACH GOLF RESORT

6464 Ana Bay Rd

5-9pm

For more information visit tixr.com/ groups/goodvibezpresents/events/ trevor-hall-and-the-great-in-between-65475

JUNE 24

LIVE AT THE LIGHTHOUSE CONCERT

SERIES

POINT SAN LUIS LIGHTHOUSE

Lighthouse Road

2pm

Amazing top local talent high atop the majestic

Pacific Ocean at the Central Coast’s most breathtaking venue: The Point San Luis Lighthouse in Avila Beach. These Saturday afternoon concerts are limited and will sell out, so make your purchase early to secure your spot. For more information visit visitavilabeach.com/avila-beach-events/

JUNE 24

MAC & CHEESE FESTIVAL

AVILA BEACH GOLF RESORT

6464 Ana Bay Rd

The Mac is back! Join us for the 10th Annual Mac and Cheese Fest at the Avila Beach Golf Resort. All of your favorite Central Coast Restaurants will go head to head for the title of “Best Mac and Cheese on the Central Coast!” There will be Mac and Cheese, wine tasting, cocktail sampling and more. Plus, live music.

motion of a caterpillar.

Vocal differences are noticeable between the two. Sea lions are loud and noisy, barking often. While watching sea lions on floating water structures, which can include moored boats, their barks are easily heard. In fact, port visitors often have fun mimicking these sounds. The sea lion’s bark carries miles away. Smaller harbor seals are more relaxed, quieter, and vocalize with soft grunts.

The social behavior of these two ocean dwellers is dissimilar. Sea lions regularly gather in groups, referred to as rafts, when in water and colonies when on land. A favorite pastime is basking in the sun in groups, which is easily observed at Port San Luis. Frequently, sea lions push and shove to obtain prime sun-napping locations. Harbor seals, however, spend most of their time in the water and are more aquatic due to their body size and shape. Groups of harbor seals are called herds.

Circus shows feature seals balancing and bouncing a ball on the tip of their nose or completing several other antics. Those are sea lions. Playfulness and intelligence allow

sea lions to be easily trained, as seen in aquariums and zoos. In the wild, sea lions can be viewed surfing, breaking waves, and jumping out of the water. It sure resembles frolicking amusement.

Harbor seals and sea lions do have predators. Both great white sharks and orcas are known to hunt and kill them for food. Quick swimming and diving skills allows these water creatures to escape danger. A sea lion’s sharp teeth and claws can be used to defend themselves. Another defensive trait is the ability to move on both land and water. Unfortunately, other threats abound for these amazing sea mammals, such as human ocean trash. Harbor seals and sea lions can become easily entangled in plastic and other human made debris.

Avila Beach has an abundance of wildlife to see and enjoy. Working together, we can keep the environment safe and healthy for our aquatic friends. Please remember to be mindful of plastics. Place them in appropriate containers. Do your best at preventing items from blowing away and floating out to sea. Harbor seals, sea lions, and all other ocean inhabitants will appreciate it.

SUBMIT UPCOMING EVENTS TO: office@13starsmedia.com

JULY 4

4TH OF JULY PANCAKE BREAKFAST AND DOG PARADE

AVILA BEACH COMMUNITY CENTER/AVILA BEACH

PROMENADE

191 San Miguel Street

8:30am

Avila Beach Civic Association brings the annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast at the Avila Beach Community Center. Tickets will be available online and at the door. The annual Doggie Parade will follow at 11 a.m. on the Avila Beach Promenade and there will be tables in the Healing Garden with puppy sitters for pet lovers to eat their breakfast prior to the parade.

JULY 4

BLUEGRASS FREEDOM FESTIVAL

ATASCADERO LAKE PARK

4-8pm

Celebrate Independence Day lakeside under giant shady oaks with three great musical acts on an afternoon of music, food, and drinks. Music begins at 4 p.m. with the Chris Keith Band featuring songs with Brad Elijah Band, followed by Brittain and Silva, and ending with Bremen Town. Don’t forget to bring your camp chair or blanket.

JULY 4

4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION AND PARADE

DOWNTOWN TEMPLETON

7am-3pm

Get out your red, white, and blue-themed attire, and make sure you find a location where you can watch the parade before it starts. Parade starts at 10 am

When comparing pinnipeds, sea lions (Left photo) are known to be loud and noisy, barking often; however, sea lions are more easily trained, which is why you’ll see them doing tricks at the circus and other shows. Harbor seals (Right photo) are smaller and more tapered than sea lions, allowing them to move fast in water, like slick speedsters. Contributed Photo

GRAPEVINE

Mezcalifornia! New agave boom moving up from Mexico

The Aztecs in pre-Columbian times drank pulque made from agave sap — a viscous, fermented, mild alcoholic drink. Early Mexican-era experimenters came up with the distillation of agave into several forms of alcohol. The sugar in agave, besides being fermented and distilled into alcohol, can be used in making syrup and candles, the fibers can be cattle feed, and rope can be made out of the outer leaves, which do most of its photosynthesis in the cool nights’ trapping rainwater and moisture in the open pores and the curved leaves funnel water to the main core, in all making it an evolutional marvel.

Australia, it is 20 degrees south of the equator; whereas, Jalisco is 20 degrees north of the equator, so similar climate growing conditions. There are over 500,000 agave plants in production in Queensland.

What is grown in sites outside Mexico will be a different type of spirits. It is said, “Tequila will always be tequila, and mezcal will always be mezcal.” But, as we know locally, craft spirits innovators will come up with good drinks that will be different on the shelf than the Mexican brands, because of the different types of agave plus soil, climate, where and how it is grown, known as terroir.

Mezcalifornia is coming! What the heck is that? It is among the new global agave boom that is arriving outside of Mexico building a new type of mezcal for distribution.

Mexico’s National Committee for Agave Production, back in 2015, was saying soon there isn’t enough agave planted to meet the needs of tequila and mezcal producers; however, since then it has been “boom and busts” times with over and under production years. In different articles by Ferron Salniker, Kobe Desmet, and Kara Newman, there are 252 kinds of agave, some as you see in landscaping, on the planet with most native to Mexico. They are a part of the asparagus family. The spiky leaves protect the sweet center from varmints and its long stalk (quiote) can be 20 feet tall to protect the seeds so they can blossom which happens once in the agave’s lifetime.

The big problem with agave is it takes at least seven growing years, some five to 10 years, to be ready to distill, and you have to kill it (the size and shape of a very, very large pineapple) to process, unlike most fruits, although it is classified as flowering plant similar to the cactus family. So, a serious long-term project before you see any chance for some money — more than twice as much as wine grape production, but with wine grapes and tree crops, you still have the plant to produce more crops. You can only make Tequila, a branded name, in special places in Mexico, mostly around the town of Tequila in Jalisco State with Blue Weber Agave, a unique agave type.

Mezcal production can be found all over Mexico, made from 50 different varietals — cultivated and wild — but it is regulated in eight states. Tequila uses a steamed agave process, whereas, mezcal is roasted in underground pits giving it its smoky flavor. The sugar in the “pina” (agave heart) is distilled as a high percent alcohol.

Other countries are starting to produce mezcal thanks to the warming of the planet. Back to Mezcalifornia, which seems to be a mouthful — perhaps Mezacali or the like would be better. California is one of the pioneers in experimenting with different varietals in dry areas, which is conducive to growing agave which fortunately does not need a lot of water, and is cold tolerant, which happens in desert climates. Several varieties are being tested on several thousands of acres throughout the state even as far north as the Sacramento Valley.

The California Agave Council has been formed as a trade association to promote the Mezcalifornia movement. New Mexico and Arizona are also looking into planting and growing agave. In far north Queensland,

What shouldn’t happen here is the problem in Mexico, where they are shifting out of traditional farming practices to intensive chemical uses. Also, they are practicing monoculture — replanting agave in the same spots as the one just taken out which leads to diseases and poor soil conditions similar to the “Great Dust Bowl” in the 30s in this country, when grain was solely grown and not using soil conservation practices by rotating other crops to promote healthy soil conditions.

Mezcal must be 100 percent pure, with no sugars or additives. Tequila is 99 percent pure — fillers, additions, or sweeteners make up the other 1 percent which is the biggest difference in brands. There are four categories of additives — glycerin (mouthfeel), oak extract, caramel coloring, and sugar-based syrup. When the label says just tequila (lowercase) means at least 51 percent from Blue Weber Agave and the rest from other sources usually sugar canebased spirits.

Do your homework, buy 100 percent, and add your own additives. Tequila and mezcal at 100 percent along with straight gin and vodka are the healthiest of spirits — if you can say that, because of the lack of additives. You have to take a look at some tequilas because many producers do add caramel coloring — heated sugar compounds usually the bad stuff high dextrose corn syrup, noticeable in golden tequilas. Tequila and mezcal aging break down with blanco aging at 0 to 2 months, reposado is 2 to 11 months, anejo is 1 to 3 years, and extra anejo is 3-plus years. You might have to check for age on anejo bottles because another month from reposado makes it anejo, not much different and much costlier. Use the usual nifty corks for wine bottle closures.

The tequila craze has produced a lot of problems. Wild agave is being overharvested, destroying the habitat for many dependent critters. “Agave bandits” have harvested wild agave in Oaxaca, leaving large areas devoid of agave, in high demandlow volume years and bootlegged it under the guise of agave syrup or pulque to tequila producers in Jalisco. The heat waves in the last couple of years, along with lower plantings, have affected even the hardy agave plants thereby cutting production volumes. Also of concern, is that the Mexican longnosed bats, a major pollinator, are having trouble adjusting to the changing warmer weather and not fully doing their job. However, restoration projects have taken this bat off of the endangered species list which helps with bigger numbers. It is in a way with warming weather like our bats finding trouble when chasing insects into the windmills, built to combat warming, suffering air decompression from the whirling blades, and their thin lungs exploding. Birds have thicker lung tissue.

It takes 600 gallons of agave juice to fill an oak barrel which results in 300 bottles and the digging up of a dozen agave plants. Think of all the years to grow those dozen agave plants and be appreciative when you take that next tequila shot! The problems in Mexico with wild agave under attack, bad years of production, overproduction, pollination concerns, labor shortage for the heavy and dangerous work by Jimadores, and the necessity of planting over 80 million agaves per year to meet demand, add up to major uncertainties. The biggest problem is because plantings are unregulated, there have been severe boom and bust years. Right now, there are 200 million plants in the ground that need to be harvested in the year 2026, a probable bust and a lot of agaves could be left to rot in the fields in a couple of years.

Planting agave here in the U.S. where possible might be a good idea, especially in areas where you can’t plant crops because of the scarcity of water, for those in for the long term especially when considering it will be a different product, close to distillers, local market, and possibly control the planting of agave. It will take a lot of time and experiments to find the right varietal for the right spot like what we had to go through planting wine grapes in the state. Like a lot of farming, agave here will be a crap shoot!

AVILA BEACH BIKE RENTALS

John Salisbury contributor

““ONE TEQUILA, TWO TEQUILA, THREE TEQUILA – FLOOR!” — ANONYMOUS ”