My Town Monday: Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona, CA
There are A LOT of fun things to do in San Diego. A LOT. Some, like the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld, everybody knows about. Some, though, are a little off the beaten path.
Like the Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona.
You may have heard of Ramona on the news. It's where the Cedar Fire, one of our largest wildfires, began in October 2003. What else? James Cagney owned a bunch of land in Ramona. As in 900+ acres. And the town got its name from the Indian maiden in Helen Hunt Jackson's 1884 novel Ramona. Ramona is about 37 miles northeast of downtown San Diego.
Okay. Back to the Camel Farm. I've lived in San Diego for a little over, ahem, 20 years. And I've NEVER been to the camel dairy. BUT, the next monthly tour is July 11, and I'm so there along with at least a couple of my children.
Gil Riegler and Nancy Kobert-Riegler run the 34-acre dairy, which, by the way, is the ONLY camel dairy in the entire USA.
Some trivia about the dairy and/or camels (in no particular order):
-Camels live to be about 50 years old.
-Camels have THREE eyelids to help keep the dessert sand out of their eyes.
-Gil was actually in the Israeli military and rode camels with the Bedouin.
-There are about 18 camels at the dairy.
-You can rent a camel from the dairy for a party or Nativity scene.
-Contrary to popular belief, camels really don't do a lot of spitting.
Camels produce rich milk that can be fed to foals and crias (baby llama) who are sick or injured. Camel's milk soap is full of vitamin C and is great for sensitive skin. You can buy it at the dairy or order it online (website link below).
Mike Rowe of the Discovery Channel's DIRTY JOBS shot a show last Feb. at the Oasis Camel Dairy!! Here's a link to Nancy's blog post about that very cool event.
Here's the website for the Oasis Camel Dairy.
Travis Erwin has stepped down as our My Town Monday leader. Although I'm sure he'll be back with future MTM posts because who can resist the allure of My Town Monday?!
Clair Dickson (Thanks, Clair!) set up a very adorable My Town Monday blog with links to all the participants. Please hop on over and check out everyone else's MTM posts.
Sources:
http://www.ramonajournal.com/default.asp?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramona,_California
http://www.blendradioandtv.com/Ramona_CA/index.htm
http://www.sdjewishjournal.com/stories/xarchive.php?id=578
http://www.bloggersbase.com/articles/lifestyle/travel/oasis-camel-dairy-ramona-ca/ (including photo credits for all but the top pic)
Posts
Barrie this is cool! I never knew.
ReplyDeleteHow cool! I wish I could go to a camel dairy.
ReplyDeleteHi Barrie,
ReplyDeleteWho knew??
Once you get there, please let us know about your trip to the Oasis Camel Dairy.
Terrie
You always find the coolest things to do!
ReplyDeleteBarrie,
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool!! I'm going to suggest to my husband that we go there some time next month before school starts again!!
Teresa
It always amazes me that someone thought to take fluid out of any animal and decide to drink it or rub it on one's skin.
ReplyDeleteDid you taste it???? Just curious. Thanks for the fun post.
ReplyDeletevery interesting. I've never heard of a camel dairy.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how this has not made the list of things to do with your niece. You know I love camels. I guess you did the post just for me. XO
ReplyDelete-YPN
They are cute! Do they really spit?
ReplyDeleteLol. we used to milk cows and I know how hard that can be. I don't think I'd want to run a camel dairy.
ReplyDeleteThere is something so otherworldly/exotic about camels! How funny that you have some practically on your doorstep . . .
ReplyDeleteSeveral animals scare me. Camels are one of them Kangaroos another. Okay, dogs too and squirrels.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I have lived in California just about 47 years; my dad has lived here 75 years, and I could practically bet even HE hasn't heard of these guys. How do you find all this?
ReplyDeleteIs anyone making camel-milk mozzarella? :)
A camel dairy...if you put that in a story, no one would believe it.
ReplyDeleteVery cool.
I'm without a doubt more of a Oasis Camel kind of guy instead of SeaWorld.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a really interesting park. Did you get to taste the milk? How was it?
ReplyDeleteLauren and Tricia and Becky: The milk is animal-grade. So, I don't think I'll get to taste it. Or cheese made from it.
ReplyDeleteChocolate Covered Daydreams: I always thought camels spat when the least bit provoked. But, apparently, you have to make them really mad. I say "apparently" because I've never seen one spit. But maybe when I'm at the dairy....
David: You should come to San Diego and do both SeaWorld and the camel dairy!
Now this is cool & different. A camel dairy....who knew?
ReplyDeleteSo cool! I've always loved camels since they look so improbable, so I loved reading about them - especially the trivia.
ReplyDeleteWow. I never would have thought of a camels' milk dairy. Ever. In a million years. Pretty cool.
ReplyDeletewhat's next... whale milk? :O lol
ReplyDeletegood'un, thx barrie :)
A camel DAIRY. Who knew?
ReplyDeleteOnce I rode a camel, they seem so gentle.
I never knew either, and will be checking out their soap. Great post, Barrie!
ReplyDeleteCool!!! I want to try that one too! I always dreamed of riding a camel someday just like alladin and jasmine.
ReplyDeleteThanks for listing my blog on the sources list: http://tinyurl.com/afaxop
ReplyDeleteThought I recognized those pictures! It is a wonderful place to visit -- for adults and kids alike.
To answer a question posted in comments: No, you cannot try the milk there. In fact, when they pass the pail they ask you NOT to try it as they are not licensed to provide milk to human consumption and if something happened, they could be sued.
The funnest part was watching Gil trying to install the "bra" on the female camel -- the look on the camel's face said it all -- "Get a grip, Gil --- how long is this gonna take???"
Hope you all visit. But they don't have tours every month so you need to call ahead or check their website.
高額アルバイトでは大人の恋愛を求めた風俗嬢や社長令嬢といった女性達が多数登録されております。裏風俗とまで呼ばれる逆援助の交際をあなた様も求めてみませんか
ReplyDelete