Ofuru
Learn why soaking in the Deep Woods in our Ofuru (Japanese Soaking Bath) which is fed from a sacred healing spring (the Indian's Trough) is such a joy! White ridges of wetness crash on sodden rock rippedby roaring currents that lash the creek bank and swell over its edge.Gushes of brown spray strain at greying wood. They sing a rushing song inharmony with the groaning bridge. Smells of damp leap through the willows.I feel this soggy touch and taste a pure, sweet cleansing that stings mylips. After a long dry autumn, we have finally some rain that hasswollen the creek. Our gentle creek has turned into a lashing cascade. I stood on one of thesmall bridges that cross the creek and thought how blessed we are here withwater. It falls on us, rushes down our creeks, bubbles up through thegrass, springs from the hills and cascades from cracks in the rocks.This is no mistake. Merri and I began looking for land with two goals, havealtitude (to avoid air conditioning in summer and mosquitoes anytime) andhave an abundance of water. We certainly attained both at Merrily Farms.When I was growing up in Portland, we didn't think it special to be able todrink sparkling clear Bull Run water fresh from the tap. Then I began totravel and was amused. The poor French, Mexicans and people in places wherethey could not drink water unless it was bottled! How strange I thought. How little did I know? But where I really became aware of the growing water supply problem waswhen I returned to Florida. The diluted chlorine mixture coming from ourtap in Naples was not only expensive but barely drinkable. And Merri's Momin Macon, Georgia was the first house after the chlorinization plant. Thetap water would make your eyes burn! I became concerned. Then whenreturning on a trip to visit my Mom in Portland I discovered that herepreviously sweet pure water was chemically foul as well. This was when I first became concerned. We are too many. Too dirty. Our water too little. So I wanted to invest in water. But where? One way is to own land withwater. That's why Merri and I decided to go to the source and buy land withsprings . Each of our houses has its own gravity fed water supply from oneof four separate artisian wells. There are dozens of other springs on the landplus three rushing creeks. But the granddaddy of them all is the "Indian Trough". This is a hugespring where about three gallons a minute pours out of a large rockformation. It is a historic site because the natives here viewed it assacred (when this land was their hunting ground). They gouged a trough inthe rocks so they could drink form the spring face and their horses couldwater from the trough. The water is said to be medicinal and the locals have come here to collect itfor generations. Mainly for their health, but one neighbor said his fatherwas a famous moonshiner and only used this water to make his moonshine! Thelocals still come up to collect it and a dear friend whose brother waspassing asked for some to take to the hospice. To drink this water was hisbrother's dying wish. We are blessed with this water and have built a wonderful Japanese CedarSoaking Tub (the Japanese word is Ofuru deep in the woods. The spring (which comes out at exactly 49degree temperature year round) fills the 450 gallon tub (it can accommodatesix people). A wood burning snorkel stove with heat exchangers is immersedin the water and heats it to the temperature desired (usually a little under100 degrees). After the soak (and drinking lots of water while there) thetub is drained and filled again so no chemicals are needed.We also have ten gallon oak barrels so we can drink it all over the farm aswell. We will discuss the importance of water and health at our upcomingHaciendas and Health Tour in Ecuador which I wrote aboutyesterday. Until next message, all the health in this world to you! Gary
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