Breitenbush: After the Fire

Breitenbush: After September’s Wall of Fire

by Beverly Faxon

On a moonless December night, I sat in a hot pool in a meadow sweeping down to a tumbling river. I raised my hand to my face, and I could see nothing, not the faintest outline. Perhaps this had happened to me before, but it was my first conscious noting of being outside in a dark so complete, and so soft. The absence of light was neither void nor lack, but a presence of its own. Fifteen years later, those of us on the I-5 corridor, already isolated because of a pandemic, drew even deeper into our houses as smoke Far meadow pool by Michael Hudson swept the skies from wildfires in Oregon, in Eastern Washington, in Canada. On a September night when a waning moon glowed red, the last to evacuate Breitenbush Hot Springs stood on the wooden footbridge crossing that tumbling river and watched the orange flames of the Lionshead Fire roaring toward them through the Willamette National Forest.

Breitenbush, an area of natural hot springs in the mountains east of Salem, served for centuries as a place of indigenous healing. It became a resort spa in the 1920s and then, for a few more decades, was a spot for simple cabins and recreation. Alex Beamer bought the site in 1977 to restore and reopen it as Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat and Conference Center, in the company of others who wanted to live there in intentional community. In 1989, Breitenbush became a worker-owned cooperative. Using the power and heat of the waters, it has operated sustainably and off the grid, and provided a healing, rejuvenating, and heart-building respite for visitors and residents for forty years.

Many Skagit residents and Co-op members have travelled the road to Breitenbush. We Co-op members have much in common with the Breitenbush community. We share an interest in healthy and sustainable lifestyles, as well as a commitment to a cooperative business model. And we love the wild rivers that center our communities. At Breitenbush, Skagitonians have sung and swum and danced. We’ve soaked in pools and hiked through forests, balancing on fallen logs to cross water, stretching out on fallen logs to look up at a blue framed by leafy branches. We learned to walk on hot coals without getting burned—some of us figuratively, some of us literally.

Whipped by high winds, the lightning-sparked fire of 2020 burned hot and fast. It blazed through all of the guest cabins, the massage building and the footbridge. The round sanctuary burned to ash. The historic lodge, the commercial grade villa/kitchen, the office building, the sauna and the meadow pools survived, as did the energy infrastructure. Some of the resident homes burned, some still stand. Those structures still standing were spared through the efforts of two community members and three Breitenbush firefighters who stayed behind to fight the fire.

I have many memories of Breitenbush, reaching back to the early 80s, but all of them begin with the relief sigh of arrival, of unwinding from the car, loading a cart with backpacks and blankets, and wheeling it down the path to a cabin. No matter how hot the day, the cabin was cool under tall cedars, and it is the scent of cedar, pine and fir that told me I was safe, that my shoulders could let loose from hunching around my ears, and I could shed my defenses as easily as shedding clothes to slip into the pools, steam rising.

When the fire hit, Peter Moore, business director and an early founding member, was one of those standing on the bridge. And now? The fire, he says, “took parts and parcels, and left parts and parcels, in a mosaic pattern.”

Adds Peter, “You will find meadows where there were forests.”

The view, once shadowed by trees, now stretches to mountaintops.

Fire and change have marked this ecosystem for eons. I know this intellectually, but I’ve been clinging to the landscape I loved. Those forests will not rise again in my lifetime. But Breitenbush will. Community members are rebuilding with steady commitment and optimistic spirit. Photos from the spring show jonquils sparking yellow in the shelter of hollowed trunks. I am imagining the beauty of the new cabins being constructed, sitting in a meadow of wildflowers.

The rich compost of fallen logs gives rise to new trees. In the absence, there is presence.

All those who have loved Breitenbush can visit https://breitenbush.com/blog for updated information about the Breitenbush rebuild, including links to donate. Photos courtesy of Robert Beatty.

Water Your Brain & Feed It, Too

by Karl Mincin, Functional Medicine Nutritionist

How's your brain performing? How about your memory? Did you remember that June was Alzheimer's & Brain Health Awareness month? Since the brain is 73% water, it takes just 2% dehydration to reduce cognitive performance and memory. Remember, hydration is not just about water; electrolyte minerals are equally important. Water goes, and stays, where the minerals are. Here are some of my top hydration tips: plant water bottles at all locations you spend time as a visual reminder. Another good reminder is when you pee: water out, water in. So, keep a bottle in the bathroom. Remember it takes the body 20 minutes to assimilate 8 ounces; more water than this in a shorter time does not hydrate. I have patients who don't like to drink water and say, “Oh, alright, I'll take my quart and get it over with.” Sorry, it doesn't work that way. Use the sprinkler not the fire hydrant.

When it comes to feeding your brain, blue-purple is brainpower’s favorite color!

• Blueberries improve cognitive performance within just a few hours of eating them! Their most profound & protective effect, however, is imparted over time.

• Other purple and blue foods contain brain specific phytonutrient anthocyanins: plums, blackberries, figs, eggplant, cabbage.

• There are even more brain-friendly foods including raw nuts and seeds; the walnut-brain looka-like is no mistake. The omega-3 oils in nuts and fatty fish build healthy brain cell membranes and have anti-inflammatory properties. If you’re looking for a superfood for your brain, lecithin granules or liquid facilitates neurotransmission between synapses. These occur naturally in egg yolks, soy beans, and sunflower seeds.

Herbs and supplements are also a powerful way to fuel your brain. Here’s a great list to get you started:

• Gingko improves circulation in micro blood vessels in the brain and other extremities. Plus, its bilobalide antioxidant content is neuroprotective.

• Turmeric increases the brain hormone BDNF, which protects and improves the function, strength, and growth of neurons.

• Ginseng keeps the brain young along with aiding memory, mood, and behavior. Compound

K & ginsenosides protect the brain against oxidative; aging damage caused by free radicals.

• Gotu Kola improves mental clarity and has neuro protective effects.

• Custom Herbal Brain Tonic Blends combine many of the herbs above for a more concentrated approach.

• Phosphatidyl Choline facilitates neurotransmitter transmission between the synapses of our neurons. Without PC, communication between nerves, muscles, glands, and other organs is disrupted.

• DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is an essential omega-3 concentrated in brain and neurological tissue.

• B12: I have seen more than a few cases of depression turn out to be a simple case of B12 deficiency. Proper assessment testing is important.

• Magnesium threonate and bisglycinate have neuromuscular calming properties.

• Phosphatidylserine can serve as an antidepressant.

• Curcumin is turmeric on steroids! Some types are more mood and brain specific.

• Vitamin D, last but not least, can help regulate mood and stimulate the creation of memories.

by Jenny Sandbo

Summer Refreshment

De La Calle Tepache. What is tepache? Tepache is a cultured beverage made from pineapples, sweetened with sugar and cinnamon. A Mexican culinary tradition, it is served chilled by street vendors. When Grocery Manager, Wayne, and I had our first taste of De La Calle’s canned version, we were hooked! Made from certified organic pineapples, it is sweet, tangy, and a little spicy. Similar to kombucha, it is full of naturally occurring probiotics, so it’s good for your tummy, too! Three flavors available in our beverage cooler: Tradicional Pineapple, Tamarind Citrus, and Mango Chili. 12 oz.

ShenZen Lemongrass Kombucha. Made in Seattle by James Chang, Biogeochemist and Master Brewer. He's been doing farmers markets in the area for 5-6 years and recently partnered with the Puget Sound Food Hub, making it easy for our Co-op to get it to you! What makes this “booch” so special? Unlike other kombucha, it is brewed with lemongrass tea, resulting in a super-smooth, refreshing sparkly beverage that is caffeine free. We are carrying his three most popular flavors: Original Lemongrass, Raspberry, and Ginger. 16 oz. In the beverage cooler. New Flavors from LaCroix! We know there are a lot of LaCroix fans out there, so we are bringing in a few more flavors to fulfill your summer hydration needs. Limoncello and Watermelon are now available in 12 packs in our beverage aisle.

Summer Saucy

Funky’s Hot Sauce Factory. Matt (aka Funky) has been developing his hot sauce recipes since 2006. In 2019 he made the leap to starting his own business and joined our Co-op this spring. Made in Bellingham using organic peppers, Matt offers three flavor profiles with three levels of heat: Terra Luna is medium hot and features green chilies and garlic, Liquid Sunshine is considered “hot” with habaneros, and Stellar Fuzz is the hottest, made with habanero peppers, garlic and ginger. Stellar Fuzz is my favorite…I have a bottle at work and at home! Look for Funky’s on Aisle 6 and on top of our cheese case. 5 oz.

Tan Tan Vietnamese Sauces.

Family-owned and operated, the Tan Tan Café is a popular Vietnamese restaurant in the Portland area. Tan Tan translates to “new beginnings” and refers to the family’s immigration story from Vietnam to the U.S. in the mid-1970s after the fall of Saigon. (Their story is very touching, a reminder of the hardship and resilience that is part of the larger American story. If you are interested in learning more, please visit the web link provided at the end of the article). After years of selling their sauces in to-go containers from the restaurant, in 2017 they started packaging and selling online and to a few specialty retailers in Oregon. We are very pleased to be able to offer their Hoisin, Chili Sauce, and Peanut Sauce to you. Vegan, gluten-free and very delicious! Located on Aisle 6.

Summer Beauty

Wild Man Men’s Care. Smallbatch produced in Grants Pass, Oregon, and packaged in glass, these skin and beard care basics are woodsy, herbal, and very appealing! Their Botanical Liquid Shave Soap is concentrated and requires only a few drops to suds up. The After Shave is fresh and bright with the scents of cedar and citrus. Tiny jars of Beard Cream and Beard Wax share this delightful scent. Located in the men’s care section of our Wellness Department.

Three Sisters Apothecary. The three sisters who own and operate this company are actually two sisters and a daughter. The visual of a witch’s cauldron on the package is a clever play on the mythology of the three fates, the historical role of women as healers, and a nod to the three women’s use of traditional soap making techniques dating back to 7th century Europe. Makers of Bar Soaps, Solid Bar Conditioners, Body Butter, Bath Salts and Lip Balm, everything is packaged without plastic. Their mouth-watering scents might create the urge to just take a little nibble out of a bar of soap, but please, don’t do that! Scents (not flavors!) include Mission Fig Honey, Rose Coconut Milk, and Mexican Lime Cilantro.

Pepper Pot Polish. Woman-owned and mixed in small batches in Tacoma, Washington, Pepper Pot Polish is free of the 5 toxic ingredients used in most nail polishes! Unique and bold colors with names that will make you grin. Cats + Feminism 4Ever is gold and rosy pink glitter polish. Bela Lugosi is a high gloss red/black polish. Super Senior is one of their top-sellers; a rich, deep tawny port red for those with the maturity and confidence for an audacious color. My test of the polish (Feminist Meownifesto: red and silver glitter in a plum base) revealed that it dried fast, but you’ll need 3 coats for saturated color coverage. More importantly, it held up well to the 3 hours of yard work I did the day after I applied it! You’ll find all these selfcare essentials in the Wellness Department. Cheers!

DOUBLE DONATION DAY!

Every time you shop at the Co-op, you help support our local economy and community. 4% Friday is another easy way to do your weekly shopping and contribute to organizations you care about. On the 4th Friday of every month, the Co-op donates 4% of the day's sales to a local organization, and Skagit Community Foundation matches our donation!

You Shop 8

+We Give + They Match = Double Donation

Skagit Gleaners — July 23

Skagit Gleaners is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization. Their purpose is to provide food, household merchandise, and clothing to frugal, wasteconscious, and working families. Skagit Gleaners does this by rescuing surplus food and product from local businesses, keeping such items out of overflowing landfills. Since COVID-19, they’ve rescued and redistributed roughly 150,000 pounds of food each month. Of that, they distributed nearly 65,000 pounds each month to local food banks.

4% Friday Funds will be used to offset the costs of commercial cold storage space. The amount of incoming surplus food from the community has tripled since COVID-19 began. As a result, Skagit Gleaners have had to invest in more freezer space to store food before dispersing it to their members and other like-minded organizations.

Food To Go — August 27

Food to Go provides supplemental weekend food for the students of the Anacortes School District. Most of the students in the program are those who receive free and reduced lunch during the week at school but often go hungry over the weekend.

Food to Go's summer program supplies bags each week that are home delivered. 4% Friday funds will most likely be used to buy fresh fruit or veggies to put in the lunch bags. They prepared approximately 119 bags a week last summer, but the school numbers are projected to go up to 200.

YMCA Oasis Teen Shelter — September 24

The mission of the Skagit Valley Family YMCA is to create positive community change through relationships empowering the mind, body, and spirit of ALL. Oasis also uses this mission but emphasizes providing “the gift of time” to youth experiencing homelessness.

The funds from 4% Friday will be utilized within the YMCA’s Daylight Center Program. Oasis’ Daylight Center program provides daily activities that youth can participate in. 4% Friday Funds would help Oasis offer more enriching field trips, fun things like going to the movies, or doing pottery downtown, etc., and provide more resources to teens.