Spring - Summer 2012 - Breitenbush Hot Springs

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News From The Circle by Peter Moore Vishnu the Preserver and the Breitenbush Reservoir Breitenbush Hot Springs is all about the water. It’s in our name, it’s in the constancy of the hot springs and river that pour into and through the land, and its what provides the flow and thermal dynamics that we use to create electricity, heat and other essential services for ourselves and our guests. It’s always been all about the water. In October of 1928, five men pressed their hands and scratched their initials into the wet concrete of their newly completed water reservoir. It was a fine accomplishment, built into the hilltop above the structure we now call the Breitenbush Office, and designed to hold some 15,000 gallons of potable water. From that time forward, it became possible to store clean drinking water pumped from the river, and to gravity-feed that water through a pipeline distribution system to the cabins and Lodge. This was an essential development in critical infrastructure allowing the new resort to offer basic modern amenities. The late 20s/early 30s was a period of profound investment in the facilities and utilities of Breitenbush, introducing hydroelectricity, new roads, buildings and pools, among others. If they thought about it, the builders of that new reservoir would probably have doubted their creation would be in use nearly a century later—but it is, as are many of the other installations of that period (including the original Leffel turbine, which still spins at the bottom of the penstock, powered by the river, and helping us to create electricity even now). Currently we use more than 15,000 gallons of water each day for drinking and other purposes, making the 1928 storage capacity dubiously undersized. Meeting contemporary load demand requires constant pumping. Now, after years of dreaming and planning, we are building a new water reservoir, just above the site of the original. With a capacity of 186,000 gallons, it will hold well over a week supply at our current average use rate, in addition to charging the newly installed Lodge sprinkler system. This new reservoir is designed to hold more than water, for it also holds the key to other essential initiatives: because it protects all floors of the Lodge via sprinklers, it will allow us to restore that beautiful building to its historic qualities and occupancy; beyond the Lodge, it will assure fire suppression capability for both structural and wildland fires around the property; and with ample reserves of clean water, it will allow us to safely wait out turbid, multi-day flood events in the river; finally, because of its size, it will provide the capacity to support future developments allowed by our Conditional Use Permit. As disparate as these initiatives are, together they form the basis for both restoration and future development, not to mention essential health & safety. In essence, we are in a position today similar to that of Merle Bruckman and his partners during the late 1920s and early 30s, and then later, Alex Beamer and the early Breitenbush Community of the late 70s. We are repairing, designing and building infrastructure and utilities that will serve people for many decades. If you visit the springs this spring, you may witness this project as we finish building and then connecting the reservoir to pipelines that guide water to near & far destinations around the property. There may be construction activity—not exactly the pristine sight & sound of nature that one reasonably expects at Breitenbush. But if I may presume to influence your response, I would wish for you to experience this project as a physical manifestation of an ancient Vedic principle I studied during my years in India. Vishnu, Preserver of the World, was an all-pervading spirit associated with the primeval waters believed to have been omnipresent before the creation of the universe. Vishnu’s essential nature was sustainability. To me, the new reservoir represents this concept beautifully, pre-serving our human need for pure drinking water while preserving our human environment by the safety that water confers. Breitenbush is all about the primeval waters, even in our “industrial” applications. 32 • 503.854.3320
We are blessed with our newest community member! Milo Benjamin Wood, 6 pounds, 11 ounces, was born here in his home on October 4 at 12:37pm to joyful parents, Monique and Noah. B u l l e t i n B o a r d Join Us! The Breitenbush Community lives and works together serving our guests and each other. We maintain a village and business including off-the-grid utilities. We seek committed people with a wide variety of skills to join us in this adventure of joy and challenge. In addition to full-time positions we have opportunities for short-term temporaries and seasonal help. For an application and current openings check our website, breitenbush.com, or contact us at 503.854.3320 ext. 119 or personnel@breitenbush.com. Donations to Breitenbush Many of you have made donations to Breitenbush over the years and we are deeply grateful for your generosity. If you would like to offer an item or are considering a cash donation to our general fund or scholarship fund, please let us know by emailing us at office@breitenbush.com with “Donation” in the subject line, or by mailing to PO Box 578, Detroit, OR. 97342. Donations to Breitenbush are not tax deductable, but donations to the Breitenbush ECO Fund are. (See right.) Gentle friend and community member, Chris Boos, passed over at Breitenbush on the evening of October 20, from apparent heart failure. Chris, born in 1963, joined us four years ago and served on our kitchen team. Margaret, his mother, is our longest residing community member. One of Chirs’ great pleasures was joining in community music circles with his guitar. We gathered in the Sanctury to honor and celebrate his life and then walked to the bridge and spread his ashes in the Breitenbush River. Gift Certificates The perfect gift for any occasion: birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, holidays, corporate, thanking you, loving you and just because! Available in any amount from our office at 503.854.3320. Call to Performers & Artists We invite you to share your gifts with our guests and community. Performers please contact us at music@ breitenbush.com. Artists wishing to show your work in our dining room please contact Margaret at ec@breitenbush.com The Breitenbush ECO Fund Please support the Breitenbush ECO Fund, which extends the Breitenbush vision of holistic education and ecological stewardship to the greater community. For information or to make a tax deductable donation contact: PO Box 371, Salem, OR 97308 or visit the website at breitenbushECOfund.org. www.breitenbush.com • 33
Page 1 and 2: A Place to BringLife Into Balance w
Page 3 and 4: Contents Mission & Credo ..........
Page 5 and 6: Lodging Cozy, rustic, year-round ca
Page 7 and 8: July Jul 1 - 3 Meaghan Gannett Love
Page 9 and 10: Apr 6 - 13 Melina Meza, Chiara Guer
Page 11 and 12: Apr 22 - 24 Sweethome The Long, Win
Page 13 and 14: May 6 - 11 D’vorah Swarzman Advan
Page 15 and 16: REG: Healing Bridge Physical Therap
Page 17 and 18: Jun 3 - 6 Judith Waldman & Julie Di
Page 19 and 20: Jun 17 - 19 Suzie Wolfer & Cindy Br
Page 21 and 22: Gael: “In 40 years of working wit
Page 23 and 24: Jul 6 - 13 Melina Meza, Chiara Guer
Page 25 and 26: Jul 29 - Aug 3 Hank Wesselman Visio
Page 27 and 28: Aug 15 - 19 reServed Summer 2012 Ra
Page 29 and 30: Sep 9 - 13 The Breitenbush Communit
Page 31: From the Breitenbush Kitchen John
Page 35 and 36: day use Call Ahead—Reservations a

Spring - Summer 2012 - Breitenbush Hot Springs

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