Thistle Cove Farm

Tea and Biscotti in the morning

We have hard, very hard, water at Thistle Cove Farm. Our valley is the largest karst area in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the limestone does two things - makes the water hard but also makes it incredibly sweet. If you've never tasted sweet water, you've missed out. Our well was dug to six hundred feet and we think we might have hit a branch of the underground river that runs through this valley. BTW, a karst area means there are underground caves and in our valley, that means underground limestone caves. One only has to ride down the road to see huge sunken spaces where the dipped ground is slowly but surely sinking and will eventually cave in, leaving a hole. Some people use these holes to dispose of "whatever" but we won't go there.

Tazewell County has water that originates here but goes somewhere else. We have no water flowing into the county and that leaves us in a difficult place. The "powers that be" have yet to grasp the idea that water, not people, is the primary consideration when thinking about industrial development. People will always come to where the good jobs are but if there's not water, there's no job, good or otherwise. It's just that simple. One person told me our county has water and he explained about the water tower - the lone water tower - against the edge of town. "But where does that water come from to get into the tower?" I asked him. He stared at me as if I were a dim-witted child who had no hope of ever understanding.

Water is and will continue to be our most precious primary resource. China is already encountering problems because they forsee, in the very near future (my lifetime) of running out of water for their people. The good folks of India have raised arms against huge corporations who have tried to gain total control of water rights in that country. If memory serves me correctly, it was Monsanto who went to the mat when the farmers in India attacked with rakes and hoes.

We have yet to reach that mark in this country but we will...in due course and in due time, we will.

So, where is the water going? Is it possible we've always had enough water but now we have too many people? One theory is the way we bury our dead in the United States. For every person who is dead and buried in an enclosed box, three to four gallons of water is sealed with the body. That's three to four gallons of water which will never be recovered.

We're supposed to drink about a gallon of water a day to maintain good health. We use a few gallons for meal preparation, to wash our teeth. The huge consumption comes when we wash clothes or our automobiles or, God forbid, water our lawns. The gray water from washing clothes can be recaptured and used for gardens or, if one must, water the lawn. That is, if the local authorities allow gray water capture. Some don't, you know.

I have a rain barrel or two set up around the farm and use that water for plants, gardens, washing equipment, etc. For those who are anxious about mosquitoes, a bit of oil floating on the top of the water will prevent mosquitoes.

When making a pot of tea, I always prep the pot and that bit of hot water goes into another container to be poured, after cooling, into the dog's water dish. Perhaps I seem overly concerned about water but if you've ever had to do without water or had to pay for a well to be drilled, you know what I mean.

Tea is thought of as so civilized perhaps because of the English and their high tea. Long before the English, all over the world people were drinking tea for the flavor, for the health benefits, for the caffeine. Today I made chi tea, a flavored tea that I drink with milk and sugar. That's overkill, yes, but, for me, tea is comfort food. Tea is to me what meat loaf and potatoes are to others.

The water is brought almost to a boil in a tea kettle. The tea pot is set out on a wooden board and about one-half cup of the almost boiling water is poured into the pot. This is called prepping the pot and is helpful in preventing the pot from breaking when poured to the top with boiling water.

I swish that hot water around, getting the sides of the pot thoroughly heated and then hold the pot so the hot water is allowed into the spout. Once the pot is heated, I pour that water into another container to be used elsewhere. Today I used teabags (other days loose tea) and stuffed them into the pot and poured hot water over them. On went the lid, then the woolen tea cozy and the whole thing steeped for about five minutes. In the meantime, my cup was parepared for the tea. A generous amount of cream was poured into the cup and then the whole thing was heated in the microwave for a few seconds. Raw sugar was added, stirred and then the waiting began.

After the tea finished steeping, it was added to my cup and I sat down with my Bible and the hot cup of tea.

Aaaaahhhhhh! This moment is really good and with a few biscotti on a small serving plate I've started my day with TLC for me. One thing I've learned in life is when I don't take care of me, I can't take care of other people. Taking care of me comes in many forms...a small pot of tea in the morning, a few walks throughout the day, daily devotions. After my quiet time, I'm ready to begin chores, to start work.

God's blessings on you, yours and the work of your hands.