Mud Can Be 'Heaven On Earth'

So while we’ve been busy with the garden and beginning to put up the fruits of our labors, we paused to ‘put up’ some mud. That’s right! MUD! Writing about “Gouldsboro Glow” appears appropriate since it is also located above 44 degrees latitude.

Our visit to the family house on the coast of Maine is always such a welcome reprise. Full of fun, family, relaxation and mud. As children we would go play in it at low tide slathering our bodies with it, letting it dry, and rinsing off in the cold salt water. Then each of us having one bucket of fresh water from well (now we use the water from the cistern) to finish the cleaning job.

We have such a special mud to be found there during low tide. It is the most perfect sea mud for facials. It is on the cleanest portion of coastline according to National Geographic. A small bay protected from the pollution of industry and cities and fed by various local mineral springs. This has resulted in the accumulation of many natural sediments over the years. The mud has a very high concentration of magnesium, calcium chloride, potassium and salts, which provide the skin with both healthy and beautifying effects.

I’ve always claimed that I would bring mud home with me each year because the one or two facials I get in while there just doesn’t seem to be enough for the entire year. And as each year goes by, the mud has been left in place. This year was different. Low tide worked out perfectly with the timing of our departure and I gathered an extra large Glad container of this wonder mud.

I mixed it with distilled water to loosen it consistency in order to strain out the seaweed, small pieces of clam/mussel shells and small rocks. The simmered it down to original consistency and introduced some myrrh and lavender oils to it. Put it up in some 4 oz jelly jars and water bathed it.

Heaven on earth!