“On the floor” meaning, at least raised up an inch or so, yes.

But do not place this or any other futon directly on floor, as condensation and mold may result due to the natural persperation of the body during sleep. We highly recommend at least a tatami mat  and/or blanket underneath.

Optimal surface to place the futon: slatted platform bedframe such as our EcoSquare™

Provides a firm but bouyant consistency. The ultimate sleeping surface–combining the best qualities of each material for a synergy no other bed can offer.

This bed was designed after a decade of ground-breaking research and development which is published in our online article at here.Sweet Dreams on a Hard Surface

Absolutely not!  We use only organic and chemical free ingredients, Wool Felt Barrier Cloth is Eco Wool is domestically produced and is not certified organic but is essentially organic from Woolgatherers Carding Mill in Montague, CA. One of the three only organic wool mills left in the US. Kapok is from Malasia and is third party tested to be free of any detectable chemical residues. Cover is certified organic cotton canvas.

When your futon first arrives it will be very thick and soft–about 8 inches thick. Usually within a about a month with everyday use, depending on the weight of the people sleeping on it, it will settle down to about four inches thick.

Fluffing

At first you will need to fluff the futon each day or night to even out the thickness.

You do this by patting the futon surface from the top to the middle and from the bottom to the middle with the palms or sides of your hands. This takes about 20 seconds to a minute. Some people don’t fluff at all. Some people fluff every day, some every few days. It’s a matter of personal preference.

You won’t perceive the crack between the two futons if the bed is prepared properly as follows:

Use the unity straps that come with the futon to hold them together. (Shown in illustration and video.)

Also place some kind of mattress pad over the entire top. The simplest thing is a blanket. We carry one which works perfectly for this purpose. The Organic Cotton Yoga Blanket.

Our organic futon can be folded in half and put in a corner or closet during the day to increase the useable space in your house. Folded dimensions are 30″ x 40″ x 12″ .

Modern Bedding: A Toxic Nightmare

Flame retardant chemicals are in almost everything: Not only in our TV’s, clothing, furniture, carpets and electronic equipment; they are also in our air, water, food and our own bodies. Their levels are especially high in our babies and children, because children eat, drink and breathe more than adults. These chemicals disrupt our thyroid function, immune systems, brain development and can possibly cause cancers. Human blood and tissue levels of these toxins have been doubling every two and a half years in the USA.

What are these chemicals and what can you do to protect yourself and your family from their effects?The manufacturers aren’t required to put the fire retardant chemicals on the label. The most commonly used chemicals, and their health hazards are:

* Boric acid – Inhaling the dust can cause headaches, coughing, dizziness or difficulty breathing. Prolong contact may cause skin sensitization.

* PBDE’s – are prohibited in the European Union after high levels were found in breast milk. California has decided to phase out the use of two of these, penta and octa PBDE by 2008. PBDEs accumulate in the body tissues and cause thyroid hormone disruption, permanent learning and memory impairment, decreased sperm count, fetal malformations, behavioral changes, hearing deficiencies and possibly cancer. U.S. women have levels in their body tissues 50 times more than European women. (For more eye-opening information, click on the link at the end of this report to “Our Stolen Future” Website containing results of a study of PBDEs).

* Formaldehyde – the U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission states in a report on urethane insulation, “Many health complaints, including irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin, headaches and shortness of breath, have been reported to CPSC over the last several years by consumers who have had UFFI in their homes. Less frequently reported symptoms include chest pain, diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, and sleep disturbance. Studies have shown that formaldehyde in liquid solution (and possibly formaldehyde gas) can, through repeated exposure, cause sensitization in certain individuals. When exposed to formaldehyde gas, sensitized individuals may exhibit allergic dermatitis or mild-to-severe asthmatic reactions.” This was talking about formaldehyde outgassing from insulation. The same effects would occur from exposure to formaldehyde outgassing while you are sleeping in your bed. CPSC considers formaldehyde to be a potential human carcinogen.

* Decabromodipheyl Oxide – is a developmental toxicant. Exposing mothers to it during pregnancy can cause the death of or disrupt the development of the fetus. It causes birth defects and low birth weight. Behavioral or psychological problems can appear as the child grows.

* Melamine – is a reproductive toxicant, which can cause premature menopause, decreases in male and female fertility, onset of puberty, and changes in menstruation, gestation time, and lactation. It is a development toxicant with all of the hazards of Decabromodiphyl Oxide mentioned above. It is a cardiovascular and blood toxicant. This affects the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen, white blood cells to fight disease, abnormal heartbeat, decreased blood flow, and elevated blood pressure.

* Antimony – The Australian Government Department of Environment and Heritage says of antimony,” Antimony compounds show toxic properties similar to those of arsenic. This depends on how much antimony a person has been exposed to, for how long, and current state of health. Exposure to high levels of antimony can result in a variety of adverse health effects. Breathing high levels for a long time can irritate eyes and lungs and can cause heart and lung problems, stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach ulcers. Ingesting large doses of antimony can cause vomiting. When eaten by mold or mildew, antimony releases a poisonous gas called stibine. This gas has caused epidemics of deaths in the past.

These are a few of the chemicals used as fire retardants. Polyols, toluene diisocyante, amines, siloxanes, styrene, limonene, benzene and many others are also used. If you find any chemicals listed on your mattress label, you can search the web for more information. Write the chemical in the search box adding a comma, then write “health hazard.” But you can’t trust the label, because by law therre is no requirement to list any or all of the ingredients.

Click here for more information on the chemical hazards of modern mattresses.

This is a very well done presentation and easy to watch

http://www.slideshare.net/metametrix/environmental-toxicity-and-the-effect-on-health

^{Our futon is thicker than the traditional Japanese futons. However it is not a lot thicker and is much closer to it than the other futons on the American market today. For something closer to the traditional Japanese futon, see our Paleo Pad™.}

^{Here is an excerpt from www.aboutjapan.com}

Although many Japanese sleep in beds in these days, it is still common to sleep on a futon mattress spread on the floor. Westerners call the small couch which turns into a bed a futon, but that is very different from the traditional Japanese futon. A traditional Japanese futon set includes shikibuton (under futon), kakebuton (comforters), and makura (pillow).

Shikibuton is usually stuffed with cotton batting and is wrapped in shikifu (sheets). Japanese uses different types of futon, depending on the season, such as light ones in summer and heavy ones in winter. Futon made from down feathers is light and comfortable but is most expensive. Kakebuton is covered by kakebuton cover. The traditional Japanese pillow (makura) is filled with red beans or buckwheat chaff.

Futon is usually put away during the day in the closet called oshiire. The oshiire closet has sliding doors and usually divided into two shelves. It is best to keep the futon on the upper shelf. Japanese houses are usually small and do not have many rooms, so a room is used for dual purposes. During the day, a room can be used as workroom or guest-room after futon is stored in the oshiire. It is very convenient.

It is important to sometimes dry futon under direct sunshine. You may ruin your futon if you keep them in the closet or spread on the floor all the time. Remember that Japan is very humid especially in rainy season. There is a product called futon kansouki (futon dryer) in Japan. Just place the dryer between kakebuton and shikibuton while it is spread on the floor. Airing your futon really helps you sleep well.

Also, it is commonly said that sleeping on futon is better for the back than sleeping on a soft bed. The hardness of the floor seems to be good for people who have back problems.

(The ability to allow air to circulate, transport moisture, and stay dry.)

Naturally people create a warm, humid sleep environment each night by climbing into bed and falling asleep. That’s because we generate body heat and perspiration. In fact, we all perspire (and respire) about a cup each night. Our mattress is exposed to this heat and moisture. It must manage these conditions efficiently to provide comfortable, restorative sleep and mattress longevity. When moisture in a mattress is trapped and allowed to build up, our body temperature rises, we continue to sweat, our heart rate and blood pressure rise, our breathing is irregular, and we often wake up. Our sleep is disturbed. We’re uncomfortable. And rather than being refreshed and restored, our sleep has given our body a workout.

Trapped moisture also facilitates the growth of natural allergens such as molds, mildew, and dust mites. A mattress construction that promotes air flow and allows perspiration to evaporate helps our bodies cool themselves effectively and maintain a comfortable body temperature.

And because the mattress is drier, the presence of allergens is reduced, which has a positive impact on nighttime breathing. A breathable mattress does more than create a healthy, comfortable sleep environment. It also helps mitigate wear due to heat and moisture, both of which lead to material degradation and premature wear. Many conventional mattresses are topped with polyester and polyurethane foam or memory foam, which are especially vulnerable to environmental stress. Under the weight, heat, and humidity of your body, this non-breathable fabric and cushioning all too often compress prematurely creating uncomfortable, unsupportive body imprints and sag.