Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
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Community
The lodge and surrounding property has been developed as a teaching and demonstration center for sustainable self-sufficient living. Since 1995, we have been active in the local community promoting and teaching sustainable living techniques including organic farming and gardening, energy and resource efficient construction, and alternative energy source development. Our teaching and demonstration centre conducts community benefit workshops and events relating to these issues throughout the year. All revenues generated by visitor programs go to furthering the Foundation’s local sustainability initiatives.
Environment
We are also a founding member and active participant of the Rio Azul Protected Wilderness Area Landholders Association which is currently spearheading the effort to develop the area’s Land Use Management Plan.
The lodge was conceived, and built, as a model for sustainable development in protected areas such as this. While we make no claim of absolute sustainability, our endeavour has been this: to use the simplest, least energy consumptive, and, to every reasonable degree, locally available building materials to construct the most energy efficient lodge of which we were capable. Further, it has been our aim to ensure that continuing energy inputs are from renewable sources and all waste outputs are recycled here on the farm.
Following these criteria, the lodge and spa were built with plastered straw-bale walls, dead or wind fallen cedar timber, and local stone. Space heating, water heating, and cooking are done primarily with super efficient wood-burning stoves. The main fireplace is of Finnish contra-flow design and also preheats water destined for bathing purposes. Firewood from wind fallen timber and a managed woodlot is the primary source of fuel for these purposes. A methane digester produces gas as a source of back-up fuel for cooking & water heating.
Electricity for lighting, appliances, and supplemental space and water heating is produced by a small hydro-electric turbine which utilizes overflow from a water canal which was dug by the original settlers more than 90 years ago. Water passing through the turbine is then utilized for irrigation and domestic purposes. The entire farm’s water system is gravity fed.
Within the protected wilderness area we are involved in the following projects:
- Trail building & maintenance
- Footbridge construction
- Composting toilet construction at various trekking huts
- Selective eradication of exotic plant species
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
