Can you manage?

Yes we can! We felt like being in the middle of nowhere when we got off the bus at saliyagama junction - probably the only place in sri lanka where you have to ask a tuk-tuk-driver for a ride (and not the other way round). But enough about transportation and logistics issues. Let's enter the eco community.

The first thing we want to mention is the courage and enthusiam of chaminda, thilina, kumara, susith, bandara and mala. Especially chaminda impressed us with his way of thinking and talking (although he has some minor issues with english grammar ;-) ). The way he sees things and critisises the downsides of the sri lankan society is amazing. Chaminda, you really have huge balls to think, say, and DO what you actually do. Keep on doing that. You speak and live truth.

So, let's talk about the work we have done on the farm: weeding, planting, "roofing", building mud walls, washing the goats, milking the cows, going to the milkshop in the evening by motorcycle (2 people + milk can on 1 motorcycle can be pretty exciting), redesigning the facebook-page and the website of the community. That was pretty much everything we did. It's hard to say what we like best. The weeding in the mornings definitely had a meditative aspect which was a good start into the day. Goat washing was just so much fun and building roofs out of palm leaves was a challenge for our climbing skills. I think we spent about 20.000 hours climbing on differnet roofs. Monkey style :-)

Of course we learnt a lot about natural building and eco farming (and also how to give medicine to a goat if she doesn't want to take it). But the most important thing we learnt is that everything in life is about technique and rythm. That might sound weird now but you'll understand when you come to the farm ...

So, what else to say? Mala's cooking is incedibly good. By far the best food in sri lanka. Her pumpkin curries and her sambols are unbelievable. We'd love to have something like that right now. Thilina has some really good martial arts skills. If you have the opportunity to learn from him then go for it. In addition to that he is a real "mr. nice guy".

I think that's all we wan to say about the community. We could easily come up with loads of funny and touching stories and experiences but then there wouldn't be enough space for YOUR experiences anymore on this blog.

Guys, keep on doing what you're doing.

We love you,

Maria and Hannes from austria
hannes.kumpusch@aon.at
maria@imagin-abel.com

August 2013, My first time woofing was a great success, what a charming place you have here.

I'm impressed of your way of living, almost everything you need you produce yourself. Here it feels like on another planet than Switzerland. I learned a lot about manage the daily live without big money or gib machines but just with hard working. The nature here is so great, almost everyday I have seen a new animal or a strange new plant.

I'm really thankful to had such a great experience with all you people.

Best wishes and see you again.

Sefan Oechstin from Switzerland 

A DAY IN JULY 2013

Dear Chaminda, Dearest Everybody,

We stayed a few days with you & gave hands for a little work. Measured my the work you all do here everyday, it was nothing of help but it showed us how much valuable your work is. I am happy that a place as such exists in Sri Lanka, a place where small seeds of egalitarian community are beginning to grow. We hope that your utopia of Eco Community grows proudly and we are eager to see the fruits one day.

We are thankful for the time you spend on us, for your kindness & willingness to explain (papaya fertilization as well as planting bean seeds) everything for "beginning-Farmers" like us & Mala, especially thank you for your everyday working around the fire. All the best for you, the community & hope to return one day,

Anujah & Lisa

anujah.fernando@posteo.de)

P.S. Chaminda: it's Anuzan nor Anzulla :) ! 

July 5th - 12th 2013 During a week we stayed at the Eco Community we did a wide

variety of different things, some really nice, some quite hard.

Harvesting rice, to working on finishing the house, going to the milksop. Even though some work was tough, especially in the sun, we learned a lot and leave with an incredible respect for the passion driven hardworking crew!

P.S. we loved the wild pig, it tasted very nice :)

Love Riet & Mari

FB Riet van Bork, Mari Bergsma

rietvanbork@hotmail.com, maribergsma@gmail.com

July 7th 2013 Leaving time… After 1 month of hard work

I have grown roots in this place. I know I will be back again very soon, so I don't need to write too much now.

Thanks to the staff for being who they are. Thanks to the most High-Jah.

One Love

Lavid Copeland, Luxembourg

dcopeland85@outlook.com

June 6th 2013 Hey community members

Thank you so much for this intensive time here in eco community! Thank you for caring so much! Especially for Chaminda : ) There are so many things and experiences that I will never forget! Like for example throwing cows hit on the wall of the new house, chasing the goats, finding a snake in our bed under Jessi's pillow and of course loosing our handbag inside of the bus and trying to talk to the Sri Lankan police …

I wish you all the best!

Chalat, FB: Charly Efua, email: lolle_91@hotmail.de

May 2013 Dear Thennakongama family …

I've got the feeling I just arrived yesterday and I already have to go. I'm letting a part of me here but I'm learning with a head full of memories, joy and love. More than a travel this place became my home and you my family in a way. I'm not leaving with sadness cause I know I will be here again, on this bench, sharing a cup of Theo and laughing while we will paly karam.

I feel alive here more than anywhere else. I already miss every of you!

May the gods be with you! With love and light.

Nicolai

May 2013 Dear new volus

you will have a wonderful time full of experiences. Your time will be so intensive and this is such a great natural feeling.

Dear Chaminda and ecocom, thanks for all. Thank you so so much

All the best,

Jess

May 10th 2013 Thank you for this wonderful 3 week experience at the eco community

I ama an America student studying abroad at the University of Peradeneiya and was able to carry out an independent study working here. I studied organic farming and its relationship with Buddhist environmental ethics. Chaminda was a fantastic instructor and a wonderful friend. I hope to bring back my experience to the United States and share the story of eco community.

Take care and good luck as eco community grows.

Look forward to staying in touch and hopefully returning in person

Ben Breger

March 29th 2013 Thank you for this week

Too short stay in this peaceful beautiful play. We are going home to Sweden with stronger arms, a little bigger knowledge about farming and beautiful memories!

Take care and see you when we are coming back!

Good luck!

Linn & Emelie

March 2013 I've learnt so much to take away with me and put towards my own eco-community

In a few years time! I'll be very interested to come back when the place has been fully established  (instead of in the present building phase) to see how it has changed. Many thanks especially to Mala! Her food is incredible, I'll be very sad to see it go.

Good luck for the future, you deserve it!

Nick Vinciollo

1st March 2013 My impressions, experiences and emotions I went through on this farm are beyond words and need some time to be put in those.

I will send my report by post! But here are the most important:

I love these people - each of them for her/his own uniqueness - and I love this play. They all together have changed my perception of life and opened new perspective onto myself.

Some seeds of trust will grow to fruit and I believe hat Chaminda's eco community will sustain and THRIVE. I can see and feel it as a small paradise on planet mother earth. So be it!!!

Harachi, harachi@gmx.de, +43 664 3842380

Feb 2013 Thank you for a brilliant time

We only wished we could stay longer. Each day I have learnt so much and seen so many interesting things. You have set up an amazing world here.

Take care!

Lots of Love,

Emma, England

Feb 2013 Thank you for a brilliant time

We only wished we could stay longer. Each day I have learnt so much and seen so many interesting things. You have set up an amazing world here.

Take care!

Lots of Love,

Emma, England

Jan 27th - March 2nd 2013 It wast not just organic farm for me.

I found my second family here. They share everything and show me so much affection and treat me as I was part of their community what I appreciate a lot. Most important I learn here about life. They open my view wider and as an ecologist I found a bis inspiration in this place. For me every day was special and different. Last at all I found peace for my mind, body and soul.

I would like that all volunteers respect this place and people here and open their heart and mind and enjoy as much as they can ; )

Best wishes, peace and much love,

Alma (Slovenia), alma1nuhic@gmail.com (-> FB), alma.nuhic13 (->Skype)

Jan 24th - Feb 18th 2013 Hi guys! Thank you for the wonderful 4 weeks!

I had a really great time here at the farm. i learned a lot & met some amazing people. Please send me some pictures when the new house is finished & the new vegetable garden is blooming. Take care of the cute puss's & Thilina, you promised me the next one will be called after me! Actually, I don't want to leave this place, but there is so much more I have to discover about this country. But I visit Sri Lanka again, I'll definitely come back here!

Much love, Jake the dangerous ball from Belgium ;)

Jan 25th - Feb 4th 2013 Thank you eco community for being such a great place

I have really enjoyed being with such great company here in such a beautiful place. We went on a side trip to a banana farm which was a great experience learning about farming and Sri Lankan culture. It is really great to see such a well functioning farm with many good foods that are all created with love in a way that is good for the earth. I am grateful for all that i have learned here from all of the amazing people. I will always remember this place and I hope to return some day! Thank you for alle the laughs and smiles. Best wishes to you all in the future!

Love, Michelle (USA)

Jan 2013 Thanks for taking me in for such a short time

I was only table to work for two full days but they were so enjoyable and eye opening for me. The three days on the fruit farm were really actio packed an I learned heaps.

Thanks for everything.

xoxo Amy Mitchell, Australia

Jan 16th - Jan 29th 2013 Thanks for sharing and caring everything through wolfing for 2 weeks

What I wanted to have in Sri Lanka was to have a good relation with many friends of the world and our beautiful earth and that was already here. I already got inspired and try to see the next steps of our life. It's actually fortunate coz I can see clearly my /our future when I just share "something" with my friends. I wanna expect that this kinds of idea become more clear after my next joinery - wolfing in Africa - it's worth trying.

Let's get it on. Future is in our hand

Kazuhiro Ohashi, Japan

Jan 20th 2013 Welcome to the eco community (a song)

(C) When you arrive (A) in the place

(C) you can hear the (A) songs of birds

(C) and see people from (A) all over the world

(G) welcome to the (A) eco community

After a night with mosquitos

everybody goes to work

In fields and building houses

welcome to the eco community

Breakfast and lunch is coming

eat rice, coconut and spicy food,

drink milk tea and have a rest

welcome to the eco community

After hard work, time to smoke bliddies

and have fun with playing canon

talking laughing and watching stars

welcome to the eco community

It's time to go traveling

I will always remember the smiles

inf faces of Thilinda, Kumara, Susith and Chaminda

Good bye and see you later!

Herve Alexandre (France), herve.alexandre@gmail.com (Lyon)

Jan 15th 2013 Even though it's only been 3 days of working in the farm …

… I already feel like I belong to the community : )

Lovely people, great environment, a very special place! I will definitely be coming back : ) to give and receive more energy from this place.

Love & light,

Claudia Gomes

Jan 5th - Jan 9th 2013 Although my time here was brief, I have had a phenomenal experience.

A big thank you to Harachi for walking into Pinhouse in Kandy and telling me of this place. I love so much about this place, ribbing frogs with every rainfall, the screeching of the goats when they get separated and the exotic noises of the peacocks. The people here, although I've only just arrived, are all great company and it is cool to here all the different languages being spoken and ridiculed. Leaving here I have to say the thing I will miss the most is the food. Mala is AMAZING, everything i so delicious. Hope this place continues to prosper and I will definitely be back.

Best of luck,

Ady

Dec 5th 2012 bis Jan 6th 2013 My 3 weeks here in the eco community have been a wonderful experience

I've seen another life, another living and culture. I learnt much about fertilizer, grass planting and house building. It was a pleasure to wake up and to get surprised what we were doing (especially when I didn't get it what Chaminda was talking about).

I will miss the good food of Mala, Harachi's fruit salads and Daniel's crepes. The parties were always filled with singing and laughter. Especiall Christmas with the candles (thank you, Harachi!), fruits and "silent night" in so many languages was touching, so I didn't miss hoe.

Thank you, Chaminda, Thilina, Susith and Kumara to give me this chance to see and learn so much and I hope you will finally write down your ideas so it's easier to share with others (and you don't have to tell over and over again).

I wish you just the best!

Betti, Switherland, bettina.grossenbacher@hotmail.com

Dec 4th 2012 - Jan 6th 2013 I have spent just over a month at the eco community and it has been an amazing experience

Thank you so much to both the other volunteers and the local Sri Lankans for making me feel so welcome and at home. My time here has been filed with good memories, great fruit salads, crepes, curry and a lot of laughter. I have learnt many things both about farming and life from you all. The parties and Karam time were great times and watching the locals working tirelessly to turn their vision into reality was inspiring. Chaminda, I know you want a critique but I'm not sure what to say. I think my time here has not been typical as we have had so many volunteers and so much rain. As the others have said it would be great to have your vision in writing just so we can understand your drive more. I think it is important also that when you have many volunteers you use them all efficiently. There ware too many times when a few people would be watching rather than having a job to do.

Wish you and the community all the best for the future. I am sure you will do amazing things. To the volunteers, hopefully I see you in Austria!

Suzi, New Zealand

Dec 25th 2012 Was amazing experience to visit your eco farm in Sri Lanka

So cool to see people who understand about real quality food. Building houses without nails of natural material - MASSIVE RESPECT BROTHERS! I wish more people could see and learn about your skills in permaculture and earthship houses.

"You must become the change you wish to see in the world" GANDHI

You guys are the change! Show it to the world. THANK YOU for letting us stay with you.

Chris & Ilmari, Finland

www.garbagewarrior.com, zeitgeist movement finland, christian.lankinen@gmail.com, foodforthegodsfinland.blogspot.com

Christmas day 2012

I had a nice and rainy stay at the eco community for a week in december. Nice people and beautiful surroundings. I send you more of my thoughts via email.

Thank you for this time.

Annika Lyka, Sweden, annika.lykta@gmail.com

Oct 14th 2012, My 2 week stay here was far too short as I guessed it would be

So much to do, su much to learn. It was exactly what I needed after a hectic 6 week race around Sri Lanka - to feel part of something, to contribute something, to enjoy, real, non-tourist, home cooking. Thank you sooo much Mala and Sytire for all the love and effort you put into the meals I enjoyed. (And thank you for teaching me how to grind coconuts!).

I ate vegetables I've never even seen before and learned how to make pol symbol, how to prepare wild mushrooms and how to peel without a peeler : )

I had the opportunity to learn how these wonderful structures are built after helping with the new cow shed and Sytire and Aiya's new house and how to make and apply mud plaster, which I LOVED!

I was happy the little duck chicks hatched while I was here and the very entertaining kittens, Sooty and Sweep arrived. Long may the prosper. I enjoyed the playfulness of the puppies, adored the goats, fell in love with the turkeys. Chaminda, you taught me so much about the chickens and turkeys and answered all my questions so patiently - a massive thank-you! : )

I enjoyed the laughs in the kitchen and really welcomed the opportunity to share some permaculture knowledge and ideas.

I was really happy to meet Chris and Jack, both volunteers inspired me in different ways. Thank you everyone for making me so welcome in your home.

Much love,

Stephanie (Northern Ireland), stephaniegarvin@hotmail.com

Oct 9th 2012, Thank you everyone at Eco Community Sri Lanka. It's been a great discovery

 for me to find such a community here in Sri Lanka + I will be telling everyone at the Global Ecovillage Network OIA about you.

Thank you for the way you have welcomed me in + shared life with me in the few days I've been here. I wish I could stay longer.

I am inspired by your commitment + energy + your intention to make a difference in our world. When you get to Australia, I would love to reciprocate the hospitality at my community - Bellbunya.

Keep up the great work!

Best regards,

Chris Gibbings

chris@bellbunya.org.au

August 20th - September 6h 2012, It's very difficult to describe 3 weeks in few words. It was my first experience

wolfing, and I'm very happy to have make it! The welcome of the community is nice, the people are smiling, it's difficult sometimes to speak with them, but I have real a good feeling, they are smiling; I have learned many things like cooking with Mala, take milk with Aya, shut "kuttu, kuttu" for the goats with Bandara ^^) and many organic thcking and informations, and the style of the life with Daru, Chaminda and Saishith. Thank you for all, I hope to come back soon for see you and see the evolution. It's a great project! I Hope many good things for the community.

Istouti!

Alex (french girl!)

July 31th 2012, What can I say to describe the fun I've had and the memories I will take.

I certainly have received more that I have given. I would very much like to home back. 

June 29th - July 31st 2012, My amazing time here was filled with puppies, healthy and sick baby goats,

a fishing net for a fence and that damn mongoose that no-one else saw.

All the guys were very welcoming and were full of laughter - especially Bandara who made me laugh so much (even though he was probably joking about me!)

The fence project was ridiculously frustrating! Fishing net, barbed wire and sticks don't mix well. Looking after the goats was fun - they are such characters … Hercules (the big guy) is such a big softie! Even chasing them through the papaya and eggplant fields with Alex was hilarious.

Ohh and the puppies! My sweet Homer, Darwin & Wallace; I want to take them home with me.

Chaminda's ideas for this farm are awesome and I sincerely wish they achieve sustainability. Also, Mala, sweet Mala! Her eggplant curry is the best I've ever tasted.

No doubt there were some challenges - the main one being animal welfare that made me sad and I hope you will think of a ether way of handling the chickens (tinning them hanging upside down from a tree as 'punishment' isn't really the way to go, hmmm?)

Other than that I will miss this farm, the animals and the people. Here are some moments that stick out in my mind:

* Alex and I walking back from the shop with some goodies. Bandara comes around the corner on a motorbike and yells "Jujubes!" mmmm jujubes.

* Chatting with Chaminda, he's halfway through a story then up he leaps sprinting through the forest throwing rocks at wild dogs! He comes back, sites down and continues on with his story like nothing happened.

* My 24th birthday! This one is a birthday that I'll never forget. So much lovely singing (sorry for the national anthem) and good times around the bonfire on top of the rock.

* Roasting cashews with Nimmal, Kumara and the other guys. 2 day later when I was taking a break in Trinco finding the resin had stained/damaged my fingertips!

…and many more moments that will stay with me for a long time.

I really enjoyed this experience and I hope I heaped enough. Look me up if you're in New Zealand (or Russia).

Hana, New Zealand

hanani.aickin@yahoo.com

P.S. Fuck! I'll never be a proper farm girl - I cry too much when animals die. Rest in peace poor puppy Wallace :(

July 12th-26th 2012, I had an incredible time here on the farm these last few weeks!

I am amazed by how you have a created a community of hard work and wonderful people in only a few short years. I have learned so much being here, from goat herding to stake making to simply how to get a chicken out of the kitchen! Not that the chickens were always successful … Not to mention how incredible Mala's cooking is! I will go home dreaming of her coconut symbol and mango curry. The people that have guttered here to work on all, amazing people who despite a language barrier, were constantly making me laugh and helping me to feel welcome. I hope they liked the s'mores! (Don't forget Chamindar biscuits, chocolate and marshmallows).

My favorite moments were those when we're just sitting around the kitchen just talking and playing with the yuppies (who I really just want to bring home with me). I am so sad to be leaving this place, I can hardly imagine my life anymore without the constant presence of baby animals, fresh picked fruit and the most beautiful sceresy imaginable.

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this, it has been an incredible experience!

Good Luck!

Alex, USA

P.S. watch out for snakes + scorpions! 

May 26th - June 08, Never is enough in this kind of place.

Since we came we could feel how intense this will be. The idea was help and joy. We try our best, in every single day but sometime the wellness is overwhelming. To much nature, even though we really enjoy it for baby Nanak was too much, eventhough he was enjoying it too.

We're leaving the farm with mixed emotions, emotions that are stuck in our minds and body, feeding of sadness and happiness because we feel lucky to were here, to know that this kind of places  are possible, sad because is difficult to leave behind the farm of many possibilities, the farm in were anyone could feel free and breath prana,

We feel graceful of been here, thank you guys for your kindness and special consideration to the baby. Thank you a lot and keep on the track.

Monika, Esteban and baby Nanak! 

April 25th - May 27th Bonjour eco community

It was nice for a man coming from the city to discover the simple life, to be close to nature. It is good to disconnect for some time From Facebook and Gmail and realize that food is not growing in supermarkets. The community iw growing fast. In one month, eight new cows arrived and new farmers joined the group. The cashew trees gave their fruits leading us to eat a very nice curry .. And to collect bags of them walking through the read and yellow trees as the "petit chap eon rouge". Long life to the eco community, model of life, that brings to Sri Lanka a wonderful example of environmental friendly organization. Many thanks to that steam that brought me a lot.

"Gilla inna", Antonin, France (antoninpak@gmail.com)

PS: Do not hesitate to contact me if you are in Paris

March 28th 2012, The last 2 weeks have been amazing , confronting, inspiring,

relaxing and really interesting. It was y first woofing experience and I can say it was an success. Though in the beginning I found it hard to cope with the steaming hot sun, the morning rhythm and Chaminda's vague explanations sometimes, after a while this place grew on me. It was amazing to chat with Sanpat & Nimal, to see the everlasting devotion and energy of Chaminda, to give waterly love to the plants every day and help building the kitchen. Not to forget Aya and how I tried to communicate with him with hands and feet. Lovely to have met all of you guys and I wish you the best of luck and success to making this project succeed!

Lots of love, Isch (Holland)

March 26th 2012, Thank you so much for the past two weeks.

I've loved the routine, the work, the watery, the sunrises, the sunsets, coconut chill salad, regular cups of tea &  the lovely company of course.

I want to wish you Chaminda all the very best for the future of this farm. I hope it is a great & satisfying & happy success for you. Your capacity for hard work is astonishing & I am completely humbled by it. As is your generosity & easy goingness as a host.

And dear Aiya thank you for putting up with all us weird foreign woofers and our strange ways I've loved your company, presence, humor and intelligence.

And to my lovely wolfing company Louise, Sam, Ishar and Jandi. It has been beautiful. You'r a special bunch of people.

Thanks for the company, the laughs and all the interesting and inspire chats.

All my love, Kate (Australia)

March 25th 2012, Hey Guys!! I don't really want to do that,

write 3 weeks of woofing on one or two pages. So I'm not gonna do it. Thanks to Chaminda, Aunti, Oncle, Aia, Nimal, Sampath, Sujiwa, Bandara and all the Woofers Sam, Benedicte, Mati, Kate, Jandi, Ischma - I learned a lot from everybody and from the paddy field <3

"On ne découvre une saveur aux jours que lorsqu'on se dérobe à l'obligation d'avoir un destin", Goran.

Love you guys <3

LOUI$E

March 14th - April 9th 2012 Hamowemo!

Where did this months disappear? Remember arriving with the bus at the main street in a complete darkness, while looking in my bag for my torch not knowing if there would be a Chaminda to meet up with me … I hear something like a big tree falling?! from what i understand a bit later coming from elephants running around looking for water and food. Lucky me Chaminda turned up on his motorbike and we could take cover at the mini market by the road.

Four nights with big bonfires around the farm and fire torches to scare of the elephants with their babies to change their path made all of us quite exhausted. We all appreciated when they went back to their reserve/forest.

One of the first Sinhali words I learned was "Harack" from Helping Aia to move the cows in the morning and in the afternoon, realizing how different it can be working with cows in SL comparing with Norway. I came to really appreciate working with Aia, his smile and was of communicating gives me joy and hope for the future! I thank him for inviting all of us to his home to meet his wife, daughter and parents in law. I look forward to coming back one day.

Harvesting rice, planting papaya, chili briny, building chicken house, digging sponge in the kitchen garden, collecting coconuts, one cashew, mangos, pineapples, star fruits, planting "ginnibegrass", cooking food, grating coconuts, chopping onions, treating rice, eating rice, shitting rice, talking rice, carrying rice, loving rice takes the price …

It helped me a lot to learn som Sinhali words. It created a good connection to know a word here and there meeting non-english speakers from time to time. Many laughs and surprised faces when trying to say funny words correcting and one two three … anew friend a long the way : ) People that i Meet can be shy at first but love teaching their language to me if I show interest.

I wish you all the best with this community, Chaminda. I have learned a lot about life while staying here with you. I hope you being a pioneer and inspire your country to take care of all its beauty, abundance, rich wildlife and diversity that still exists and realize how fortunate your are being able to live with nature instead of having to master it. Many contradictions and challenges to work with and I look forward to come back maybe next year to share them with you. Maybe I'll see you in California in May - we'll see.

I hope the blackboard that we made will come well in use and bring clarity, structure and efficiency to the farm.

Best wishes, Jandi (Sweden)

March 5th 2012, Dearest Chaminda, Auntie, Uncle, Chandra Soma, Nimal and everybody,

I have been here, one week. Such a short amount of time :(

I wish I could stay longer. This place is full of beauty and magic.

The yellow sunrise.

The red sunset.

The howl of the peacocks.

Baby seedlings sprouting and giant ancient trees towering.

Sincere smiles over endless cups of tea.

Spicy delicious curries made with love and laughter.

What a beautiful life.

Thank you all for your kindness + hospitality.

I will return <3 Cara

Feb 25th - April 29th 2012, Hmmm where to start. Its finally my turn to write

something in the book and I don't know how to begin. I arrived here 9 weeks ago from India having spent 6 month in Auroville. I didn't know what to expect or what I would find when I arrived. But wow this place is so beautiful and peaceful. So much has happened  here since Feb, Things have developed, progressed and grown. Chickens have multiplied by the thousands, cows have had calves, milk quantity has gone up, buildings and huts have popped up all over the place and vegetation has flourished.

Thank you Chaminda for having me here. I have learnt a lot from watching and observing the intensity that you work. i admire hugely your work capacity and drive to make things happen. I din't know where you find the energy all the time. Hopefully as things balance out and settle there will be time for you to relax a little. I look forward to keeping in contact and helping out in any way that I can with the project over in England.

Thank you Aiya for being such a good kind man. Again I learnt so much from you just by simply observing the way you work, the way you perform. Everything is always given the up-most care and attention - even if its just sweeping the floor or cutting an onion. A real friend you became over the last 9 weeks - A friend of few words but a smile that speaks a thousand languages. I will miss you.

Many challenges also. Ethics on animal care, cultural differences, communication. But these are all things for me to work through now. These are all gifts to learn from . But now what an experience to be here in the stunning countryside surrounded by so much beauty and opportuitys. A truly authentic and magical time I have had and hope that others who come will experience the same.

Goodbye team Eco Community !!

LOVE SAM (England)

Feb 25-28 2012, SHORT BUT SWEET !

Thank you for those wonderful two days here with you. We are really happy to have spent our last days in Sri Lanka at this lovely place.

Chaminde, it's great that you started this project here. We wish you all the best and hope your dream comes true. May you get many helping hands from around the forld and enjoy this project! Thanks for letting us stay!

Rangeni, thank you so much for all this delicious food - uncountable amazing curries and the best parota for a special last dinner; not to forget the yummy milk rice just now at our last morning. You are such a lovely lady. We loved chatting with you in the beautiful kitchen and laugh about your silly faces! :)

Uncle & Co, even communication was hard, we appreciated your smiles., friendly as whole Sri Lanka!

Ayu buwan!

Clara & Ri (from Germany)

richrist@gmx.at

clara.sichau@gmail.com

Feb 25-28 2012, SHORT BUT SWEET !

Thank you for those wonderful two days here with you. We are really happy to have spent our last days in Sri Lanka at this lovely place.

Chaminde, it's great that you started this project here. We wish you all the best and hope your dream comes true. May you get many helping hands from around the forld and enjoy this project! Thanks for letting us stay!

Rangeni, thank you so much for all this delicious food - uncountable amazing curries and the best parota for a special last dinner; not to forget the yummy milk rice just now at our last morning. You are such a lovely lady. We loved chatting with you in the beautiful kitchen and laugh about your silly faces! :)

Uncle & Co, even communication was hard, we appreciated your smiles., friendly as whole Sri Lanka!

Ayu buwan!

Clara & Ri (from Germany)

richrist@gmx.at

clara.sichau@gmail.com

My experiences at the Eco Community farm Sri Lanka- veleka

After a few months of travelling in Asia I decided to end my trip in beautiful Sri Lanka. Before entering the country I contacted the wwoof organization because I wanted to do some volunteering work. Very quickly I received an e-mail from Chaminda that I was welcome to the eco community farm in a place nearby Kurunegala. Chaminda also gave me some information how to reach the farm and which bus to catch.

In Sri Lanka I stayed first a few days in Negombo before I went to the farm. From Negombo I took the bus to Kurunegala, which takes around 2,5 hours. The buses where fully packed with passengers so I was lucky to have a seat!

At the Kurunegala bus station it was very busy. There where less tourists so immediately people came to me to ask where I wanted to go. The instructions of Chaminda told me to take a bus to Mollagollagama, a difficult name to pronounce! When I told people about the place they first did not understand and when I showed them the paper with the name I found out that they could not read… But after five minutes they showed me which bus I had to take. Again a bus full with people and sacks with rice… A lot of people stared at me, because I was the only white person. I told the ticketseller that I had to get off at the Saliyagaman junction , he promised me to warn  me when to get off.

After 30 minutes I asked again if we where not there yet and then I figured out that the trip to the junction also was around 2,5 hours!

The junction was a very quiet place with 2 very small shops and a postoffice. I tried to call Chaminda to pick me up from the junction but he did not answer his phone (busy with the cows or garden ??).  It was around 3 o’clock in the afternoon and a few tuk-tuk’s passed by. I flagged one down and showed him the address of the farm, he had no idea where it was… so he also had to ask people which way to go.

After a 10 minute ride in the tuk-tuk we went to an unpaved path, surrounded by trees. I was a little bit worried about where the driver was going because there was no sign or house in the neighbourhood. But after 5 minutes on a bumpy sand path we arrived at the eco farm where Talina welcomed me.

The other volunteers where still in the kitchen area, they just had a break. They offered me some sri lankan curry and I introduced myself to the group.

After a short walk through the fields of the farm one of the volunteers showed me my room. A nice hut with a wooden bed. The toilet was far away from my room and was just a small place with a squad toilet. The shower was next to the toilet, an even smaller place with only a bucket… I was glad to have a torch with me!

That evening we had another nice sri lankan curry meal, prepared by the cook Mala. There where only a few spoons so most of the people where eaten with their hands, like the Sri Lankans do. After some games and stories everyone went to bed around 21.30. With my torch I found the way to my room.

The next morning me and my roommate waked up around 6.30. I walked to the toilet and enjoyed the nice morning temperature. Around 7 we collected in the kitchen to sweep the floor and prepare a cup of tea. Together we decided what kind of jobs we where going to do. Till 9.30 we digged the ground and planted cowgrass. At 9.30 breakfast was ready and we could enjoy some rice with sambal (red pepper with coconut). After breakfast we started another job, building a house which was made of natural materials. Together we prepared mud and made balls to made walls from. In the meantime the sun was very strong so it was good to have a hat!

Lunch was around 1 o’clock, another nice rice meal prepared on the wooden fire. In Sri Lanka the main dish is rice, your plate is mostly filled with rice and you add vegetables or curry for some flavor. Most of the people are not used to eat 75% rice and 25% vegetables/curry but this is the way it goes here. After lunch we had some free time to do your laundry, relax a little bit or just chat in the kitchen. The kitchen is also the ‘living room’ of the farm.

Around 16.00 we started again with building the house until it was getting dark.

Everyone worked hard so we all needed a shower. One by one we went to the shower, a tiny place with only some wood around and a bucket with cold water. It was not the most comfortable shower but still very nice to clean yourself after a day of hard working!

Everyone collected again in the kitchen where we played some games and chatted. We where all hungry but wanted to wait until Chaminda also was there. Thelena had a hard task to collect all the 45 cows! Around 20.00 we had dinner all  together and talked about the day and some of us showed some magic card tricks or played guitar.

Around 21.30 I was so tired that I decided to go to bed, because work was waiting for me the next day….

My experiences at the Eco Community farm Sri Lanka- veleka

After a few months of travelling in Asia I decided to end my trip in beautiful Sri Lanka. Before entering the country I contacted the wwoof organization because I wanted to do some volunteering work. Very quickly I received an e-mail from Chaminda that I was welcome to the eco community farm in a place nearby Kurunegala. Chaminda also gave me some information how to reach the farm and which bus to catch.

In Sri Lanka I stayed first a few days in Negombo before I went to the farm. From Negombo I took the bus to Kurunegala, which takes around 2,5 hours. The buses where fully packed with passengers so I was lucky to have a seat!

At the Kurunegala bus station it was very busy. There where less tourists so immediately people came to me to ask where I wanted to go. The instructions of Chaminda told me to take a bus to Mollagollagama, a difficult name to pronounce! When I told people about the place they first did not understand and when I showed them the paper with the name I found out that they could not read… But after five minutes they showed me which bus I had to take. Again a bus full with people and sacks with rice… A lot of people stared at me, because I was the only white person. I told the ticketseller that I had to get off at the Saliyagaman junction , he promised me to warn  me when to get off.

After 30 minutes I asked again if we where not there yet and then I figured out that the trip to the junction also was around 2,5 hours!

The junction was a very quiet place with 2 very small shops and a postoffice. I tried to call Chaminda to pick me up from the junction but he did not answer his phone (busy with the cows or garden ??).  It was around 3 o’clock in the afternoon and a few tuk-tuk’s passed by. I flagged one down and showed him the address of the farm, he had no idea where it was… so he also had to ask people which way to go.

After a 10 minute ride in the tuk-tuk we went to an unpaved path, surrounded by trees. I was a little bit worried about where the driver was going because there was no sign or house in the neighbourhood. But after 5 minutes on a bumpy sand path we arrived at the eco farm where Talina welcomed me.

The other volunteers where still in the kitchen area, they just had a break. They offered me some sri lankan curry and I introduced myself to the group.

After a short walk through the fields of the farm one of the volunteers showed me my room. A nice hut with a wooden bed. The toilet was far away from my room and was just a small place with a squad toilet. The shower was next to the toilet, an even smaller place with only a bucket… I was glad to have a torch with me!

That evening we had another nice sri lankan curry meal, prepared by the cook Mala. There where only a few spoons so most of the people where eaten with their hands, like the Sri Lankans do. After some games and stories everyone went to bed around 21.30. With my torch I found the way to my room.

The next morning me and my roommate waked up around 6.30. I walked to the toilet and enjoyed the nice morning temperature. Around 7 we collected in the kitchen to sweep the floor and prepare a cup of tea. Together we decided what kind of jobs we where going to do. Till 9.30 we digged the ground and planted cowgrass. At 9.30 breakfast was ready and we could enjoy some rice with sambal (red pepper with coconut). After breakfast we started another job, building a house which was made of natural materials. Together we prepared mud and made balls to made walls from. In the meantime the sun was very strong so it was good to have a hat!

Lunch was around 1 o’clock, another nice rice meal prepared on the wooden fire. In Sri Lanka the main dish is rice, your plate is mostly filled with rice and you add vegetables or curry for some flavor. Most of the people are not used to eat 75% rice and 25% vegetables/curry but this is the way it goes here. After lunch we had some free time to do your laundry, relax a little bit or just chat in the kitchen. The kitchen is also the ‘living room’ of the farm.

Around 16.00 we started again with building the house until it was getting dark.

Everyone worked hard so we all needed a shower. One by one we went to the shower, a tiny place with only some wood around and a bucket with cold water. It was not the most comfortable shower but still very nice to clean yourself after a day of hard working!

Everyone collected again in the kitchen where we played some games and chatted. We where all hungry but wanted to wait until Chaminda also was there. Thelena had a hard task to collect all the 45 cows! Around 20.00 we had dinner all  together and talked about the day and some of us showed some magic card tricks or played guitar.

Around 21.30 I was so tired that I decided to go to bed, because work was waiting for me the next day….

My experiences at the Eco Community farm Sri Lanka- veleka

After a few months of travelling in Asia I decided to end my trip in beautiful Sri Lanka. Before entering the country I contacted the wwoof organization because I wanted to do some volunteering work. Very quickly I received an e-mail from Chaminda that I was welcome to the eco community farm in a place nearby Kurunegala. Chaminda also gave me some information how to reach the farm and which bus to catch.

In Sri Lanka I stayed first a few days in Negombo before I went to the farm. From Negombo I took the bus to Kurunegala, which takes around 2,5 hours. The buses where fully packed with passengers so I was lucky to have a seat!

At the Kurunegala bus station it was very busy. There where less tourists so immediately people came to me to ask where I wanted to go. The instructions of Chaminda told me to take a bus to Mollagollagama, a difficult name to pronounce! When I told people about the place they first did not understand and when I showed them the paper with the name I found out that they could not read… But after five minutes they showed me which bus I had to take. Again a bus full with people and sacks with rice… A lot of people stared at me, because I was the only white person. I told the ticketseller that I had to get off at the Saliyagaman junction , he promised me to warn  me when to get off.

After 30 minutes I asked again if we where not there yet and then I figured out that the trip to the junction also was around 2,5 hours!

The junction was a very quiet place with 2 very small shops and a postoffice. I tried to call Chaminda to pick me up from the junction but he did not answer his phone (busy with the cows or garden ??).  It was around 3 o’clock in the afternoon and a few tuk-tuk’s passed by. I flagged one down and showed him the address of the farm, he had no idea where it was… so he also had to ask people which way to go.

After a 10 minute ride in the tuk-tuk we went to an unpaved path, surrounded by trees. I was a little bit worried about where the driver was going because there was no sign or house in the neighbourhood. But after 5 minutes on a bumpy sand path we arrived at the eco farm where Talina welcomed me.

The other volunteers where still in the kitchen area, they just had a break. They offered me some sri lankan curry and I introduced myself to the group.

After a short walk through the fields of the farm one of the volunteers showed me my room. A nice hut with a wooden bed. The toilet was far away from my room and was just a small place with a squad toilet. The shower was next to the toilet, an even smaller place with only a bucket… I was glad to have a torch with me!

That evening we had another nice sri lankan curry meal, prepared by the cook Mala. There where only a few spoons so most of the people where eaten with their hands, like the Sri Lankans do. After some games and stories everyone went to bed around 21.30. With my torch I found the way to my room.

The next morning me and my roommate waked up around 6.30. I walked to the toilet and enjoyed the nice morning temperature. Around 7 we collected in the kitchen to sweep the floor and prepare a cup of tea. Together we decided what kind of jobs we where going to do. Till 9.30 we digged the ground and planted cowgrass. At 9.30 breakfast was ready and we could enjoy some rice with sambal (red pepper with coconut). After breakfast we started another job, building a house which was made of natural materials. Together we prepared mud and made balls to made walls from. In the meantime the sun was very strong so it was good to have a hat!

Lunch was around 1 o’clock, another nice rice meal prepared on the wooden fire. In Sri Lanka the main dish is rice, your plate is mostly filled with rice and you add vegetables or curry for some flavor. Most of the people are not used to eat 75% rice and 25% vegetables/curry but this is the way it goes here. After lunch we had some free time to do your laundry, relax a little bit or just chat in the kitchen. The kitchen is also the ‘living room’ of the farm.

Around 16.00 we started again with building the house until it was getting dark.

Everyone worked hard so we all needed a shower. One by one we went to the shower, a tiny place with only some wood around and a bucket with cold water. It was not the most comfortable shower but still very nice to clean yourself after a day of hard working!

Everyone collected again in the kitchen where we played some games and chatted. We where all hungry but wanted to wait until Chaminda also was there. Thelena had a hard task to collect all the 45 cows! Around 20.00 we had dinner all  together and talked about the day and some of us showed some magic card tricks or played guitar.

Around 21.30 I was so tired that I decided to go to bed, because work was waiting for me the next day….