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