Management Practices
Housekeeping

• We use only Natural cleaning products in our rooms
• Eucalyptus oil for floors & toilets
• Baking soda for sinks and toilets
• Linseed oil for wooden furniture
• Newspaper for cleaning windows
• Natural essential oil spray room fresheners
• Natural locally produced - liquid soaps – peppermint
• Natural locally produced - insect repellents – (Neem, Citronella, Patchouli & Vetiver)
• We change the towels only when guests request

Infrastructure - Buildings

• Our accommodation and infrastructure is low impact, visually and environmentally
• Buildings have been sited in harmony with the natural contours of the land
• Local craftsmen used predominantly traditional Balinese designs and building techniques
• Local timbers and materials are harvested from our own property where possible eg. bamboo, coffee wood and jackfruit timber for furniture and building
• Some building techniques used at the Eco Lodge
• Bamboo (instead of steel) reinforcing in kitchen walls and upper panels in the restaurant
• Sky lights & glass tiles for natural light
• Bamboo blinds replace windows and walls in the restaurant
• Woven bamboo walls in the Jungle House
• Local coconut timber in structures

In the Kitchen

• Fruits, herbs, spices and vegetables are harvested from our organic gardens
• We promote local traditional dishes
• Herbs from the garden to make fresh teas
• Fresh water pond for guests to catch fish for meals
• No MSG or other artificial flavor enhancers in our cooking
• We buy our produce locally where possible
• We use locally grown coffee, palm sugar, vanilla, eggs & coconuts
• We use natural materials for drink coasters – banana leaves
• No plastic straws
• Mountain spring water sterilized with colloidal silver

In the Gardens
Permaculture Principals including Edible Landscaping and Organic methods & practices

• We use organic fertilizers only on our property – Compost & Dolomite

Pest control

• Integrated pest management -Natural pest control using Neem sprays for insect control

Garden plantings
We have planted all the trees on our property (except the coconut trees)

• We grow local fruits, herbs & vegetables in our organic gardens
• We use non-hybrid seeds where possible
• Over 90 edible plants in our gardens
• Tree plantings to encourage the local bird & butterfly population
• Edible landscaping & Permaculture Principals
• Ongoing tree planting - Fruit trees, teak , mahogany , coconut & bamboo
• Medicinal plants

Land management

• Vetiver grass hedges to stop erosion on sloping areas
• Swales to stop soil & water loss on our property
• We mulch the garden to protect the soil from erosion, to control weeds and minimize watering
• Grey & black water is treated via watertight septic tanks & vegetated leachfields – wastewater is reused to fertilize fruit trees

Economic Principals
Local employment
We employ 7 full time and 8 part time staff

• We employ locals only
• We train inexperienced locals and build capacity in experienced staff
• Our 7 permanent staff live within 10 minutes of the Eco Lodge
• Our wages are above the recommended Government wage
• A 5% service charge is shared evenly among our staff
• Our staff are supported to attend religious ceremonies

Staff training

• In-house - Eco-Tourism, Hospitality and Environmental Management training
• Computer & English skills
• Staff are provided with literature (Indonesian and English) on Eco Tourism and Sustainability issues
• Staff are actively encouraged to improve their English skills

Creating employment in the community

• We have trained 4 local village men to be trekking guides
• Provided First Aid & Environmental trainings
• We have trained 2 local women to practice therapeutic massage and a total of 3 local women make an income from massaging our guests

Summary of economic benefits created by the Eco Lodge

• We employ only local staff, currently 4 local women and 3 local men, full-time
• Wherever possible, we source products, services and building materials locally
• We use only local tradesmen on all our building projects
• We have raised funds for our community for village projects, Total US$20.000 (2006-2007) – see Seacology Grant
• 4 local men work part-time as trekking guides
• 3 local women work part-time providing therapeutic massage

Ongoing Social Work
English classes

• We conduct weekly English classes for local children aged 5 – 12 years

Respecting local cultures and supporting local development

• Guests are informed of appropriate dress and information about our local area by discussion with our staff
• Guests are welcome to attend local ceremonies
• Our business has been approved by the traditional land owners, the local community & the local government
• Feedback is sought on our business through informal staff feedback and monthly village meetings
• A part time staff member represents our business at local community meetings and in general throughout the year in the community
• We support the local area by giving10% of our trekking income to improve and develop this attraction
• We encourage our community to seek grants and help to develop government proposals for environmental improvements in our area
• Our activities utilise local services

Seacology Grant (2006 -2007) Benefits to the community from the Seacology grant (U.S$20.000)

• New 15 piece Gamelan orchestra for the children
• New temple for the local school
• Construction of a 17m x 12m Community Hall in the village (community did not have a meeting hall previously)
• 2 computers for the school and 1 computer for the village office (the first computers in this village)
• ‘NO TAKE’ signs at entrances to the rainforest
• Pathway improvements in the rainforest
• Environmental books and resources for the school

Environmental Principals

• Ongoing commitment to enhance, rather than degrade, our natural environment
• We plant food trees for birds and bats
• Protection of natural areas including a “NO TAKE” zone in the adjacent rainforest* *see Seacology project
• We encourage a no bird-catching policy in our surrounding community
• “no rubbish burning” on our property
• No chemicals are used in our gardens
• Protection of the creek and adjacent habitat

Animals – Wildlife

• Captive monkey rescue – providing safe homes for 3 captured monkeys, which can’t be rehabilitated back to the wild
• Captive wildlife releases – Pangolins, native Spotted cat, Reticulated pythons, native birds
• 16 years continuously promoting the importance of wildlife preservation in the local community
• 10% of our Sumatran Orangutan tour goes to the SOS (Sumatran Orangutan Society)

Guest Activities

• Our activities aim to be as low impact as possible ie. trekking in the rainforest and surrounding farmlands
• Swimming. We have developed our natural waterholes with minimum impact
• We provide education through in-room information booklets, a range of workshops* and discussions with our guests    *See Workshops
• We have a library for information on Permaculture and the environment
• We conduct 3 day school Environmental Education Camps – see website

Efficient use of energy

• Our energy consumption through mains power is kept to a minimum
• We encourage guests to turn off their lights when not in use
• We use solar lighting in the gardens
• Because we do not use bright outdoor lighting, guests are provided with torches
• Pond pump is on a timer
• We use energy saving shower roses
• No baths to conserve water
• Energy saving light bulbs throughout the property
• Energy saving front loading washing machine to reduce water & energy consumption
• No clothes dryer –sun drying only
• The Lodge uses the smallest, most economical vehicle available for pick-ups and tours
• We use natural gas for cooking

Responsible waste management

• Sewage is treated on site through vegetated leachfields – productive gardens
• No untreated sewage or wastewater is released into the environment
• Biodegradable cleaning items, compatible with biological wastewater treatment, are used in the guest rooms, kitchen and laundry
• We Recycle glass & plastic bottles and aluminum cans
• We Compost all organic wastes, including paper and cardboard packaging
• All non recyclable rubbish is taken to the landfill
• We have a “No burn” rubbish policy
• We only take approximately 15 kg of rubbish to the land fill monthly

Commitment to continual improvement

• A part-time staff member liaises with the community on environmental and social issues
• We meet monthly with our staff to talk about improvements
• We teach new skills to our staff on a day to day basis– i.e. cooking, environmental management, English
• Our guests are able to give feedback through in-room feedback forms or verbally
• We strive constantly to stay up to date and do better- educating ourselves and staff to do the same