Karen Davis met Thomas Heinle Eco-Village Samosir on Lake Toba: a unique community where you can make something of value and really experience the real village life on your vacation.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Munich and grew up in southern Germany. At the age of 17, I already wanted to leave what I saw as the rich and insane world of Germany.
What led you to Indonesia and Lake Toba, Sumatra?
When I was 31, I flew for the first time on an aircraft. The following year, in 1993, my girlfriend wanted to go to Indonesia. We went to Lake Toba, natural lake created in the caldera of the largest eruption supervolcanic the world, on Sumatra. I arrived there and immediately felt more comfortable than in Germany.
How did you meet your lovely wife, Ratnauli Gultom?
In 2011, I lived for a year in Tuktuk on Samosir Island in the middle of Lake Toba. One day I biked south on the coast until the end of the road. Two strangers stood on the way and asked me if I wanted to meet Ratna. I asked them who is Ratna? So Ratna appeared. It was love at first sight.
Silimalombu is a village on the coast of Samosir, which the grandfather of Ratna founded there about 150 years. His father was the king of Silimalombu. In 2000, a huge Aquafarm began operating here, where most people work now.
How was Ecovillage Samosir started?
Ratna returned to Jakarta in 2006 and found that all the beaches were full of stinking dead fish. So she began to develop an ecovillage and other international volunteers. She focused on composting fish. She is still fighting with Aquafarm to avoid the destruction of Lake Toba. Ratna began to plant trees and has planted more than 4,000 trees -. She works with the international organization WWOOF (Opportunities in the world on organic farms)
This is necessary to work in exchange for food and accommodation at the Ecovillage? Treat yourself to an option for paying guests
If you want to stay in exchange for work ?; it is important as you work on a farm. If you come here only because you want to save money then it is best to work elsewhere. It is a state of mind. If your household is poor, or only about saving money, then you will have no power to help create the vision Ecovillage
Last year, we decided to build a guest house and a restaurant serving seafood and pizzas. You can book directly or with Airbnb. We offer a day for Rp.120,000, including breakfast. For full board we charge an additional Rp.70,000.
What is a typical day for you
Get up at six with sunrise ?; prepare breakfast. In the morning we work on the farm or in the forest until lunchtime. In the afternoon we do mostly anything around the house or work on our products. In the evening we sing or play chess, or just relax.
What are your favorite activities on Lake Toba?
Power design is my specialty. I mango wine and vinegar mango and distills the rest white whiskey mango. Silimalombu of mangoes are a brand origin established by the government.
I like to empower people. We do this with the Toba Lake Foundation (Yayasan Danau Toba Pencinta). The president of the foundation and I have the same dream :. Share Paradise Hills Samosir with the world
Can you explain what your photovoltaic project entail?
We produce all the energy for our new home with solar energy. For lighting, we use the 12 volt DC directly, and the entire roof construction as is the negative lead. Around the house, we have a strong cable, which is positive. You can use this power everywhere. It is available with an alligator clip. One does not need switches or other cables. With a simple car adapter, you can charge your phone. We pump water for our 13 aquariums on the terrace or inside the house with the solar system. We have more blackouts.
Water hyacinth cleans the water of the lake. We built three ponds in front of our houses, where the dirty water is cleaned more. It is a perfect symbiosis with the fish in the ponds. This water is cleaner than the lake and the plants we are making bags, hats, mats, etc. He is a solid fiber.
detox teas In addition, we have developed, and teas to prevent or cure cancer. These are based on Graviola leaves and pepper Andaliman. Teas are available internationally through our website (see details below).
How can you get involved in your program Adopt a tree?
Just send $ 50 through PayPal, and we will plant a tree and you take care of him for five years. Every six months, we send you a photo of your nominated tree. But you can also come and plant the tree yourself!
Tell us a funny story from your conservation achievements.
Last weekend we were with our Daniela volunteer at a meeting of the Foundation of Lake Toba. Three families have offered to adopt Daniela! You must understand that the Batak society is built from strong family clans. If you are, you can use the whole clan for your needs. Daniela has not really had the feeling of a family in Germany before. Now she has three offers to choose from!
How you and your family do you see the future of the Lake Toba?
.We want to show that Paradise is already there: if people understand that, then they take care of the environment and we can have our paradise
We affirm our vision for Lake Toba in 2030 on the web page: www.laketoba.net. Some of it is already becoming the projects, so that we hope to achieve our vision by 2020.
Thanks Thomas! For more information, please visit http://ecovillagesamosir.blogspot.com, heinlethomas@gmail.com email or call 62 8126 0858 209. http: //www.graviolateacompany. com /