Green Postcards

Eco-travel wish list: Three Yosemite activities for your next trip

Here are a few things I wish I'd had time to do while in the Yosemite area recently. Add them to your own itinerary if you're going to be traveling to the park and send me a report! These three are definitely on my to-do list for next time.

1. Volunteer in return for a free night of camping at Yosemite. The massage therapist at Yosemite Bug, Derek, had the inside track to scoring a free night at Yosemite. His girlfriend is a ranger there and runs the drop-in volunteer program. Derek says he talks it up to everyone who will listen because it’s such a great and underused opportunity. Yosemite visitors can sign up to trade a few hours of light labor (planting trees, digging up blackberry bushes, an invasive species, etc.) you get hands-on park education and a voucher for a free night at the park. (Usually $5 to $20.) All you have to do to sign up is visit the main park entrance and ask them to put you to work!

2. Mariposa County wineries: I passed multiple wineries as I drove up Highway 41 from Fresno to Fish Camp, CA, and west on Highways 49 and 140 to Midpines to stay at Yosemite Bug. I’m especially interested in Silver Fox Vineyard because they grow organic grapes.

3. Visit some of the local organic farms to pick berries and gorge myself on fresh produce. I’m sorry I had to leave so early; I saw a flier for the annual “Pick and Gather” at Riverdance Farms two weekends ago. The event is sponsored by local farmers and includes farm tours and organic blueberry and cherry picking. It also promised to “[teach] the importance of our precious regional eco-system, sustainability, [and] the value of supporting local small farms and the farmers that feed us!” Sounds like my kind of event; I’ll have to try to make it next year!

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Monday Eco-Travel Links

To start your week off inspired, here are a three eco-travel clicks sure to stave off a case of the Mondays:

National Geographic Traveler’s “Tours of  Lifetime”: 50 “transformative, sustainable, and authentic” guided tours from Albania to Uzbekistan.

And a post on the magazine’s “authentic and sustainable travel” blog, Intelligent Travel, tipped me off to the American Hiking Society’s volunteer vacations. Help maintain trails while experiencing prime hiking across the country. The US Virgin Islands trip will look pretty good come November. Combine your hard labor with a stay at the famous eco-camp Maho Bay for a fab Green-Postcards-worthy getaway.

Before you book your hike-tastic vacation, you may want to check out these helpful tips on voluntourism  from Condé Nast Traveler as well.

Have a great start to your week and come back tomorrow for a feature on a collection of eco-cottages on Mount Desert Island in Maine. Also coming up this week: an interview with Maho Bay's founder, Stan Selengut, about the eco-camp's thriving Trash-to-Treasure program.

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Eco-Travel Headlines

The New York Times reports that splurge-y  W Hotels is now letting guests rent bikes (and helmets – safety first!) for free to encourage environmentally friendly transportation.

A study from the University of California San Diego says that 45 percent of Americans have thought about taking a volunteer vacation. The destination of choice to give back while traveling? 17 percent said Africa (most popular with Gen Y respondents). See the volunteer opportunities Green Postcards has featured here.

Could cars fueled by algae be in our future? The blog Gas 2.0 reports that the US military will start to test 100% algal biodiesel made by California company Solazyme. Read more here.

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Go true green at Omagh Hostel in Ireland, Part 2

See yesterday’s post for more details on this EU Flower Eco-label Irish hostel!

Omagh Hostel
Address: 9a Waterwords Rd
Omagh
Co. Tyrone
N. Ireland
BT79 7JS
Phone: +44 (0)28 8224 1973
E-mail: marella AT omaghhostel.co.uk

For detailed directions on getting here, check out Omagh’s location page. The Fyffes will pick you up from the Omagh bus station for free (you can get there by bus from Belfast, Derry, Donegal, and Dublin).

Dormitory: Rooms of four or six beds. Shared bathrooms (with hot water). Shared self-catering kitchen. $24 per person.
Small rooms: Rooms for one to three people. Shared bathrooms (with hot water). Shared self-catering kitchen. $30 per person.
Camping: Pitch a tent! Shared bathrooms (with hot water). Shared self-catering kitchen. $24 per two-person tent. $10 for each extra person.

Volunteer Vacation: Omagh Hostel is a WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) member. Trade some honest labor for accommodation, meals, and a whole lot of green learning at Omagh. You need to sign up on WWOOF to apply.

For insight into Omagh’s near past you may want to listen to Across the Bridge Of Hope, an compilation aid album featuring famous Irish musicians like U2 and Sinead O’Connor. The album was created after a terrorist bombing killed 29 people in 1998 and is after an anti-war poem written by one of the bombing’s victims.  The 2005 indie film Omagh, directed by Pete Travis, also explores the way the attack effected the community. Also, don’t forget to grab Lonely Planet’s Ireland guide Ireland guide before you go!

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Go true green at Omagh Hostel in Ireland, Part 1

It’s fitting that our first European Green Postcards feature should come from the green land itself, Ireland. Omagh Hostel provides truly inexpensive lodging (dormitory, simple private rooms, and camping options) off the tourist path in Northern Ireland. Three miles north of Omagh, the capital of County Tyrone, the hostel has just been awarded the EU Flower Ecolabel and The Guardian recently named the it one of Ireland’s top ten eco-escapes.

Omagh Hostel definitely has an impressive eco-resume. All of their energy comes from renewable sources, thanks to Northern Ireland Energy’s eco energy program. They keep the water-pressure at an effective level and use efficient appliances and energy saving light bulbs. Marella Fyffe, who owns the hostel with her husband, Billy, says she’s most proud of the biomass boiler  they installed to put the wood scraps from their landscaping and tree surgery business to good use heating the hostel’s water. The green-thumbed Billy and Marella keep an organic garden at the hostel, providing organic vegetables in the hostel’s self-catered kitchen when in season.  They are putting in a new reed bed system this year, along with five acres of woodlands. They want to continue planting trees, increasing woodlands on their grounds, and shrinking their carbon footprint.

Omagh keeps the eco-love going by supporting local organizations like Ulster Wildlife Trust and offering guided tours of their hostel and educational materials about their environmental efforts. But there’s other ways to get your green on at the hostel. Marked by the Sperrin Mountains, the surrounding landscape is perfect for hiking, cycling, or fishing. Marella’s favorite way to enjoy the hostel is to sit back and take in the view, but she suggests guests hop on a bike and take advantage of the neighborhood’s low-traffic, tourist-free cycling routes.

Come back tomorrow for more on Omagh Hostel, including its amazing rates!

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Go off the grid in Dominica with 3 Rivers and Rosalie Forest resorts, Part 2

See yesterday's post to learn how 3 Rivers and Rosalie forest stay off the grid in Dominica.

3 Rivers Eco-Lodge
Address: PO Box 1292
Newfoundland Estate
Rosalie, Dominica, West Indies
E-mail: info@threeriversdominica.com
Phone: +1 767 446 1886

Guests at 3 Rivers and Rosalie Forest can dine at the Jungle restaurant (Breakfasts, $4.50 - $13; lunch, $3.75-$15; three-course communal evening meal, $17 ) or buy a full-board package: three meals a day for $40 per person. Wireless internet available anywhere on the 3 Rivers site (but not in the jungle).

Cottages: Private bathroom, kitchen, balcony and garden. $88/nt.

Super-budget options: Stay in the Coconut Palm dormitory for only $22/nt per person for a bed or $11/nt per person for a hammock. (It’s one open room, so be ready to share the space!) Or stake a tent on the campgrounds for $16.50/nt. (Small tent rental is free. Large tent rental is $5 more per night.)

Homestay: Choose a family from the resorts’ local volunteers, who will include you in their regular daily lives and show you the real Dominica. Includes dinner and breakfast. Limited to one night only. $95/nt for one. $135/nt for two.

Volunteer/Intern Program: Come volunteer with Three Rivers and Rosalie Forest. Work approximately 30 hours a week in return for all meals and dormitory or camp lodging. Get hands-on experience in the eco-tourism industry! Get the details.

Rosalie Forest Eco Lodge
Address: PO Box 1292
Newfoundland Estate
Rosalie, Dominica, West Indies
E-mail: info@rosalieforest.com
Phone: +1 767 616 1887

All accommodations are reached only by a fifteen minute hike into the jungle. (Visited by staff members regularly if requested.) All have a double bed and hammock. Electricity powered by wind turbine. Shared bathroom (with shower) and kitchen facility nearby. Mosquito nets included. Extra folding bed for a third person is $10/night. Packages and weekly rates available.

Bamboo or Chataniere Lodge Tree Houses: $66/nt for two.
Mwena Round House: Authentically built Carib Indian cabin. $44/nt for two.
The Carbet: Authentically built Carib Indian cabin. $55/nt for two.
Gomiere Lodge: $44/nt for two.

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Maho Bay Camps redefines "tenting" in the Virgin Islands, Part 2

See yesterday's post for details on Maho Bay Camps' eco-trail-blazing ways. The December 2007 issue of Travel + Leisure called Maho Bay the “best value” on St. John. I’m not going to argue. Tent it for the best prices, but check out the great off-season rates for the studios. Meals can be self-catered (all lodging options have some kind of cooking appliances included) or taken at the restaurant. Entrees are $14-$22.

Maho Bay Camps: Tent cottages with twin beds, sleeping couch, and extra mattress. Propane stove, ice cooler, outlets, and fans included. Bathhouses nearby. May 1 – Dec. 14: $60/night for one; $80/night for two. Additional guests for $12/night each. Dec. 15 – April 30: $101.25/night for one; $135/night for two. Additional guests for $15/night each. Slight discount for stays Jan. 4 through Jan. 31.

Maho Bay Harmony Studios: Kitchenette, dining area, private bathroom, and deck. “Bedroom” studios have one king bed (roll-aways on request). “Living Room” studios have a king plus a queen sofa bed. May 1 – Dec. 14: $120-$135/night for two, bedroom; $130-$145/night for two, living room. Additional guests are $25/night eacg. Dec. 15 – April 30: $215-$230/night for two, bedroom; $225-$240/night for two, living room. Additional guests are still $25/night each.

Estate Concordia Eco-Tents: Sleeps up to six adults (twin beds plus a queen-sized daybed). Private bathroom, kitchen, dining area. May 1 – Dec. 14: $95/night for two. $15/night each for extra guests. Dec. 15 – April 30: $155-$185/night for two. Additional guests are still $15/night each.

Estate Concordia Studios: Variety of sleeping configurations sleep two to six guests. Full kitchens, decks, and facility pool. May 1 – Dec. 14: $95-$150/night for two. Additional guests are $15/night each. Dec. 15 – April 30: $150 - $225/night for two. Additional guests are $25/night each.

Volunteer Vacation: If you’re over 18, a hard worker, and have a free month between June 1 and November 15, apply to volunteer at Maho Bay. Trade 4 hours of work a day (or 6 hours for five days with two days off) for free housing and big discounts at the restaurant and on activities. Volunteers for everything from renovations to data entry are needed at both Maho Bay and Concordia.  Apply here, and hurry.  The resort gets lots of applicants -- you've got competition!

Before you go, pick up a Virgin Islands guideand load your ipod with some reggae   -- the music Maho marketing manager Melody Smith says is the perfect companion to a stay at the resort's eco-tents.

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Maho Bay Camps redefines "tenting" in the Virgin Islands, Part 1

Founded in 1976 by Stanley Selengut, Maho Bay Camps is a grandfather among eco-tourism destinations. Built right next to the  Virgin Islands National Park, the camp has grown from eight tent cottages to 114, flanked by the more luxurious Harmony Studios. Twenty-five minutes up the coast, Maho Bay expanded its reach with Estate Concordia, a second property featuring larger -- but still super-green -- eco-tents and studios.

The common denominator between all of Maho Bay’s lodging options is their commitment to earth-friendly vacationing.  The resort was built with the goal of disturbing the land as little as possible. Tent cottages are connected by elevated walkways to avoid digging up vegetation. Composite lumber makes up the backbone of Harmony Studios and the Concordia lodging.  The camp has quite a history of building with “trash” wherever possible, from the more obvious (the beer bottle fountain) to the less so (crushed glass is mixed into the concrete).

Of course, when you first get to Maho or Concordia, you may be too busy to gape at the long history of good green behavior here. Marketing manager Melody Smith suggests taking one of the multiple daily guided snorkeling trips or hiking in the national park. After that, you’re going to want to grab a chair at Maho’s new outdoor pavilion restaurant, which sources as much food as possible locally to create a wide variety of dishes – vegetarian options always included. Melody claims they have the best salad bar on the island! Massages and yoga are available to erase any stress you couldn’t shake just by taking in the ocean view.

As expected on an island, water is precious on St. John. The camp pays careful attention to its water consumption and uses earth-friendly cleaners to keep their water toxin-free. All waste-water is filtered through its natural aeration system, then used to water the organic garden. Guests who choose Maho Bay’s tent cottages share cold-water bathhouses. The cold water feels good in the hot climate, and the camp can pride itself on low water and energy usage. Keeping the camp’s carbon load low, Harmony Studios are powered by a photovoltaic system (and do have hot water). Concordia’s tents use wind-generators, solar water-heaters and passive solar practices to power and cool the rooms.

On an island as small as St. John, recycling is difficult – where do you send the materials you can’t use for construction purposes to be recycled? Are the energy costs of shipping waste materials worth it? Because of these difficulties, Maho Bay created its own recycling program (the only one on the island). First, they reduce the amount of trash the camps create by careful purchasing, reuse everything possible,  and then cycle the rest through its “Trash to Treasure” program in their Maho Bay Art Center. There, glass bottles are melted down, then blown into bowls, vases, and sculptures. Old linens become bags; dryer lint becomes hand-made paper. Not only does the center help the camp turn its waste into profit, but it also has become a center for eco-education on the island. Guests can take classes in everything from paper-making to tie-dying.

Sound good? See tomorrow’s post for a break-down of Maho Bay Camps and Estate Concordia’s rates and some suggestions for pre-Virgin Island reading.

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Sarinbuana Eco-Lodge Gives Guests Their Own "Eat, Pray, Love" Experience, Part 2

See yesterday's post for the green-skinny on Sarinbuana Eco-Lodge's extensive environmental and community work!

Address: Mountain Retreat, Mount Batukaru
Tabanan, Bali, Indonesia
Telephone: +62 817 471 5916
E-mail: ecolodgebali@yahoo.com
E-mail is the best way to contact the lodge.

Jungle House (for up to 5 people): Includes breakfast, drinking water, and natural soaps. Three bedrooms (one double, three single beds, all with mosquito nets), one bathroom (with hot shower), dining verandah, small fridge, wireless internet. Prices depend on season. $90 - $101 for one or two people; $101 - $106 for three to four; $117 - $125 for five.

Orchid House (for two): Includes breakfast, drinking water, and natural soaps. One bathroom (queen with mosquito net), outside garden bathroom with hot shower, verandah, garden exercise area, lounge and dining room, wireless internet. Prices depend on season. $83-$94 for one; $88-$105 for two.

Rumah Manis (Sweet House, for two): Includes breakfast, drinking water, and natural soaps. One bedroom (queen with mosquito net), outside garden bathroom with hot shower, sun verandah, and lounge room. Prices depend on season. $83-$94 for one; $88-$105 for two; extra bed, $19.

All bungalows have either mountain or costal views.

Village Homestay: For those of you on a tight budget or simply wanting to have an ultra-authentic Bali experience, stay in this two-room (both with single beds) homestay above a village warung (supply shop). The  mountain views and local buzz will make up for lack of hot water. $7.50 per night -- includes breakfast!!

Volunteer Opportunity: If you've got mad teaching skills, an interest in Bali, and three months to spare, the lodge is looking for a volunteer tutor for the lodge owners' two children and local Balinese youngsters. February-April and April -June positions available. In return for your tutoring genius, you'll get free room and board and an up-close-and-personal exposure to eco-tourism. Go here for more details. 

To get ready for your Bali trip, Linda suggests picking up the aforementioned Eat, Pray, Love; Collapse by Jared Diamond; and The Natural Guide to Bali by Anne Gouyon. And don’t forget to load up your ipod with the sounds of Bali before you go!
 

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Sarinbuana Eco-Lodge Gives Guests Their Own "Eat, Pray, Love" Experience, Part 1

If you are one of the many, many people who have picked up Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love recently, you are probably (like me) dreaming of a trip to Bali . (And India, and Italy, but we’re talking about Bali today.) Let me suggest that after you make a pilgrimage to Ubud to have your palm read by Ketut, you head a hour and a half southwest to the Tabanan region to find Sarinbuana Eco-Lodge nestled in the slopes of Mount Batukaru.

The winner of  Wild Asia’s 2007 Responsible Tourism Awards, Sarinbuana Eco-Lodge provides a home base for the environmentally conscious and the perpetually curious. If you’re ready for a challenge, try a day trek to the summit of the mountain or through the neighboring rain forest with a local guide. Or stick closer to the lodge with tours of the grounds’ organic gardens, “food forests of cocoa, vanilla and coffee,” and local temples. And if that’s not enough activity for you, take a motorbike or car trip to see traditional villages, rice paddies, temples and hot springs.

Manager Linda vant Hoff, who owns the eco-lodge with her husband Norman, says guests should not miss out on the many opportunities to interact with the Balinese people and their beautiful traditions. The lodge can organize workshops for you on everything from Balinese cooking, traditional medicine & costumes to making coconut oil, temple offerings or kites.

Of course, if you like to turn the hamster wheel in your head off during your vacation, you’ll find plenty of opportunity to find peace in the outdoor garden showers (available in the Orchid and Sweet houses), the bamboo tea house, essential oil massages (for just under $7), or swim in the lodge's natural waterfall pools.

Sarinbuana’s three low-impact cottages are all built in the traditional Balinese style, partially out of local trees from the eco-lodge’s property. Energy-saving techniques (solar garden lights, efficient bulbs, torches for night-time lighting) are used throughout. Vant Hoff says they don’t have enough sunlight hours, waterflow, or wind to use current renewable energy technologies, so they keep their energy use as low as possible. They offset their energy use by planting new trees and vetiver on their grounds. Nutrients are harvested from the resorts wastewater to grow bananas. The lodge gardens are designed following permaculture principals.

Guests can order traditional Balinese and Western meals made from produce grown right outside their doors ($3-$7). The lodge has extensive organic gardens with over 90 edible herbs, spices, vegetables and fruits. You can even catch your own dinner in local fresh-water fish ponds or take part in the cooking of your evening meal.

Despite all these eco-accomplishments, Linda is most proud of the 800 hectares they were able to establish as a “No Take” zone (any kind of harvesting is prohibited) through the cooperation of the local village and a grant from Seacology. The grant also led to several other community improvements, including a new meeting hall, computers for the school, and a village office. The lodge’s commitment to community extends to its staff: It hires only local people and trains them in environmental management, housekeeping, English, and other skills necessary for sustainable tourism.

Stay tuned for accomodation details and reading suggestions from Linda tomorrow!

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