Earth & People Care (Rainy Season 2023)

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Jenna, USA: Reflecting back on my four weeks spent at Jiwa Damai, I feel a sense of peace and gratitude. We went into this experience (our first time WWOOFing) with only some information, so I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect, but our decision to come was an easy one.

We began each morning with movement (usually a yoga video), and ended it with a very special heart meditation which progressed over the four weeks. This practice was very powerful for me, and I will take it with me wherever I go! I think I will always be reminded to “go to the heart”. This part of the experience really feels like a gift, especially when paired with some of Margret’s transpersonal psychology books, which dive deep into ideas on the Self and personality & other psychodynamic structures (which I highly recommend reading to add to the experience, especially “Our Inner Actors”). 

The rest of our time was spent working outside in the gardens and creating bamboo fences, creating a video montage to celebrate Jiwa Damai, and eating fresh, home cooked meals. I so enjoyed time spent with Margret, the local Balinese staff (who are so kind and fun to work with), and the other volunteer, Natalie! My four weeks were filled with peace, connecting to the heart, movement, and interesting and thought-provoking conversations. I will look back on this time fondly and with deep gratitude. 

Tinder, USA: I am closing out on a month spent here at Jiwa Damai. It was an incredible month, and I shall not forget it. I learned first hand the danger of snakes-that they must be respected and watched for. I learned intimate details about the lives of local balinese people, which was an experience I feel extremely lucky to be a part of. Being invited for a karaoke night will be memorable forever. I appreciated the jungle noises: frogs, geckos, birds, and maybe even spirits…it blended into a beautiful cacophony of chaos and natural order, and was very soothing for my dreams. Margaret’s encouragement for morning yoga, and her evening meditation sessions were a type of disciple that I was not used to. I struggled with this for the first two weeks, but now I have struck a rhythm that feels very beneficial for me. Working outdoors and with my hands was nothing new to me, but always appreciated. A jungle garden, however, was a new work space that was relaxing and fulfilling. The only thing about this experience that I will not miss is the fire ants, but even they weren’t that bad. Thank you Jiwa Damai!

Natalie, Germany: Thank you Margret for this amazing time. 4 weeks of yoga, learning and practicing the HeartSelf-Intelligence meditation and permaculture in such a peaceful place helped me to grow inside.

Discover your Heart through Permaculture

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Discover your Heart through Permaculture

The ethics of earth care, people care and sharing surplus are one of Permacullture’s unique contribution in our today world. They actually point the way to a new paradigm, from survival and lack of, to abundance and sharing.

Permaculture design provides a system which allows us to move deeply into our abused eco-systems and release their inherent potential.

Read More

Alternative Approaches to Traditional Beekeeping in Bali

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The traditional Balinese methods for harvesting honey are not larvae and hive growth supportive. While the general practice is to only harvest 40% or less of the hive, because of the fact that wild Balinese bees build their hives such that brood cells and honey cells are in the same area of the hive - generally the bottom two thirds are brood cells with larvae and the top third are the honey cells. This differs greatly from western honeybees that build their brood cells in a separate part of the hive from the honey storage cells. As such, the traditional Balinese methods to harvest honey simply include removing the entire section of honeycomb - both brood cells and honey cells - and processing all of it. The honey is extracted and the brood cells are boiled and the larvae are eaten. If new extraction methods can be achieved, hopefully honey harvesting can be done without destroying the larvae or the existing honeycomb, which will hopefully improve hive health and increase honey production.

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Read our entire research here

In English

In Indonesian


Exotic animals, trees and fauna

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Being in Bali allows you to get acquainted with various exotic animals, trees and fauna. Here, at Jiwa Damai we do have some incredible inhabitants. Today I would like to introduce you to the sacred Temple snake.

According to Balinese beliefs she lives in the temples and blesses them and is sacred. She lives in between the roof and the ceiling in one of our houses and is early seen. The last sign was a snake skin hanging in a tree close to the area, which meant she has grown and was shedding. Usually she goes out to hunt every 10 days or so, to catch a frog or mouse meal. She then returns to her quarters to digest and is not seen for another week or more. She does hunt at night and that is when we can catch a glimpse of her. She is shiny black and has beautiful yellow rings around her slim body. usually she is curious and will look at you for a while before moving on. According to the general information about her kind, she is lightly poisonous and her bite can cause some swelling. We have never heard of anyone being bitten.

Here at Jiwa Damai we respect all beings, and as it is we are taking the living space away from these beings. Therefore a respect and honoring of these creatures is appropriate.

Cloves

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Cloves, once the most valuable spices in the today Indonesian, then called the spice islands, sought after by the Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, and others.

Today the cloves are still sought after her in Bali because of their high quality.

The clove tree harvest begins in the northern part of the Bali island which is covered in clove trees during the dry season when the tree is blooming for some time. It represents the main income for the local Balinese, this season. It lasts about 2 months and everyone in the family is involved.

The trees are climbed by each family member, mother daughter, father, son and whoever is available. Small branches and leaves which came with the harvesting are removed, and the actual clove is shines brilliant in its many colors. Once dried it turns a beautiful brown. The most amazing thing is its incredible fragrance during the drying process and after.

The cloves are used for cooking spices, here the local people use it as a medicine mixed with raw coconut oil. Now the clove are extracted and become the wonderful clove essential oil. this can be used for diffusion, and many other ailments.



The internship: Each day was different from another.

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Hi everyone! My name is Jana, I’m Russian-Estonian living and studying in Denmark. I’m yoga teacher and therapist but came to Jiwa Damai for an internship as a part of my Danish education (Global Nutrition and Health).

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When I chose Jiwa Damai I didn’t really know what to expect. I thought I’ll study permaculture and teach yoga but eventually it turned out to be so much more.

First of all, the place where Jiwa Damai is located is just magical. Peaceful and tranquil, surrounded by lush vegetation. People who are working here and other volunteers and interns make this place even more special. We were always together, chatting and laughing. Here you’re literally fell yourself like home.

I also feel grateful and blessed to had an opportunity to be supervised by Margret. She is a super women. Her life and professional experience is countless (and priceless). She was directing me throughout my entire stay - explaining, giving suggestions and recommendations about my project. What I really liked about her supervision is that she was interested in finding ways to make the internship valuable and beneficial for ME.

During my 2,5 months stay I was doing my own project of retreat center. I was learning how to manage, maintain and promote it. I learned different aspects of running your own center in another country. I learned how to do permaculture design and how to be responsible and sustainable in what you’re doing.

Each day was different from another.

Some days I was working more in the garden: making compost, preparing soil and planting seeds. Some days I was more focused on paper and computer work. Some parts of my project also involved traveling around, meeting with a culture, observing different places and getting inspiration from them.

But what was even more valuable is my personal transformation. I feel myself more calm and peaceful after almost 3 months here. I got some clarity about things I want to do in my future, I got inspired and ready to create new things.

I recommend this place to everyone who want to learn more about permaculture and sustainable living. Who is ready to transform, get inspired and immerse into Balinese culture. I had so much fun and gained so much knowledge! I couldn’t wish for a better place for my internship.


Thank you Jiwa Damai and Margret for a life-changing experience

The challenges of making our own coconut oil

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A specialized climber needs to be hired to take down the ripest nuts, which can be used for producing the cold pressed famous health food coconut oil.

Our climber goes up the tree with bare hands an feet and can climb 15 trees in one day. After which the nuts are each opened by hand from the outer shell and then the inner shell and the meat removed by hand as well.

After which the grating procedure and making of the oil can begin. See our coconut movie on the complete production .


The temple snake

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This beautiful snake  with its yellow rings is considered sacred by the Balinese. it lives mainly in the the,plus and is called the temple snake. Having this snake in your house under the roof is considered a blessing. It show itself on the average once a week coming down from the roof to go hunting for food. Its main food are the frogs it finds around the ponds.It nourishes itself from mice as well.

We have a special approach to the snakes here. Since we are the ones taking the living space away from them, we are respecting and honoring them. The Balinese do make offering for the snakes at the house temples. This way a peaceful co-existence is initiated.

Connecting to myself

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I had the privilege of having an incredible volunteer experience in October 2018. I will be eternally grateful to Margret for allowing me to stay 30 days in this little paradise called Jiwa Damai. In this experience, I had the chance to connect even more deeply with nature and myself, in a very transformative way.


The days were calm, quiet, always surrounded by birds and silence. With yoga practice in the morning, afternoon meditation and plenty of time to read or walk in the garden, enjoy the fruits and plants and play with the animals.


The food was magical, curative and very delicious. I was looking forward to it every day by the time of meal! The kitchen girls and the others staffs made me feel at home and allowed me to experience some of the local culture through our conversations and mutual help.


In addition to the immeasurable exchange I had with my volunteers friends, I was able to improve my English, discover new cultures, exchange experience of life and advice from people with realities so different from mine.


I can say that it was one of the best experiences of my life.

Thank you Margret and the whole team Jiwa Damai. I bring you in my heart.

With love ... Paula

The pineapple harvest

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We wish you an interesting, fascinating and at moments peaceful 2019!

How to ride the waves of all these various global and local and personal events will be the challenge. All points to many changes and new approaches and discoveries. On this note, we will remain with the first item in our gardens, the incredible wealth of our pineapple growth and harvest. The sweetness of its taste. What a difference.

This year’s harvest of pineapples stretches for several months. we grow two types, a Javanese and a smaller Balinese one which is of an exquisite sweetness. After being cut from the plant, which is left to grow another fruit, the tops are removed and replanted and will grow into another pineapple. We have several ways of using the delicious fruit. one, to open and eat. One of our kitchen fairies, Jani, made for the first time a pineapple marmalade , trying out with sugar and with stevia as a sweetener. Made and Nyoman dry the pineapple slices and package them to sell and replant the removed tops in the garden..