Ecolodge organises “Saba-Aid” fundraiser

This Saturday, Ecolodge will organise a benefit auction, called Saba-Aid, to help fund restoration of Jungle Cottage Resort. The fundraiser will be held at Breadline Plaza in Windwardside. This writes The Daily Herald. The event will start at 12:30pm with food and drinks, and the auction will start at 2:00pm, when the band “The one blood band” will perform.
Several paintings from a diverse group of local artists will be auctioned off at the benefit. Gift certificates from different companies, such as restaurant Eden and Sea Saba will also be going under the hammer.
Last month, Kelly Parker and Keith Murphy, who are currently in charge of operations, started a crowd-funding campaign to prevent a foreclosure of the Ecolodge. “So far a lot of awareness has been created and a considerable amount has already been donated, although we are not there yet”, Parker commented. A representative of the bank visited a couple of weeks ago, and both Parker and Murphy now have a much more positive feeling on the future of Ecolodge.
The two-man team claims to be right on track in terms of development, restoration and projected sales. Plans for several activities, such as cooking classes based on holistic and natural ingredients and yoga classes are being realised. A large 32-inch gong will be shipped to Saba from Aruba in a short while to aid the yoga experience. Another interesting feature of Ecolodge will be large-group reservations, where for instance school classes from other islands can come to experience the diversity of Saba’s flora and fauna. A combination of hiking and diving trips will be organised, along with teaching the attendants what foods nature has to offer and then cooking and eating it.
Murphy and Parker have saved every penny to realise the rebirth of Ecolodge, living only on tips and what nature has to offer. The team recently started their own side company called Small Batch Productions, which was notarised just last week. They plan to sell organic skin care products, salad dressings, hot sauces, rib rubs, mixed herbs and several other natural products, which they will produce and distribute locally. On another note, today a charity doctor auction will be held at Topo Gigo’s bar in the Bottom.