1.1. PIZZA THERAPY: In our 1st year, we thought it would be therapeutic for residents to do pottery, so we built a wonderful pottery kiln! But we quickly found out the difficulties in firing a huge pottery oven and that a skilled potter is a must. So the kiln was disassembled, and the special fire bricks were used to build our now beloved pizza oven!
2. FUN FACT 5: CELEBRITY STATUS
2.1. CELEBRITY STATUS: Thai celebrity chef, culinary guru and actor Ajarn Yingsak was the first chairman of New Life's board of directors! His charm helped open many doors and resolve many conflicts with local and provincial administrations. He also put the villagers’ mind at ease about our community invading Ban Samanmit!
3. FUN FACT 4: GRRRRRRRL POWER!!
3.1. GRRRRRRRL POWER: New Life's bridge has bamboo planks that were HANDMADE and laid by 2 Brazilian girls (with the help from the Thai staff and community members). It took them around 4 months and many exhausting hours under Thai heat. And the Bamboo is all from the grounds at New Life!
4. FUN FACT 1: COUNTER-PRO'DUCK'TIVE
4.1. COUNTER-PRO'DUCK'TIVE We love to have our own produce at New Life. We have our own fruits and vegetables, we eat the fish from our lake, and we grow our own rice! We used to keep chickens for the eggs, but when snails became an issue in the rice paddies, ducks replaced the chickens in hopes they would eat the snails. Sadly, the ducks were scared of the snails, and so refused to enter the paddy fields.
5. FUN FACT 7: DID YOU EVER THINK ABOUT SWIMMING IN THE VILLAGE LAKE?
5.1. SWIMMING IN THE VILLAGE LAKE: This half whale, half fish came out of the village lake that many New Lifers have walked around and fed the entire village!
6. FUN FACT 3: ANIMAL FARM
6.1. ANIMAL FARM In New Life's 1st year, it was free to attend. That's right, free. Income was only coming from donations and investments, and soon they ran into financial trouble. The idea to raise organic pigs was generated- the same idea was being used in the hill tribes, so New Life, equipped with a massive business plan and a long term goal to raise thousands of pigs, bought 15 piglets and built a pig pen. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a disaster. So the pigs were sold and cows were bought with the idea to have our own milk at New Life, and the pig pen was converted into a cow pen. Sadly, this didn't fare much better, so once again, the cows were sold and the cow pen was converted into an LTV pen, where now our long term volunteers reside, who provide just as much love and fun, with a lot less trouble. :)
7. FUN FACT 9: MAMA'S MAMA
7.1. MAMA'S MAMA: In the early years, the 'original 'Mama would set up a little smoothie making station at the Awakening Hall on the weekends and make smoothies for the community. The business was a success, and now years later, Mama's daughter now runs 'Mama's' the cafe, right next door!
8. FUN FACT 6 : THE TIME CAPSULE
8.1. THE TIME CAPSULE There is a secret time capsule on the foundation- where over the years, community members have left miniature sized parts of themselves behind- creating a mini museum that showcases some of the humans that have walked through our doors, their values and their talents.
9. FUN FACT 8: GETTING PUBLISHED
9.1. GETTING PUBLISHED: An ex New Lifer shares 10 residents stories - from their suffering to their evolution -through the benefits of New Life and its foundations of practicing mindfulness.
10. FUN FACT 10: IMPERMANENCE
10.1. IMPERMANENCE: Back in 2013, a beautiful Meditation Sala was built in the middle of the lake for everyone to be able to enjoy the serene surroundings. Sadly, this beautiful structure only lasted 2 days- getting completely demolished by a 20 minute freak storm, causing more damage throughout the Foundation. So impermanence was accepted, the cleanup crew was impletemented, and the beautiful tree we know know and love tree was planted instead.
