We try to recycle waste as mush as possible – we collect
plastic, glass, metal and paper separately. Paper
products are burned and the ashes used to fertilise the
garden and metal scrap, plastics and plastic drinking
bottles and glass are donated to local collectors who
forward them to recycling plants in the country. Organic
waste from the kitchen and the garden go into our
compost pit and then the garden.
If you have any plastic bottles that you would like to
dispose of, please use the appropriate rubbish pots
located around the gardens – we will add these to our
collection and you will be helping with waste reduction
and recycling in Asha Cottage.
At Asha Cottage we make a very strong and committed
effort to respect and protect nature. We have embarked
on a number of "green" practices and are always looking
for ways of reducing the environmental impact of Asha
Cottage.
||Water
Collection
Water is scarce in Kenya. During the rains, we collect
rainwater from the roofs via an intricate network of
hidden pipes. We can store up to 180,000 litres of
rainwater. This water is used to water the gardens, fill
the pond and the pool (which is however treated). Shower
and tap water is obtained from an underwater stream that
flows further inland (it is however treated and safe for
brushing your teeth and showering) – and all of our hot
water is heated using solar energy.
||Wildlife
at Asha Cottage
There are four monkey species at Asha Cottage: the Blue
Sykes, the Black-faced Vervet, the Angolan Colobus and
the Bush Baby. The Colubus are purely vegetarian and
very peaceful – they are also a protected species and we
are lucky to have our own resident troupe. The Sykes and
Vervets however eat anything they can and are not afraid
of humans; they do not recognise the authority of human
females and will therefore not hesitate to come close
and steal from their plates and tables. Please do not
leave food unattended in the gardens. Bush babies are
noctural and are seen rarely. PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE
MONKEYS. They may become aggressive.
The fish ponds are full of life. Goldfish, Guppies,
Angelfish, Bala Sharks, Oscars and bottom-feeders
abound. The ponds are balanced ecosystems. Please do not
throw food or other items into the ponds. We also have a
lot of birds, including Weavers, Silver Cheeked
Hornbills, Drongos, Starlings and Willie “Wagtails”,
among others. A selection of wildlife books is available
on the main verandah.
||Shells
and marine life
Help protect our marine environment. When you are out
swimming and snorkelling, please be careful not to walk
on the corals and not to take any shells or coral pieces
out of the water. What you see in the water should stay
in the water.
Please do NOT BUY CONCH SHELLS OR
ANY OTHER MARINE SPECIMENS.
It is ILLEGAL
to do so.
||Detergents
In an effort to control the use of detergents we
schedule towel and bed linen changes every other day.
However, guests may participate in and determine this
schedule (influencing the amount of detergents utilised)
by sharing their own preferences for washing. Specific
signs are available in the bedrooms and bathrooms to
allow guests to have their linens changed more or less
frequently, as they deem necessary.
