People often ask me when I’ve decided to become a vegetarian. Well, this was it: la Aldea Luna is this kind of place, the kind that can deeply change a person. If you want to disconnect from stress and reconnect with nature, leave out the city mess to take in mountains' peace, meditate, eat vegetarian food and shower with cold water (yay blood flow), this is the place.
Located in the North of Argentina, 20 kilometers from Jujuy, this natural reserve is owned by the loveliest family. Elizabeth and Martín, deeply moved by the state of nature in this area, have taken the great responsibility of protecting more than 960 hectares of forest and living there with their kids.
Being raised in a city, we tend to forget where we come from and what supports our survival: nature. We don’t stand any chance of survival if nature stops supplying us with air, water, fruits, and everything it possesses.
I was astonished when discovering the Aldea’s way of life, without electricity nor running water, and of course no internet access. Honestly, the last aspect was the best part: I’ve read so many books instead of worrying about my Instagram feed – ugh. We had everything we needed, and nothing unnecessary.
Volunteering at la Aldea Luna reconnected me with my senses, my roots, with the wilderness, and all those instincts and primitive reflexes you lose when surrounded by concrete.
I usually worked in the morning, taking care of the vegetable gardens. We had tomato seeds recently blooming, and I learnt how to take care of them “like they are your babies” – cutest advice ever. Other mornings we went with the dogs and the other volunteers into the forest, looking for cow’s poop to ferment the soil.
Elizabeth and Martín being vegetarians, and without a fridge (no electricity!), I got used to eating no meat, fish, butter nor cheese. I’m French so you can imagine the torture on the first days; yet I soon got to realize that I didn’t need any of these to eat healthy and have enough energy for the entire day. We cooked the gardens’ vegetables, baked our own bread and enjoyed fresh chicken eggs.
At la Aldea Luna, chickens are your pets, and I honestly started wondering if I could ever eat my pet… When going on a stroll in the natural reserve, you’ll meet cows and their babies, just like you could run into a deer and its fawn: who decided which one you can eat? You tend to reconsider a lot of things about our way of life, our relationship with nature and what is really necessary.
I volunteered there, but there are a lot of different options. Elizabeth gives Spanish classes – the efficiency of which I witnessed with my French roommate, what a progress in a week of time! You can also stay at the Natural Reserve and just enjoy being there, trek the paths around, or go for a dip in the river.
I’ve learned to eat less meat while enjoying more each bite’s taste.
I’ve learned to cultivate my own garden, acknowledging each plant’s season.
I’ve learned to be present, fill my heart with birds chirping and take all the lush hills’ beauty in.
I’ve learned to take my time, breathe, and live.
When was the last time you were truly surrounded by nature?
Reserva Natural Aldea Luna
Thank you again Elizabeth and Martín.
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