Thread: Sufficiency farming in Thailand

We have about 35 rai in Chanthaburi where we are working towards sufficiency farming. It is organic - using compost, cow manure, em (effective microorganisms). We have natural fresh water springs so we also have a wetlands nature sanctuary...so some of our crops go to the birds, squirrels, bats and cows.

Our cows get to roam around the lake and in addition to grass, vines, leaves etc enjoy eating fruit - every week they get about 6 kilos of bananas as a treat

Originally Posted by bronwen

We have about 35 rai in Chanthaburi where we are working towards sufficiency farming. It is organic - using compost, cow manure, em (effective microorganisms). We have natural fresh water springs so we also have a wetlands nature sanctuary...so some of our crops go to the birds, squirrels, bats and cows.

Since we live in Chanthaburi we naturally grow tropical fruit - in the background there are rambutans. In the foreground the rice paddy where we grew vegetables such as corn and beans, peanuts and okra in the off season. Also sunflowers for beauty, companion planting and of course the seeds (if we can get to them before the ants)

Originally Posted by bronwen

Our cows get to roam around the lake and in addition to grass, vines, leaves etc enjoy eating fruit - every week they get about 6 kilos of bananas as a treat

Originally Posted by bronwen

We have about 35 rai in Chanthaburi where we are working towards sufficiency farming. It is organic - using compost, cow manure, em (effective microorganisms). We have natural fresh water springs so we also have a wetlands nature sanctuary...so some of our crops go to the birds, squirrels, bats and cows.

In the foreground another rice paddy which has been plowed. Behind it, more tropical trees with rambutan and in front durian whcih I grew from seed (puamany) and after about four years are more than three metres high!

Originally Posted by bronwen

Since we live in Chanthaburi we naturally grow tropical fruit - in the background there are rambutans. In the foreground the rice paddy where we grew vegetables such as corn and beans, peanuts and okra in the off season. Also sunflowers for beauty, companion planting and of course the seeds (if we can get to them before the ants)

Originally Posted by bronwen

Our cows get to roam around the lake and in addition to grass, vines, leaves etc enjoy eating fruit - every week they get about 6 kilos of bananas as a treat

Originally Posted by bronwen

We have about 35 rai in Chanthaburi where we are working towards sufficiency farming. It is organic - using compost, cow manure, em (effective microorganisms). We have natural fresh water springs so we also have a wetlands nature sanctuary...so some of our crops go to the birds, squirrels, bats and cows.

Since we have to use the rice paddy for rice now that the rainy season is starting I have started another vege patch with corn I am growing from self harvested seed, various basils, and we are growing papayas too - they only last 3-4 years and can't be planted in the same place so I am growing a new patch here. They don't cast much shade but they are very greed feeders so will see how this works out. In any case the corn can be harvested after about 6 weeks. These are about 4 weeks now. In the back there is a frame for growing cucumbers

Originally Posted by bronwen

In the foreground another rice paddy which has been plowed. Behind it, more tropical trees with rambutan and in front durian whcih I grew from seed (puamany) and after about four years are more than three metres high!

Originally Posted by bronwen

Since we live in Chanthaburi we naturally grow tropical fruit - in the background there are rambutans. In the foreground the rice paddy where we grew vegetables such as corn and beans, peanuts and okra in the off season. Also sunflowers for beauty, companion planting and of course the seeds (if we can get to them before the ants)

Originally Posted by bronwen

Our cows get to roam around the lake and in addition to grass, vines, leaves etc enjoy eating fruit - every week they get about 6 kilos of bananas as a treat

Originally Posted by bronwen

We have about 35 rai in Chanthaburi where we are working towards sufficiency farming. It is organic - using compost, cow manure, em (effective microorganisms). We have natural fresh water springs so we also have a wetlands nature sanctuary...so some of our crops go to the birds, squirrels, bats and cows.

Originally Posted by bronwen

We have about 35 rai in Chanthaburi where we are working towards sufficiency farming. It is organic - using compost, cow manure, em (effective microorganisms). We have natural fresh water springs so we also have a wetlands nature sanctuary...so some of our crops go to the birds, squirrels, bats and cows.

Is that local wine?

Originally Posted by kingwilly

Is that local wine?

That looks like a bottle of Ballantynes.
Why the pics so small?

Double click on the pic then copy/paste

Good stuff. Keep them coming.

Very bucolic. When do you start planting tea?

Sounds like a lot of hard work bronwen, hope your back is young

Whiskey seems to go better after an afternoon spent working on the farm :-)

Originally Posted by kingwilly

Is that local wine?

These days we prefer herb tea...holy basil, chamuang, cinnamon leaf, "rang jert" (forget name in English) Jai dum (also forgot english name) all grown in our gardens

Originally Posted by chassamui

Very bucolic. When do you start planting tea?

Cool thread, certainly looks like the good life.

My back is old! But okay...working in the garden is much better than sitting all day working on a computer.

Originally Posted by Stinky

Sounds like a lot of hard work bronwen, hope your back is young

compost making - that's a good workout for the back

Originally Posted by bronwen

My back is old! But okay...working in the garden is much better than sitting all day working on a computer.

Originally Posted by Stinky

Sounds like a lot of hard work bronwen, hope your back is young

We like it. But my workmates think I'm crazy in the way I spend my weekends. This one coming up ...ploughing the fields and sowing rice.

Originally Posted by Chittychangchang

Cool thread, certainly looks like the good life.

Originally Posted by bronwen

"rang jert" (forget name in English) Jai dum (also forgot english name)

"Rang jert/Raang Chuet" = รางจืด = Thunbergia laurifolia = Blue trumpet vine.

Not sure, but "Jai dum" could be "Kra chai dam" = กระชายด = Kaempferia parviflora = Thai black ginger, Thai ginseng.

Thanks! Yes rang jert is thunbergia laurifolia but wan jai dum is zedoary or black turmeric from Isaan (curcuma caesia). It was cultivated by my husband's father in their village in Ubon Rachathani and his sister gave us some plants. Possibly it is endangered --- they had to come and get some rhizomes from us when theirs disappeared. The leaves look much like ordinary turmeric but are a bit pinkish and the rhizomes are white/black colour. It helps stop nausea. Rang jert is for detox and helps in the case of hangover.

Originally Posted by Gipsy

Originally Posted by bronwen

"rang jert" (forget name in English) Jai dum (also forgot english name)

"Rang jert/Raang Chuet" = รางจืด = Thunbergia laurifolia = Blue trumpet vine.

Not sure, but "Jai dum" could be "Kra chai dam" = กระชายด = Kaempferia parviflora = Thai black ginger, Thai ginseng.

Looks perfect, looks idyllic was very impressed until I visited your web site that still looks fabulous by the way, but how does sufficiency and eco existence marry with tourism? Just seems at odds with each other, but great effort none the less.

Originally Posted by chassamui

Very bucolic.

Indeed...
Some can be very comfortable and satisfied with such a lifestyle.


Quite civilsed, actually.

Cheers Chaz!

Healthy looking cows. Doubt if Thais would pay a premium for organic beef, or are only for milking?

Originally Posted by Munted

Healthy looking cows. Doubt if Thais would pay a premium for organic beef, or are only for milking?

Organic beef?

Do you no of any other here?