Thread: Got the land, now what?

Waaaaay too much work BB. I'd do like NaptownMike did. Plant a few trees, Buy one of those stilted Teak 1 bdr deals with a small fridge and a hammock. I'd make it a dirt track and although Mike likes the dirt bike approach, I do an ATV quad track with a jump and some muddy stretch.

Good Luck farming.

Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai

I planted a couple of pepper bushes. two grape vine plants at by the fence, the plan is that will grow on the fence, I think I will plan a couple of watermelon vines, maybe a couple of pumpkins.

The villagers will be grateful for the free buffet.

I leave my old truck unlocked, sometimes with the engine running, never a problem. Something they can eat, it's gone in 60 seconds.

Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai

had a fight with the wife

Well, charming lady that she is I hope you have offered her an apology already.

Here's an idea BB...

I got my taxi to stop at Pak Chong on the way home from Bangkok and picked up a couple of lemon trees and a couple of avocado trees.

Worth a try maybe?

Originally Posted by Shutree

Well, charming lady that she is I hope you have offered her an apology already.

Of course, aren't we always wrong?

^ You should get Miss Ameao to help you more often... it was the most legible post you've ever written!

Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai

the Avocado tree is an excellent suggestion.

They need lots of water. Lots.
The avocado trees I bought as saplings in Loei all croaked within a year. I have since planted a few from seeds. The interwebby suggests that grafted saplings can fruit in a couple of years, my 'grown from seed' trees are more likely to take 10 or more years, if they fruit at all. There are a couple of different families, one is male when the other is female and vice-versa. It helps to have both and of course I have absolutely no idea what I've got. Which is okay, it was just a bit of fun to grow from seed and they are evergreen so I am hoping for shade.

There is or was some information on Youtube (or elsewhere, I barely remember what I had for breakfast never mind some randon Internet stuff) from a chap who was successfully cultivating them in Isan.

Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai

Of course, aren't we always wrong?

I can only speak for myself. Yes, always wrong.

We tried Avocado for a few years with no success, lemon trees seem to like the Isaan climate so should Blosssom!

Originally Posted by Shutree

avocado trees

Also to note on Avocado trees, their trunks need protection from direct hot sun. Interestingly Avocado trees do not have bark to protect themselves which is why they do well in other more mild climates and not so well here.

They take a lot of work. I tried a few and gave up. Honestly farming here takes a ton of effort. Unless you really enjoy it and are committed to it, I'd find something else to do with the land. Put a small house on it and rent it out

Originally Posted by Stumpy

Also to note on Avocado trees, their trunks need protection from direct hot sun. Interestingly Avocado trees do not have bark to protect themselves which is why they do well in other more mild climates and not so well here.

They take a lot of work. I tried a few and gave up. Honestly farming here takes a ton of effort. Unless you really enjoy it and are committed to it, I'd find something else to do with the land. Put a small house on it and rent it out

Regarding avocados and their hypersensitivity to particular conditions.....there is a Malagasy [Madagascar] variety has proven to do quite well [compared to the more common varieties] in SE Asia without special tending or attention. Their fruit is larger and meatier with a complex taste. A novelty, to be sure.

My apologies to those who have responded to me in this and other threads for not having replied.
I have been a Busy Boy.
As I think I had mentioned, I was planning to build a storage shed. I did all the work myself, with the help of a couple of farmers nearby, forgetting that I am getting too old for this shit.
Had the makro come in and dig me six holes for columns and one for a septic tank.

with the help of the macro dropped six columns 4 m apart (8mx4m)
for a 4mx4m storage shed and bathroom, and a 4mx4m covered veranda.

Formed and poured foundation beams

Then poured a floor slab

and started buildings the walls (cement block)

also dropped 3 rings in the septic hole

On my time off LOL, I build 50 m of fence in the front of the property

For the fence I used metal post and rails, and roofing panels 1.5 m high spaced 12 inch apart , the 12 inch space filled with two vertical pieces of metal painted black.

Tomorrow I have a couple of friends of the family to help me with the roof

Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai

I have been a Busy Boy.

You certainly have. Good start. Keep the pics coming!

Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai

I have been a Busy Boy.

coming along, your slab looks a bit anorexic if you don't mind me saying? and did you plate the tops of the concrete posts for the roof beams?

Originally Posted by malmomike77

coming along, your slab looks a bit anorexic if you don't mind me saying? and did you plate the tops of the concrete posts for the roof beams?

It is only a storage shed. The slab is 4 inch (10 cm set on top of 8 inch (20 cm beams , the cavity is filled with compacted sand. IMO a bit of overkill.
I don't know what you mean by "plate the tops of the posts" for the most part they were pretty level , so the steel is welded to the rebar and sitting on top of the columns . On the two far end columns that were an inch or so lowered than level , the steel was welded to the rebar, and the gap between the column and the steel will be filled with cement , as is the practice here in Thailand.

Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai

It is only a storage shed.

its me, i have a habit of over spec'ing.

Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai

so the steel is welded to the rebar and sitting on top of the columns

yep, by plating i mean you'll see shops sell square metal plates with 4 holes drilled. The idea is you place these over the rebar on top of the concrete posts and weld the rebar to the top of them. The point being that the rebar in the posts isn't strong and any roof flexing in high winds "could" split the posts. The plate ties the rebar at the top and gives a sound base to weld your roof ring beams to.

many Thais don't do it and weld the roof metal straight onto the rebar.

Coming along nicely BB!

I'd love a parcel of land for some projects... we've just run out of space here now.

Just a thought if you want some quick results. We recently cut back an overhanging branch from a big tree which then let some light through and freed up a small patch of land behind our water tanks. Then we stuck up a bamboo trellis and planted this climbing plant which has gone rampant within weeks.



'Boab' the wife seems to call it. Now we're over-run with these kind of cucumber things that go nicely in a stir fry.

^ who's the albino with the long buzz cut?

Originally Posted by Mendip

Just a thought if you want some quick results. We recently cut back an overhanging branch from a big tree which then let some light through and freed up a small patch of land behind our water tanks. Then we stuck up a bamboo trellis and planted this climbing plant which has gone rampant within weeks.

I have seen these cucumber things for sale at the morning Market
I will certainly get some of those "cucumber things" plants and give them a try.
I like what you did with the bamboo, dont mind if I copy you

^ Please go for it. The gardener found a load of dumped bamboo so he is responsible for the bamboo trellis. Often when I say 'we' it means the gardener and I have nothing to do with it.

Anyway, these 'cucumber things' go wild and any idiot can grow them them.


Edit. Sorry, I didn't mean it to sound like that!

Originally Posted by Mendip

'Boab' the wife seems to call it. Now we're over-run with these kind of cucumber things that go nicely in a stir fry.

A "Ridge Gourd" , isn't it ? aka Luffa/Loofah. The thai sounds more like 'borb' to my ears....but I'm tone deaf.

Nice job BB. Keeping busy with projects makes the days go by fast. I can't believe how fast a day goes by nowadays. I think I need a vacation from sort of retirement and working from home.

Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai

I like what you did with the bamboo

Bamboo is excellent for many things. About 2 km from us is an open property loaded with huge Bamboo groves. I take my truck and Sawzall ( reciprocating saw for some) and cut down various sizes and keep around the place. Really easy to split when green. We use them for tree supports, trellis as Mendy's gardener did, my FIL used to make ladders and I have made various lotus pot covers to keep our dogs out from trying to jump in them to cool off.

Originally Posted by Stumpy

Nice job BB. Keeping busy with projects makes the days go by fast. I can't believe how fast a day goes by nowadays. I think I need a vacation from sort of retirement and working from home.

I know what you mean. I work harder now than I did when I was at my job . LOL
or perhaps I am getting older, and it seems that way

Originally Posted by Stumpy

Bamboo is excellent for many things. About 2 km from us is an open property loaded with huge Bamboo groves.

one of the farmers I have helping me with the build has a property across the road from us that has a whole lot of bamboo, He told me to go take as much as I want.
as soon as I have more time I will take him up on it.

We are working on the roof this weekend, and by we I mean the young guys, because I dont go up roofs too good anymore.
Coming down roofs is another story, I come down like nobody's business. 9.8m per second sq. all the way