Hello to all! I am a Newbie and you may think a little green around the edges?
I have been looking at the forums on TD for some time now, and just lately decided to join! mainly for understanding, Knowlage and inspiration? and maybe make a few good friends on the way.
Just a little background first for understanding the situation!
I have always been lucky to work all my life and pay my way. I have a grown up family in the UK. I have my own house and all the usual mod cons you would have here in the west.
I had money and had not been on holiday for many years, again due to family and work commitments. So first time to Thailand, and to return many times! Then I met my wife to be? Been maried over a year now! she has been to the UK with me, we have had many holidays around Thailand and Cambodia! I provide for my wife (apartment, motobike, a small amount of cash for her kids schooling, and a little bit of help for mama and papa). She works in the City for little money to help buy her some of the little things she may need, and to keep herself busy.
Then out of the blue NO WORK or very little!!! What to do now? I am not the kind of person to turn and run! I put the situation to my wife "Farming?" it seemed reasonable as she came from a farming background! and we had a small piece of land next to her sisters farm and not too far from her parents, whom I get on so well with, and they never ask me for anything, yes when I visit I take a few beers a bit of food. She always told me she would like to live back in the vilage! OK was the reply? Until the other sister in the city got wind of this, she wanted me to buy something in Pattaya "she says that is where the money is" But the wife says NO we will loose.
So I talked to her with my intentions to make a life in Thailand, first we would build a house, she has always been very modest and only wants a small house, just like a kabin we once stayed at near Ko Samet 'so out came the camara and lots of photo's' I priced up materials, think I can build for about 250,000bt. + money for furnishings! I would leave this up to her to be happy! But she wants like most Thai's a outside loo? Then would need to make a small living! now with the spare time I have had with little work prospects, I have been manufacturing and developing Aquaponic systems! at the cost of about 25,000bt per 8 bed unit, would build 4 for my needs, So maybe some income there! if not plenty of fish and veg for us and the family! Pigs, now thats a good idea, they take up little room! around 20 housed in sty's, hopefully the veg from the aquaponics will help feed them? And the wife is thinking well now, she tells me there is a need for a small shop on the little farm for selling produce and making food in the morning for the local farm workers and children has the school is close too.
I ask the wife how much do we need "money" per month to live on? 15,000bt she tells me! I was thinking a little more to be happy. So at let us say 20,000bt per month =240000 per year. 15 years would be a whooping 3,600,000bt this would be my cost on todays prices and no inflation, without making any money! until I would have the pension from the UK? Dificult but possible.
Now all is going OK! UNTIL the phone conversation the other day! we talk on the phone every day, "DARLING how many Baht you bring to Thailand?" my reply around 5,00000bt She says "too small need 10,00000bt"!!! Later that day I get the phone call "sorry I talk no good, with bad heart for you" pressure from work mates and the dreaded sister. I do belive me and the wife are strong together.

So is farming a good idia? will this work? will it make money?

Please no Pattaya comments on Bar Girls and so on, Thanks