Goal: to create an agri-tourism’s farm for teaching people to live off the land using organic, permaculture farming and building houses

Budget: 300 000 Baht / 6250 Euro / 10,000 USD. (200 000 B for land, 100 000 for building supplies and water)

Location: Amphur/ District of Pai, Province of Mae Hong Son, Thailand

The aim of this project is to teach both Thai people and foreigners how to farm organically, using the permaculture method. Because everything in our life is inter-related, spirituality will also occupy a big space at the farm, practicing yoga, meditation, etc. We would like to help the people gor creating a self-sustainable lifestyle and living a healthy, fulfilled and peaceful life.
There are many things to learn when creating a self sustainable lifestyle. For example, we will make a vegetable garden, herbs for cooking (kitchen garden) and medicinal purposes, plant fruit trees and rice crops, practice composting for fertilizing the land,... We will teach both local people and foreigners to build houses and shelters with natural materials like mud and bamboo, complete with running water and electricity.

There are three principles of permaculture. Firstly, care of the earth. Secondly, care of the people. Lastly, set the limits to population’s consumption, and using surplus resources to further above principles
A large goal of the organic farm is to help the people to help themself and the nature by farming without burning the land or using chemicals, for that, permaculture gives a lot of different solutions like using animals to plow the land, instead of tractors and large machines. Permaculture farming allows plants to grow indefinitely, yielding crops all year instead of only one growing season. Once we begin to produce vegetables, fruits and rice, we will use these products to feed the people and create income to sustain the farm by opening a restaurant.
Several community farms already exist in Northern Thailand, we would also like to work with these farms to learn a variety of skills. Farms could take turn hosting courses and internships. For example, one farm can teach another farm how to harvest a certain crop, or build a certain style of house. We will organize visits to different villages and farm communities to learn a variety of methods of living from the land.
Trees will have a predominant position on the farm and beyond as they have many functions other than producing fruits. Trees nourish the soil, hold water and bring more nutrients and minerals to the land for growing. Trees also provide shade for other plants and animals, and of course provide firewood for cooking and heat.The use of trees is also for preparing tomorrow’s resources for the land that we will pass on to our kids.
Therefore, the farm will be a great place for children aswell, they will be able to see and live with the nature developping their curiosity, creativity and knowledge.
For foreign people, It will be a great opportunity to learn about Thai culture, on an alternated way, far from mass tourism. It is a good opportunity to learn Thai cooking with organic food. As a community, we’ll take part to local town acivities and will include our guests if they wish, to meet local people and contribuate to the development of their social lifes We will also learn about the Buddhism religion and especially its opinion about the inter-relations between living things. Buddhism is major in the thai culture and its celebrations guide the people’s everyday life.
An additional goal of the farm is to teach people how slow down, remember mother nature, old traditions and culture.More and more people are so busy trying to accomplish themself professionaly that they forget love and relax for enjoying every moment. It is important to remember and respect the traditions of the past. Traditional ways of living do not pollute the earth like modern society. Everyday humans consume natural resources without giving back to nature. We want to teach you how take less from mother nature, and give back to the environment. If we don’t start giving back to the earth, we will eventually run out of resources. We want to make people more conscious of this, and show them that farming is a very useful skill for self survival and self accomplishment.
Once we have bought the land, the first thing we will do is build one large house for many people to sleep in. People can sleep here or camp in tents by paying a reasonable participation fee for the stay and the food , and will learn by helping to build smaller houses for other people to live in. Once many huts (guesthouses) are built, we’ll be able to host them in theses houses. Any benefits made with the homestay service will be used to buy trees and plants for the farm. People can share food and cook together. Because we are cooking the food ourselves, it will be cheaper then buying food in town.
Money will come first from donation, then from the homestay, different courses and internships (farming, cooking, language, spiritual courses) and selling the food. Money will be used for buying seeds and plants, building materials and repairs, more land and other future projects. When the farm is strong and developed, we hope to help many poor communities. We would like to help them learn about organic permaculture farming, get better schools and education supplies, help teach and build monks for building houses and temples. etc.

Some long-term projects may include practicing biodynamics, such as using wind and water flow to harness energy. Also, we would like to grow biodiesel plants to make fuel for gasoline.


Anyone interested in donating to help the farm get started please contact Kae at Pa-kae@hotmail.com, or by mobile at 066 857069270.

Thank you.

Thailand :
Bangkok Bank Public Co.,Ltd. Pia Branch
pay to watcharee sodtamna
Account no707-0-02871-2
Swift Code : BKK BTH BK
Europe:
To: Geoffroy godeau
Banque dexia
Account number: 063-1665602-50
Iban: BE86-0631-6656-0250
Swift code : GKCCBEBB