Volunteering on a Thai Farm: Breakfast & The 5 Contemplations

When I was in Canada looking for an opportunity to do something meaningful in Thailand, I naturally started to pursue agriculturally-driven projects. But I didn't want to go to just any farm- I wanted to learn as much as possible- about farming, meditation, how to build a mud-house. I had a bucket-list going on. I started looking for farming opportunities where I could build a mudhouse, and within a community living in a meditation sangha-style.

Eventually, when I found this farm, which is organic and is a place of meditation. I wrote an email immediately and received a response within a few days telling me that there was an opportunity to learn about earthen building and the offer was there. They said to come out to and work on the farm in exchange for learning about building earthern homes, meditation, and Thai cooking, so I did. Something I really like is that each morning the volunteers and the farmer all gather outside after walking meditation, for a modest but fulfilling breakfast, sitting at a few makeshift tables among the bales of straw and bamboo. He reads "The Five Contemplations" every morning before eating. 

1.This food is a gift of the earth, the sky, numerous living beings and much hard work.
2. May we eat with mindfulness & gratitude so as to be worthy to receive it.
3. May we encourage & transform our unwholesome mental formations,especially our greed and learn to eat with moderation.
4. May we keep our compassion alive by eating in such a way that we reduce the suffering of living beings, preserve our planet & reverse the process of global warming.
5. We accept this food, so that we may nurture our sisterhood & brotherhood, strengthen our sangha and nourish our ideal of serving all beings.

Pumpkin Soup

Our Thai Porridge; Rice with coconut milk,
 honey, banana and papaya

 ISNT THAT YOD YIAM?!
                           (awesome)

Volunteering on a Thai Farm

Representin the Graviti

Our first night on the farm, there were so many volunteers that all of the accomodations were taken, so we opted to pitch our new Graviti tent (weighs only 1.3 kg!) in the garden. Its a temporary solution..the garden that is. The upside being that it is a flat area with a clear path, the downsides being that its a little far from things and its in the direct sunlight, plus there are suspicious snake-hole looking things around the tent that make me a little nervous, especially since we were told stories abour snakes roaming through the garden on our first night! But really what can you expect right? Its Thailand. So mai pen rai..

Wakin up! Layered like no tomorrow,
 it gets cold in the mountains at night!

The farm is 100% organic.

The farm produces lettuces, mizuna, mustard, onions, tomatoes, kale, coriander, sweet potatoes, bananas, cabbage, peanuts and more. The irrigation water is supplied from a well with a pump and is hooked up to manual sprinklers. The rest of the crops are hand-watered with well-water and a mixture of liquid compost made from cabbage, water and sugar.  Thai-whisky diluted with water is the farmers #1 organic pesticide option. He suggests that 1 cup whisky, 20 Liters of water will do the trick.

Scott in front of the (outdoor) kitchen

 After pouring ourselves some fresh ginger tea into our bamboo cups, we all walk down the dirt road towards a hill facing the sunrise. We practice walking meditation, and sometimes meditate on the hill. When we return back to the farm we make breakfast together before starting work. Then we split up into different jobs, like building mud bricks, cooking, building bamboo huts, farming, hunting for food, etc.

Walking Meditation and Stretches

Sitting around the table @ Breakfast, under the PawPaw tree!
 From left to right: Me (Canada), Natalie (Germany), Daniello (Holland), Jim (Sweden)

Islander



Leaving the shore of Vancouver, heading to Van Island! Beautiful pic eh??!



 

Arriving to our new job/ cabin at the farm, taking some pics!
Here is the path back to the greenhouse



Walkin through Nanoose Bay in the Springtime



Overlooking the flower and herb beds



Our cabin in front of the pond



Weeding the spinach

 

An eagle flew so close over my head I felt the air move around me-
They are everywhereeeee. And sea lions too!



May 2-4 @ The Harbour in Nanaimo, Van Island

 

Working in Comox Valley, Van Island. We did it all- Built these irrigation lines,
grew the seedlings, planted the currants,.. Livin on the river all summer!



Over in Vancouver for the day



@ a party in Nanaimo

 

Me, working with honey bees!<3  Its SO COOL

Canadian Greenhouse Conference 2011



I had a great time at the Conference. There are several days you can attend, but most growers working full-time will choose one day to attend that best suits their interests, but minimizes their time away from the greenhouse.

 

Speaker Talks are 1/2 - 1 hour long



The day that I chose, I was able to meet up with some affiliates of mine, co-workers, and professors from College and other alumni, it worked out perfectly. The speaker sessions are always featuring really great leaders in the industry, and I always find something that interests me. 


Nicole Stewart of Crop Defenders with
their display of biologicals



New varieties of tomatoes



The Dramm Booth

 

Hangin out with Rijk Zwaans Vegetable Lady!

Planting Hydroponic Peppers



312,500 pepper plants freshly planted in Coco

We just planted our new crop! Hydroponic Peppers, Round 2. More pics from this year and the new crop to come..