Sahai Nan, Thailand

From Chiang Mai, we moved to Nan
Sahai Nan organic permaculture farm is a very interesting place, secluded from big cities and the metropolic-stress lies a farm located in the province of Nan near the border to Laos. This project was started there a few months ago, by a man named Sahai (which means friend). The accommodation is quite basic but also authentic, because every material that was used was found in the Farm itself. In just a few weeks, water for drinking and bathing was installed, four huts and a big cooking/dinning area was built terraces of rice fields were excavated and even electricity that runs using a solar panel, oh and also a blacksmithing forge area contributed by one of the permaculture students. Most of these things were made by just one man, Sahai, a grandson of a tribal leader which also did the same principles in permaculture in Thailand not knowing that there was a word for it, so he decided to carry the legacy on, that his father also taught him. He has designed and created a number of Farms in Thailand and also in different parts of South East Asia.

Our gained experience in this place gave us so much energy, wisdom and inspiration that after heading to Laos for the visa run, we have decided to go back to this place and add a little bit more knowledge, not just in terms of construction and gardening but also in the way of life.

if you´re courious about this farm, just check: http://sahainan.com

Here are some pictures from Sahai Nan Farm:

Our home :)

Jay learning weaving with bamboo 

One of the huts for volunteers  

The source of electricity ...the little solar panel

A bridge across a  little stream

Day on the river

Saturday market 

Home at night 

Successful fishing 

Blacksmithing 

Some small friends in the morning sun on the tent 

On the way to the saturdaymarket

THAILAND. MAE MUT GARDEN

                                       THAILAND , Mae Mut Garden and surrounding area 

Now after a long time, news from the both of us. We are in Thailand since two months, working on a permaculture/sustainable farm as volunteers in the mountains one hour away from Chiang Mai in the north. Here we live in a very nice wooden house with the most amazing view of the mountains as far as to the biggest one of Thailand (Doi Inthanon). Each morning when we get up, we wake up with a smile on our face because it is so beautiful. We are surrounded  by rice terraces and forests. Here on the farm there is always a lot to do, in the gardens or in the young forest area, around the house and with the chicken. We are here to learn as much as possible about organic gardening and a natural lifestyle in harmony with nature.

So far we learned about composting, mulching, grey water systems, eco building and crop rotation as well as making natural fertilizers and pesticides from materials that are around, making medicine and much more.

Here so far from the city and the stressful life, the time does pass slowly and peacefully and it makes us forget about the worries of the world and the day or month we live in, we just enjoy and experience and wake up  and go to sleep with the sun every day. 

Slowly we adopt the heat of the day and the coldness of the nights and we get used to drink a lot of water all the time. 

The Thai culture and the people we met are very nice, very welcoming and warm, here everybody does still greet everybody on the street and neighbors help each other, we still see the children running and playing in the streets together, and it makes us very happy to see that each time we see it, because in the western world it gets so seldom to see such a healthy picture of children.

The food is very fresh and very good as long as it isn't too spicy.

We enjoy very much every aspect of being at this wonderful place with so many wonderful people and the amazing breathtaking nature around us :) 

To know more about Mae Mut garden, just check these sites out! :)

http://maemutgarden.com

http://maemutbaandin.wordpress.com

The lovely Family we stay with at Mae Mut Garden Farm 

The beautiful volunteer house we enjoyed to live in 

Breathtaking views from the veranda

The nicest person we ever met : Pi Hom always there where help is needed in Mae Mut garden,
here she is  cooking some bugs for Jay to try real thai mountain food

Fenja in front of a Waterfall

a little sleepy friend in the trees 

                           SPENDING A NICE TIME WITH THE BIG ELEPHANTS

Oliver, our neighbor is constructing a dome house  

                                  A weekend in the City CHIANG MAI during a festival

SOME FOTOS FROM THE MAE MUT GARDEN

 Rice from their own Farm

 making banana Jam.. Aloy! (Yummy)

 a part of the grey water system

 peanuts!

 Compost making, Feeding the soil is Feeding the Plants! :)

 Okra or Lady fingers as big as my Hand! 

Tomatoes that we planted

 The wood oven

and the Bread of course