From Bangkok we headed to Pun Pun, a small organic farm just outside of Chiang Mai. The farm was started in 2003 by JoJandai and his wife Peggy Reents, with the primary goal of self-reliance. Their philosophy entails a lifestyle that is both sustainable to the environment and to humanity.
Their respect for the Earth is reflected in how and what they consume. The farm produces close to no waste and everything from the soap they wash their bodies with to the homes they live in are made with natural, organic materials. Jo is fairly well-known across Thailand for his knowledge of Earthen building, which is literally the making of homes from mud-brick. The beauty of this method of building is that there are no detrimental effects to the environment. The recipe is simply mud, water and rice husk. At first, I was a bit skeptical of this method of building and all I could think of were the 3 little pigs and what would happen if the big bad wolf came to play. But, in reality, the homes are incredibly strong and durable. Even better, they are malleable, which makes them a useful alternative to concrete, should an Earthquake hit.
Another main focus of the farm is seed saving and the importance of preserving the heritage of the seed in order to sustain humanity. After all, the seed is life. As a seed centre, Pun Pun collects rare and indigenous seeds from all over the world, and participates in seed exchanges in order to grow their network with other farmers. In doing this, Pun Pun is ensuring crop diversity for generations to come.
Pun Pun – Sustainable living and learning center is a beautiful example of a community of like-minded individuals working together to put their philosophy into practice. Several families inhabit the farm, along with visitors and volunteers that come throughout the year looking to learn and to share. They have created a strong community of people here, living sustainably and practicing what they teach. When interviewing Peggy and Jo, they emphasized that you don’t have to be living on a farm or in the middle of nowhere to think about what you consume. It’s about adapting to your environment and doing what you can within your own community to help make a difference!
For more info on Pun Pun, visit: http://www.punpunthailand.org/
Seeds and Threads 