canal drop!!!

encroaching shrub fires...

beautiful smoke enduced sunset

Garage artwork

garlic husk run for compost and pond sealing material

The days are rapidly turning into hours as my time here at the farm is coming to an end. For now. As I was flipping flap jacks this morning for the crew over the outdoor wood fire, I was just thinking what an overwhelming task it seemed a few months ago to light a fire every time I even wanted to boil water. Now, with a snap of some twigs, I have a roaring fire and the culinary delights that have taken place over these fires!! So, while I made pancakes, a treat on our "day off" - whatever that means- some young ladies from sweden were smashing peanuts for peanut butter, Dan from portland was attempting to peel a papaya while giving the worm and chicken bins more fruit than what he was leaving for us. Caroline from the US was collecting overripe and maggot ridden bananas for fresh smoothies.... Luckily I caught her in time before she blended the squiggling little guys. Hopefully the chickens will enjoy those. Christian was "sleeping in" for once after our big night of fire fighting. So, every dry, hot season in Thailand (did I mention it is oppressively hot and dry here now?) villagers and hill tribe people start burning all of their crops to clean and rid their forests of undergrowth. Well, in permaculture this is a huge no no, especially in the tropics as the soil food web needs every bit of organic matter it can get to build healthy topsoil. If all the leaves and twigs and shrubs are burned every year there is never any decomposition..... Anyways, so the fires creep into the national forests where villagers also plant crops and know one takes any mind or cares to stop them. So, since we are surrounded by national forest, for weeks the smoke and flames have been closing in on us. We have a large fire break around the property, but last night the flames were right on the hill and we did not want charring in the beautiful forest that borders the mango orchards so hoes in hand we trudged through the thick growth and battled the fires encroaching upon us. After that a bit of indulgence into our winery, last nights pick was pineapple/ginger wine - and relished in the waning adrenaline rush of stomping burning leaves as ash fluttered down around us.

So, with the fires, smoke and heat, I think it is a fine timing to be wrapping my time here.

I am enjoying planning my return with lots of enthusiasm and momentum to dive into projects and stimulating events, but also staying completely present here. Christian and I have been planning the summer and it is certainly turning into a busy one. No time for stagnancy. My milk paint endeavors are coming out great, I hope to get 10 more liters from the milk man for the last of the windows. The fecia is painted, but needs to be nailed up..... With it so hot, it takes double the time to get anything done at the moment.

Next week at this time I will be on a overnight train to Bangkok, a week there, then onto Taiwan for 3 weeks. I have no idea what to expect from the farm there. The whole course Christian is teaching is being translated to Mandarin. I am hoping to learn the tricks of dim sum if nothing else. Also, another permaculture course under my belt will be great, just don't ask me to translate any of it.

Oh, now that my Thai time is almost up I finally learned today how to count to ten.

Please fill your days with joy and presence

sculpture made with lime plaster

Christian and Richard discussing the newly installed drip line