Happy Days in Isan
11 February 2019
A test for regular rural Isan readers:
Question: Today is Monday so what is on the morning agenda for the afternoon?
Answer: Harvesting for the Monday street markets!
Gaun, Yuan and Lud getting the final elements together of what will be sold at the markets.
Dill, celery, lettuce and onions and garlic.
The vegetables before harvesting.
Vegetables after Yuan’s meticulous packing
The master-farmer at work. Nothing less than perfection.
It’s all about business. Yuan listing the vegetables Lud will deliver to the local markets and the money to collect. The rest of the harvest will go to Yuan’s stall at the Monday markets where she will sell directly to the public and double her return.
Long beans and Isan ingenuity.
Long beans have now been planted and covered up to prtect the seeds from the sun.
I watched Yuan individually cut and form these from large pieces of bamboo over two days. In the west we’d just buy plastic ones from the hardware shop!
The seeds are placed in holes cut into plastic sheeting to reduce weeds. Notice the little piece of bamboo that holds the plastic in place.
Two long bean seeds to each hole and then covered with rice husks. A trellis will be built and I’ll report on that when it happens.
Hot, dry, dusty, brown and smoky – everything you thought Thailand wasn’t!
Hard to believe but this is the same view in July. Honestly, if I had the freedom of movement and the money I would leave Isan from January to April every year. Leaving aside the attraction of my lovely family and the garden, there are better places to be this time of year.
Gaun is in constant motion taking care of her many gardens.
Gaun has been replanting this area today to give a lift to the entrance to the house. This sawadee (welcome) boy greets our many visitors – three more this month.
Good job Gaun as always.
As always Tony, well done to you (supervisor and manager) and the extended family. Such great team work, good to see, keep it up!!
Plese send me your private email address.
I have sent it to you.
Hi Tony, lovely to see fresh vegetables being prepared for market, by skilled hands! I can’t imagine the effort it takes to finally put food on people’s tables each day! We take it all for granted, if it weren’t for your detailed photos. I’m going back to sleep now it’s only 4:20am the joys, the joys. Regards to all there, Frank
We lost broadband for a few days Frank so I am catching up.
I just love watching this process. There is something special about any person who really cares about what they are doing however mundane. Yuan is so particular. Other farmers just pick and pack. The fact that Yaun has built her business so that customers will only buy from her is a testament to the care she takes in the preparation. Good to hear from you as always.
Hi Tony,
Once again seeing the meticulous handling of crops gathered at the farm, all planted, weeded and harvested by hand, is mind boggling. All this for just a few dollars, but enough to keep going and live a happy life. When small farmers over here in the US sell at local markets, with organic status, the prices are usually much higher than similar organic produce found in a grocery store. They aren’t farmers just trying to get by. The bleakness of the countryside at this time of year, is no more different than most temperate zones at wintertime around the globe, minus the smoky haze. Gaun is a gardening warrior who takes pride in what she does, and it shows.
Take care,
Jim
Thank you for your observations Jim.
Tony
Another great story Tony keep them coming!
Cheers Nobby.