Grunts

Hi All,

I have found this a very helpful site in the past.

I have been making salami and saloumi for a few years and enjoyed the success.

I am now looking for a typical recipe for the good old English banger.
Any help would be great, thanks.

Hi, i do not need a ride but i wanted to say how generous an offer this is. It is nice to know there are still good people out there. Thank you for restoring my belief in human nature. 

Hi King Alfred,

Many Bangkok International schools run Summer Camps and many run camps through all the holidays.

It can be a way of actively employing staff during the vacation, introducing new staff to the campus, offering a way for existing staff to earn some more pocket money, or help parents who are busy working themselves.
Anyway, contact schools direct or go to http://www.isat.or.th/ for their websites and contact info.

I am going to help out at Charter IS this summer.

I do it for free so they find it hard to refuse my support.

Good fortune.

Hi All, I am a newcomer to this forum but I have followed the threads for a while now. Driving, or more accurately, poor driving, is something that really gets my goat. However, I believe partial blame lies with the authorities who simply ignore illegal driving practices. If the appropriate authorities were to take a zero-tolerance approach to (all) drivers using phones, overtaking illegally, driving on the wrong side, the wrong way, no lights, etc perhaps things might change. The total disrespect for basic driving law appears to be almost universal. Nothing will change until there is a motivation to change. Another annoying factor is that millions of baht are being spent on new pavement/walkways and roads (Srinakarin) and as soon as they are complete what has been produced is nothing more than a new thoroughfare for motorbikes. Should we be tramping along the road as they seem quite comfortable driving on the sidewalk? And lastly, when I take a taxi and the driver starts on the phone I ask him nicely to stop. If he refuses I take a picture of him and tell him I will send to the traffic police. I get some laughs but mostly they down phone and we both have a safer trip.

Thanks Slapout for your tip on a 'subsoiler' which I have not heard of before. I will look at renting one if need be.

Thanks also for the info re butchers. That is a very reasonable price.

Is it possible for me to ask them to butcher in a particular way so I can get the 'cuts' the way I want them?

I would love to come over to the farm ChiangMaiPigFarmer and will of course wear appropriate attire and will call and arrange a date and time beforehand.

Do anyone know of any other organic, free-range, pasture-fed pig farmers in Thailand?

Hi ChiangMaiPigFarmer,

You are most generous.

Thank you for the details of your tractor. I will go the site and take a look.

I really want to turn the soil first time around down to 3-4 feet if possible.

Will it be able to deal with that kind of tilling?

I am hoping to get up north sometime at the end of this month.

I would like to call and make a point of coming over to the farm to take a look at your stock and have a chat.

One question: do you offer abattoir services?

Hi Pigeonjake, Yes the little blighters are very effectual and I have seen them clear the ground of just about every bit of grass and root. But that is the point. We will free-range, strip farm them. The quantity of soil that they ingest by their natural snouting creates a much more efficient system for digestion. Will need to check on the level of internal infestation. Any land that has had pigs on it should be rested after 2-3 years. It can become pig-sick. I am hoping I have enough land to be able to move them around without too much problem. My main concern at the moment is water. Does anyone know someone who has a mini-tractor to help me turn the land? Or at least somewhere to rent one.

Hi Pigeonjake,

Yes I am planning to run them outside and almost totally free-range and pasture-fed (with dietary support where necessary). I am now planning the acreage so that there is plenty of access to shade, fresh water and shelter. I am also considering raising the first few cohorts before the really hot season kicks in (June - Feb). The concept is to look at recreating as close to a typical environment for them to forage, snout and graze. This is a hobby that I plan to enjoy in my retirement. I am planning to seed a range of different grasses, and veg along with fruit trees. I have to identify which will be most effective as pasture feed and those that suit the local environment and climate. I have a steep learning curve but that is all part of the fun.

Again fellow Pigsters, I thank you for your assistance.

And I thank 'Slapout' for opening my eyes to the possible dark side of farming.

If only they would put their obvious talents (????!!??) to the betterment of the system, we could all be riding high on the hog! I do realise I am not going to get rich with this farm.

However, there are more advantages than disadvantages to initiating it and enjoying it.

After 10 years of office work and 27 years of teaching and administration I am due a change of environment.

I will take a look at the Surin farm site and get myself over there at the earliest.

The initial motivation for this organic farm project came from my parents who had a lovely little smallholding in South Wales.

More recently my inspiration has come from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and his Riverside Cottage Project. https://www.rivercottage.net/shop/product/online-pigs-and-pork-course/ Can't wait to get started in Chiang Mai.

Hi IsaanAussie, and thanks for your speedy response. I have an idea to start small with only 3-5 weaners using either Gloucester Old spot or Large Whites. This depends on what I can purchase within a reasonable distance of the farm. I will not consider breeding until my 2nd or even 3rd cycle. I have around 7 rai to work with at the moment and have not decided on housing yet. I will make a move towards semi-retirement in December 2012 and then will have a little more time to develop this hobby.

The name of the company is Mootopia!

Hi Fellow Pigsters, I am new to this forum and not surprisingly have a few questions. I am about to launch a small free-range, pasture -fed organic pig farm in Chaing Mai. Can anyone give me any information regarding buying livestock? I am also looking for a good fencing outlet.

I would be interested in the post by IsaanAussie regarding forming a cooperative.

I have a friend who has just set up his own purchasing forum having previously been one of the main buyers for Makro (meats)Thailand. His intenton is to form a collective and perhaps help to cultivate (excuse the pun) a better understanding of the organic market.

My project is intended as an active and healthy retirement hobby. Time will tell whether that intention can be borne out.

I would like to thank you in advance for your support and any information you can offer.