Doisaketdreamer

Does anyone have a working phone number for Pure Mountain/ Glacier company? I have tried several and they are all disconnected.

There is a nice new gym opening up in early August near the intersection of Suthep and Nimman roads. It is called the Pure Grappling Jiu Jitsu Collective. They will have a Jiu Jitsu program for children. Super fun for kids.

I caught an injured Barn Owl yesterday. He appears to be an adult. His right wing is injured and missing about half of its feathers. Does anyone know of a Raptor Center of Wildlife Rehab center in Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai area?

I caught an injured Barn Owl yesterday. He appears to be an adult. His right wing is injured and missing about half of its feathers. Does anyone know of a Raptor Center of Wildlife Rehab center in Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai area?

How does dolomite change the chemistry or characteristics of clay in soil?

Does anyone know of a source of biochar in the Chiang Mai area? Or perhaps someone with experience making a biochar kiln?

Limsakul in Doi Saket does have concentrated Kelp in liquid form.  I was also able to find Kelp powder at Northern Chemicals which is close to the Maya Mall along the highway.  They can source Azomite, Diatomaceous earth and other minerals as well.  I have not been able to find a source of Bone meal, Blood meal or Fish meal in Thailand.  I am also not able to find a source of biological soil inoculants.  Everyone sells bottles of "effective microorganisms" but what I am looking for is powdered Mycorrhizae.  There are a thousand sellers on Amazon in the US, but I can find nothing in Thailand.

Thanks for these replies. It appears that there is no visa that corresponds to an adult family member who is temporarily a dependent. His only choice is to vary the route of entry and to apply for a 60-day visa and then a 30-day extension.  Regarding the words "spouse visa",  for my general edification can you tell me what the correct term is?

He has been getting 30-day tourist visas at the airport or land crossings.  He needs a solution that would allow him to remain in Thailand for 60-90 days without having to leave.

I am married to a Thai citizen and have a spouse visa. My 26 year old son (not my wife's son) is currently living with us as he pursues a new job opportunity abroad. He has already come in and out of Thailand three times on tourist visas and was told the immigration authorities would not allow him to do this again.  He expects to need to remain with us for another 2-4 months.  Can he apply for a visa based on my residency/marriage in Thailand? If yes, what type should he apply for?

EyeKandi Solar in Chiang Mai installs a system made  by PAC that powers the compressors directly from solar panels. 20 panels to one 76,000 BTU compressor.

Did you find your door? How is the oven? Share some pics!

I am looking for a source of bone meal, blood meal, fish meal and kelp meal? Ideally in larger bags of 10kg or more.  Anyone have suggestions?

Does anyone know a place where I can buy bone meal, kelp meal, fish meal, blood meal?  Trying to go organic in my little garden.  Thanks

Does anyone know where I might source kelp meal, fish meal, bone meal, blood meal? I would like a large bag of each.

Everyone I finally found a shop at Kamtien market that was willing to try and source azomite.  He now has a few large bags in stock.  A 25kg bag is 1,800 baht. I think he plans to sell it by the kilo but of course the price will be 2-3X higher. PM me if you would like to have the shop's contact information.

1 hour ago, drtreelove said:

Westbounder, your question is pertinent for many people starting gardens in Thailand or anywhere.  I've been through it with three different properties in Thailand, from a residential yard smaller than yours, to a small farm of 10 rai. 

 

250 wah is 1000 sq meters, 2/3 rai isn't it?  Not so huge an area that an investment could not be considered for importing soil and/or the organic matter to get a good start.  It depends on your budget and determination to seek out materials for the project, how much work you will do yourself or will you have to pay for labor, trucking and tractor services. 

 

The building of soil organic matter (and therefore enhancing soil biological activity), like IssanAussie points out, should be a primary focus for getting started and also needs to be an ongoing management effort. Soil testing and prescription mineral and biological amendments that he mentions is also advisable.  Pits, concrete rings or raised beds with organic matter and manure and no mineral soil may show good results in the short term while young plants are vigorous,  but there can be some negatives with this approach.  Without some of the important soil minerals, there could be a decline in health and lack of resistance to pest and disease issues develop. 

 

Attached is an article that I wrote a few years ago for a Chiang Mai Expats Garden Club. I had a similar situation in 2003 and searched out affordable sources in Chiang Mai for organic matter.  Rice hulls, rice straw, coconut husk grindings, horse and donkey manure with straw bedding mixed in (race track and army pack squadron sources) were some of the available materials that I found. I had a pickup for hauling sacks and bulk material and I did a lot of the labor myself.  Raw material I composted before incorporating it into the soil, or worked it in and then gave it time to decompose before planting.

 

Green manure (seeding and growing a legume cover crop) is one of the most affordable ways to build soil organic matter, if you have time for a growing period before planting. 

 

"Good black soil" is an interesting description; do you have a source, and how do you know it is good?  Does it just look better than your red clay, or do you know where it's from or anything about it? Use it, but mix it with the native soil by rototilling or pick and shovel digging. 

 

If you have a source for soil and/or organic matter and can truck it and spread it, or pay someone to do that, then it is the quickest way to improve your existing soil. You would probably want to start with a minimum of a two inch thick layer (5cm) spread on top, to be worked into the top six inches or so of the native soil. Avoid creating un-blended layers of radically different materials.  To cover your 250 wah,  5cm thick, you would need about 15 cubic meters of material. That's like 3 six-wheeler dump trucks. The more the better, 3 or 4 inches of compost worked in would be ideal.

 

MaeJo U and CMU have soil labs that process soil samples for a fee. In Chiang Rai there is Mae Fah Luang U that may have a soils dept.   But if you get into soil analysis and obtain an Rx, then you will have the challenge of sourcing the materials for that aspect.  There is a shop in Chiang Mai that has the basics.  I think it's worth it but few people understand the importance for plant health, of adequate and balanced soil minerals. I follow Michael Astera and The Ideal Soil system.  http://soilminerals.com/

 

 

HORT FORUM 1 Soi Fertility.pdf

Please share the contact information about the "shop in Chiang Mai that has the basics"

Thanks guys. The ground tank and pressure pump are appealing. And yes, the Doi Saket area has frequent power outages. Most of them are from a few seconds to an hour in duration. I will be installing 60 solar panels as well. Perhaps I can set it up so the water pump gets priority from the panels.

The property has plentiful water above and below ground (two wells in place on 7 rai of land). I now have two quotes; the first for 95,000 and the second for 135,00 to do entire job including materials, pump etc.

Thanks. I expected they will be costly, but good windows make a very big difference. And service/warranty that are actually honored also have value. I will contact them.   By the way, which company did you friend eventually go with?

Does anyone have any experience with this company http://www.prime-asia.co.th/products/

They look legitimate. 

If you have other suggestions, please share.

I am planning to have a 12 meter high, galvanized steel tower constructed with a 2500 liter fiberglass tank, a submersible bore pump with a 4 inch diameter on a 3 meter concrete platform. Can anyone suggest a company in the Chiang Mai area that could do a good job with this? 

I would like to buy a trio of geese. Live near Chiang Mai. Kindly PM me.

There is absolutely no doubt that most electronic items including tools and kitchen appliances are far more expensive in Thailand than in Europe, the USA or Australia. They are also significantly more expensive for exactly the same item than in Singapore or Manila. This is particularly true for higher end brands and models. Often, the Thai price is 50-200% higher than in Singapore or Manila. For me, I find it far better to buy the appliances in Singapore or Manila and carry them back. Customs almost never even stops me at the airport and even when they do ask the box to be X-rayed, I have never been charged one baht. For example, a few days ago I bought a Breville food processor in Melbourne for $335 Australian dollars. The exact same item at Central was the 32,000 Thai baht! The machine is made in China. I do not think import taxes explains these dramatic differences. Rather, I think that there are relatively few places to buy higher-end consumer electronics in Thailand and the information environment greatly favors the retailers. That is to say, most Thai people have no idea of the prices of these goods are in other countries. Generally, those Thais and expats that are wealthy enough to afford these items, just pay whatever the retailers demand. The rest simply do not buy these items at all, so the market is comparatively small and focused on premium margins that cannot be achieved in the USA, Singapore or even Manila.

There is absolutely no doubt that most electronic items including tools and kitchen appliances are far more expensive in Thailand than in Europe or the USA. They are also significantly more expensive for exactly the same item than in Singapore or Manila. This is particularly true for higher end brands and models. Often, the Thai price is 50-200% higher than in Singapore or Manila. For me, I find it far better to buy the appliances in Singapore or Manila and carry them back. Customs almost never even stops me at the airport and even when they do ask the box to be X-rayed, I have never been charged one baht. I do not think import taxes explains these dramatic differences. Rather, I think that there are relatively few places to buy higher-end consumer electronics in Thailand and the information environment greatly favors the retailers. That is to say, most Thai people have no idea of the prices of these goods are in other countries. Generally, those Thais and expats that are wealthy enough to afford these items, just pay whatever the retailers demand. The rest simply do not buy these items at all, so the market is comparatively small and focused on premiuj margins that cannot be achieved in the USA, Singapore or even Manila.