I would like to retire on a farm

[Hummin]

23 minutes ago, GreasyFingers said:

All of the locals think I am mad (the wife as well) working as hard as we do for no reward. As well as enjoying (limited) physical work my standard reply is that it makes the beer taste better at the end of the day.

When I arrived outback, the men was shocked to learn the farang did not drink ???? Well my gf family do not drink either, so I fitted in pretty well. Just her cousin was dissapointed, for he hoped to have a drinking partner who paid his drinks 

[GreasyFingers]

4 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Just her cousin was dissapointed, for he hoped to have a drinking partner who paid his drinks

Yes, there are a couple of uncles that fit that description but nowadays we don't frequent them very often.

Edited November 20, 2018 by GreasyFingers

[nakhon thai]

11 minutes ago, Hummin said:

When I arrived outback, the men was shocked to learn the farang did not drink ???? Well my gf family do not drink either, so I fitted in pretty well. Just her cousin was dissapointed, for he hoped to have a drinking partner who paid his drinks 

Yeah it makes big difference when father in law doesnt drink , was lucky their. Village locals only drink lao keuw which we brew ourselves

[Hummin]

21 minutes ago, nakhon thai said:

Yeah it makes big difference when father in law doesnt drink , was lucky their. Village locals only drink lao keuw which we brew ourselves

I have seen they enjoy farang drinks to with coke and ice. Green import bottled beer is also very popular. But the shop next door sell lao Khao, and the locals meet there every morning for their breakfest before they hit the road with their speedy two wheel  tractors

[jimmyyy]

I do it, well we i guess.  Me, the Mrs and the three kids. We have pigs, kwai, chickens, ducks and farm different crops throughout the year.  My kids all go to private school about 20 kilometers from here, bus picks em up and drops them off.  All at a cost though.  I have a large Tesco, Makro and Big C all within 30 minutes of here, and there is a Tops if i want to drive 1.5 hours.  I usually hit the Big 3 stores 2 times a month and stock up, then wife just shops at the local wet market the rest of the time.  There are 3 other foreigners living up here, but they keep to themselves, i never run into them. 

 

About 2 or 3 days a week, i sit outside and have some drinks, perhaps smoke or bbq some meat on a Sunday.  Our internet connection is really good, i spend time on you tube learning how to repair different things that break around here then i try to repair them.  I don't spend much time at the farm, the wife is usually up there during the mornings, but her dad and mom do most of it.  All and all its not a bad life.  If i want for anything i order lazada or just get the company to ship it to me using Kerry express. 

 

Once every few months i either run down to Pattaya to see friends for a couple of days or i go spend a night in Khon Kaen to hang out with friends there.  Those trips seem to be fewer now then in the past.  Its a really simple life, most of the time people are nice, i learned to avoid the drunks, really only one guy and my father in law usually chases him away.  If you like time to yourself where you can think or write a novel perhaps, or just enjoy your time alone then i would suggest it.  If you need to be around english speakers all the time probably not the place for you. 

[jvs]

We also have 3.5 rai,hydroponics,ducks,chickens many fruit trees, alot of flowers

and a lot of different plants to eat.We do not see it as a farm but as a garden.Always something to do but it keeps you busy.I see too many foreigners move here and become alcoholoc in less than a year.I am not sure if all the work does save a lot of money but i am sure of what we eat!!We use no chemicals or fertilizer.

We make our own compost .The most important thing is you have to have access to enough water!!

OP feel free to come have a look how we do it.

[nakhon thai]

46 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I have seen they enjoy farang drinks to with coke and ice. Green import bottled beer is also very popular. But the shop next door sell lao Khao, and the locals meet there every morning for their breakfest before they hit the road with their speedy two wheel  tractors

Yeah in the villages around me they drink beer and dark whiskey. Where i stay very few young thais and all the guys i go hunting and work with tell me not buy , they always have aunties top of the line lao khao , the shop stuff is nasty . I would say if you want live up here is gd to be involved with locals in work and the schools they stop calling you farang

[djayz]

2 hours ago, GreasyFingers said:

All of the locals think I am mad (the wife as well) working as hard as we do for no reward. As well as enjoying (limited) physical work my standard reply is that it makes the beer taste better at the end of the day.

I constantly hear the people living across the street from our house saying "falang baa" (farang crazy) when they see me working, but at the end of the day, I know I've EARNED my cold beer(s) and they do taste ever so good. 

[djayz]

I forgot to mention earlier that there's a thread running on this forum about starting a small farm. The member, a Thai, shares his experiences, photos, advice, etc. and overall it's very informative. You might pick up a few ideas from the thread. Various members have contributed to it. 

 

 

[Stevemercer]

As others have said, 5 rai is plenty for a hobby farm. You'll have your vegetable patch, fruit orchids, fish ponds, gardens around the house and maybe workshop. You can plant a few hundred trees to try and generate some nice shade.

 

Even with just 5 rai (one hectare), you could work 24 hours a day and never be done.

[GreasyFingers]

Yes it is a good life if you are used to the physical part of it but remember we are all getting older. I cannot do what I did 2 years ago and the wife is starting to take pity on me because the locals tell her she should not make me work so hard. Will not change it though, can you imagine living in a condo in the city.

[Hummin]

7 minutes ago, GreasyFingers said:

Yes it is a good life if you are used to the physical part of it but remember we are all getting older. I cannot do what I did 2 years ago and the wife is starting to take pity on me because the locals tell her she should not make me work so hard. Will not change it though, can you imagine living in a condo in the city.

There is so many empty condos, so living in a complex can be more quiet than living that any village around. I have rented a condo for soon 2 years, and no neighbours exept during offical holidays once and awhile. I will say yes to both options, a nice piece of land countryside, and an nice quiet appartment close to a city seaside. 

[Ondral]

This is a very interesting question to me.  My very sweet Thai GF grew up on a farm in Phetchabun province.  She has been proposing that when I retire in 10 years we can live on her family's farm there.  I am ambivalent about such a prospect.  In America I did fantasize about homesteading, but never actually lived on a farm.  I would love to hear about other expats' experiences as gentlemen farmers in Thailand.

[Hummin]

9 minutes ago, Ondral said:

This is a very interesting question to me.  My very sweet Thai GF grew up on a farm in Phetchabun province.  She has been proposing that when I retire in 10 years we can live on her family's farm there.  I am ambivalent about such a prospect.  In America I did fantasize about homesteading, but never actually lived on a farm.  I would love to hear about other expats' experiences as gentlemen farmers in Thailand.

You need to go there for your self, and give you time, and maybe a few more long stays before you can make up your mind. Always have a plan b, and do not get stuck and no return ticket. I can understand some have regret they ever thought they could make it. I was raised on a farm and have worked with my body all life, but North and Isan is so challenging when it comes to clima. You have to get up before sun to startt work, relax in daytime, and some few more hours in the afternoon to get anything done during the days. If I buy land for my gf, I will make sure I have enough money to hire workers, and of course be present myself whenever anything important has to be done, even I know my gf family work hard, and do a good job, it is in my interest to learn og know whats happens. 

 

Phetchabun is a lovely area to settle, and I have seen land there have gone up in price the last years. Many BKK people invest there now. 

Edited November 20, 2018 by Hummin

[GreasyFingers]

6 minutes ago, Ondral said:

This is a very interesting question to me.  My very sweet Thai GF grew up on a farm in Phetchabun province.  She has been proposing that when I retire in 10 years we can live on her family's farm there.  I am ambivalent about such a prospect.  In America I did fantasize about homesteading, but never actually lived on a farm.  I would love to hear about other expats' experiences as gentlemen farmers in Thailand.

Depends on your usual life. If you need all of the mod cons and farang companionship it might not be a good move. If you enjoy a physical life I can recommend it but remember the family will come first, if you can accept that you will be OK. This is just part of moving to the gf's home area.

You will have internet and TV, unless the farm is in the boondocks, so life will not be all bad. I know a few farangs here but none are really social (including me) so it will depend on what you are used to and how much you need to adjust.

[direction BANGKOK]

Whatever you do, give it a try first. Seriously. Get out there and spend a few months. There is a good chance you could 180. If not, plow full steam ahead. 

[nakhon thai]

1 hour ago, Ondral said:

This is a very interesting question to me.  My very sweet Thai GF grew up on a farm in Phetchabun province.  She has been proposing that when I retire in 10 years we can live on her family's farm there.  I am ambivalent about such a prospect.  In America I did fantasize about homesteading, but never actually lived on a farm.  I would love to hear about other expats' experiences as gentlemen farmers in Thailand.

I think is important to learn not to depend on wife, if you can socialise wth locals it opens many doors , ie bit of hunting fishing and other manly pursuits????????

[Hummin]

4 minutes ago, nakhon thai said:

I think is important to learn not to depend on wife, if you can socialise wth locals it opens many doors , ie bit of hunting fishing and other manly pursuits????????

Illegal hunting?

[Dumbastheycome]

Do  it ! It  will bring you closer to reality.

[nakhon thai]

6 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Illegal hunting?

Hunting for moo never heard was illegal its the rangers that take me into mountains

[nakhon thai]

Ill ask me mate tomorrow get the thai point of view i dont doubt you just be interesting what he says

[Dumbastheycome]

3 hours ago, jimmyyy said:

I do it, well we i guess.  Me, the Mrs and the three kids. We have pigs, kwai, chickens, ducks and farm different crops throughout the year.  My kids all go to private school about 20 kilometers from here, bus picks em up and drops them off.  All at a cost though.  I have a large Tesco, Makro and Big C all within 30 minutes of here, and there is a Tops if i want to drive 1.5 hours.  I usually hit the Big 3 stores 2 times a month and stock up, then wife just shops at the local wet market the rest of the time.  There are 3 other foreigners living up here, but they keep to themselves, i never run into them. 

 

About 2 or 3 days a week, i sit outside and have some drinks, perhaps smoke or bbq some meat on a Sunday.  Our internet connection is really good, i spend time on you tube learning how to repair different things that break around here then i try to repair them.  I don't spend much time at the farm, the wife is usually up there during the mornings, but her dad and mom do most of it.  All and all its not a bad life.  If i want for anything i order lazada or just get the company to ship it to me using Kerry express. 

 

Once every few months i either run down to Pattaya to see friends for a couple of days or i go spend a night in Khon Kaen to hang out with friends there.  Those trips seem to be fewer now then in the past.  Its a really simple life, most of the time people are nice, i learned to avoid the drunks, really only one guy and my father in law usually chases him away.  If you like time to yourself where you can think or write a novel perhaps, or just enjoy your time alone then i would suggest it.  If you need to be around english speakers all the time probably not the place for you. 

Thanks  Yee !  I am not  alone !  lol

[nakhon thai]

4 hours ago, Ondral said:

 

 

Edited November 20, 2018 by nakhon thai

[kickstart]

Looking at a lot of these post most have been doing it for a few years and are now set up and running, and reaping the rewards.

But a new entrant, with the new problems of embassy letters for immigration, the exchange rate of our currencies getting lower, and land prices rising, the value of our land has gone up 3 fold in the past few years.

Makes you wonder if the boat has been missed, regarding the hobby farm, ok if you do have deep pockets and are set on giving it a go ,but if things get hard, the land you brought was an old rice field and at the height of the rainy season it floods, like rice fields do, and your  newly planted trees plans etc .die, your partner thinks it is not such a good idea after all and wants out,sh&t happens  

The op wants to visit a few of these hobby farms, and then make up his mind.

 

[stropper]

 My thai wife and i live on our farm 150 ks from udon thani, been here 6 years and love it  out here the people are fantastic,  as is the area i live in, thankfully well away from the know it all pommie bar sitters! we have about 200 rai in our family, to which i have added too, and which if we chose  we can sell at any time for money, we grow cane, mung and rice, 170 bags a year with which we feed the 50 chooks, 90 ducks,5 turkeys and 2 geese, we do quite well out of the eggs, i bought a small block next to our house outside the village and that is our vegi garden, we sell heaps and i grow some great stuff when it gets cooler, we have 2 bores, as we own our 2 tractors and large tuk tuk everything  that is harvested is profit so our family is very happy, as are the village , who we have working for us if and when they are available, it is really hard to get labor out here, every one is always busy . There is always some thing to do or fix, which at 71 is far better than sitting in a bar bullshiting about how rich i was and how good i was ,but some how got ripped off ! i am sure you will you will love hobbie farming, it is relaxing, keeps you busy, its is exercising and the rewards are great, good luck

[Billy Bloggs]

Well good to see some others in the same sorts of boats as myself(many different types with many different outcomes.

We have 6 Rai in total,(and that is enough for us) luckily 2 years ago the government built us a nice dam, all 6 Rai had been under rice, near the dam we topped up the soil with the extra earth and flattened it out, then when someone changed from cane back to rice we bought a few truck loads to finish it off, this area in total took 2 Rai off the farm. We started planning veggie beds here and put some good soil we had from the sugar cane and mixed lots of cut rice straw and cow shit to start our beds, we still have 2 Rai to rice and the other 2 Rai we experiment with different crops, its all organic and great eating.

Have had 20 chooks and they produce well but thais cant see why they should pay more than they do at Tescao Lotus, we are slowly getting to the right customers, it wont make a fortune and I dont want it to as long as the girls are happy and we break just a little above even.

I like others here restrict my working hours 3 or 4 days a week, more if the season demands, I work only the mornings, sometimes from sun up, but usually later to lunch, my girl works some of the afternoons and her parents have bits and pieces where they grow what they want and live on the farm.

It will never make much money, but as long as it supplies us with great food and makes a little money its enough(yes the locals think Im crazy especially cutting rice by hand).

Just 2 things I thought of we dont live in the village or the farm but 13 ks away in a small town and this year we put a bore down and I paid for solar and no have a steady supply of water so we will see what the future brings.

[grollies]

I 'retired' to a farm.

 

Haven't worked so hard since my 20's.

 

Not complaining, it's just hard work.

[Billy Bloggs]

22 hours ago, grollies said:

I 'retired' to a farm.

 

Haven't worked so hard since my 20's.

 

Not complaining, it's just hard work.

Yes same here, I try as much as possible to be in a supervising role, but that doesnt work often and some of the work helps shed a kilo or 2 but usually that leads to a refreshing ale. 

Just try and set a limit and try and keep to it dont let it kill you or drive you to drink.

[Marius Brok]

On 11/20/2018 at 4:21 AM, Bendi said:

I am working on a rubber farm with my whife. Have chiks and ducks, dogs etc. Have land for sale if you want to move to Isaane????

Which deed is the land you sell?

[rumak]

On 11/19/2018 at 2:39 PM, georgegeorgia said:

I guess if you have a good thai partner who is experienced at farming its a lot easier, and if your not into going to bars and nightlife etc

 

I would just like a hobby type farm on about 50 acres .

 

Maybe north of Chiang Rai as it isnt too hot up that way instead of the dry Udon areas.

50 acres ?????  that's more than 100 Rai ( thailand uses rai as land measurement).   Doesn't sound like you will be working that hard as a TRACTOR and lots of labor would be needed .   A "hobby" would be more like 5 to 10 rai  .......plant some fruit trees,  grow some veggies,  and watch the sunset.   Don't forget to buy where you have internet or you might go bah bah .   FYI:  we have 6 rai and planted just a portion of it..

100 mango trees,  10 lumyai,  bananas , papayas,  a few veggies and herbs.