Start a mixed farm in Isaan

[Mr Kie]

1 hour ago, CLW said:

What is this?

make it like a tunnel, walking path, will grow the mulberry and bend it like in the design  

[Mr Kie]

2 hours ago, jvs said:

Don't buy the seeds!Buy the watermelon,eat it and plant the seeds.We do the same with bell peppers and stuff.

good idea, i planted and only 40% survived till harvested it's all eaten by bugs. 

[CLW]

Don't buy the seeds!Buy the watermelon,eat it and plant the seeds.We do the same with bell peppers and stuff.

But if the original plants are F1 Hybrids you might get disappointing results

[farmerjo]

Hi Mr Kie,

Good thread and keep up the good work.

One question,is it still your family doing the work or have you had to get outside labour and contract machines to help with the workload at certain times.

And at this stage of the project have the man power hours increased or decreased in the daily schedule.

 

[Mr Kie]

1 hour ago, farmerjo said:

Hi Mr Kie,

Good thread and keep up the good work.

One question,is it still your family doing the work or have you had to get outside labour and contract machines to help with the workload at certain times.

And at this stage of the project have the man power hours increased or decreased in the daily schedule.

 

watering and feeding the animal are the daily routine, ploughing is done by contractor, not that expensive it can be done within few hours. we're working from 8:00 - 11:00 then take a rest and start working again 14:00 - 17:30. working hour is not big different from the beginning.  

[Cashboy]

On 6/2/2016 at 10:40 AM, soalbundy said:

Well done, i would be interested in who you sell your produce to. That about salted water was interesting, we live in Isaan and use water from a deep well (28 meters) for showering and for the washing machine,it's not the least bit salty.

 

I am on a farm in Kumpawapi - Udonthani.

I am concerned after reading in several places (e.g.  Khon Kaen) that the water is salty.  I am told that many people in the village had bore holes dug to 20 metres and got water but plants would not grow when watered with it.

I am at the moment considering purchasing a water bore machine from the USA  http://hydra-jett.com/1573687.html to fit on the PTO of a tractor to dig 100 metres deep hoping i can strike clean pure water.

 

[soalbundy]

57 minutes ago, Cashboy said:

 

I am on a farm in Kumpawapi - Udonthani.

I am concerned after reading in several places (e.g.  Khon Kaen) that the water is salty.  I am told that many people in the village had bore holes dug to 20 metres and got water but plants would not grow when watered with it.

I am at the moment considering purchasing a water bore machine from the USA  http://hydra-jett.com/1573687.html to fit on the PTO of a tractor to dig 100 metres deep hoping i can strike clean pure water.

 

Our water is clean and doesn't damage the plants but it is very 'hard' the limescale ruins things like washing machines after 5 years or so,cant do much about that

[Mr Kie]

On 3/6/2559 at 5:04 PM, timberpond said:

Pay attention to costing... having so many different varieties might bring the cost to a much higher level.

Many people have the same thought, growing many things will bring higher cost. in fact, it's opposite, the main cost is maintenance cost from what i think. so i just leave all this to the nature. we focus on creating the good soil, good soil will take care of the plants, many crops will bring variety of bugs good one and bad one and let them do the job. you just support the system, keep it in balance and harvest only the surplus.  

[soalbundy]

On 1/1/2017 at 3:33 PM, Mr Kie said:

Durian just been here for 3 months, probably gonna take 4-5 years till it start fruiting

I was going to do some Durian but i was put off after reading that they don't have very deep roots, don't like surface water (need dry feet) and they can grow up to 60 feet high which means they fall over easily in a high wind which can be expensive (and deadly) if they hit your or your neighbours house. I would like to try growing them in one of our fields but you would need a 24 hour guard when they bear fruit 

[Mr Kie]

On 3/1/2560 at 3:26 PM, soalbundy said:

I was going to do some Durian but i was put off after reading that they don't have very deep roots, don't like surface water (need dry feet) and they can grow up to 60 feet high which means they fall over easily in a high wind which can be expensive (and deadly) if they hit your or your neighbours house. I would like to try growing them in one of our fields but you would need a 24 hour guard when they bear fruit 

where you wanna grow?, I have never seen anyone growing Durian in Yasothon so i try it, i have only few. 

[Mr Kie]

new member two weeks old 

[Mr Kie]

Pregnant heifer will give birth in March. no supplement given, receive only fresh grass and rice straw. the BCS is better than other breed. 

[Mr Kie]

finished installing the drip water system 

[Stray]

On ‎01‎/‎01‎/‎2017 at 3:33 PM, Mr Kie said:

Durian just been here for 3 months, probably gonna take 4-5 years till it start fruiting

 

 

Ohhh, Mr Kie, now you've done it.  I was really enjoying your postings until this.

 

All durian should be strangled at birth!!!

 

Keep up the good work!  Very inspiring stuff you're doing.

[Stray]

On ‎03‎/‎01‎/‎2017 at 3:26 PM, soalbundy said:

I was going to do some Durian but i was put off after reading that they don't have very deep roots, don't like surface water (need dry feet) and they can grow up to 60 feet high which means they fall over easily in a high wind which can be expensive (and deadly) if they hit your or your neighbours house. I would like to try growing them in one of our fields but you would need a 24 hour guard when they bear fruit 

 

Sarcasm on -

 

Please don't do it soalbundy.  Durian are evil!

 

The 'King of Fruits?'  How anyone could put something so foul smelling within the vicinity of their mouth I'll never know.

 

- Sarcasm off.

 

Give growing them a shot.  As far as height is concerned, as they grow, cut out the top.  That way they may grow bushy but not high.

 

Besides, what's the worst that can happen?  A neighbour killed by a falling durian tree?  There are worse ways to go.  Eating one comes to mind.

[Stray]

On ‎03‎/‎01‎/‎2017 at 3:00 PM, Mr Kie said:

Many people have the same thought, growing many things will bring higher cost. in fact, it's opposite, the main cost is maintenance cost from what i think. so i just leave all this to the nature. we focus on creating the good soil, good soil will take care of the plants, many crops will bring variety of bugs good one and bad one and let them do the job. you just support the system, keep it in balance and harvest only the surplus.  

 

I love your idea of letting things grow naturally and letting the ecosystems work themselves out.

 

To this end, I've been working on the same idea.  Sure, my returns have been lower (lesser harvests than neighbours) but my inputs have also been lower (no money spent on pesticides and, as the soil is being conditioned by compost, no money spent on fertilizer).  Although, my labour 'costs' have been higher. Not a financial cost as I do all the work myself but it is a 'time cost.'  Luckily, it's a labour of love.  Really enjoying the rewards (a monologue from the movie 'Silent Running' comes to mind).

 

To assist in the control of insect pests, I've been planting a quick growing tree.  I have no idea what it is called but I have found that bugs like eating them more than they like to eat my other plants and trees (the bugs have been eating these leaves and not my palm oil).

 

The 'bad' bugs move in and eat the leaves on these quick growing trees.  The predatory bugs move in to eat the 'bad' bugs.  The birds move in to eat any bugs they can catch.  The only real downside is that some hawks have moved in to prey on the birds.  It's a minor downside as they've picked up a couple of my baby chickens (free-range) but, most of the time, my roosters sound a warning when the hawks are gliding overhead and all of the chickens take cover.

 

The pros of these quick growing trees are:

• they sprout everywhere during the latter half of the wet season so they are prolific and are easily transplanted to where they are needed;
• they grow quickly so, within a short period of time, they are well established;
• the large leaves provide food for insect pests and shade;
• they love water so grow easily in swampy/wet locations;
• they shed a lot of leaves which cover the ground and provide a fantastic location for growing wild mushrooms; and
• as they grow so quickly and are so prolific, they can be cut down without permission (I use them to make charcoal for my barbeque).

Cons:

• as they sprout everywhere, a bit of work is required to cut the ones that aren't required;
• the large leaves provide a lot of shade so nothing (except fungi) will grow under them;
• they drop a lot of large leaves so, as above, the same problems with nothing else growing;
• as they require a lot of water, until they are mature and find their own source, they require watering if you try to establish them outside of the wet season.

 

Again, I don't know what these trees are but I've been using them around the property.  When they have served their purpose, or are growing where they're not required, I cut them down and use the wood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One month old.  Hand watering.  The holes in the leaves show that it's already popular with the insects.

 

6 months old.  Lack of water resulted in poor foliage.  Although, the holes in the leaves show that it's tasty.

 

6 months old.  Well watered but a different type of leaf to the previous.

 

7 year old trees which keep some of the pests from mango trees.

 

 

Attracting pests from the palm oil.

 

Three year old palm oil, 'fruiting.'

[Stray]

On ‎13‎/‎12‎/‎2016 at 11:10 PM, Mr Kie said:

nothing better than having coconut water right from the tree, decorated with orchid flower which is also available in the farm and using rice straw instead of using a plastic one. Banana was just first harvested and more will come. 

 

 

 

Where are you obtaining the rice straws?

 

Since I saw your post I've been trying to find them but to no avail.

 

Sick to death of picking up discarded plastic straws (and other litter).  We have many bins around the shop but a few lazy people can't be bothered with the effort of using them.  The greatest frustration is with those that drop rubbish, on the ground, next to a bin.  Perhaps the confusion of having three bins, side-by-side (recyclables (cans, bottles, cardboard, paper), organic waste, all other rubbish), is too much choice for some to process and figure that the rubbish will find it's own way to the correct bin.

[soalbundy]

9 hours ago, Stray said:

 

Sarcasm on -

 

Please don't do it soalbundy.  Durian are evil!

 

The 'King of Fruits?'  How anyone could put something so foul smelling within the vicinity of their mouth I'll never know.

 

- Sarcasm off.

 

Give growing them a shot.  As far as height is concerned, as they grow, cut out the top.  That way they may grow bushy but not high.

 

Besides, what's the worst that can happen?  A neighbour killed by a falling durian tree?  There are worse ways to go.  Eating one comes to mind.

A friend from Germany visited me while on holiday. he is an engineer but a bit of a tree hugger. While out walking in a small market town he 'announced' (that is the only way to describe it) that he was finally ready. For what i asked, Durian he said, a pregnant pause followed which finally gave birth to '' I am ready to try Durian''. He bought a small piece put it in his mouth and instantly threw up on the street, he wasn't ready for Durian.

[Stray]

2 hours ago, soalbundy said:

A friend from Germany visited me while on holiday. he is an engineer but a bit of a tree hugger. While out walking in a small market town he 'announced' (that is the only way to describe it) that he was finally ready. For what i asked, Durian he said, a pregnant pause followed which finally gave birth to '' I am ready to try Durian''. He bought a small piece put it in his mouth and instantly threw up on the street, he wasn't ready for Durian.

 

Definitely an aquired taste.  Those that indulge inform me that eating one is an amazing experience.  I don't know if they mean that in a good way.  However, I strongly suspect they only want to witness my reaction which, I imagine, would be on par with your German friend.

 

Going back a few years ago, when a group of us would congregate at an outdoor cafe, would occasionally cop the strong stench of rotting garbage.  Without looking, we would make wagers on whether it was a garbage truck or a durian seller.  It was always a straight up 50-50 gamble.

 

Having said all that, when time permits, will be planting a couple of durian to see how they go.

[Cashboy]

On 1/2/2017 at 9:48 AM, soalbundy said:

Our water is clean and doesn't damage the plants but it is very 'hard' the limescale ruins things like washing machines after 5 years or so,cant do much about that

If you want to get the limescale off the element in the washing machine just regularly (every three months) throw in a couple of litres of vingegar into the machine and leave a couple of hours and then run the machine through a washing cycle .

[Mr Kie]

On 7/1/2560 at 11:20 AM, Stray said:

 

Definitely an aquired taste.  Those that indulge inform me that eating one is an amazing experience.  I don't know if they mean that in a good way.  However, I strongly suspect they only want to witness my reaction which, I imagine, would be on par with your German friend.

 

Going back a few years ago, when a group of us would congregate at an outdoor cafe, would occasionally cop the strong stench of rotting garbage.  Without looking, we would make wagers on whether it was a garbage truck or a durian seller.  It was always a straight up 50-50 gamble.

 

Having said all that, when time permits, will be planting a couple of durian to see how they go.

i'm not the Durian eater, i can have some but not so much. i have seen 2 people i know, one is my ex-girlfriend (korean), she tasted first time and had problem with stomach then she never try it again. Another person is my former Boss (German lady), visited the farm and she saw people selling fruits in Chantaburi way back to BKK, she asked to buy and tasted one. after she tasted she like it a lot and bought another set, put in the box and took it with her hotel in BKK. so i think it's different from person to person.

 

it's same when i smell the French cheese for the first time someone put in the fridge, i thought it was something spoiled. i have never try it and don't want to try. 

[Mr Kie]

On 7/1/2560 at 0:33 AM, Stray said:

 

Where are you obtaining the rice straws?

 

Since I saw your post I've been trying to find them but to no avail.

 

Sick to death of picking up discarded plastic straws (and other litter).  We have many bins around the shop but a few lazy people can't be bothered with the effort of using them.  The greatest frustration is with those that drop rubbish, on the ground, next to a bin.  Perhaps the confusion of having three bins, side-by-side (recyclables (cans, bottles, cardboard, paper), organic waste, all other rubbish), is too much choice for some to process and figure that the rubbish will find it's own way to the correct bin.

that was in the rice harvesting season, so i picked one. just thinking of keep growing rice for straw if it's necessary. we are just trying to use less plastic bag, or any plastic that can only be used once. 

[Mr Kie]

another heifer with 10 days olds male calf

[Mr Kie]

corn  less than one month old, carrot, union, eggplant.....

[Mr Kie]

new flock

[Mr Kie]

first time growing carrot doing pretty good

[Mr Kie]

bigg size pumpkin 2 months old 

[Mr Kie]

this banana doing pretty well in my area hot dry summer 

[cobbler]

Great thread. Keep it up. Sounds like a kings project type farming idea. Its a full 10/10 from me.
Cheers cobbler

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[Mr Kie]