The year 2020.
October
We planted more fruit trees, and we are growing more plants for the orchard area, consisting of Mango, Tamarind, Lime, Sapodilla, and Guava.
Some information about each plant we chose:
Mango - There are around 200 varieties of mangoes grown in Thailand, making Thailand one of the top mango exporters globally. Mango trees have a thick trunk and a wide canopy - and stay green all year round.
Tamarind - Tamarind is a vital ingredient in Thai cooking. It is used in a variety of dishes, from stir-fries, soups, and sauces. In Thailand, tamarind trees are often grown for their shade as well as for their fruit pods.
Lime - Lime, also known as kaffir lime, is another essential ingredient used in Thai cuisine to add a citrusy, zesty, refreshing taste to various dishes. Lime trees are in high demand in Thailand all year round.
Sapodilla - The sapodilla tree is a slow-growing tree that remains green all year round and can reach heights of 100 feet. They are strong and wind-resistant, therefore, maintaining an extensive root system.
Sapodilla fruit has many health benefits and carries various nutrients, including dietary fibres, iron, calcium, antioxidants and vitamins A, C, and B complex.
Guava - Thai Guava fruit is packed with nutrients and is an important antioxidant. Guava trees will grow up to nearly 12 feet in height in tropical regions. There are two types of guava fruit - white and pink guava. The fruit is mildly sweet, has a light smell, and has crunchy flesh.
Here are some photos of the trees that we are growing:
November
Several types of rice are eaten and grown in Thailand. The most popular kinds include white rice (long grain rice), sticky rice, jasmine rice, and whole-grain rice.
During this time, we started to harvest organic jasmine rice and black sticky rice for the first time. The results were great as we got approximately 700 kilograms of jasmine rice and 350 kilograms of black sticky rice - success!
The taste of both kinds of rice was fantastic because we milled all of our rice by ourselves without relying on the
a machine at the milling factory, which gave the rice so much more flavour.
Jasmine rice: Jasmine rice, also known as Thai fragrant rice, has a light, pleasant popcorn and pandan-like smell. It is a long-grain rice that is mainly grown in South-East Asia, particularly in Thailand. If you're looking for a carb that will boost your energy - jasmine rice is the one! It also contains sources of iron. Jasmine rice is the main staple in the Thai diet.
Black sticky rice: Black sticky rice, also known as black glutinous rice, is a naturally dark type of brown (dark purple in colour) sweet in flavour. It contains sources of fibre and is loaded with antioxidants. The texture is sticky and slightly chewy.
December
BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD
We were looking into expanding our plot to be able to produce more rice, thus why we had to go back to the drawing board and decide what we were going to do next. The plot next to us became for sale during this time, so we acquired another 5.5 acres of land to dedicate it to a rice paddy field.
Only a few adjustments were made to the layout of the plot and pipework around the area. As well as the installation of
a water dripping line to help provide moisture to the soil and keep the plants and orchard hydrated.
Expanding the middle of the land canal.
Water pipework to connect the new plot of land.
Installation of underground water bank.
The photo above on the right has big rocks, emptied glass bottles and 3/4 water-filled plastic bottles in the hole is the foundation of the “water bank” underground.
By doing this, it is creating a path for water to go down underground without blockage, and as a result, it will keep our underground moist and hydrated.
The water that will travel down the water bank will include rainfall, household water waste (laundry/washing up), or even water used to water our own plants at the farm.
Thank you for reading! Stay tuned for our next blog post on The Need For More Water!
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