One of the great things about cultural immersion at ISDSI is that we go off the beaten path to live and work with villagers who are working to create a sustainable future. This week, students started the field portion of the course on Sustainable Food Systems, with hands-on learning about permaculture, organic farming, and creating a good life focused on sufficiency rather than just consumption, or as one of the host dad’s said “Focus on what makes life good — community, food, family — and not on just chasing money.”
While out in the community of Mae Taa, the students are learning about how integrated agriculture and agroecology fit into a sustainable life and community. Hands-on learning is challenging, with field activities including talks with farmers, plant identification, working in the fields, studying the local watershed, and getting deeply immersed into the day-to-day life of their host families.
To give you a glimpse into what hands-on learning looks like, here are a few photos of life in the village!
Organic gardens — using compost, worm bins and natural pesticides like lemon grass.
Rice fields — the foundation of the Thai diet is built around rice. Since this village doesn’t use chemicals in the rice fields, they are full of fish and crabs!
Rice paddy crabs. In a bucket, heading for the pot…
A bicycle powered water pump! The back wheel spins the pump to move water up to the fields. There is LOTS of really ingenious tech around the farms!
Julia, Irene and Audra helping their mom clean galingale from the garden.
Galingale (กระชาย) is a key ingredient in Thai food — and even better when fresh and organic!
Dragon fruit! These ones are still tiny and not ready to be picked yet.
Freshly picked dragon fruit ready to eat!
