Punpun
Punpun is a beautiful place. High in the hills in the North of Thailand, this seed saving self reliance centre is well established and thoughtfully run. The long term community varies in number but was around 15 people whilst we were visiting, but many other folk come and go every day - school trips, travellers on motorbikes, and groups of local monks from the nearby temples. You can see their website at www.punpunthailand.org
They run many courses in all things sustainable, whilst we were there there was a weekend workshop in how to build a solar water heater and fruit dryer. We spent our time helping out with community work in the mornings, pruning, seed saving and building earth bricks for a new house soon to be built. And in the afternoons watering the gardens.
The thing I liked most about Punpun, apart from the totally delicious food served up every day, was that they just did so much. Their focus really was on teaching, sharing knowledge and saving heritage seeds, and their gardens were well looked after and flourishing.
I also just loved our beautiful adobe house.
And the shakes in the cafe.
Punpun is the kind of place where if you are only staying short term you go to get your fingers dirty helping with things that are already planned and going on. The folk living there were so knowledgeable, and there are definite plans being carried out.
I found it a perfect place to go listen and learn, be a part of a community of lovely people, and sink into the feeling that the world is peaceful and beautiful.
They run many courses in all things sustainable, whilst we were there there was a weekend workshop in how to build a solar water heater and fruit dryer. We spent our time helping out with community work in the mornings, pruning, seed saving and building earth bricks for a new house soon to be built. And in the afternoons watering the gardens.
The thing I liked most about Punpun, apart from the totally delicious food served up every day, was that they just did so much. Their focus really was on teaching, sharing knowledge and saving heritage seeds, and their gardens were well looked after and flourishing.
I also just loved our beautiful adobe house.
And the shakes in the cafe.
Punpun is the kind of place where if you are only staying short term you go to get your fingers dirty helping with things that are already planned and going on. The folk living there were so knowledgeable, and there are definite plans being carried out.
I found it a perfect place to go listen and learn, be a part of a community of lovely people, and sink into the feeling that the world is peaceful and beautiful.