Meet Khun Tong (Narisara Thaitawat), the driving force behind Nuan Tong Organic Farm! About 5 years ago, she decided to dive into the world of farming, not just to grow veggies but also to create a space filled with 40 rare fruit trees, like Thai pear, old mango, marian plum, and rare durian – each one a sweet reminder of K. Tong's childhood. K. Tong collects rare seeds and baby trees from all corners of Thailand, turning her farm into a fruit family reunion and adding a burst of diversity to the landscape.
Driven by a passion to share the flavors of the past, K. Tong wants her family, friends, and customers to taste the nostalgia while connecting with Thailand's roots. Yet, her farming tale doesn't stop there. K. Tong is on a mission for self-sufficiency, aiming to create a healthier life and bring wholesomeness to everyone around her.
The last 5 years have been a mix of hard work, dedication, and a lot of green fingers. K. Tong's commitment to learning helps her defeat most challenges that come her way. K. Tong always aims for better crops, regenerated soil, and cleaner water sources. She isn't just a farming enthusiast; she's dedicated to self-regulating ecological farming. Her farm is truly an inspiration for anyone looking to embrace sustainable and balanced agricultural practices.
Stingless bees
K.Tong's farm is home to teeny tiny bees that play a crucial role in cross-pollination. She has 10 hives of stingless bees from different parts of Thailand. When bees from different regions come together on K.Tong's farm, they breed and become stronger. If they remain isolated within their own community, their offspring tends to become weaker. These tiny bees, about one-fourth the size of normal bees, can reach deeper into flowers, enhancing crop pollination. Nowadays, many farmers rent bees for increased productivity but K. Tong has her own hive.
K.Tong keeps these bees for two main reasons. Firstly, they help with cross-pollination, leading to better crops. Secondly, these stingless bees act as indicators, proving her farm is organic and safe. Since they are sensitive to chemicals, their survival ensures a chemical-free environment. As their hives grow, it's a positive sign for her farm.
Black soldier fly
There's a unique and uncommon fly that one of K.Tong's farm staff introduced to the farm due to its many benefits: the black soldier fly. The farm staff experimented with them to create their own fertilizer and provide an endless source of food for their chickens. These flies play a versatile role in every part of their life cycle. As larvae, they're excellent eaters, consuming various foods like animal manure, decaying fruits, vegetables, and food waste and turning it into organic fertilizer. They're also a rich source of protein and omega-3, making them useful for feeding chickens on the farm. As they progress in their life cycle, turning brown and becoming prepupae, their discarded shells can be used for adding nutrients to any soil.
The African Nightcrawler
This earthworm grows faster and eats more than the larvae of the black soldier flies, allowing it to produce vermicompost that K. Tong uses as fertilizer on her farm. She feeds the worms with a mixture of cow dung and a bit of coconut husk, resulting in nutrient-rich compost for her plants. Beyond its composting benefits, these worms also enhance soil aeration.
Composting
On her farm, there's not one but multiple designateds area where K. Tong and her employees create their own compost. Surrounding the entire farm, you'll find numerous large baskets used to collect branches, leaves, and grass for the composting process.
Chili
The star of K.Tong's farm is the fiery red chili plant. Here's a tip for identifying healthy growth: a vibrant green color and a long, straight shape are good signs. Watch out for black spots, which signal the presence of insects or flies. If the chili starts to curve, it means insects have laid eggs inside. The biggest, and also most beautiful, enemy of the chili's is the butterfly.
To shield her chilies from insects, K.Tong has a clever strategy. She grows French marigold flowers alongside the chilies. These flowers emit a strong and pungent odor that insects detest, making them an excellent tool to keep the unwanted bugs away from her precious chilies.
Chrysanthemum
Another important crop on K. Tong's farm is the chrysanthemum, a beautiful yellow flower. She turns these blossoms into tea by carefully selecting the freshest ones and drying them. If left out in the sun, it takes around 5 days, but she found that using a low-temperature oven speeds up the drying process.
But there's more to these flowers than just tea. K.Tong grows them because her little helpers in the farm, the stingless bees, absolutely adore yellow flowers. Look close (very close, they are super tiny) at the chrysanthemum fields and you will definitely spot them!
Red long bean
Among K.Tong's collection of rare trees, the long bean plant stands out as a special gem she's dedicated to preserving. Long green beans are a common vegetable found in every region of Thailand. Locals often enjoy them fresh or incorporate them into various dishes, such as papaya salad or chili paste.
While long beans are typically green or have a slight mix of red, K.Tong's farm boasts the unique red variety. This beautiful red plant is indigenous to the northern part of Thailand, adding a touch of local biodiversity to her farm. You can find them hanging from the large arched trellis in the middle of her farm!
During our visit to K.Tong's farm, we discovered her off-season rice, a deviation from the typical November harvest. The star of the show is the fragrant and fluffy Jasmine Rice, known as "Hom Mali" in Thai (หอมมะลิ), celebrated worldwide for its delightful aroma and texture reminiscent of jasmine and pandan.
As K.Tong shared her insights, we learned about the challenges she faces in rice farming. Weeds and grasses tend to invade her rice field, compelling her to find solutions. To tackle this, she drains the water to let the field dry, eliminating the unwanted plants. However, this method poses a new challenge as rice needs water to survive. Striking a balance is crucial.
Another challenge comes in the form of large birds that can damage and break the rice when they land and feed. Fortunately, rice farmers like K.Tong have devised a solution. They strategically stay in the fields during critical times, ready to shoo away these birds and protect the precious rice crop. The delicate dance of managing water levels and bird encounters adds an extra layer of complexity to the art of rice farming.
In K.Tong's Nuan Tong Organic Farm, nature and nurture unite, creating a space rich in biodiversity and sustainable farming practices. From buzzing bees to vibrant chrysanthemums and unique red long beans, in K.Tong's green place, everything works together. Her farm shows how to do farming in a balanced way, helping nature instead of fighting it. It's not always easy and K.Tong faces tough times, but she keeps going to make our world a greener place.