Time with a Chiang Mai Family
Tuesday, December 6
Earlier today we visited a family whose four generations live on a farm in the outskirts of Chiang Mai.
Only an acre or so of the land is dedicated to what we would think of as a conventional farm — about an acre or so of rice paddies, yielding about 200 kilos of rice a year, not enough to feed a family of 15 that eats rice every day, at all of their meals.
Most of the land is dedicated to other produce, like this langan orchard — from coconuts and papaya to herbs and other plants they use to make the tea they sell in the shop out front.
There’s a lot here for someone who likes to paint.
Our host began by telling us about their way of life, from the buildings they live in to their religious beliefs, to practices like eating betal (‘Yuk!’).
They gave us a cooking lesson in Northern Thai food — 5 courses! Almost everything, including the chicken, was grown on their farm. It was great fun.
If you’re interested, look up www.chiangmaihomehost.com
Next: On the road again, to Chiang Rai