Visit to a Rural Farm

In mid-December, friend and Baan Nong Phue teacher Toom (who has been featured in a number of earlier posts) arranged for us to visit a rural farm not far outside Nong Phue.  We were told we would see how purple rice is processed by hand.  We saw that and much more.

Here is Mon grinding the rice in a mortar and pestle.

Then it is shaken in a large woven, shallow basket to separate the grains from the husks.  Sa-ngiam and Somkid do the shaking below.

We were surprised to learn that the husks are ground further and serve as feed for the chickens and cows.  That's George below at work on the husk grinder.

 Friend and teacher Win showed Mary how to weave mats.

 

The legwork was tricky.

 

Then the master of the art - Somkid - took over.

 

 

Boonchom is tying reeds together for use on roofs:

 



The reeds used to weave mats are dyed and bundled for later use.

The finished mats are things of beauty.

Colorful pillows are sold widely in Thailand's rural areas.

A  wonderful lunch was served.  Much of the food was from our hosts' garden.

 Above:  Baan Nang Phue teachers Win, Natnat and Toom.

 

 

We took a walk around the neighborhood.

 



 

We saw the frog pond (under the netting) and a few fat frogs that will be on the dinner table soon,

 

a hen and her chicks,

feed for the (water) buffalo,

 

and a wind-driven water pump (hand-driven when the wind's not blowing), which we were told was designed by HM the King.

  



 We met some wonderful, hospitable Thai people:

                                Above:  Thanom with baby Satam, Tah

Ku Larb, baby Satam, and Tah

 



                                            Boonchom

    George, Somkid, and Dhecha

    Sa-ngiam and Satam

Thanks to Toom, Wachinee, Win, and the wonderful folks we met at the farm for an informative day that was "muan lai" (much fun) and food that was "sep sep ili" (delicious)!  [Phrases in quotes are from the Isaan dialect, which is different from Thai.]