SinhCity: Mulberries and Mudbricks

Vang Vieng Organic Farm

We'd planned to do a cooking class but, like so many plans made in Laos, this didn't quite go as we'd expected. It worked out pretty well though!

Turning up for a half day cooking course to the Vang Vieng Organic Farm we found the chef had taken the day off and the kitchen staff were busily cutting, chopping, cooking. Teaching a couple of daft foreigners how to whip up a larp salad wasn't on their menu.

Beautiful waxy ginger flowers abound

http://www.laofarm.org/

Mr T, the inspired and inspiring owner of the farm was so apologetic he offered us a compensatory tour.

Mr T

I'm so glad we said yes! In a town known best for it's limestone mountain scenery and it's history of backpacker parties and tourist attractions, Vang Vieng Organic Farm was a delight.

Tempura mulberry leaves dipped into local honey, washed down with hibiscus tea. mmmmmmmmmmmm

We started with a wander through the mulberry tree orchard while Mr T explained how he set this place up with lots of vision but not much money.

ginger

Returning to his home town with a biology degree from Vientiane, Mr T started farming in ways his neighbours hadn't seen before - organically, mixing herbs and plants under the trees, using local food waste as compost, making his own mudbricks and slowly building a restaurant, guesthouse, training farm and profitable business.

mulberries

Students work, live and learn at the farm. Tourists stay for a while and maybe volunteer. As the farm is located just where the tuk tuks drop tourists before tubing down the Nam Song river, a few stop by for a preparatory drink. Some stop for a meal or a mulberry tea.

Volunteers' TO DO list

guesthouse doors

The farm manages animals, crops, various food processing operations and sells various stuff to local hotels. There are goats, pigs, dogs (of course), chickens, guinea fowl, ducks. They make mulberry and hibiscus tea, goats cheese, mudbricks houses and harness methane from the pigs to fuel gas cookers. It was inspiring!

Apart from teaching visiting students and local villagers about alternative and sustainable farming methods, Mr T and his collective have established a fund for running a bus to get kids to school, a local youth centre (made of mud bricks) and have established business partnerships with some of the major hotels in town. They've attracted international attention and support and are gradually working for a sustainable, healthy community.