Written By Kelli
“OH SH*T, COME CHECK OUT THIS BUG!!” This was by far the most commonly used phrase upon arriving at the beautiful seed-saving farm known as Pun Pun. To say this week started out challenging would be an understatement, although to be quite fair the “Ajarns,” as we called the wonderful Pat Nom and Petchara from the eco-lodge, spoiled the heck out of us. Upon arriving at the beautiful community of Pun Pun, we were given a rundown of the scheduling and the need-to-know. After the brief welcome and rundown from Sheena (best welcome ever), we were shown to our very cute adobe hand-built home where we would be staying the next week. Everyone took the living situations differently, but all in all we peacefully accepted them and became very fond of them, especially the creepy or cute (depending on who you’d ask) crawlers you’d meet and re-greet every night (the bug nets around our beds were a godsend). Besides the lovely sleeping arrangements we enjoyed every night, each day was filled with fun activities, amazing food, and eye-opening conversations.
On the first full day at Pun Pun, we helped the community build a house for one of the community members, Mandy (one of the most knowledgeable gals I’ve ever met). Mandy explained to us specific details of her house structure and interior design to fit with the natural ecosystem; it was extremely informative and even “sickening” good as we like to say. We learned how to make mud bricks and how to make as well as apply a mud/straw mixture called cob, which was used to make her walls. Other activities we did were gardening with the community members and learning about their seed saving ways. P’Jo (the mastermind of the seed saving community) explained to us how in the past, hundreds of varieties of each fruit and vegetable existed, but now because of greedy, big corporations only a few varieties exist of the food we plant. The companies monopolized the seed industry by placing patents (laws) that state that it is illegal to save their seeds and also made it quite impossible to have the seed they’re selling flourish if you did not buy their particular fertilizer and soil needed to grow their specific seed. P’Jo decided there had to be a better way so he created one. With the community, he began to save seeds and live off of their own fresh, organic plants. They have been saving their seeds ever since.
This different way of life has been challenging to adjust to and yet so life-changing at the same time. The community does not adjust nature to fit their needs (as it is often seen in the US), but instead they adjust their needs to the natural environment. And yet even though this may seem like you’re sacrificing your needs it truly shows you what you really do need and that is what nature has to provide for you and your people. To show our thanks, our wonderful Kate (beautiful soul) devised a Mexican Fiesta night to show the food from her culture. It was an amazing meal from the dinner to dessert (props to Danica for making the most killer vegan arroz con leche). Many – and I mean many – people went back for seconds that night. I especially loved that there was meat in one of the dishes; Pun Pun is amazing at accommodating to our vegetarian folks. However, a good serving of meat for our carnivores was definitely needed (I personally, as a Texan, was fiending for some meat).
The last few days the group has been coming up with our group agreements and discussing the next stay with the Pgakenyaw hill tribe village. We are all so excited to continue on with our journey and see what the hill tribe has to offer. It is especially an honor to stay there because they often deny researchers and people wanting to explore their way of life. We are ecstatic to continue our journey and also keep sharing it with y’all.
Farewell, Pun Pun, thank you for everything!
