Recently, the Year 3/4 class at the International School of Chonburi (Pattaya) had the opportunity to visit Baan Khru Thani, which is a self-sustaining farm in Pathum Thani.
During our stay, the children were provided an education on traditional farming methods in Thailand. They learned the name and function of different farm tools, the daily routines of a farmer and how to cook meals using the resources on the farm.
Our students were not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get dirty. Part of their duties included weeding the garden, watering the banana trees, stacking the hay, planting cotton seeds and building a clay oven to cook on.
The children not only learned the responsibilities that come with running a farm but also learned that farming can be fun. The group was full of smiles and laughter while washing and riding a buffalo, driving a tractor, paddling boats and catching frogs and fish.
The best time, however, may have been when our rice planting chore turned into a slip and slide mud bath. They were covered in mud from head to toe, with only the whites of their eyes and toothy smiles slipping through.
By the end of our stay, the children, teachers and staff at Baan Khru Thani had created some wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.
