Bodge and Ya's garden

A few days ago we spent an afternoon visiting our friends Bodge and Ya. They have an amazing place. Surrounded by rice fields, they have taken about 8 acres, and turned it into a permaculture paradise. There are fish ponds, worm farms, fruit trees, vege patches, mushrooms, chickens and ducks and a growing number of picturesque buildings that comprise of their thatched roofed house, rice barns, and other outbuildings. To drive down their driveway is like approaching a small village set up in the surrounding rice fields.

Here Bodge is explaining what's going on at the moment.

 

A still life scene with the cart/motorbike trailer and stone wall.

 

They grow many varieties of rice from the traditional Jasmine rice, mountain rice, sticky rice, red rice and a red sticky rice that is a striking red coloured plant (see it in the background of the first picture).

 

The ducks patrol the rice field for the giant snails and their eggs. As well they provide lots of eggs for the kitchen.

A stunning red dragonfly in the rice paddy.

These pomellos are like a giant grapefruit with dryer sweeter flesh.

 

In the vege patch there are young gourds

 

Thai basil in flower.

 

Okra with their hibiscus type flowers.

 

Perennial chili bushes. These will ripen to a bright red colour.

 

This new compost heap has the pipe down the middle to help with the air flow. The pipe was very hot to touch as the pile heats up.

 

Here is a heap that was formed 3 months ago. Full of worms and ready to go on the garden beds.

I can't remember the name of this plant. I thought the fruit were very striking looking. The young leaves are eaten and are very tasty.

 

Lots of papaya on the trees.

 

And lots of coconuts on the palms.

Here is a close up of the red sticky rice.Looks like it is going to be a good crop.