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About Us
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Besides running this shop we are traditional farmers. On 11 rai or 5.5 acres of agricultural land along the Pai river, we are doing permaculture design.
This is Buti's land and she is an Akha hill tribe woman who has been farming all her life.
She has extensive knowledge of the
plants and animals here, and along with other family members, she shares her knowledge with the
people that come here to learn sustainable agriculture. We started planting in May 2003, at the onset
of the rainy season.
Diversity is great, with exotic hardwood trees, incense trees, nuts, and much more.
We have an abundance of bamboo dwelling and we are now growing sugar cane next to the river.
We are a multi-cultural, multi-national co-operative of people and animals.
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Family Life
Buti and Willow met in Pai, when a friend who had an Akha girlfriend brought Buti to where Willow was
living in Vieng Nua village. At that time Buti spoke about eight words of english, and Willow spoke no Thai.
So they communicated at a higher level, probably what you would think of as telepathic.
They began living together the very next day. That all happened almost five years ago...
Now Buti speaks english and that makes about seven languages she uses. Her schooling is only
practial, she never sat in a class room for learning. Her father was an Akha healer and Shaman
and he taught her the uses of plants and herbs and many healing techniques.
Buti is very shy and humble. She claims little knowledge and yet whenever a
situation arises that needs her skill she freely does what is called for.
Many times she will walk in the jungle with people who come here to learn,
and they will point to plants and she will tell them what they are, what to do with them, and how to plant and use them.
They have two sons, Sonchai and Sombat, and they feel blessed with them.
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