A day of rollicking family fun at the Jim Thompson Farm in Nakhon Ratchasima
Story by KITTIMA SETHI
Visiting pumpkin patches is a traditional and fun-filled outing for many American families during Halloween and early autumn - and now you can have an equally great day out at a pumpkin farm right here in Thailand.
Situated in the vicinity of several famous silk-weaving villages in Pak Thong Chai, a district of the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, the Jim Thompson Farm encompasses an expansive 600 rai (about 96 hectares) of vegetable plantations, nurseries with ornamental flowers, orchards, fields of sunflower and, of course, a pumpkin patch.
A huge reservoir sits among the farmland, on one side of which are rolling hills covered with thickets of bamboo. Blanketing the farm are mulberry bushes whose leaves not only feed the silkworms which have earned international fame for products sold under the Jim Thompson brand, but are also used to make a tea-like beverage of excellent nutritional value.
The farm, 250 kilometres northeast of Bangkok, is a leisurely three-hour drive from the capital along the Ayutthaya-Saraburi-Pak Chong route. It makes for a fantastic day out, especially for families with children, for it lets them experience and learn farm activities hands-on - far from the hustle and bustle of city life and away from the shopping malls and movie halls.
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| This vehicle is used to take visitors on tours of the farm. |
A typical rural abode used to showcase the lifestyle of Isan people in former times. |
It opened to the public in 2001 and has since become a popular agro- and eco-tourism attraction, particularly during the supposedly cool months of December and January when visitors arrive in large numbers to enjoy the rural landscape and observe farming activities.
However, when I visited the farm recently the weather was still quite warm. You can blame it on global warming but my advise to visitors is they carry their own umbrellas for cover from the scorching midday sun and their own snacks and refreshments as most food sold at the farm is the traditional Isan type, hot and spicy, not suited to everyone's palate. Meals can be enjoyed under the shade of trees or umbrellas planted at regular intervals complete with seating arrangements and drink stalls.
Wagons with just roof for cover and pulled by tractors take visitors around. The beauty of the tour is that you can get off at any point and explore the farm on your own, then hop back on the wagon as it is driven up and down slopes traversing orchards, mulberry and vegetable plantations, flower nurseries and sunflower belts.
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| The well-maintained plant nursery is a feast for the senses. |
Sunflowers bloom during the cool, dry season. |
The first stop is a centre cultivating various species of mushroom. It is carried out using microscopic spores, rather than seeds, in an environmentally-controlled room. A variety of mushrooms harvested over a period of several weeks are on display in beds and trays or growing on substrate. Other highlights here are a nursery of ornamental plants and a hydroponic vegetable garden.
At the next stop, visitors get to observe up close the life cycle of silkworms and how silk is produced. Trays of silkworms, from eggs to cocoon are on display and it is not surprising to see how these worms fatten themselves in just a few weeks by feeding greedily on mulberry leaves that are in abundant supply throughout the year.
The farm was set up in 1988 primarily as a source of raw material for silk production. Silk farming, or sericulture, involves breeding hybrid silkworms and the cultivation of top grade eggs that are then sold to contract farmers.
There is also a demonstration on how silk thread is extricated from the cocoon, still done today in the traditional way, where the cocoon are boiled and then reeled in by hand. This was probably the most exciting stop for many youngsters and adults alike. Aroused with curiosity, many youngsters fired questions and local villagers had a busy time fielding them. It was encouraging to see this show of interest and hopefully an appreciation of local wisdom by today's youth.
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| The Phi Ta Khon ghost masks have proved an instant hit. |
Children have fun carving and decorating pumpkins. |
On display were also a collection of traditional Isan style houses built to showcase the way of life in times past. One of them was a 200-year-old house brought and put on display from Baan Sukang, a village in Taku sub-district of Pak Thong Chai.
There was a live demonstration of how the legendary Phi Ta Khon ghost masks of Loei province are made. It proved a photo opportunity for visitors who rushed to try them on!
The highlight of the tour definitely was the final stop where cameras could be heard clicking away even before the visitors descended the wagon.
Fields of sunflowers in full bloom and giant pumpkins in all shapes, colours and sizes you can imagine - created a pandemonium as visitors raced to get their pictures taken. Had there been a scarecrow and a carved jack-o-lantern, one would have certainly felt it was close to Halloween!
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| Curious onlookers watch the demonstration on how silk thread is harvested from the cocoons. |
A variety of vegetables are grown here using hydroponic farming technique. Fresh produce is also available for sale. |
Where as sunflower fields can also be found in nearby provinces of Lop Buri and Saraburi, the pumpkin fields in shades of vermillion, green and yellow are unique to this farm, with people interacting with the vegetable - in various shapes and sizes - by touching them, carrying them, eating them and even sitting on them.
There were dozens of pumpkins on display at an empty field for people to marvel at and take pictures. Various breeds of edible pumpkins were also steamed and sliced for people to sample. Others were just miniature ornamental pumpkins visitors took home for decoration and souvenirs.
In addition to pumpkins fresh, organic vegetables and fruit, cut flowers and ornamental plants, wholesome farm-made snack foods including vegetable and fruit chips, honey and mulberry tea leaves are on sale at the farm. A variety of squash and gourd in various colours are also grown and once dried, are sold to villagers who transform them into handicrafts such as lamps, bowls and other decorative items.
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