The Panya Project

Project Concept:

To experiment with and someday model an integrally sustainable way of living in the wet/dry tropics. This project aims for sustainability not only in the physical environment, but also in the social environment, our physical bodies and the spiritual, emotional and intellectual realms. Permaculture is the system that will primarily inform how the project moves forward in the physical plane.

The 10-acre (four hectare) site is situated in the low hills of northern Thailand, between the conventional rice/soy/corn farms of the local village and a beautiful expanse of second growth national forest. It features demonstrations of humanure composting toilet systems, earthen buildings and a medium scale water harvesting system, including a 2-million liter dam and about 500 meters of swales. The project also hopes to implement multiple aquaculture ponds, production gardens and is in the very early stages of a diverse food forest, with over 30 varieties of fruit. The project serves as an education center, having already hosted five PDC courses on site and a number of building workshops and internships. Adjacent to the project are two other sustainable living projects, including Pun Pun Educational Center, a seed saving center and education center for SE Asian activists as well as international sustainable living enthusiasts. As a group of communities, these three projects aim to be as self-sufficient as possible, model a joyous, integrated, healthy way of life, continue to learn as much as they can along the way, and to share what they can with all.

Detailed Project Description:

The project was proposed in 2002, and received sufficient funding for the purchase of land in 2004, and then a second installment of funding helped to get the project officially rolling in 2006. In all, 12 individuals each donated $4,000 toward the project, and since then it has not needed any more outside funding. It has been able to become economically self-sufficient within a two year period through the hosting of Permaculture Design Courses, internships and natural building courses.

Education:

The model of starting as an education center worked very well for this community, and is highly recommended, as each workshop works in three important ways: it helps to build the infrastructure of the project, it helps to fund the project, and it shares the knowledge and enthusiasm with others.

The first PDC, in November of 2006, was taught by Geoff Lawton and Thai permaculture teacher Loong Yoot to a mixed crowd of 30, including Local Thai students, Panya Project community members and international students.

Since then the Panya Project has hosted courses taught by Cam Wilson, Ethan Roland, Chris Shanks, Melissa Breed and Christian Shearer. The last course being co-taught by people actually living at the project, helping Panya to be self-sufficient in one more way. Along the way, the Panya Project has also hosted four school groups, including a yearly week-long educational immersion for high-school students from the International School of Bangkok.

The construction of many of the structures on the property has taken place as part of workshops or internships as well, including a two bedroom adobe house. There are plans to continue building using earthen techniques until all students and community members have sufficient space to thrive in the environment provided.

Permaculture Outreach and Consultation:

As an extension of the education aspect of the community, one of the community members, Christian Shearer, has begun to teach Permaculture Design Courses and introduction courses in various locations around Asia, as well as offer consultation services for individuals, organizations and aid projects.

Earthworks:

The first course culminated in an integrated final design for the site, and within two weeks the earthworks were in, leaving a 2-million liter (500,000 gallon) dam at a high point on the property, and about 500 meters of water-harvesting swales. In the coming years, this water system should make Panya Project water independent, using the abundance of the monsoon rains to carry them through the hot, dry months. It should also help to build the water table for the benefit of the entire local ecosystem.

At this time, the community is working on sealing the dam at the top of the site. They glayed the site with an immense amount of organic matter, just as the rains began. Then they brought in a team of 13 water buffalo to help stomp it all into the mud. The idea being that it would all go anaerobic and seal the bottom of the pond with a layer of wonderful sludge. The community is still uncertain about whether this will succeed or not, so the pond and water in general continue to be a challenge.

Food Forest:

The site was previously a conventional mango plantation with about 350 young trees. As the project moves forward, it will slowly be diversifying the broad acre to a diverse arrangement of edible perennial food crops. In the summer of 2007, Panya started planting out its diverse edible forest gardens, adding banana, papaya, passion fruit, Macadamia nut, avocado, mangosteen, guava, coconut, jack fruit, sopadilla, bread fruit, Jamaican cherry, Surinam cherry, Malabar chestnut, pomelo, orange, lime, star fruit, salak, black sapote, pomegranate, longan, longsat, lychee, and others. Over time, as resources and energy become available, the food forest will expand to cover more area.

Vegetable and Herb Garden:

During the first PDC held at the site, a veggie garden on contour was put in place near the kitchen. Each year the garden expands, and though the community is not yet self-sufficient, each year brings them closer to achieving that goal. Because of the high demand for organic produce in Thailand, the community is working towards a market garden.

Animals:

The Panya Project hopes to integrate animals into its systems as well. Fish, prawns and ducks in the ponds, cattle and water buffalo for dairy and meat as well as grass management and fertilizer, pigs for food waste recycling and compost turning, and chickens for eggs and meat.

Natural Building:

The Panya Project uses two main forms of earthen building in constructing its infrastructure. Adobe is well known throughout the world, using sun-dried bricks. Wattle and cob is a technique that is believed to have started with Jo Jandai at Pun Pun Educational Center. It uses a combination of stick-frame and earthen materials to sculpt the structure. Panya also uses eucalyptus wood, bamboo and second hand materials that are readily available for timber framed structures. By the summer of 2008, two years into the project, there are six earthen structures, two bungalow style huts, and a large open-air “sala” where the courses are taught, meals are cooked and enjoyed, and where the library and office are currently located.

It is vision of the community that additional small earthen structures would be built so that all students and community members could have a more-than-adequate place to stay for their time at Panya. They hope that each person can thrive in all of their endeavours, and a wonderful place to sleep is important for that. They also look forward to having the office and library in a separate space, as well as a larger multi-use space to be used for meditation, yoga, classes, dance and other special events.

Also, in December of 2008 the community plans on adding a steam sauna, fired by a methane digester. The hopes are that this can help to bring rejuvenation to all the people that work so hard on the project.

Personal Development:

The community imperfectly strives to encourage each individual to explore their own beings, using whatever wisdom tradition, rituals, or practices that work for them. It is important to the community at Panya that each person be aware of how their own beliefs and attitudes shape and define the world they experience. Physical health through yoga, swimming, working, and good nutrition are encouraged and practiced, as are meditation, contemplation and reflection for the well beings of the spiritual, emotional, and psychological aspects of each person. Compassionate communication and supportive interactions are also important parts of daily life.

Another goal of the community is to continue to learn and grow, which is often addressed through guest teachers, evening discussions, and diving into new projects. In this way, even the intellectual aspects of each individual are kept fine-tuned.

Project Duration & Schedule:

Each year the Panya Project is broken into two distinct periods:

1. November to May, the dry months: These months are devoted to teaching courses, building earthen structures, working on vegetable gardens etc.
2. June to October, the wet months: These months are devoted to working on the broad acre. This is the time to plant trees, mulch, and work on any earthmoving project.

2006-2010: Build the infrastructure for the project, including all the water systems, buildings, access (roads and paths), food forests, and gardens. Plant the fruit trees, the timber crops, and the perennials. Dig and establish the fish ponds and aquaculture systems. Set up infrastructure for animals including barns, movable pens, fences, and milking stations. Spread the news! Use the site as a vehicle for the spread of ideas including permaculture, natural building, integral living, and the importance of balance for a joyous life.

2010 and into the future: Expand the education facilities and capabilities of the project. Focus more on outreach, consultation and service. Fine-tune the systems, and welcome the coming of fruit from the wide variety of food crops on the land. Research and implement new and creative ways of becoming ever more self-sufficient, and sharing the bounty we harvest.

The Panya Project has a detailed design laid out to be implemented, but the people of the project have also realized the importance of being open to change in every moment, as well as being unattached to where they are going, where they have been, or where they are at the present time. The future is unknown, and that is exciting!

Project Needs:

At this point the project is going well. It is ahead of schedule in many respects. Panya is still early in its development, so many of its systems will need to be maintained over the next several years, but there is a steady flow of volunteers, students and interns showing up to help. The only need that could really be fulfilled are specific skills that a person may have, like bio-diesel set-up, methane digester experience and knowledge, cheese-making skills, etc.

There are also technologies and systems that are unavailable to the project because of economic limitations, like solar panels, etc, but the funds for something like this may be better allocated to a young project elsewhere.

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