This was an affiliate event. Our affiliates are people with whom we have a previous working relationship, but who operate independently of Kleiwerks International. Therefore, Kleiwerks International does not assume responsibility for content or quality, but we wished this program and project the best of luck!

Thailand Archives
6 Week PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE & Natural Building TRAINING: Design and build a sustainable center for orphaned children in Northern Thailand.
November 6 - December 18, 2003
Phitsanulok, Central Thailand

The Whispering Seed (visit www.whisperingseed.org) recently acquired a lush 25-acre farm along a magnificent river in Northern Thailand, and this will be the first project hosted on the land. The land is covered in ancient mango groves and many types of tropical fruits and flowers.The Whispering Seed (www.whisperingseed.org) is a village based community learning center and home for orphaned and abused children based in Northern Thailand...

THE PROJECT
The Whispering Seed is a village-based community learning center and home for orphaned and abused children. The Whispering Seed focuses on finding the joy in serving others through cross-cultural exchanges, sustainable living practices, and natural childrearing. They are active in the international alternative education movement, including organizing and hosting international conferences and youth travel programs. They have recently acquired beautiful land which will be their permanent home...Join in the creation of this special place, which will model sustainable living through permaculture, Natural Building, organic farming, and holistic education.

THE TRAINING
In this hands-on intensive training course we will create an overall design, develop the land, and build the first earthen dwellings at the new home of The Whispering Seed. The training includes the full 72-hour Permaculture Design and Practicum Certification requirements, along with in-depth hands-on application of your newly learned skills. Also, Thailand's foremost earthen builders will be leading the group in the construction the adobe andwattle and daub main house. The subjects that will be covered during the training include the following:

Other work will include: creating organic gardens, orchards, composting toilets, bamboo and mud houses, learning how and where to plant and place things so that functions and energy from each element serves multiple purposes with the intention of creating a self-reliant system. Time permitting, we will also work with rice paddy and cotton fields and do restorative planting on nearby land that was recently cut and burned.

CO-SPONSORS
Whispering Seed (Thailand)
Kleiwerks International (USA)
Rosemary Morrow (Australia)

INSTRUCTORS/FACILITATORS
Rosemary Morrow (Australia), Jon Jandai (Thailand), Nao Sangkara (Thailand), Em Ponna (Cambodia), Aporn Pumpanna (Thailand), Jim Connor (USA), Janell Kapoor (USA), and special guest presenters from Thailand.
ROSEMARY MORROW is a long-time Permaculture instructor from Australia. For the past 14 years she has worked extensively in Cambodia, Vietnam, India, and Indonesia. Rosemary played a large part in establishing Permaculture paractices in Albania. She has recently worked in Afghanistan. Her dedication and service to farmers and villagers worldwide, as well as to people of war-torn nations is outstanding. Rosemary is author of 'The Earth-User's Guide to Permaculture' as well as numerous other books. (Rosemary's full bio is very extensive. For more information about her go to 'www.google.com' and type in "Rosemary Morrow, Permaculture.")
JON JANDAI grew up in a village in Northeast Thailand. He is one of the country's leading earthen builders, having shared his knowledge with thousands of fellow villagers, architects, activists, students, and foreigners. Jon has an in-depth experience of indigenous building and permaculture in action. He has worked with widespread people's movements throughout Thailand, encouraging and modeling ways for farmers to be more self-reliant: for them to grow their own food, build their own houses, stay out of debt, and once again work together to provide for themselves and their communities...and have fun. Jon is an outstanding model and inspiration to all who have the pleasure of working with him.
EM PONNA has been a permaculture project manager for years at a center in Pursat, Cambodia. She is the head of the Department of Women's and Veteran's Affairs in Pursat. Em is a dynamic community organizer who inspires all who work with her.
APORN POOMPANNA, since 1987 has practiced natural farming including agro-forestry, biodiversity management, applied Indigeneous Microorganism Farming, and permaculture. She has studied with Bill Mollison, as well as Fukuoka's pratices, Korean Natural farming, and traditional Thai methods. Aporn has translated the only book on permaculture in Thailand and is involved with The Friends of the Poor Foundation.
JANELL KAPOOR, founder and director of Kleiwerks International Natural Building, is an avid mud mama, international activist and community organizer. Since 1997, she has shared the joy and art of earthen building with people from 24 countries, including the first earthen building trainings in Thailand, which have since spread to thousands.

GUEST SPEAKERS
Each weekend there will be a presentation by a visiting specialist from the following fields:
-Traditional Thai Farming & Applied Permaculture
-Hill-tribe Wisdom and Deep Ecology
-Politics of Jasmine Rice on the International Market
-Buddhism & Monk's Life
-International & Intercultural Activism

The land is mostly shaded by the mango trees and is mostly flat, with a small slope near the edge of the river. This area has problems with erosion on the banks due to flooding in the monsoon season.

The other parcel is eleven acres directly across the river. This land was recently burned and cut completely of all trees and bamboo. The cutting was done on a large slope, creating major erosion problems. There is a small stream that moves all through this land with native stands of bamboo all along the waters edge. It has a variety of slopes of varying degrees. There are several jackfruit trees and a few lemon, banana and tamarind, which were all damaged by the fire. Wild fires are rampant in this area and a hazard during the dry season. There is also a wonderful area on this land to put in a rice paddy. We also hope to plant cotton on this land.

PARTICIPANTS
There will be a total of 30 participants, with at least 15 representatives from Thai, Burmese, and Southeast Asian NGO's, activist networks, and villages. There may also be as many foreigner participants. We encourage participants (but this is not required) to have experience with some of the following: sustainable living, intentional community, activism, deep ecology, holistic education, organic farming, non-profit work, intercultural exchange, documenting, landscape architecture, construction, wilderness training, leadership skills, local involvement, and so on. If you are interested please contact kirti@kleiwerks.com.

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