Hoay Maw

On Saturday we had a training day at Hoay Maw, learning about the organic method of pig farming. We picked up Pastor Gae-Nu and his wife in Chiang Rai and drove up to Hoay Maw.

On the drive up we learnt that Pastor Gae-Nu's Church has about 450 members and they run cell groups similar to our Church back home. The congregation are Karen hill-tribe people.

First we took Pastor Gae-Nu to inspect the existing pig facilities:

Mother and babies

Suckling piglets

The above mother pig is not a good quality sow for breeding so we will hope to replace her. When we first saw this sow she looked near death so she has done well to recover and produce.

Quality Mother

1.5 month old piglets

There are 7 piglets aged 1.5 months from this good quality sow. The cost of the piglets was covered by Tom's Grade 7 class at school. The cost of the sow was covered by Links Christmas gifts. We have money for further piglets but these will be purchased once the organic method has been established.

There are also 9 piglets who are now 7.5 months old and are growing nicely although the male and females have not been separated and the females are pregnant! Not part of the plan but never mind.

28 of the children aged 12 and over gathered into one of the classrooms and Pastor Gae-Nu explained the formula and benefits of the Fermented Liquid Feed.

Pastor Gae-Nu with asst. Niti

Attentive students

Try some?

OK, I will!

We had a break for lunch and then gathered at the new pig pen in order to put into practice all that had been learnt:

First chop the veg

like this

Wan Pen

All have a go

Add brown sugar

Cover with saap paper

Then to make the natural floor of the pen:

10 bags of rice husks

to 1 bag soil

Mix well

girls have a go too

a sprinkle of salt

water with soln. of FLF

It was very satisfying to see the children put their new found knowledge into practice and to see them play an active part in a project that will hopefully go on to provide regular meat as well as a source of income and an increased level of sustainable self-sufficiency.

Pastor Gae-Nu also gave us some useful information to help us begin to formulate plans for raising chickens. Watch this space ...