If Mohammed can't go to the mountain, then the mountain will come to Mohammed. Or something like that. And so it was.
Saturday has become the day that our organic-farming Karen friends from Baan Nong Tao make the 2 hour schlep down from the mountains past Mae Wang, and bring a truck full of organic produce and whatever else they have to sell.
We have started to plan our Saturdays to meet them somewhere and buy what we can, that we need.
Covid has been particularly hard on the Karen people, as the steady flow of elephant experience, trekkers and tour groups has been gone for almost 18 months. Inter-provincial travel has ground to a halt so-often that we've lost count. Many of the crops that are plentiful in the mountains, are basically being used for free pig food. And so showing up and buying something matters.
And we got a wonderful haul yesterday.
We bought some lovely organic culinary herbs. Rosemary, peppermint, parsley and thyme.
The system is pretty simple. They have a route, not unlike a bus route, which sees them parked at major carparks around the town in 30-60 min blocks for the whole day.
People can pre-order via their facebook group: Villager Delivery To Chiang Mai - that way they're SURE to bring down what you're asking for. Or you can take your chances, as they always pack the truck well with extras.
Clearly I NEED to investigate what to do with persimmons, since they had LOADS for sale.
Apart from my new culinary herbs I bought gorgeous passionfruits, a bunch of bananas and a bottle of home-made passionfruit wine. Gotta say, the passionfruit wine is NICE with a splosh of vodka and topped up in a tall glass with chilled sparkling soda water. Very refreshing!
Mr Oshi is the driver, and after gas and his time is covered, the profits are shared with the growing families back home on the Doi. BIG 15+ hour day for him, but I think it's fabulous the way indigenous and ethnic mountain farmers are working together to create opportunity and to bring their produce and their goods to where they will have customers.
How was it as a shopping experience? Relaxed, casual, no queues and no pesky Covid check-in protocols beyond Please Wear A Mask.! 😆
I LOVE the way a community project like this build connection and a deeper understanding between urban communities and the farmers who labour hard and long for the food we need.
Looking forward to more avocadoes next week and to finding a yummy way to use some of those ripe persimmons.
Our shopping yesterday didn't change the world, but it DID provide encouragement and a little cash for some Karen families working really hard towards self-sufficiency and towards a greener-fairer world.
If you're in Chiang Mai, I hope to see you in some car park next week, huddled around a fragrant full truck. And if you're elsewhere, maybe YOU could start helping some growing families SELL their produce. Saw just this week that Aussie farmers were digging their strawberry crops under cos the price dropped too low and there is a serious glut. Here? Dried strawberries are the newest-latest-yummy healthy-snack food found in most higher-end supermarkets.
We CAN and MUST DO BETTER on global food waste and support for our farmers. Happy to have shared and contributed in this tiny way in our corner of the world.
Time for an organic passionfruit-wine cocktail. 🍹
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