Back from the Songkran Holiday we found a couple of successes with pre-holiday planting in our vegetable plots, with many of the eggplants coming along nicely and a couple of Bottle Gourd plants as well.
The plots were much in need of weeding and the eggplants needed thinning out, so earlier this week the crew got together to get it sorted.
When we first found this location, the grounds of the house were so littered with metal and glass that , after clearing the worst, we had to cover the whole of the grounds with clay soil to insure that it was safe for children.
Unfortunately this has meant limited success for our onsite vegetable growing.
However there is very good soil underneath the clay and over the last week we have been working on utilising this to build up more productive vegetable plots. At the same time, the idea we have come up with will hopefully lead to tidier composting.
Basically, after clearing the existing compost and spreading on on new vegetable plots, the children then all helped out digging a deep hole, where the previous , shabby looking, compost heap was.
The good soil they dug out was spread on top of the compost to complete the new plots and also to top up previously set plots.
Our compost will now go into the hole, and when it is full we will repeat the process, digging a new hole close by and covering the full hole with good soil, creating a new, and hopefully, very fertile new plot.
For the last few weeks, in a quiet little village, just outside Sarapee, Chiang Mai, a group of determined young people have been steadfastly working, not only for themselves but to earn your respect and compassion and support; to show you that they are a group that truly deserve it.
Given a near free hand with 3 objectives; new vegetable plots, new sports facility and a shaded play/relaxation area; and a budget of just 5000 baht (approx 100 pounds sterling), our four man Mattayom Student team, with occasional help from the younger children have proved themselves very capable.
We now have our new vegetable plots with new crops already well on their way.
We have a Batong (Boules) Pit.
And yesterday the team completed their “Villa”.
All but completed? Just a general tidy up is all that’s left. 
The sign translates to “Place to sit and play”
As I write, I make no bones about the moisture welling up in my eyes, as I think with pride of how well these children have done.
From the outset of The Foundations beginnings it has been my intention to nurture these children in a way that they discover as many of their own latent capabilities as they can. This way they will be best equipped to take full advantage of opportunities that come their way and have a truly better chance in life.
We may be small and some people may not see the bigger picture. But here at The Stratton ABC Foundation we do our best to instill the best of values, understanding of the benefits of sharing.
Our hope is that as they reach an age, these children will strongly consider returning to their home communities to share the opportunities, knowledge, and compassion that they have been lucky enough to have received.
I sit beneath a spreading chestnut tree , whose branches of hope grow daily before my eyes.
Please, if you see the way that concentrating on a small number, facilitating the best of care and development, may then help to make much greater change for the better future of the rural communities that these children come from, then look deep into your hearts and help us continue and develop.
I have, and will continue to, put all my heart into maintaining this Foundations goal, but if those branches are to continue to grow, and not wither, these children need your support.
For the two weekend work hour slots the Prathom level children have been doing more ground clearance and vegetable plot prep.
After success with planting shallots last weekend we decided to do more. They appear to love the clay rich soil in this area.
All the kids pitched in with Jor and Nu doing the heavy work, turning the soil to make it suitable for planting.
The improvements continue thanks to a great bunch of kids.
During yesterdays work hour the children not only painted the concrete pipe sections they had used to plant fir trees in but also got their vegetable plots planted with a variety of different seeds. These included Broccoli, Pak Choy, and more Bottle Gourds.
Tai did work on completing the fencing at the front flower bed, ably assisted by little brother, Zak.
As you can see a previous planting is bearing fruit now with regular crops of Wing Beans.
The children are continuing to work well on the grounds improvement project. Last week they did more work on the vegetable plots but then moved onto work on some flower beds. The change came after I noticed a little boredom setting in with the vegetable plots taking so long. Allowing for the fact that they are all still learning and that we have not put a time limit on the project, I thought it better that they take a break from the veg plots to help maintain their enthusiasm.
On Friday , whilst out on our re- cycle collection run we popped into one of the plant shops near Hang Dong Road and the children chose a variety of flowers and plants to add to the garden ambiance.
The Villa and Sport Project is in its 2nd full week and things are going well with the main team putting in some great effort.
Choosing Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as project work days, they have been concentrating on making new vegetable plots on the ground cleared last week.
The 3rd day saw some extra effort, with a 2 hour work slot. This was an hour over what has been asked of them, so I was well impressed. It appeared to be the decision of the Project Leader, who kept his team going in an apparent effort to complete the plots they were working on.
Tai is starting to find the balance, between requesting and instructing, needed to be a good leader. Half way through the session he even popped off to the kitchen to bring refreshing cold water for his team.
When the work was done he also took the job of going to the shop for further refreshments.
The whole team deserve praise for their efforts but yet again Tai seems to be the one with that special drive, continuing to work after the rest had stopped, going back to the plots and using a concrete block to press down the earth and further define the plot borders.
Spot the Tarantula hole!
Another work hour this morning and everyone did there bit. The general philosophy here at Stratton ABC Foundation is to combine education, skills development, fun and character building work projects to give our children the best chance of leaving here as level headed, rounded, responsible and happy individuals.
One of the values we are trying to encourage is a care for the environment. We do our best to recycle as much as possible and compost our food and garden waste. The results of this composting is then used on our vegetable plots which are all cared for and planted by the children.
We are inbetween crops right now but look forward to the next gifts from our garden.
There was hard work to be done this morning after a damp weekend last week had seen none done. With all the rain the battle against weeds is constant . True to form the whole gang here did their bit today and all worked very hard this morning to tidy up around the vegetable plots. Even the dogs seemed to want to help out.
Once again Tai got busy with the strimmer attacking other areas of the garden to keep some semblance of order.
We are now seeing more results with much more Morning Glory starting as well as Egg plants sprouting along with some of the squash plants . Our last planted tomato’s have at last started to show themselves , although the percentage from the seeds planted is low. We may try adding some more shortly.
Once again kids, well done, just a bit more tomorrow and it should be tidy for the week…lol
This weekend it was time to refresh the vegetable plots a little and the children all helped out as usual.
Clearing weeds, turning soil and planting out new crops of beans, peas and tomatoes.
All tucked into well earned kanom and iced drinks when finished.
Good work yet again kids:)
