Welcome to our vanilla plantation

Our organic vanilla (Vanilla Planifolia) plantation is located 8 km from Chiang Mai, in the North of Thailand, former Siam  Kingdom . We started the cultivation of vanilla in December 2007. The idea to grow vanilla in the North of Thailand, we had it for long but lack of information on this subject, we had not yet taken the step. And then through the internet (thanks to all those involved in its development) we realized that this project could be done. The challenge was nice although quite expensive! Personally, I didn’t knew nothing in agriculture, I didn't like it, but this day was a beginning for me...

At to start, there is the beginning!

Approximately 1 hectare field has not maintained for more than 25 years. It is planted with teak and fruit trees, mango, longan, sapodilla.  It is impossible to see the limits of this land as wild vegetation has invaded the lesser square meter and we must advance with machetes.  Less than an hour has passed and we see still not clear. He will have to use more mechanicals engines like chainsaw, tractor and other.  Fairly thin vines climb up to the top of the trees.

Our first purchase will be a chainsaw. 

Our choice is based on this model: "Stihl MS 180" 

We do not really have choice because here, in Thailand, the possession of this material is regulated. The guide of the chainsaw shall not exceed 12 inches in length. A higher dimension has to be declared at a State Agency and I suppose that merchants must also have a special authorization to market these machines. However, it is easy to find guides and chains of higher dimensions that adapt on this chainsaw. 

Our second purchase was a brush cutter

Honda (in Thailand) is the reference.

Also we had to purchase small manual equipment  and of course, gloves! 

For clearing, we was 3. It take us more than 1 month to clean out any invasive vegetation.