Since 2008, ampoule I’ve worked in northern Thailand in the area of sustainable agriculture. As an intern in 2008 with two Christian organizations Plant with Purpose and Upland Holistic Development Project (UHDP), about it I worked with UHDP’s research technician to document projects such as growing giant bamboo and prickly ash trees, more about and local methods of biogas production. Implemented with partner village participation, research projects are initiated at UHDP and address villagers’ concerns about growing food self-sufficiently and supplementing their meager incomes.
In 2009, I continued living at UHDP but started working with ECHO Asia Regional Impact Center to develop a seed bank facility. Many resource-poor communities in Southeast Asia have little or no access to culturally and ecologically significant food crop and tree seeds and must make do with commercially available seeds. Usually, commercial seeds require high levels of chemical inputs and access to large areas of land, to which these communities have little or no access. With our seed bank providing open-pollinated, heirloom-type seeds, we support these communities’ ability to grow food they like to eat and to plant trees with economic importance.
In 2010-2011, I worked with the seed bank team to establish ECHO Asia Regional Seed Bank’s operations and to help run research projects.  We are now a team of 3 staff and 4 volunteer staff doing things like setting up an online seed catalogue, and implementing seed inventory and distribution processes, and troubleshooting our seed production techniques as we continue to grow more than 75 different food plants and tree varieties.
In 2012-2013, I continue to work with the seed bank team as well as build new resources with my director, that will be shared with people working with farmers around Southeast Asia. Â This includes organizing workshops with regional partners, developing seed saving teaching materials, and developing a book on how to cook the under-used food plants we promote to our network.
Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions: ruth [AT] tshin.com