Kirimaya Resort in Khao Yai Launches Organic Project

[HD video below] Set in 800 acres of lush greenery bordering an UNESCO World Heritage National Park, rainforest and majestic mountain range in Khao Yai, Thailand, two 64-room resorts, the Kirimaya and the Muthi Maya, have launched an innovative organic project.

As the first stage of this project, Kirimaya recently developed and planted a five-acre farm of organic produce that will eventually supply 100% of the resorts’ vegetable and herbs requirements.

The project is being overseen by hands-on creative Executive Chef, David Bedinghaus who recently joined the Kirimaya team.

“I am thrilled to have such a unique, exciting project to develop. Organic produce is such a huge trend in the industry right now – and to have the produce growing at the resort – it doesn’t get any fresher than that,” said Chef David. “This is just the first of many levels and layers of how we use the produce in the resort - there is much more to come.”

Khao Yai’s rich fertile soil and temperate climate make it ideal for the organic farm. Ten staff work full time on the farm, where the ‘seed to harvest’ period can be from 45-60 days depending on the crop.

The farm will consist of 160 blocks of plants, using a “drip irrigation” system close to the surface of the soil which controls both the moisture content of the soil as well as limiting weed growth, without using chemicals. Organic fertilizer will be used on the plants.

Plant blocks are 1.2 meters wide and 18 meters long with varied crop spacing depending on which plants are used. Each plant will be grown in four blocks, being harvested one week apart to give continuous supply until the end of the season.

In the first phase, crops planned and planted include the following:

Salad Bar Vegetables – a variety of 12 different lettuces including butter head, cos, frillice, green batavia, green oak, iceberg, red leaf, rocket

Local Vegetables – asparagus, baby carrots, bell peppers, cherry tomato, Chinese cabbage, Chinese kale, crookneck squash, Japanese pumpkin, spinach, red cabbage, white chives, sweet corn

Thai Spicy Herbs – chilli, galangal, ginger, lemongrass

Herbs for International Foods – celery, Italian parsley, Japanese mint, lemon balm, lemon thyme, oregano, peppermint, rosemary, thyme, sage, Thai Leaf Herbs coriander, green shallots, holy basil, Thai basil

Seasonal – strawberries, Japanese sweet potato

Further stages of the Organic Project include:

- Use of herbs from the farm in a range of specially designed holistic spa treatments
- Cooking classes for guests using produce from the farm
- Guest participation in harvesting of crops
- Developments of the resort’s own organic curry paste for green and red curries

HD Video Tour of the 5-Star Luxury Kirimaya Golf Resort & Spa in Khao Yai, Thailand

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