Organic farm on tourism map

By: WALAILAK KEERATIPIPATPONG
Published: 21/02/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: BusinessThe 60-rai Rai Pluk Rak organic farm has become a new eco-tourism destination in Ratchaburi province and a learning centre for organic producers. Owners Anotai Gongvatana and her husband Kaan Ritkhachorn aim to use the farm to help visitors gain experience in running a farm, and to appreciate its value in helping the environment.

The farm has attracted visitors in the past but now the Tourism Authority of Thailand has put the site on its list of day trips to the province, alongside other must-visit places such as the world-famous Damnoen Saduak floating market and the outlet store of Pasaya, a producer of high-quality textiles.

Mrs Anotai said that Rai Pluk Rak since late 2007 had arranged a total of 40 day trips for staff and customers of Bankok Insurance under the insurer's energy-conservation programme.

Participants, especially families with children, have enjoyed learning about organic farming and activities such as making salted eggs, salad dressing, and ice-cream from organic ingredients.

She said the same activities would be offered for any interested visitors who might come in groups or as individuals.

''Due to our limited capacity, we could accept a maximum of 80 people per day and it has to be on weekends, and only from December to March,'' she said.

The farm charges 650 baht for adults, 350 baht for children under 12, and free admission for those under 3.

''It's a fun time for children to start learning about the nature around them, about helpful and harmful insects. They can even pick eggs from the hatchery and salt them,'' Mrs Anotai said.

Rai Pluk Rak farm has been growing more than 30 types of vegetables for nearly 10 years with accreditation from the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). It supplies its produce to about 60 leading supermarkets in Bangkok.

Mr Kaan said that the farm used many herbal plants to reduce insects, as well as bat manure to promote the growth of vegetables. ''We also feed ducks and fish on the farm in an organic way. Ducks are very useful for getting rid of vegetables when we want to prepare the plot for the next crop,'' he said.

Organic producers, he said, could not only preserve the environment and promote good health, but in the long run they can enjoy more sustainable growth and lower costs, especially since they don't have to buy chemical fertilisers and insecticides.

He’s done what he enjoys for 30 years

Insurance agent is also local sportscaster

By Tony Kindelspire
Longmont Times-Call

LONGMONT — Jeff Pfeiffer is in a good mood most of the time. And why not? Both professionally and on his own time, he’s a man who spends much of his time getting to do what he enjoys.


After college, the Illinois native started down a career path in law enforcement, first with the FBI and then the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. But after a few years, he completely switched gears.


“I wanted to be more in control of my own life, and I started looking into the insurance business,” said Pfeiffer, 59. “My State Farm agent turned me on to this company.”


Pfeiffer hired a secretary and started his own State Farm agency in 1979, and on Feb. 1 he entered his 31st year in the business.


“It was just the two of us,” he said. “I had one file when I started, and it was mine.”


It was five years before he made a profit, he said, and along the way he borrowed money and cashed out his savings and his retirement fund. But he kept at it, and now he has four employees.


“I was a detective under the sheriff’s department, so I was used to talking to people,” he said of his career transition.


Pfeiffer may be a familiar face even for those who aren’t his clients. A few years ago, he became a sportscaster.


He approached Channel 3, Longmont’s public access station, received training, and soon was a sideline reporter for local prep football and basketball games. It didn’t take long before he was the color commentator for the games.


He’s been doing that regularly for seven years now, and he also has hosted a non-sports talk show on Channel 3 called “Up Front,” for which won a national cable award, he said.


Pfeiffer also serves on the Longmont Council for the Arts, has served on the OUR Center board and has held fundraisers for the Foundation Fighting Blindness.


An avid golfer, Pfeiffer said he loves how Longmont has retained its small-town feel from the days when he first hung his shingle out.


He said he has no plans to retire anytime soon, and he hopes to keep selling insurance and calling games for many years to come.


“Both of them are harder than I ever thought they would be,” Pfeiffer said. “I just like the challenge of it all.”


Tony Kindelspire can be reached at 303-684-5291 or tkindelspire@times-call.com.