by Ramphai Noikaew and Greg Pettys
Nestled on the outskirts of Shri Lanna National Park in Northern Thailand, Panya Forest is more than a permaculture project, it is a sanctuary. Here, a community of seed savers works not only to preserve plant diversity but also the stories, songs, and ancestral knowledge carried alongside each seed. Surrounded by hill-tribe villages (Karen, Lisu, Lahu, Hmong), traditional Thai communities, and an increasing number of Westerners, the region is rich in both ecological and cultural diversity.
Founded in 2012 by Christian Shearer and friends, Panya Forest grew from a mono mango plantation into a thriving permaculture center. After funding challenges, Ramphai Noikaew and Gregory Pettys, long-time members of Pun Pun Community, took up stewardship. At Pun Pun, Ramphai created welcoming circles where Myanmar youth could share their stories, sparking the vision of Panya Forest as a safe space for them to learn self-reliance, permaculture, and community living. As anyone who works with soil knows, without biological diversity under the ground, the soil will not be rich. The same is true of society. Panya Forest was envisioned as a cultural and ecological seed bank, a place where all ways of knowing are valued, and where education happens through story, song, and daily life.
A military coup has taken over Myanmar. Yet the fact is, this war has been going on for years. As it is, many people in Myanmar are farmers. They rely completely on the land. Yet farmers’ lands are often bombed before anything can grow and few, if any jobs are available to allow people to make enough income to purchase necessities. When farmers can grow a good crop, the military often steals the food they grow come harvest time. The situation is indeed very severe and doesn’t look as though it will be getting better anytime soon. And recently a new law has been enforced that requires men living outside of Myanmar to immediately become soldiers for the Myanmar military upon their return.
Panya Forest, recognising this, has opened its doors to young refugees who are not able to return home. They are providing them with university education, visas, home-grown food, shelter and in addition, deep hands-on experience into permaculture, seed saving and cross-cultural ecovillage life. The hope is that while they are in Thailand, they will be able to heal, find confidence, and gain the skills needed to eventually return to their homes in Myanmar to be community leaders, able to share what they have learned about viable local economies, about the importance of keeping one’s own traditions in-tact and alive, how to maintain self-sufficiency, to remain committed to organic agriculture, to manage conflict and grief, to empower woman, protect children and do so, with joy.
Here are their stories…
Thein Htike Aung, 24, comes from Sei Gyi Village in Sagaing Province. He lost his father at 14 and watched his mother struggle to care for a family of twelve amid ongoing civil war. Farms are regularly destroyed, and soldiers often steal crops. “Life is fragile back home, but here I can grow food without fear,” Thein says. At Panya, he dedicates himself to organic farming and permaculture, hoping one day to help his family rebuild sustainably.
Mratt Kyaw, an ethnic Rakhine, once ran an NGO teaching permaculture across Myanmar. When the military bombed his farm and cut him off from family, he fled to Thailand. At Panya, he continues his passion for community development, mentoring others in sustainable farming while navigating uncertain visa status. “Even though I’ve lost so much, being here reminds me that knowledge and community cannot be destroyed,” he reflects.
Zar Zar Tun, from Mandalay, left Myanmar in 2024 to continue her Bachelor’s degree. Financial hardship and war made returning impossible. At Pun Pun and Panya Forest, she learned earth-based construction, organic gardening, and simple living. “Before, I thought success meant money and a big house. Now I know it’s about love, time, and care,” she says. Zar Zar helps with gardening, cooking, and mentoring new volunteers, sharing her experience and energy generously.
Htet Kyaw (Tom) arrived in Thailand to study, later joining Panya to learn permaculture and forest conservation. His family remains in conflict zones, making return unsafe. “Panya has given me a space to learn skills that matter, not just for me, but for my people,” he says, tending the gardens and supporting community projects.
Khaing Zar Lin (Cath), from Mandalay, came to Thailand to study and now helps run daily operations at Panya, including gardening, cooking, and finance. She hopes to use her experience to support her family and one day teach sustainable living in her community.
Khaing Zin Myint (Mar Zin) left Myanmar when her younger sister’s schooling was cut short by war. At Panya, she finds purpose in volunteering while continuing her education and planning for a future that allows her to help family and community.
Lashi Labya Naw Lai, a Jinghpaw youth from Northern Shan State, fled after schools and local food systems were destroyed in the 2023 military offensive. Traveling through dozens of checkpoints, she arrived in Thailand seeking safety. “Here, I can grow food, learn, and feel hope again,” she says. At Panya, she learns organic farming, seed saving, and sustainable living, dreaming of returning home to rebuild her community.
Life at Panya Forest is immersive. Students grow vegetables, tend fruit trees, care for animals, cook communal meals, and build earth-based homes. Daily routines are interwoven with storytelling, songs, and cross-cultural sharing. Friendships flourish, knowledge is passed on, and every voice is heard.
Despite the hardships they’ve faced, these students are learning resilience, confidence, and practical skills. They are discovering that survival and flourishing are not just about escaping danger, they are about building a life rooted in community, sustainability, and hope.
Panya Forest is more than a farm, it is a living classroom, a sanctuary, and a bridge to the future. It nurtures both the earth and the people who care for it, preparing the next generation of leaders to protect traditions, practice self-sufficiency, and foster thriving communities in Myanmar and beyond.
Please support their work by donating to their fundraising campaign, to help cover their expenses for a whole year!
