In what felt like the middle of nowhere, a sleepy cluster of little wooden houses standing on stilts, huddled together on the hill-slopes nestled among the trees. I’ve arrived to Soblan village.

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Although there aren’t any shopping malls or convenience stores, and the closest 7-11 is about half an hour away, around here there is more than enough of whatever one may need to last a lifetime and more if one is resourceful and respectful. If the groceries are out, one does not simply buy it from the supermarket or order it online — one grows it. Here, one does not merely live on the land — one lives off the land and with it.

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For the past four generations, this indigenous Karen community has called this forest home, here in what is today called northern Thailand. Down the line from his ancestors who migrated here hundreds of years ago, Patii Taayae Chudboonming — ‘Patii’ meaning uncle, as well as teacher — is now the leader to his community. One week, he and his family welcomed me into their home and showed me the ways of their land:

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