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The pear trees are deeply rooted in the soil of Dongshi and they receive the farmers’ attentive care. Therefore, the fruits are tasty with great aroma, the harvest locals feel proud of in the Fruit Homeland.
Fruit homeland, moniker of Dongshi has a mild climate, bountiful rainfall and the temperature differs greatly in the morning and evening. The trees are conducting photosynthesis and absorbing nutrition in the day time, while the temperature is lowered at night and the growth slows down so that there are more sugar content the fruit accumulate, so to nurture such quality fruits. In the 1970s, the retired teacher, Rongsheng ZHANG grafted the pear tree originally growing in high mountains to those in the flatlands so that the they grow the pears that are delicate in texture, high in sugar and rack in money. He selfishlessly shared this grafting skill with local farmers and it has developed the grafted pear industry. Now the Pears Homeland Recreation Farm is full of pear trees and each has its own posture and gesture, in the early spring, the pears are in full bloom as if fallen snows on the trees. In midsummer, the trees are laden with ripening pears. It’s as if they were beckoning the visitors to taste the juicy and sweet fruits.
Adopting Pear Trees and Being a Farmer
In 2016, Pears Homeland Recreation Farm introduced a program “Urban Farmers- Adopting Pear Trees”, which takes NT$2,500 to be an adopter. During the adoption period, the adopters just need to make an appointment with the fruit farmers and they can come to the orchard to weed and water their adopted trees as well as thin fruits and bag fruits. In the process, they’ll experience the process that “a pear will be touched 12 times until it is ripe.” In the harvest season, picking the fruits will give them a great sense of achievement. The owner of “Pine Orchard”, WU, is involved in the event, and he welcomes city dwellers to leave the concrete jungle and come to Pears Homeland Recreation Farm to get close to the nature and share the happiness of good harvest. WU took over the orchard from his father, and he insisted pesticide free practice. He said smilingly that growing pears is his exercise and visitors can be rest assured to savor several kinds of pears growing in the orchard.
Stories of Pears Learning How to Graft
Pears Homeland Recreation Farm gathers a group of locals who are deeply in love with this land and Dongshi Farmers’ Association with an aim to pass down and promote the pear culture. The first grated pear tree in Dongshi is now located in the back of “Pear Culture House” which was planned by Dongshi Farmers’ Association. Pear Culture House is in the “Yungyeh Leisure Farm”, the start point to learn grafted pears. Here visitors can try to graft pears and have a firsthand experience, which is entertaining and educational. Various fruits are grown in the orchard, such as persimmons, plums, oranges and peaches. In the spring, visitors can observe fireflies and beetles in summer. Asides from fruit picking, the orchard also offers DIY activities such as making the plum vinegar, pickled plums and plum enzyme during the plum season. The owner of Yungyeh Leisure Farm, Taizhu YEH, enjoys making pottery so that the farm also offers clay making activities that visitors can feel the beauty of handcrafts. Besides, his homemade Hakka fermented bean curd is highly acclaimed and becomes a favorite souvenir.
The Quality Bamboo Shoots Can’t be Exposed to the Sun
LUO originally grew pear trees, but they were destroyed in typhoon season. He then observed the soil of his land and found the depth is enough and there is sufficient water for irrigation that after exchanging experiences with farmer friends, he decided to grow ma bamboo shoots. So that “Maoshen Bamboo Shoot Farm” is the only one produce bamboo shoots in Pears Homeland Recreation Farm. There are many tricks growing ma bamboo shoots. LUO applies organic fertilizer and black cover to bamboo shoots so that they can’t use energy from light to synthesize, and that results in juicy and sweet bamboo shoots with delicate texture. To limit the bamboo shoots’ exposure to sunlight, he chooses 3 or 4 o’clock in the early morning to harvest and sells them right away. It always sells out fast. LUO also uses the green bamboo shoots not growing under the black cover to make pickles, which is to flavor hot and sour soup, thick pork soup or make pickled bamboo shoot soup. The slightly sour taste is really tantalizing which makes it a favorite souvenir.
Cloud Walking and Slow Travel
“Shanshuiyun Ecological Farm’ is like a treasure trove, the owner Mr. Chuntai LIU grows fruits and runs B&B. His son, Zhengbin LIU returned home at a young age to assist him to develop the quality agriculture. They grow papayas, melons, tomatoes and watermelons in the green house in ways of friendly farming and runs the business with an objective to make people healthy. Coming to Shanshuiyun Ecological Farm, visitors can learn the produce and its ecological environment, they can also try making lacquers in the traditional Japanese technique, choosing a favorite leaf from the farm, applying the raw lacquer onto the acrylics and finally sprinkling the shell powders to increase the brightness. The farm also offers interesting activities such as harvesting fungi and making fungus juice.
Hear in Idyllic Resort
“Hear in Idyllic Resort” is new to Pears Homeland Recreation Farm. It is founded by the couple Chunzi LIN who loves trees. They view the 60-year-old longan tree in their garden as a treasure and also carefully attend to Madagascar almond, five-needle pines, Griffith's ash, and hoop pines. They also plant almost a hundred bald cypresses to build a bald cypress lane. Trees play the main role in the villa, and each tree has its own name tag. To make the value of trees last, the owner uses the tree sticks to decorate the interior of B&B and the dining room. Staying over here for a relaxing vacation, visitors can cook with their own food materials or make a reservation and have the hostess to prepare food for them. The homemade plum vinegar is a great souvenir to continue the sense of happiness from the vacation.
