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Residents in Shang-an village suffered Earthquake 921, therefore, they cherish their homeland and its surrounding even more. They live a reassuring healthy life with the concept, “LOHAS, Poison Free”, which connects the soil and people.
“Hi, this is DaiDai Recreation Farm.” If you hear such an introduction, I believe you might wonder what’s that! But in the meantime, it sounds lovely and shows affection. Of course, this word “槑” doesn’t read “DaiDai” but “May or Mei”. 槑 is the ancient Chinese character of Mei. Mei Recreation Farm in Shuili Nantou uses the ancient character to name this recreation farm. Because local people expect leisure agriculture area can be as prosperous as the plum blossoms in Shang-an Village.
Mei Recreation Farm was devoted to transformation under Council of Agriculture’s guidance after Earthquake 921. This area is favorably endowed with nature that grows quality fruits and vegetables, and fruit picking as well as DIY activities are available all year round. The service center showcases, sells local agricultural produce and offers various tours to introduce life in Shang-an village where the visitors can have various fun activities, such as making tea, tasting tea, picking fruits and making grape juice, or taking part in agricultural activities and making pencils with the plum twigs.
Going to Eat Grapes at Ganxi Farm
“Willingness to Cultivation, Care for Nature” is Ganxi Farm’s philosophy to grow grapes. The farm owner, Yougan ZHANG, refuses the harm of residual pesticides and adopts MOA natural farming practices. He also went to National Chung Hsing University and the farm got organic certified. All the efforts are to grow quality Kyoho grapes and Honey Red grapes (a varietal of vitis vinifera L.x vitis labrus Ca L.). Visitors following ZHANG in the guided tour learned the varietals of grapes and ways of cultivation as well as the 6-step tip to pick grapes, “Look, Smell, Inspect, Tear Apart, Snip and Store”. Following the aroma and we found the sweet grape fruits, which made everyone excited and we shared the joy of harvest. Every summer and winter, the farm offers “DIY grape juice” activity to teach visitors how to bottle the harvested grapes with granulated sugar. The drink will be ready to serve in half a year.
Tasting Organic Fruits and Vegetables
The owner of“Tianshanling Organic Farm”, Tianlai HUANG has been in farming for 58 years, from the era with no pesticides to a time when pesticides were heavily relied on. 38 years ago, as soon as he found pesticides and herbicides damage the soil and ecology, he stopped using pesticides. In the first year without pesticides, his harvest was poor, but he insisted to do the right thing; he even dug a pond to keep tadpoles, so that the frogs can help eat the pests and bugs. In a couple of years, the strength recovery of the soil was successful and he started to have good harvest. His farm was also organic certified and became the first local organic farm. He sells his homegrown healthy and toxic free products such as loofah, dragon fruit and sweet potatoes at the farmers’market in National Chung Hsing University every weekend. They sell out fast. His farm also attracts plenty international travelers for working holidays. HUANG tells the visitors his love for earth and the ways to pick fruits. The agricultural activities will give visitors an unforgettable trip.
Fun of Tea Making and Tea Tasting Getting familiar with Tea
“Jiuqiongping B&B- A Tea&Life Sqaure” sitting in the garden is a good place to learn the ecology of tea garden, tea tasting and tea making. The owner, Mincong CHEN won Shennong (Patron of Agriculture) Award in 1996; to introduce the tea varieties to visitors, he makes 6 kinds of tea including non-fermented tea, partially fermented tea, completely fermented tea and aged tea and invites visitors to savor them. From tea tasting, visitors can find their favorite. The DIY black tea activity is well loved. Visitors roll the tea with their hands, let the tea set and ferment, then roast the tea, the process can broaden their tea experiences. CHEN also designed an interesting game, in which participants will taste the tea made by themselves without knowing whose tea it is, and then pick the top 3. Moreover, there are DIY shu chu cakes activity and guided tours to the tea garden. Staying over, visitors will fall asleep in an environment with the aroma of tea.
Making Your Own Pen with Plum Twigs
“Meilinjulugouqiao Cafe”is the secret attraction in Mei Recreation Farm. In winter, the white plum blossoms are all over that makes it fascinating. The owner of Meilinjulugouqiao Cafe is a senior plum farmer, Mr. Zhengxiang LU. He used to work as a developer of Christmas gifts, on a whim, he made the “Mei Pencil” with the pruned-off plum twigs. He leads the visitors to drill a hole in the twigs, put the refill inside, then peel it to make shapes. How interesting! Typhoon Toraji wreaked havoc and destroyed the plum garden in 2001. LU then allocated some land to grow coffee trees and developed “Lugouqiao Coffee” which has a particularly strong and good flavor gourmets enjoy, and connoisseurs know their way to place orders.
Tasty Dishes in a LOHAS Farm
“Huck Zhang Lohas Garden” is run by a retired school dean. He grows all kinds of fruits and vegetables as well as herbs and offers activities such as Roselle picking, preserved fruit making and pickled plum making. Souvenirs such as plum fudge, plum essence candy and Ping-an cake are also available. Visitors who are fond of home cooking can make a reservation. Mrs. ZHANG’s homemade dishes can satisfy our taste buds. The homegrown beet roots, Roselle, bottle gourds, cucumbers, pastures, and sweet potatoes are used to make the 3-color vegetable noodles, complimented with homemade braised minced meat and tomatoes is flavorful. The pickled vegetable that is naturally fermented flavors the pork rib soup, and one bowl may not be enough! The local specialty such as plums, dried bamboo shoots are also ingredients to spice up the dishes full of care and love.
