Neighboring Communities(小編)
In Changzhi Township the terrain is flat and soil fertile— and fruit orchards are spread throughout. This pleasant countryside community is nestled among the neighboring townships of Linluo, Jiuru, Yanpu and Neipu, and the city of Pingtung. With some education and effort to develop its potential, Changzhi could become a “living museum” of fruits and flowers. Even now, it is known as a place of traditional farm life— a place where you work when the weather is fair, and pick up a book when the rains pour down; sowing in springtime and harvesting come autumn. The scene is one that fills the eye with "birds soaring in a blue sky, and people ploughing among a forest of green".
Accessibility is one of Changzhi’s strengths. The No. 24 Highway and No. 3 Freeway play central roles in the transporting of its produce; with sweet and delicious fruits carried away in boxes to metropolitan areas to satisfy the appetites of urbanites. This ease of travel has, however, opened the doors for one group after the next to venture off to faraway places. That affectionate scene, which once-upon-a-time witnessed three generations living together under one roof, gradually paled into a lonely picture of silver-haired seniors carrying out their farm work alone. The youthful vitality that should have been, gradually faded away. Traditional skills and memories of life were drifting away in the breeze and the office’s vision of a livable city—cultured, cultivated, comfortable and convenient –seemed to be retreating over the horizon. That is why Tajen University is now taking upon itself the social responsibility to help Changzhi Township regain its former glory.
The Idea of Garden Fun(小編)
Even when the vision is far off, dreams are still worth pursuing—and the first step in this pursuit is to activate rural industries. One of Changzhi Township’s points of attraction is the diverse fruit crops it cultivates. However, bringing produce to market via traders doesn’t turn much of a profit for the farmers; and when natural disasters occur, the losses are borne by the farmers themselves. If, however, tourists were drawn in to directly purchase the farmers’ products, perhaps they could gain some of the markups which otherwise would go to the dealers. That is the idea behind the promotion of “Garden Fun”. But Garden Fun is not only about encouraging people to come in to pick and purchase fruits. As the saying goes: “from afar, your life is my scenery”. Communities and farms work hand-in-hand; inasmuch, “the experience of the cultural characteristics of local life” needs to be the main axis of promotion. This is especially true in Changzhi, where the lives and cultures of Hoklo, Hakka, and Aboriginal people all overlap – making it a place with cultural genes unlike anywhere else.
Finding Cultural Genes(小編)
The stories told by older generations provide us with memories of life; and old photos are useful mediums for triggering those memories. Marriages naturally create memories that are hard to erase, even in the later years of life. Reminiscing about how they met, seniors still tend to blush as they shyly speak about those sweet times they shared. Some met their mates via matchmakers, with weddings arranged within a few short weeks, according to tradition. This is perhaps a very different way to think about love at first sight! Seniors also share about how the houses have changed. These architectural changes coincided with changes in economic focus, over time— with roofs first made of thatch, then sugar cane leaves, and following that, tile shingles; each rooftop representing a different era in the agricultural development of the area. The trends are intriguing: Changzhi was once established as a center for corn production; the corn was then used to feed the pigs which, in turn, resulted in Changchi becoming a hub for Taiwan’s livestock industry. Finally, when livestock wastewater standards were changed, and Taiwan entered into the World Trade Organization, this era came to a close and the livestock industry fades away.
Pursuing the Dream(小編)
The beauty of Changzhi Township is not experienced by quickly passing through. To savor the experience, one must take the time to explore the narrow and winding lanes and venture down the small roads that lead to the farms and orchards. To those who live in Taiwan, wax apples are no stranger, indeed. Yet some may not know that the cultivation process involve a lot of hard work, which elderly farmers often cannot maintain. “So just let it grow naturally and don’t bother with it” – that was the experience of Mr. Hong, the owner of a prosperous wax apple orchard. Mr. Hong is an example of someone who left home at a young age, and then returned late in life. After retiring, he wanted to clean up the garden— and even though he had the mind to do it, he didn’t have the energy. Finally, he just let it go. At this time, Mrs. Hong also returned. When she saw the situation with the wax apple orchard, she thought: a wax apple orchard that doesn’t use chemical fertilizer or pesticides is exactly the kind of healthy orchard we are looking for. But wax apples that have been sampled by bugs and birds will certainly cause heartbreak when brought to market. And so, a new direction was pursued; and thanks to the imagination of some young people, “wax apple flower tea” was born. The flavor is not as rich as black or green tea, nor as tangy as vanilla tea, yet there is a subtle wax apple scent embodied within. And if you accent it with a touch of honey, and watch the pedals slowly expand, you’ll see that it is truly a soft and aesthetic cup of tea.
In their survey of the field, Mr. Hong was focused on the experience and Mrs. Hong, the vision— and just like a bass and trumpet playing in concert, the low chords evoked a sense of nostalgia and the bright clarion urged a forward march. Mr. Hong talked about the flower picking techniques, and Mrs. Hong about the tea making process, with the melody of each motif harmonizing under a common theme. In the meantime, the team involved in the project continues to look ahead; always ready to propose new models by which to integrate the community with the activities on the farm, and always looking to incorporate the aroma of wax apple flowers into different agricultural products – in this way, adding more instruments and more levels of harmony to what is becoming an exceptional movement.
Vision and Expectation(小編)
Following several activities and meetings, a common desire to bring farms and communities together was apparent. Guided tours of community life and culture, the creation of farming experiences, creative use of surplus materials, and the use of products to make great tastings meals– that’s what Garden Fun is all about. We anticipate that when tourists come to Changzhi, they won’t only be picking and purchasing fruit – rather, they will be experiencing what it means to relax, unwind and reconnect with themselves.