My Father's Mino Melon Growing Diary: A Small Journey of Life

I remember reading in the book Life Is the Place Most Worth Going: "What matters in travel is not which places we have been to, but whether our lives, through such movement, can bring us closer to the life we want for ourselves." On my own life journey, I entered the organic industry in 2006 in a daze, simply because my family farmed and I understood that all my parents' hard work earned such a meager reward; I simply wanted to understand agriculture, and by a chance combination of circumstances I entered the then fledgling organic farming sector.

Over nine years, every bit of the scenery has left a deep impression on me. I have seen so many people persevering for their dreams, and I have been moved by them; at this moment I understand that the most beautiful thing along the way is a simple heart. There are many things in life that money cannot buy, yet here they can be touched; money is not the absolute measure.

My journey continues onward, and now I am a beginner-level farmer. Standing on this land, the sweat shed from hard work lets me truly feel that body and soil are not two. All the little moments of these past nearly ten years could only be understood once I stood on the land: happiness is actually very simple; when you are content with the present moment, that is the greatest wealth.

Once, within the organic industry, I hoped my parents, who wanted to farm the traditional way, would switch to organic cultivation; but ”habit” is a hard thing to begin changing, because the ”heart” makes him feel difficulty, unfamiliarity and insecurity, until my father, using rest as an excuse, began helping look after someone else's organic farm, and only then discovered that it was not as hard to promote as he had imagined.

This summer, the Mino melons he grew using organic farming methods ripened! In the greenhouse, Mino melons hung one after another in heavy fruit on the trellis netting, bustling with life; my father, who pursues better even when it is already good, left only 1 to 2 small melons on each vine, letting the essence remain in just those 2.

The guidance and help of many people along the way have let me share my joy at this moment; the joy comes not only from the produce, but even more from a good change. If I were to write an article thanking the people who have urged me on and encouraged me, it would surely stretch on endlessly to the horizon!

So then, let us travel together! Let us taste together the results grown with care and with life!

Product name: Organically grown Mino melon
Price: 1 box (10~12 melons) about 10 jin; 1200 yuan per box
Sales period: July 25 to early August
Shipping (including handling fee, packaging, etc.): free shipping during the promotional period
You may call to inquire 02-22328550 (Taiwan Original Flavor)

How to order (please click)