Making Friends with Grafted Pears in Dongshi: A Little Food and Farming Trip

Liu Hsing-chien, owner of Dragonfly Valley Ecological Farm, does not only grow fruit. He dug out a pond that had been filled in and turned it into an ecological pond, cultivating nearly thirty species of dragonflies and damselflies and eighteen species of frogs, one of which is an ecological pond specially for breeding fireflies. "Moths and insects are relatively bad for fruit trees. Once birds, dragonflies and frogs come in, they help eat the pests of fruit trees, using the natural ecology to control numbers, so pesticide use can be reduced," he revealed. In the future he also plans to build an ecological classroom on the grounds, so that when everyone comes to Dragonfly Valley to experience farm work, they can also take a lesson in ecological education.

Chan Te-chang's Hsin-ho-yuan Leisure Orchard cultivates Atago pears and loquats using the grass-and-tree coexistence method. He joked that he has grown "monster loquats" - juicy and delicious, four times the size of ordinary loquats. Another, Sun Chang-mao, who grafts Shinseiki pears and Taichung No. 2 pears, hopes that this year his pears can be free of pesticide detection and that he can become a toxin-free farmer.

Tseng Kuang-ming, one of the owners of Dongshi Sanheyi Agricultural Cooperative, once went to Japan and brought back the technique of artificial pollination of pears, promoting to farmers the concept of environmental friendliness and natural agricultural materials. Regarding the future development of Dongshi's pear industry, he believes that the number of Dongshi farmers practicing friendly cultivation is gradually increasing; although each person's method is different, the results are all good. "We can bring the friendly cases together, jointly discuss a set of local cultivation methods suitable for Dongshi, and drive more people to join."

Seeing farmers continuously progress and change, Tung Chih-wei could hardly hide his emotion as he said: "This makes the cooperation between Guoben Mountain Farmers and the farmers even more meaningful."

From May to August, we invite adults and children alike to come together to Dongshi, the hometown of fruit, and follow these Hakka mountain farmers to grow pears that are "at peace with nature"!

[Dongshi, So Many Fruits] Parent-Child Food Education Experience Camp

Do the children want to become little masters of fruit? Parents are welcome to bring their children to Dongshi to take part in the growing process of pears and Murcott mandarins, and enjoy the fun of picking fresh fruit. The teacher will also lead everyone in making red tortoise cakes and dyeing cloth by hand.

• Time: May to August of year 101 (2012)
• Eligibility: No restriction on age or gender; everyone may participate. Divided into two groups, A (Saturday) and B (Sunday), each group open to 40-50 people, about 10 households
• Fee: Five activities in total; full participation is encouraged. Each activity costs 600 yuan for adults, 500 yuan for elementary school children, and 300 yuan for those under 6. Includes course experience and a field-style lunch; fees are collected on site.
• Activity time: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.