Organic Agriculture Service-Learning: Sidelights on a Bicycle Journey in Hualien (Part 2)

Raising Funds at the Guangfu Sugar Factory

After leaving the Fenglin breakfast street, we rode toward Guangfu, stopping first for a visit to Mataian Wetland. Everyone saw the Amis people's clever and eco-friendly palakaw fish traps; we also took off our shoes at the stream beside the Luyuan Restaurant and dipped our usually confined feet into the clean, cool water. Stealing half a day of leisure from this busy life is one of life's joys.

Then we headed to the Guangfu Sugar Factory. Coming here was not just to try the famous ice cream, but also to shoulder the most important task of this service-learning trip – raising funds for Bethany Children's Home. Four male classmates stretched open a cloth banner over 2 meters long. At first, the students were too embarrassed and held the banner so high it almost covered their faces, and then they began to shout: "I ride one kilometer, you donate one dollar, send love to Bethany Children's Home..." The girls, in groups of 3-4, set out to collect donations. Whenever someone donated, we made sure to ask for their signature; truly, even one dollar was not too little.

We were very happy that most tourists responded enthusiastically to our appeal. In the end, we counted nearly 6,000 yuan in donations; adding the later donations along the way and the 4,000 yuan pledged by all of us, more than 10,000 yuan in charitable funds was sent to Bethany Children's Home. This was the tangible gain of this service-learning trip; and I believe the intangible harvest also reached deep into the hearts of the participating students, so that in the future they can extend that love to others and spread it widely.

• Officer Weng of the Dafu police station also responded to our activity

The "Iron Horse Station" at Dafu Police Station

After leaving the sugar factory, we continued toward Ruisui. A light rain began to fall, but it did not affect us much. At this point there was another gentle uphill stretch; though it was a bit harder, we had already been riding for two days, and as long as we summoned our willpower to keep going, we could make it. We had originally planned to cut across from Provincial Highway 9 through Ziqiang Minimum-Security Prison to County Road 193.

Unfortunately, just as we reached the intersection, we saw construction workers putting up warning barriers saying the road was impassable due to construction, so we had to keep going along Highway 9. Finally, at the "Iron Horse Station" at Dafu Police Station, we met the kind Officer Weng, who told us that by turning left at the police station intersection and going straight, we could connect to County Road 193. We rested for a while at the only Iron Horse Station we stopped at on this trip; although we had no real need for it, being able to enjoy the service atmosphere specially provided for cyclists made us grateful for that thoughtfulness.

We heard that a former Hualien County police commissioner, who was himself a cycling enthusiast, started the Iron Horse Stations in Hualien as a precedent to give cyclists logistical support. I think that when a good policy is promoted by people who truly empathize, it will surely better meet the public's needs. And our Officer "Weng" at Dafu also responded to our activity, donating double the kilometers of this trip!

The first half of this small path toward 193 was downhill, so we could easily enjoy the green scenery on both sides; unfortunately, the second half was uphill. Everyone was panting hard as they rode, and about one third were able to ride all the way to the top and connect to County Road 193; the rest had to get off and slowly push their bikes, saving some energy for later.

• Farmer Zhang-Wu Ruiyi's grass-cultivated pomelo orchard, full of vitality

A Pomelo Orchard Converted to Organic

Afterward, we met up with technician Xu Zhiming from the Hualien County Government and went to visit the pomelo orchard of farmer Zhang-Wu Ruiyi. Although the farmer was already over 70 years old, he was still healthy and personally cultivated such a large orchard. His orchard uses grass cultivation, mowing only in specific seasons with a mower and not using herbicides. The yield under conventional agriculture, after adopting organic methods, was only about one fifth of the original, but the price could not be 5 times that of conventional products; this is the main difficulty facing organic agriculture today. If, after technical challenges are overcome, the yield could reach one half of conventional farming, and the price could be about one half higher than conventional, then there would be more reasonable production conditions.

We thanked the older farmer for his warm hospitality with the fragrant tangerines he grew, which had a slightly sour citrus aroma rarely seen on the market. We listened as the farmer talked about his journey of switching to organic farming, and some students were moved to tears. If agriculture is to have a future, we need to give more children the chance to come into contact with farming. That way we will not only have a new generation of farmers, but also consumers willing to support friendly production.

By the time we left the farm, the rain had grown a little heavier, and everyone put on raincoats and carefully rode downhill. Before reaching Qinglian Temple, where we would stay that night, we first went to dinner on Ruisui Street. We had originally planned to eat the famous Zhang Family Meatballs, but although that day (Sunday) they sold twice the usual amount, they still sold out early; so we could only casually try some of the other snacks in the shop. A product's reputation takes time to build; chatting with Boss Zhang was itself a little snack of life!

• A discussion with small farmers, hoping to let students gain a deeper understanding of agriculture

Small Farmers Speak

That night we stayed at the pilgrim building of Qinglian Temple, which has a history of about 10 years; the large communal bunks sleep 5 people, and each room has bathroom facilities. Each person was charged only 200 yuan per night for lodging, truly a good choice for students or backpackers. That evening, Technician Xu arranged for a group of local small farmers to talk with the students. We were truly grateful for his thoughtful arrangement and for the farmer friends' willingness to set aside time to "speak" with these "kids" who could not really help much. The small farmers even asked the "kids" how to solve the problems of organic agriculture production and marketing.

Besides Mr. Zhang-Wu from the pomelo orchard that afternoon, those present also included retired indigenous teacher Chen Yiyong, who looked strikingly like Osama bin Laden. His "Bin Laden" orchard name matched his appearance perfectly. Having been a teacher, he chatted wittily and humorously with everyone about organic agriculture; several small farmers also shared their own experiences, and the students asked questions too. This kind of interaction is rarely seen in the classroom. Who says knowledge must be learned in the classroom? Asking old farmers can also teach you much wisdom about life.

Jizheng Ranch

That night the air currents were unstable, and it rained continuously all night. When we set out early the next morning, the rain had eased a little, but we still had to wear raincoats while riding. Led by Mr. Xu Zhiming, we came to Jizheng Ranch to visit Mr. Fan Jiming's dairy business. Such a large piece of land had been built into today's scale by Mr. and Mrs. Fan, a model of youth entrepreneurship. Unfortunately, when a student asked whether there were internship opportunities at the ranch, Mr. Fan replied that because there is currently little space for food and lodging and not enough manpower to guide interns, internships are not open.

But from the conversation, I privately suspected another consideration: most young people today cannot endure hardship; ranch work is not like other glamorous jobs, since it involves heavier labor such as cleaning up animal waste and feeding fodder, and modern young people have rarely done such labor since childhood, so they might not be able to adapt. From this we can see some of the changes or helplessness of traditional industries. But if people with ambition are willing to take on such heavier work and have the chance to strive for it, then our agriculture can have successors.

The fresh milk from Jizheng Ranch uses low-temperature sterilization, and its low-temperature storage conditions are extremely important. Because the product is positioned at a higher price, it is said to be sold only in organic stores and not displayed for sale in general markets. Indeed, afterward we went to the restaurant attached to the ranch for a breakfast special: a bottle of pure, rich, fragrant fresh milk plus two milk steamed buns, gazing at the clear, beautiful mountain mist after the rain and the Xiuguluan River. It was truly a wonderful morning. Everyone was reluctant to let such a time pass, so we lingered a little longer until after 9 o'clock before setting out for the last stop of this trip.

After leaving Jizheng Ranch, we first passed the Xiuguluan River rafting center. Many tourists, undeterred by the early April chill that still felt like spring cold, were still geared up and heading out to raft; immersed in the great nature where mountains and water meet, this should be humanity's original inner expectation!

• After harvesting the sugarcane, it is time to press the juice

Sugarcane Field and Handmade Brown Sugar

The entrance of Gaoliao Community from County Road 193 is the small road leading to Chike Mountain. The home of Huang Minghan and his wife Lin Xiutao, who make handmade brown sugar by the traditional method, is a traditional single-story house at the foot of the mountain; the sugarcane field is right beside their home, and the planting area is not large either. But walking along the path toward the sugarcane field, we found many small insects; in the field we also saw many living creatures. This shows that this sugarcane field provides habitat or refuge for many organisms.

As soon as we arrived, we first went to the sugarcane field to cut cane. This white sugarcane used for making brown sugar is the variety I used to run through the cane fields among when I was young. Unfortunately, because the cost of domestic production is far higher than imported sugar, Taiwan's sugar industry has fallen sharply. Taiwan Sugar Corporation had no choice but to transform. There is also a small pond nearby, mainly for storing water as a backup. A steady stream of mountain spring water came gurgling through self-laid pipes, and we used it to lightly rinse the harvest from everyone's earlier sugarcane-cutting experience; you only need to strip off the cane leaves, and the mottled spots on the cane's surface do not need to be scrubbed; the owner said these are exactly the essence that makes brown sugar rich in minerals.

Perhaps from the perspective of city people or laypeople, water constantly flowing in and then draining away seems very wasteful; and is it unsanitary simply because the cane looks black? But think more deeply: does this water not return to the land, nourish organisms, and circulate again? Just like agricultural water use, which produces only 2% of GDP yet is thought to take up 70% of the nation's water use; does this water not circulate as usual in normal ecosystems or in the form of groundwater?

Moreover, these sugarcanes are not crops grown on dirty soil, so if the whole plant can be eaten and used, how can it be dirty? For many years in the production and marketing process, most people have lost that connecting line; agriculture is an imagined layer of netting or an unopened floor-length curtain, through which you cannot see clearly, and through which the sunlight cannot shine in, so in the dimness we cannot grasp our future.

Cut the lightly brushed whole sugarcane into 2-3 sections, press the juice out with a sugarcane juicer, then filter impurities with gauze on a strainer, and afterward pour the sugarcane juice into a large stove and simmer over low heat for 3-5 hours. During this time it must be stirred constantly to prevent the bottom from burning. Because we had limited time, we used high heat to shorten it to 2 hours, so we had to pay attention and stir all the time.

• Making brown sugar yourself is fun but not easy

Taking advantage of the free time, we also visited the farm owner's small orchard, where many different edible or medicinal plants were gathered in a small grove in front of the house; besides being convenient to use, it was also beautiful and pleasant as landscaping, fully showing the owner's optimistic and easygoing life. Here we enjoyed the owner's charcoal-roasted sweet potatoes, the hostess's shredded pork fried noodles, and the very popular sauerkraut pork soup with plenty of substantial ingredients; large slices of pork belly paired with slightly sour Hakka pickled mustard greens, a flavor that is still memorable today!

As we ate, we listened to Mr. Huang's grandfather tell old stories, about how after the August 7 Flood he took a train and walked from Chiayi, crossing mountains and ridges to settle here. We also listened to his son, Brother Minghan, talk about the bittersweetness of organic agriculture. Almost all of their family's agricultural products are produced and processed by themselves. The products include: camellia oil, oil chrysanthemum, handmade brown sugar, black ginger candy, plum preserves, and so on.

Very quickly, the sugarcane juice had been boiled down into a thick liquid; it was poured into a square stainless steel flat basin, smoothed level, left to cool, and then cut into brown sugar blocks with a specially made double-blade utility knife. During this process, everyone could hardly wait to taste the still-warm fresh brown sugar; that sweet taste must have felt sweet in their hearts.

The owner understood that our budget was limited, and charged us only the lowest fee so that we could both eat and take brown sugar home. The human warmth of rural people is deeply moving. After being "full of sugar and noodles," we very reluctantly said goodbye to the sugar-making family and rode toward Yuli Station, the end point of this journey. Along the way we still saw lush green rice paddies spread across the hills and plains of the rift valley. I hope this granary, untouched by industrial pollution, can continue to withstand climate change in the future, and from the land provide for the farmers who work hard on this land, or for the many city people far from the land but dependent on it for their livelihood.

• A group photo at the sugar-making family's home brings this trip to a successful close; time to return to Yilan

Conclusion

Agriculture is the foundation of every nation and society. No matter how well industry develops, without agriculture how can there be food? Today's contemptuous argument that agriculture accounts for only 2-3% of GDP fails to see the difficulties Taiwan will face in the future. Giving farmers a basic livelihood is the government's current priority. Do not wait until this generation of old farmers retires, and farming or agronomy can no longer be passed on, before asking where our food will come from.

For this service-learning trip, we must thank many friends, whether mentioned in the text or all those who supported us with goodwill and action; including the coordinating unit: Ms. Lin Zhuoli, planning and promotion team leader of the Rihe Education Foundation, who accompanied and cared for this group of big kids; and local Hualien friend Mr. Lin Zaitian, who kindly provided the support vehicle. This allowed our service learning to be safe and richly rewarding. We hope to let these young people understand the diversity of agriculture, including the diversity of crops farmers produce and the diversity of farmers' temperaments, and to realize that the essence of biodiversity lies in the meaning that "different is the same harmony."

Think about how every person is a different individual, and the abilities they can bring into play or display may differ, but every person is a member of the ecosystem or of society. Living things need food, just as the cover of the old edition of 'Country Roads' stated: "Everyone eats three meals a day, can you say agriculture has nothing to do with it?" I hope that through this we can cultivate more seeds of concern for agriculture.

I believe that as long as we can bring out a bit of consideration to care for our agriculture and thank our farmers, then in the future we will be less affected by climate change, and we can preserve for future generations a cleaner environment, rather than have them point at us and say this is "a group of irresponsible, visionless, spendthrift generations." In this way, perhaps we can preserve the value of being human!