Lianhe Elementary School Trip: Hands-On Rice Planting Experience, Getting Close to the Land
In 2012, in Neicheng Village, Yuanshan Township, Yilan, the right timing, the right place, and the right people came together to create Lianhe Country. Today, although this country has very few citizens and very little land, they all share the same founding philosophy: "love the land, protect health." Blessed with the natural advantages of good mountains and good water, they take Lianhe rice as their main produce, follow the 24 solar terms as their calendar, trade through FTO (Fair Trade Oh!), and appoint a diplomatic goodwill ambassador (the Rihe Education Foundation) to build friendly and mutually trusting diplomatic relations with the outside world.
In the spring plowing season of Lianhe Country, we sincerely invite you to come to Neicheng, to plant the first rice crop of 2013 together with the small farmers, and then tour the whole of Lianhe Country in the most leisurely way, for an intimate local mini-trip in Yilan that brings you close to the land.
1. Organizer: Rihe Education Foundation (a foundation) together with the Lianhe rice small farmers
2. Event date: 2013/03/30 (Sat) 10:00-16:00
3. Participants: 30 earthlings who love the land (no age limit; young children must be accompanied by a parent)
4. Event location: Neicheng Village, Yuanshan Township, Yilan County
5. Event content:
A. Hand transplanting rice seedlings in the paddy field: through the most direct contact with the land, participants can understand the initial stage of rice production and experience the hard work of early farming and how every bowl of rice is truly hard-earned. Though mud is dirty, it nurtures the food crops that sustain the lives of millions of people.
B. Harvest rice meal: a taste of traditional farmhouse dishes, experiencing the mutual-aid fellowship of rural neighbors. Even simple home-style dishes, made with local seasonal ingredients, bring out the fresh sweetness of the ingredients at their most original.
C. A first look at Lianhe Country: some people may have heard of Kavalan Whisky, but they do not know that directly behind where it is located is a small village with good mountains and good water—Neicheng. During the Japanese occupation period, the Kamikaze Special Attack Unit was stationed here, adding a bit more fun of tracing wartime relics. Touring Lianhe Country is no difficult task; whether you stroll, ride a bicycle, or take the local exclusive form of transport—the iron ox "lia-ka"—you can roam freely and happily.
D. Friendly farming mini-class: meet the Lianhe rice small farmers face to face, listen to them tell stories of friendly farming, and enjoy a traditional rice-food afternoon tea handmade by the community women.
For event details and registration, please check the Rihe Education Foundation bloghttp://sunfund.pixnet.net/blog/post/48723472
