Fishing
Besides planting and farming activities, students can also get a chance to learn how to fish in our large fishing pond. Here, students can sit calmly while fishing and enjoy the moment along with the beautiful and scenic surrounding and mountainous topography. Fishing could help students to learn one of the surviving skills to get food. Students can also test their levels of patience and tolerance by undergoing these activities. Fishes caught are served as additional side dish during the barbeque dinner!
Agriculture Studies
Rice Paddy plantations
“Sow in the spring, weed in the summer, gather in the autumn, store in the winter” is the process of planting rice. Here, students can experience rice cultivation at the rice paddies, taught first-hand by experienced farmers. It is fun to learn how to plant at the rice paddy, sun- dry the grains or removing husk in a traditional Chinese farming method. Harvesting rice at the paddy is something great to learn about, because it is not learned anywhere else but only in a farm. This experience will give students an insight of the intricacies and difficulties that comes with cultivating rice. Besides, it will give the students a better understanding of the rice paddy culture in Taiwan ’s history.
Plantation expedition
Toucheng Leisure Farm is the best place to explore and learn about plantation. With the more than 100 hectares of land, we provide the best natural environment as well as a wide range of flora and fauna. In the farm, there is a large area of bamboo forest, vegetable gardens and fruit orchards. During the different seasons of the year, students are able to harvest different kinds of fruits and vegetables.
Here, they are also given the opportunity to taste great varieties of fruits and vegetables. Here, students will have an opportunity to plant vegetables. They will be provided with garden space, equipments, seeds and farmers will guide them to plant organic vegetables by using the correct methods. They can plant mint, chilies, white cabbage and many more.
Different fruits are harvested according to the seasons of the year. For instances, peaches are harvested during spring, pomelos during fall, kumquats are harvested during winter and passion fruits are harvested during summer. Here, guests will have a chance to taste large varieties of fruits such as wax apple, Chinese dates, bamboo shoots, sugar cane, etc. It is a great experience to pluck and taste many different fruits at a time.
Picking fruits or gathering vegetables with one’ own hands, is a satisfying experience for children from the city. The Farm’s principal, generously allow children to gather farm products joyfully thus leaving in them a lasting, amusing and memorable memories.
Animal discovery
Our farm animals area, is another fun and exciting place to be. Here, students are able to interact with domestic animals. They are given chances to pet and feed the animals such as chickens, ducks, geese, cows, sheep, pigs, turkey, goats and many more. Besides, they also have opportunities to collect freshly laid eggs at the chicken coop.
Other leisure activities
When was the last time you were around a natural environment? Or take a walk with Mother Nature after a stressful day at work? Here at Toucheng Leisure Farm we provide many leisure activities dealing with the surrounding natural environment. You are very welcome to join us. We have activities like playing bubbles, swinging and taking a short nap on a hammock, going up and down a small tree house, etc.
At Toucheng Leisure Farm, tree houses are built on a tall and sturdy tree which strongly supports the house. Besides, hammocks are built made of bamboos which give a strong support for people who want to swing and sleep on it. It is very relaxing to lie on the hammock while listening to the birds chirping, bees buzzing, watch butterflies fluttering around and also not to forget the cool breeze while taking a nap.
River Trekking
River at the Farm is basically the main water source for farmers. It is used for cooking, drinking, food sources and leisure. The water here is fresh, cold and clean because it is comes from the mountain top.
River trekking is a water sport that most of the kids look forward to. The splashing sound of the fountain is so tempting that guests always like to dip into the cool pool while catching small crabs, small fishes or shrimps. Trekking on the stream and river that pass across the farm is adventurous and fun. While trekking in the cool, fresh and clear water, students will be able to understand the ecological nature of the river. They also have a chance to observe living creatures in the river such as crabs, baby shrimps, small fishes, frogs and many more. Moreover they are given the chance to swim and play in the river. That’s a bonus!
Cultural Studies
At Toucheng Leisure Farm, students are able to experience the past decades history as well as living lifestyle experience of our ancestors. Students will experience cultural activities ranging from mud hut making, favorite pastime activities, cooking equipments, tasting traditional delicacies, traditional games and handicrafts.
Mud Hut
A mud hut is a kind of farm house in Taiwan with a history of about 70 years or more. It is a house built by the farmers by using mud, bamboos, dried grass and wooden beams. Mud is the main material to build its walls, floors and staircases, where as dry grasses are used to build the roof of the hut. Mud hut is built with several techniques, but needs to be repaired from time to time. A mud hut is basically cool during summer and warm during winter. This is due to the materials used to build it. Here, students are taught the technique to build a mud hut by our farmers. It is not easy to build it, but by having a chance to try out, is worthwhile!
Traditional Cooking and Preserved Food Making
Here students can taste typical Taiwanese traditional delicacies such as noodles, desserts and other dishes. Most of the ingredients used are freshly gathered from Toucheng Leisure Farm’s garden. Besides tasting traditional cuisines, students can also learn and understand more about the food’s history and the meaning of these dishes served. This is in fact a way for the younger generation to appreciate and understand the Chinese tradition.
On the other hand, students can also learn how to cook dishes such as noodles, taro rice noodles and dumplings. This is a great opportunity for them to learn so as to preserve the Chinese customs and traditions, and hand it over to the next generation.
The process of preserving vegetables and fruits are also taught here. They prepare their own preserved food and keep it in a bottle. It’s fun to learn how to make preserved food as there are so many kinds of vegetables and fruits here at the farm. It is fun and worth doing!
Ecological Studies
Toucheng Leisure Farm is the best place for the young generations to be acquainted with nature on a first-hand experience and understand its harmonious balance. These kinds of experiences could not be attained from books. But here, we can feel nature through smell, taste, hear, sight and touch.
These more than 100 hectares of land, is a place where "the mountains are green, the skies are blue, the waters are clear, birds and flowers abound". A pollution free, ecologically rich piece of vast land can provide the children of the city a rare opportunity to observe the colorful and numerous insects, beautiful and rare flowers, beloved birds and animals, as well as many other unique creatures.
Toucheng Leisure Farm is ecologically rich. With its bountiful fruit bearing trees, many species of birds lives here, including the most loved bird, the Taiwan ’s national bird: Formosa Blue Magpie, which makes Toucheng Leisure Farm’s forest their home. Here, you get to observe the living pattern of Taiwan Blue Magpie, they usually build their nest on a tree, and begin to raise their family. They lay three to five eggs at a time, and feed the chicks, but only the female incubates them. However, despite of their attractive appearance, they could be fierce to any human disturbance towards their nests, beware!
Moreover, during the tour and explorations, students are taught to identify plants which are explained by experienced farmers or experts including their characteristics and uses. They also learn several survival skills by using different leaves and plants to heal wounds, drink safe water as well as natural food resources.
Bugs Catching
Toucheng Leisure Farm is home to different kinds of bugs that are unique and colorful. For example, different kinds of butterflies, caterpillars, beetles, bees, spiders, grasshoppers and many others. Here, students are taken on a tour to catch bugs by our farmers. Students can also explore and learn about their unique characteristics, their lifecycle, habit and their interesting survival skills to protect themselves from predators.
Night Observation
In addition, Toucheng Leisure Farm has designed a night activity for guests to closely observe many nocturnal creatures. Observation is usually a way to understand an insect. Daytime and night time observations are totally different. City dwellers rarely see a moth or a bug closely. We provide a big, white movie screen with spotlights to attract these nocturnal creatures. Try to imagine how the children are amazed by observing a real moth at a close-up.
Overall, at Toucheng Leisure Farm students can experience many different, yet unique living habits of the Mother Earth such as the sight of the most beloved Taiwan Blue Magpie flying; the sound of frogs croaking; or the aroma of grasses and flowers blooming. It is a bountiful reap after touring around the farm. In addition, students will also learn to appreciate different flora and fauna, as every living being has its own value.
Accommodation
Toucheng Leisure Farm offers a modest and quiet farm-land architectures and buildings. The surrounding can offer an ecological environment that students can experience such as bird chirping, fragrances of floras and lives of faunas.
There are 4 different types of accommodations offered. Each accommodation is uniquely designed to suit guest’s preferences.
(a) Shan Hai Building Offers a Deluxe 2 double beds for 4 persons. The ones with a 2nd floor, it can accommodate a group of 8 to 12 persons. This building is situated beside the mountain pathway with a scenic mountainous view. It has a toilet, cable television, mini refrigerator and an air conditioner.
(b) Zhao Ri Building A Deluxe room with 2 double beds for 4 persons. This building is located at the welcoming sight at the entrance of the farm with a tranquil view of the lake. It has a toilet, television, a mini refrigerator and an air conditioner.
(c) Hsing Ming Building A Suite room for 4, 12, or 20 persons. It has a toilet, television and an air conditioner. The interior is designed with wooden flooring.
(d) Ming Building A Suite room with 2 double beds for 4 persons, with a toilet, cable television, an air conditioner and wooden flooring.
Coffee beans or seeds (they resemble each other), grow at the Farm to give one an idea how it looks like.
Inside these beans are two stone-like objects with flat sides. After brewing and grinding, they become one of the world's most consumed drink, a major cash crop and an important export product for many countries.
It's very interesting to see the real plant and fruits, touch, feel and pick (some) it from the tree. This you can do at Toucheng Farm! Smelling and tasting? you can do that at Starbucks or somewhere else.
It's very interesting to see the real plant and fruits, touch, feel and pick (some) it from the tree. This you can do at Toucheng Farm! Smelling and tasting? you can do that at Starbucks or somewhere else.
