ITE - West College of Singapore

Twenty seven Students and Teachers visited Toucheng Farm yesterday (Jan. 21) for a 2 days and 1 night stay


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Theyall came from Singapore and study at ITE-West College, Culinary Skills.

They are here in Taiwan for cultural exchange, educational tour and learn the basic understanding of Taiwanese pastry, how to prepare and cook it to its most delicious taste.

What was their response to the question, how was your stay?

Perfect! Natural! Ecological world! Delicious! When I am coming back?

That will give you an idea what is Toucheng Farm is all about and much more!

Please click our website's photo album for more pictures. Thanks

What are you waiting for? Come and visit us especially this Chinese New Year!

Chinese New year activities

Chinese New Year celebrations at Toucheng Farm was a memorable success !





Guests were entertained with various games and activities planned especially for the occasion.



To give you an idea of what happened, here I prepared some photos for your consideration. You should have been here to celebrate with us!









Those wearing pink are employees of the Farm. See, how busy they are and how happy the guests were, too!

Games they used to play for years are played again with their children or grandchildren! Ice cream or cotton candies are served, grilling corn on the cob, or sausages, etc....



Memories are recalled by the guests and their families, all are here at Toucheng Farm celebrating the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival this year 2011!

Festivities of the New year are celebrated until the 15Th day of the first month.

We go on our daily lives and look forward to this year of the Rabbit, hoping for a prosperous and joyful year!

Come and celebrate with us at Toucheng Farm!

Visit our website: www.tcfarm.com.tw/

Tree fern - Cyatheaceae

My attention was caught by the intricate beauty of this fern tree.



While walking around Toucheng Farm ,looking for some images for my blog, I stopped and focus my camera to this marvelous scene. It is indeed a cure for sore eyes! Look closer, you will notice the scaly , hairy curly new leaf!



They had been here growing around us since the Jurassic era! This very ancient tree fern can grow up to 20 meters high! Their erect-truck like stem is very prominent and attention -getting spot.

They usually live in the tropical wet forest.
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Next time you visit and tour Toucheng Farm, take notice of this fern standing strong and erect. Maybe you'll discover something different, They are one of the mystical objects of creation.

Welcome!

Kumquat - Fortunella margarita

As the Chinese New Year is two-weeks away, the fruit orchard is very colorful with the ripening of the kumquat. This "little gems of the citrus family" is an oval-shaped fruit with a shape and size of an olive.



Their sweet edible rind can be eaten raw or preserved into marmalade, jam, jelly or candy..



With a cup of warm water mix a spoonful of a candied kumquat and you can drink the mixture like a warm orange-juice. Spread its jam on a white bread or toast, you can taste the delicious flavor of a sweet kumquat for a snack!

Here are some of Toucheng Farm's guests who had a bountiful harvest of Kumquats during their visit and tour of the Farm!

The joy of picking and tasting the fruits right from the tree is a satisfying experience. Much more bringing some home to share with your family and friends this fresh fruits.

Many use the fresh and colorful kumquat to decorate their dining tables for the Chinese new year holidays.

Come to Toucheng Farm and gather some during this season. They are in abundance!

Butterflies at Toucheng Farm

Butterflies are spectacular creatures which dances and flutters around flowers and aids pollination.


Here at Toucheng Farm, they decorate and gives meaning to this vast area. Watching them fly
high or low is a fascinating experience.

Here, I have a collection of butterflies living here at Toucheng Farm, follow me as I introduce you their names and some characteristics:


Here is the Jamides alecto dromicus, a small butterfly which is from India. It is also called a metallic cerulean.

This common bluebottle or blue triangle butterfly belongs to the swallowtail butterfly can you see the blue colored triangle on its wings?

And here is the Great Mormon butterfly, a large kind of the swallowtail butterflies. They usually have a contrasting and stunning colors on its wings. It looks just perfect on the red flowers on its background. Do you think so?

This black Common mormon butterly, also belonging to the swallowtail family, will keep your eyes awake, its black wings are so fragile as it dances around the Farm.

Many other butterflies are sipping the nectar of the numerous flowers at the Farm, these are just a few.

Come to Toucheng Farm and you will discover so many others.

Welcome and fill your eyes with these fascinating and colorful creatures.


Visit our website for more information: www.tcfarm.com.tw

2011 New Year's Eve Celebrations at Toucheng Farm

The Management, staff and guests of Toucheng Farm welcomed the New Year 2011 together gloriously!

Games were participated by many and prizes were distributed to the lucky winners.

Thirty minutes before midnight, everyone gathered around the bonfire where its hot flames warmed the freezing 8 degrees centigrade outdoors!

Meanwhile, a torch was passed wishing all a bright and peaceful new year while singing songs and moving around the lighted bonfire.

Then sky lanterns were lighted as all eyes were focused as they soared up to the skies where they joined the sparkling stars of the night!

Everyone counted down from 60 till the zero minute and LO! sound of firecrackers filled the area! You should have joined us to watch the spectacular sight.

Some guests continued their merriment with family members and friends drinking tea or lighting firecrackers to the children's delight!

After clearing up., the management and staff together sip the plum and grape wine thanking

each one for the passed year and wishing a great and peaceful beginning of the new year.

WISHING ALL A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR 2011!

SEE YOU AT TOUCHENG FARM NEXT YEAR!

Visit our website: http://www.tcfarm.com.tw/ for more information. Thanks.

A hundred-old banyan tree

At Toucheng Farm, a tree grew to a hundred years! Before you and I were born, a bird from a distant land dropped a seed of a ficus benjamina (its scientific name), at Toucheng Farm area.

Banyan trees (Ficus) could grow up to a 30- meter tall tree, naturally. Their seeds are a favorite meal for many birds. They have glossy green leaves and drooping branches.

It grows strong and mighty near the vegetable patches. Look at its roots, it could arouse in you so many questions to ask, many imaginations to consider and many stories to tell.

Which bird dropped it here? How many typhoons, wind or rains has passed through its leaves and branches? How many people have talked about him asking different questions? I love to follow and count the roots growing around it!

Walking around the Farm, one can not only relax your body and soul, but learn about the different creatures living with us. Why not spend a day and take this opportunity?

It is near Taipei, less than an hour drive. But the benefits you get is worthwhile!

Try it, you;ll never regret!

Visit our website for more information. www.tcfarm.com.tw

Great Orange tip butterfly

The great Orange tip butterfly (Hebomoia Glaucippe formosana) is a resident of Toucheng Farm.



With its colorful white inner wings and orange tip, they are amazing to watch. As they flutter around the trees and flowers around the Farm, you can't take off your eyes from them!

They are one of the largest butterflies in Asia with a strong and swift flight. They are the frequent visitors of forest, hills and other places in Asia.

In your leisure time, come to Toucheng Farm and watch these winged-wonderful colorful creatures dancing around. You will go home relaxed and ready for the next week's work.

There are many interesting creatures at the Farm waiting for you to discover. Take time to watch them here at Toucheng Leisure Farm.

Visit our website: http://www.tcfarm.com.tw/ for more information.

Anderson Secondary School Students

Students from Anderson Secondary School of Singapore and their two Teachers visited Toucheng Farm this week.
Here, they are feeding the goats with some leaves of the wax apple. It was a rare experience, while taking a few photos of these friendly creatures.

Visiting the rice paddies and touching the rice grains is an unforgettable experience, too.

Here is the group picture at the fish pond with the Chao Re Building as the background. They spent the night at this beautiful building.

The visit ended after the tour of the Farm and everyone got in the bus for the next destination.

Would you like to spend a day or two at the Farm? It is an rare experience, and can help you relax and refresh after a hectic schedule.

Visit our website for more information: http://www.tcfarm.com.tw/.

Tasty meals at the Farm's dining room

Meals at the Farm are always nutritious, tasty, sumptuous and most of all fresh!

Breakfast is served in a traditional Taiwanese style, but western style of bread, butter and brewed coffee is also served upon request to accommodate foreign guests.

Lunch is served at noon and the variety of dishes always appeals to the eyes, nose and tongue!

Dinner is BBQ party for the whole family or friends to enjoy DIY! In a Farm setting and outdoors. What could be more relaxing to share with our loved ones a wholesome treat of meat,fresh vegetables, fruits or salad! Many also opt for Karaoke to spend the night joyously.

Below is a photo of one of the not-to-be missed dish - bamboo rice. Rice is mixed with mushroom, pork, dried shrimps, onions and salt to taste, then steamed. The bamboo tube is from the Farm's bamboo forest! Sounds delicious!

Come and try it, here at Toucheng Leisure Farm!

Welcome and taste our delicious meals!

A three-some at Toucheng Farm

Three of Taiwan's endemic species of butterfly and beetle, were seen together in one tree.

This rare photo was taken at Toucheng Farm's woody area near the riverside activity center on the common paper mulberry tree.




The black and white with red spots butterfly you see, is the red ring skirt butterfly (hestina assimilis formosana). The white one is Taiwan's chitoria chrysolora (ulupi) butterfly and the child's beloved horned beetle.

And of course they are sipping the milky sap of the common paper mulberry tree.

Visiting Toucheng Farm once is not enough, there are many surprises for everyone. When are you free? Come and enjoy those moments.

Visit our website for more information: http://www.tcfarm.com.tw/