Christ' College (Taiwan) students

The Freshmen Students of the English Department of Christ' College came to Toucheng farm last Tuesday. May 28. with their two English professors, Janet and James.

They said they were so privilege to come and become closer to nature. and experienced farm life. They enjoyed picking fruits and tasting them on the spot. To feed the baby water buffalo with sugar cane leaves is also a rare experience, plus watching the active goats, pigs, turkeys, geese and some pigeons flying.

Janet and James were excited to learn how to differentiate the poisonous and edible taro by pouring water in its leaves. They had lived in different countries, and learned many different cultures. Life in Taiwan is indeed interesting. Here are some pictures taken as they toured around the Farm and shared the BBQ fun!

As a Christian school, they started the activities with a prayer of petition to the Lord, for a safe and peaceful journey.

Definitely! was their response after I asked them if they want to come back for another trip to Toucheng Farm.

The making of a mud hut- 1

Toucheng Farm's founder Madame Cho Chen Ming had a dream of building a house. just like the ones our great- grandfather's grandfather live.

After deliberating on the right spot, materials used were carefully selected: clay, water, chips of wood, etc, etc. Tools of different sizes and purposes were made by hand just like our forefathers did.

Our Farmers in the farm, most of them personally heard stories, news or information from their very own grandfathers were ready to share their efforts and expertise.

Cool during summer and warm at wintertime, they passed their days without our modern gadgets.

What's in the mud hut? I will tell you more..

Come.. follow me, as I narrate more.. to you

Dragon Boat Festival at Toucheng Farm

There are three major holidays in the Chinese Lunar calendar: Chinese Lunar New Year, Dragon Boat Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the 5Th day of the 5Th month, which falls on May 28Th of this year. Why it is called so? It has a very interesting history. Chu Yuan was a minister to the king, but due to slander, ruined his political career. Depression led him to wander at the Yangtze river for many years and later jumped at the Milo River clutching a heavy stone and drowned. Critics named him the greatest Chinese poet. To distract the fishes (or dragons) from eating his carcass, his friends and family, throw some zongdz ( a kind of dumpling), into the river. Today, besides rowing Dragon Boats for competition, the Chinese Community around the world, prepare zongdz for consumption to commemorate the death of Chu Yuan.

Toucheng Farm also celebrates with all the Chinese Community by making and teaching visitors how to prepare zongdz, and tasting this special delicacy. The usual wrapper used is bamboo leaf, but here, we use the wild ginger leaf, to savor a special aroma and taste. The ingredients used are : glutinous rice, dried small shrimps, pork, peanuts, spices to taste, and wrapped in a ginger lily leaf.

Sounds delicious? want to taste? Come to Toucheng Farm and celebrate with us!

Little French Farmers at the Farm

The Taipei European School French Department Kindergarten School, stayed and toured Toucheng Farm for 3 days and 2 nights (May 20, 21, & 22). There were six girls and eleven boys with their devoted, dedicated and daring teachers: Florian, Loys, Annie and Wanting.

It's so fascinating and interesting to watch these children from different families, background and culture, playing, eating, caring (sometimes fighting! ), communicating in three different languages: French, English and Mandarin! Surprisingly they can switch the three spoken languages spontaneously and fluently!

Their response to the activities designed for them is indeed commendable, young as they are. Here are some pictures taken during the tour and activities at Toucheng Farm.

Making and tasting the ravioli they made.
drawing the sky lanterns, lighting and watching them ascending to the sky.

That was the first day!

As they walk to the rice field,

At the rice field to plant some rice seedlings,


Or collect fresh eggs from the chicken coop.

Look how busy she is!

Crushed ice for a cold snack! after planting rice.

At the stone grinder,

After lunch they had a short nap, then printed their T-shirt and went to the kilning area to watch how a kiln is made and ate some kilned sweet potatoes..

Their day ended with an animated French movie, and a rice ball soup snack!

That was the second day!

As they pack their luggage's, preparing to go home.

Each one has a pot of taro, as a souvenir!

One more shot, as we wait for lunch!

That ends our tour and stay at Toucheng Farm! See you again!

Future Farmers

Grade school pupils from Hsin Rong Elementary School of Taoyuan County in Taiwan, stayed at Toucheng Farm for three days. They were more than 300 children ranges from grades 3, 4 , 5 and 6.

Today, they re-enacted the life of a farmer in their own way, but in a traditional manner, like: re-planting rice seedlings in the rice paddies area; blowing and separating the rice grain from the husks; drying the rice grain under the sun ; and even tasting the traditional Chinese snacks made of rice flour.

Brilliant smiles were drawn at most of their young faces as they partook all the activities planned by the Farm and their teachers.

I talked to some pupils and the response was "I enjoyed it very much".

Would you like to enjoy, too?

Come to Toucheng Farm!

For more information please visit: www.tcfarm.com.tw/en/news/news.asp

Rice paper butterfly (Idea leuconoe)

At this time of the year, the nymph or rice paper butterflies are all over Toucheng Farm. You can see them dancing, flying or just sipping nectar. Its caterpillar and golden pupa are just as numerous. It's just wonderful watching them as they follow you around as you walk on the path of this vast (more than 110 hectares) of land.

This is one of the large-size butterfly species in Taiwan.It flies low and slow due to its size and is thereby dubbed "dumb butterfly" in Chinese language. It could pretend "dead" in your hands when caught. Its larvae or caterpillar feeds on the dog bane family tree (parsonsia laevigata) and has a shiny golden colored pupa or chrysalis.

After a few weeks you will see more butterflies of this species and many other kinds of butterflies flying around Toucheng farm.

For more information, please visit: www.tcfarm.com.tw/en/news/news.asp

Blooming Tung Flowers

Chinese Tung Flowers (Vernicia fordii or Aleurites fordii)

Toucheng Farm’s Tung flowers are also in bloom! The Chinese Tung (Tung –oil tree) seeds produced the valued tung oil. Marco Polo, during the 13th century wrote: The Chinese take some lime and chopped hemp, these they knead together with a certain wood oil, and when the 3 are thoroughly amalgated, they hold, like any glue, with this mixture, they pay their ship”.

The Hakka Community of Taiwan celebrates at this season The Tung Blossom Festival, a popular feast. The fallen white- colored flowers flood the pathways, like snow on May – just like the white falling object at wintertime. The Hakka people say: “Let our eyes feast in the Tung Blossoms!” which also represents the Hakka spirit.

While watching the ducks and ducklings swimming around the pond, at Toucheng Farm's Farm animals area, make sure to walk around the Tung-oil tree, try to catch some flowers falling, and smell the scented surrounding. And experience the Hakka spirit!

Toucheng Farm is a member of The Hostelling Association of Taiwan and Hostelling International, a quality, budget, hostel accommodation.

Visit http://www.tcfarm.com.tw/