The student entrepreneurship team of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology "Come-and-Sit farming Studio" cooperated with Dintsong Community District Development Association of Houbi District, Tainan City, in promoting the activity "Come and Do the Farming Together – from Transplanting to Harvesting." It is a great activity than ranged from the beginning of the spring to the summer solstice, an innovative agricultural activity designed for the first phase of the rice farming. Following the transplanting experience in the first phase of Feb. 16, the second-stage "Field Caring" has also been launched recently. The lively and interesting event design was once again well received.
【The loach-catching activity that the Come-and-Sit Farming Studio carefully planned to surprise the participants and make them enjoy a lot】
In ancient times, it was said that the rain gave birth to one hundred shells. "Shell Rain" is the sixth in the 24 solar terms. It is also the last solar term in spring. Crops are particularly rain-irrigated. The more rain comes, the better the harvest, so it is called "shell rain." The second stage of the field caring activity began during the "Shell Rain" period. Prof. Bi-Ching Tseng of the Department of Industrial Management and Information, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, began to take lead of the team. Through her interesting teaching in creative farming and interaction with the students, she brought forth the knowledge of rice snails, goose grass, and the field caring related to "Duck-Rice Symbiosis" in rice farming. Her easy-to-understand sharing method made it even possible for 5-year-old children to enjoy, to join the group and take the quiz, and to make the Popsicle fun competition design. It greatly improved the learning and encouraged everyone to strive for the answer. With the joy and lively atmosphere for learning, the activity effectively met its goal of learning the farmer’s knowledge.
【"Duck-Rice Symbiosis" is the natural nemesis of giant Amazon snails, which can solve the problems of farmers.】
Chairman Guo-Rui Shiao of the Community Development Association, Chief Executive Mei-Shue Chang, and Bo-Liang Chang, the owner of the Fangrong Rice Factory, and the seniors of the community farming masters also led the group of farmers to remove the snails and the tendon. In order to make the event more interesting and make the participants experience the rural life in depth, Come-and-Sit Farming Studio dig a long thin mud trench in the field and design a muddy competition just in the pond. The water was full, and the rain stopped! With the familiar music from the old times, more than 60 people clung to the mud in the ditch, while the sound of joy attracted many more people to come. The villagers watched the battle. Because they can't forget the delicious food during the transplanting activities, the community aunties prepare the hot pot, dried meat rice, vegetable corn ribs soup, and homemade delicious drinks to warmly welcome everyone. All the participants in the afternoon painted a perfect ending under the grand finale by the natural farming method "Duck in the Rice."
【Field caring activities are to teach people how to pick up the snails commonly called “yiao-shui snails,” which often cause serious harm to the growth of rice fields.】
Prof. Bi-Ching Zeng of the Department of Industrial Management and Information, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, said that 2019 is the first year of Taiwan's local creation, in which students should be led into the required fields to re-invent the advantages of the community, apply the planned design activities to activate the design in its due orientation, and gradually recover the vitality of the community and encourage young people to return to the country. It would also contribute to the national strategic goal of local creative practice.
【Loach-catching activity -1】
"Do the Farming Together" is a complete agricultural activity, starting from the transplanting in the spring rain, the field caring in the Qingming rain, to the harvest of the summer solstice. The entire agricultural activity costs one only NT$ 2,000, offering every participant a three-stage well-designed activity to experience. After the harvest, the participant will be guaranteed 6 kilograms of Tainan No. 16 high-quality white rice. Under the assistance of the community farming experts, the rice has entered the booting stage, and the third stage of the harvesting of the rice-cutting chestnut is expected to be held in 6/22, when there will be more creative activities. Interested people are welcome to contact us to come to the farmer's studio. We still have 3 units waiting to be adopted!
【Loach-catching activity -2】
【Prof. Bi-Ching Zeng of the Department of Industrial Management and Information, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, designed interesting farming activities for people to participate in the joy of learning and working.】
【"Come-and-Sit farming Studio" student team of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology stay in the community to actively promote local creative farming】
【Participants in the activity were very committed to answering questions related to farming knowledge.】