Kiss Fruit Farm Introduction
Although winter is coming to an end and spring is about to arrive, a visit to "Kiss the Farmer's Garden" still has me tugging at my collar to fend off the cold wind invading my skin. However, despite the low temperature that can be quite unbearable, I see young farmers Fan Chia-chi and Lin Jun-wei diligently working in the vegetable garden, not complaining at all. "Kiss the Farmer's Garden" is located in Zhubei City, next to a busy highway. Lin Jun-wei is spraying soil bacteria in the garden. The bacteria are harmless to vegetables but can produce toxic proteins for pests. Adhering to organic farming without pesticides, the two are committed to using various forms of biological pest control to mitigate the pest crisis. "Sometimes when pest damage is too severe, I simply 'communicate' with them, hoping they'll eat the leaves that have no economic value. I won't harm them; I just hope to keep the cauliflower in the middle for myself." Fan Chia-chi pointed at the diamond cauliflower in the garden, its leaves severely eaten away. She mentioned that such "communication" has proven effective, "You see, the leaves are eaten clean, and the cauliflower in the middle is really left for me; we've found a way to coexist." While the pests have spared Fan Chia-chi, their journey as young farmers hasn’t been easy. Fan Chia-chi and her husband Lin Jun-wei initially operated a shoe business with a storefront and engaged in online sales, but with Taobao entering the Taiwanese market, their advantages dissipated, leading to the end of their business. While considering their next steps, Fan Chia-chi's father-in-law was diagnosed with cancer, and she became pregnant, prompting them to contemplate the importance of a healthy diet and consider farming. At 40 years old, Lin Jun-wei, and 35 years old, Fan Chia-chi acknowledges that transitioning to farming isn't easy, especially given the conventional farming practices of the older generation, where crops are bigger and more beautiful, making organic farming extremely challenging and sometimes misunderstood. Fan Chia-chi stated, "At that time, only my father agreed to my farming plans; the others, including my in-laws, were against it. However, my father is a recipient of the Shennong Award, with sharp agricultural knowledge and experience, making him my best helper." Stepping onto the young farmer's path, they have gradually built their foundation. Fan Chia-chi’s father, a winner of the Shennong Award for strawberry farming in Miaoli Dahu, has become the best advisor for her and Lin Jun-wei on farming matters. They often take photos of issues in the field and consult her father, which helps them avoid many unnecessary mistakes as novice farmers. Instead of rushing to explain problems, her wise father allows them to learn by trial and error, gaining valuable experiences. As strawberries are his specialty, "Kiss the Farmer's Garden" consists mainly of three areas: two strawberry fields and one vegetable garden. With innovative ideas, Fan Chia-chi and Lin Jun-wei set out to treat the land kindly using organic methods for healthy crop cultivation. In addition to their father's strong support, they continuously consider ways to improve crop yield efficiency, such as using "filter screens," which has amazed many. Typically, strawberry farmers are troubled by the spread of powdery mildew, and while traditional methods include wind and bird nets around the fields, they do not eliminate disease outbreaks. Fan Chia-chi had a sudden idea to use air conditioning filter screens instead of conventional wind barriers, which might yield better results. "It's truly amazing; after setting up the filter screens, the greenhouse remains warm in winter and cool in summer. During the cold snap earlier this year which caused snow in various regions, our farm was completely unaffected. For example, when it was 1°C outside, the greenhouse maintained a temperature of 5°C inside." In addition to the filter screen idea, they also considered using PVC to cover the soil to prevent nutrient loss. PVC is commonly utilized for strawberry cultivation; covering the soil not only prevents nutrient loss but also reduces the risk of bacterial contamination. Fan Chia-chi applied this technique to the vegetable garden as well; to enhance planting efficiency, she even invented a hole-poking planting method. "All you need is a T-shaped tool to poke little round holes in the soil and drop the seedlings in," she laughed, noting that this simplifies the traditional process of digging a trench, placing seedlings, and covering them with soil. By growing vegetables and strawberries organically, young farmers Fan Chia-chi and Lin Jun-wei turned skepticism from friends and family into demand that exceeds supply. They even offer reservations for vegetable picking and strawberry harvesting on weekends, showcasing their resilience and revealing the bright future of land-friendly agriculture and quality food supply in Taiwan. Info: Address: No. 80, Lane 286, Huanbei Road, Zhubei City, Hsinchu County Phone: 0925-070-601 Hours: Reservations for strawberry picking and vegetable harvesting are available on weekends; hours are announced on Facebook.
