Kiss Fruit Farm Introduction
Although winter is coming to an end and spring is just around the corner, visiting "Qin Qin Fruit Farm" still requires pulling up one’s collar to fend off the cold wind that occasionally stings the skin. However, despite the low temperatures, the young farmers Fan Chia-Chi and Lin Chun-Wei diligently work in the vegetable garden without a hint of complaint. "Qin Qin Fruit Farm" is located in Zhubei City, right next to a bustling highway. Lin Chun-Wei is seen spraying beneficial microorganisms in the vegetable garden. These microorganisms are harmless to vegetables but can produce toxic proteins to pests. Committed to organic farming, the couple insists on avoiding chemical pesticides and opts for various biological control methods, hoping to mitigate pest crises. "Sometimes when pests become too severe, I simply try to 'communicate' with them, hoping they will eat the leaves that don't have economic value," Fan Chia-Chi says, pointing to the diamond cauliflower whose leaves have been decimated by pests. "I won't harm them; I just hope they leave the cauliflower for me." This kind of "communication" seems to have been effective, as she observes that the pests have indeed left the center cauliflower intact, allowing for a mutual coexistence. However, the path of young farmers has not been smooth for them. Originally, Fan Chia-Chi and her husband Lin Chun-Wei managed a shoe business with a storefront and online sales. But when Taobao entered the Taiwanese market, their advantages diminished, and their business came to an end. While pondering their next steps, Fan Chia-Chi’s father-in-law was diagnosed with cancer, and with her own pregnancy, she began to consider the importance of a healthy diet, which led her to the idea of farming. At 40 years old, Lin Chun-Wei and 35-year-old Fan Chia-Chi found it daunting to start farming, especially in the face of traditional farming methods used by the older generation. The crops grown with conventional methods were large and beautiful, making organic farming exceedingly challenging and often misunderstood. Fan Chia-Chi notes, "At that time, only my father agreed to my farming plan; everyone else, including my husband's family, disapproved. However, my father, a recipient of the Shennong Award, has profound agricultural knowledge and experience, making him my greatest ally." With a father recognized for strawberry cultivation and an expert advisor, Fan Chia-Chi and Lin Chun-Wei often consult him regarding any issues that arise in their field, saving them from many unnecessary detours. The wise father sometimes allows them to make mistakes, providing valuable lessons through experience. "Qin Qin Fruit Farm" primarily comprises three areas, with two dedicated to strawberry cultivation and one to vegetables. From the outset, the determined couple aimed to treat the land well and grow healthy crops organically. Besides their father's robust support, they constantly brainstorm ways to improve crop efficiency. For instance, their innovative use of air conditioning filters has proven remarkable. Strawberry farmers often struggle with the spread of powdery mildew, where traditional wind and bird nets fail to prevent disease. Fan Chia-Chi had a sudden inspiration to use air conditioning filters instead of traditional wind nets, which might yield better results. "It's truly amazing; after setting up the filter net, the greenhouse maintains a comfortable temperature, remaining unaffected by harsh winter conditions that have caused heavy losses for other farms nearby, allowing us to sustain temperatures of 5°C even when it's 1°C outside." Moreover, to avoid nutrient loss from the soil, they came up with the idea of covering the soil with PVC. PVC is often used for strawberry cultivation, preventing nutrient loss while reducing bacterial contamination. Fan Chia-Chi applied this technique to their vegetable garden as well. To increase planting efficiency, she invented a hole-punching planting method, saying, "You only need to use a T-shaped tool to punch round holes in the soil, drop the seedlings in, and that's it!" She chuckles, stating that this method significantly simplifies the cumbersome traditional process of first forming furrows, planting seedlings, and then covering them with soil. By organically growing vegetables and strawberries, young farmers Fan Chia-Chi and Lin Chun-Wei, once doubted by friends and family, have now achieved such high demand that they even offer pre-booked vegetable harvesting and strawberry picking on weekends. This showcases their resilience and highlights the trend of sustainable agriculture in Taiwan, which is friendly to the land and provides quality food. Info: Address: No. 80, Lane 286, Huanbei Rd., Zhubei City, Hsinchu County Phone: 0925-070-601 Schedule: Strawberry picking and vegetable harvesting reservations available on Saturdays and Sundays, with opening hours announced via Facebook.
