Jupu Ecological Leisure Farm Introduction
Retired principal Wu Shengmiao returned to the Jiupu Ecological Leisure Farm, where he grew up, to establish a new "Ecological Farm Education Park." Through activities such as agricultural education and ecological tours, he hopes to provide modern children with opportunities to better understand local life and stories. Walking along the road next to the Xiaoliji River, even before reaching the Jiupu Ecological Leisure Farm, one can already sense the agricultural charm of the Hakka town of Jiupu. The northern bank of the road is lined with sprawling rice fields, swaying with the autumn breeze, while the southern bank features rolling hills with many farms nestled among the trees, enhancing the natural and leisurely atmosphere. If not paying close attention, it is easy to miss the Jiupu Farm hidden within the greenery, but climbing up the slope alongside the road reveals courtyards, ecological ponds, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, greenhouses, and restaurants in succession, presenting a picturesque landscape. Walking into the back mountain of the park, there is the little-known Jiupu Trail, where strolling through feels like entering a mysterious forest sanctuary. The park has many areas for organically grown vegetables and fruits, where visitors can experience the joy of vegetable picking during activities. Additionally, there are plans for butterfly rehabilitation areas, stag beetle ecological zones, and firefly rehabilitation areas, adding richness to the ecological landscape. Farm manager Wu Junying recommends that visitors come in March and May. In March, the Tabebuia chrysantha (yellow trumpet tree) blossoms create a beautiful sea of yellow; in May, the oil-tree flower season brings a blanket of white to the mountains, presenting yet another scene. The customized activities allow visitors to plant and pick vegetables themselves, operated by the Wu family at Jiupu Farm, where members are responsible for different areas such as the vegetable garden and Hakka restaurant, all united in the care of this family-run land for decades, also filled with their childhood memories. "When I was little, the whole mountain was my playground," said the retired elementary school principal Wu Shengmiao. After over 30 years in science education, Wu Shengmiao has many interesting identities; he is not only a local cultural and historical worker and writer but also conducts in-depth research on river conservation and Hakka literature. He has published works such as "Hakka Children's Picture Books" and "Children’s Plant Fables," and tirelessly promotes children's literature. Two years ago, Wu Shengmiao returned to the farm and established the "Jiupu Ecological Farm Education Park," hoping to share his childhood memories with more children and to combine children's education with local community development. "In the past, with just a knife, we could survive a day in the mountains, knowing which plants were edible and how to use them, but kids today don't have that, so we need to engage them more intellectually," Wu Shengmiao said with a smile. The educational park aims to serve as a place for science education for elementary and junior high school students and kindergartens. He also offers customized activities, planning ecological tours based on visitor needs, which has attracted many schools and groups for off-campus teaching activities. Here, visitors can make full use of farm resources and personally experience the joys of planting and harvesting vegetables. Wu Shengmiao also teaches children how to use natural materials to create various toys, such as making water scoops from gourd and arrow tubes from the leaves of the arrowroot. Additionally, he leads children on ecological tours to help them learn about various insects and plants. Among the most eye-catching features of the park is the colorful "Science Classroom," designed like a scientific adventure area, which is also a favorite gathering place for children. It can serve as a visitor's private room to enjoy the lush beauty of the park. Wu Shengmiao particularly mentioned that when viewed from above, the science classrooms and activity squares resemble a blooming flower—an ingenious design choice. Upon returning to his hometown, Wu Shengmiao has even greater aspirations; he hopes to drive the development of the Jiupu community and make a greater contribution to his hometown. In his heart, the Jiupu area has mountains and forests, tung flowers, sunsets, the riverside scenery of the Xiaoliji, Hakka persimmons, and tea leaves, and importantly, the Jiupu community is the hometown of Taiwanese literary figure Wu Zhuoliu, adding cultural richness to the area. Therefore, Wu Shengmiao hopes to use the educational park as a starting point to gradually promote the development of the Jiupu community. In addition to receiving group activities, the park has also hosted concerts and free ecological lectures, attracting many participants without special promotion. "After retirement, it seems I am even busier than before," Wu Shengmiao said, noting that despite his busier life, he is enjoying it because he has found a way to apply his expertise in his hometown.
