Jupu Ecological Leisure Farm Introduction
Retired principal Wu Sheng-miao returned to the lush JuPu Ecological Leisure Farm where he grew up and established a new "Ecological Farm Education Park." Through agricultural education and ecological tours, he aims to provide modern children with opportunities to better understand the local lifestyle and stories associated with the land. As you travel along the road beside the Xiaoli River, even before reaching the JuPu Ecological Leisure Farm, you can begin to feel the agricultural charm of the Hakka town of JuPu. The landscape to the north of the road features a continuous expanse of farmland, with waves of rice swaying in the autumn breeze; the south bank consists of rolling hills, where several farms are nestled among the trees, enhancing the natural, leisurely atmosphere. If you are not careful, you might easily miss the JuPu Farm hidden within the green woods. It is only when you walk up the slope along the roadside that you will discover a sequence of courtyards, ecological ponds, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, greenhouses, and restaurants, creating a breathtaking landscape. Walking into the back mountains of the park, there is the less-known JuPu Trail that only locals might know, where a stroll feels like entering a mysterious forest sanctuary. The farm has developed numerous organic vegetable-growing areas, allowing visitors to personally experience the joy of harvesting during various activities. Additionally, there are plans for butterfly conservation areas, rhinoceros beetle ecological zones, firefly restoration areas, and more, enriching the ecological landscape. Farm director Wu Jun-ying recommends visiting in March or May each year. In March, the Tabebuia chrysantha blooms, creating a beautiful sea of yellow flowers; in May, the Tung flowers take the stage, blanketing the mountains in white, presenting a different spectacle. At the JuPu Farm, run collaboratively by the Wu family, each member is responsible for different areas such as the vegetable garden and Hakka restaurant, united in preserving this family-operated land for decades, which naturally is filled with their childhood memories. "When I was young, this whole mountain was my playground," says retired principal Wu Sheng-miao. With over 30 years of experience in science education, Wu Sheng-miao has many interesting identities; he is not only a local cultural and historical worker and writer with in-depth research on river conservation and Hakka literature but has also published works like "Hakka Children's Picture Books" and "Children's Botanical Fables," tirelessly promoting children's literature. Two years ago, Wu Sheng-miao returned to the farm and established the "JuPu Ecological Farm Education Park." In addition to wanting to share his childhood memories with more children, he hopes to integrate children's education with local community development. "In the past, all we needed was a knife, and we could spend a day on the mountain, knowing which plants were edible and how to use them, but today's children are unable to do that, so I want to encourage them to think more," Wu Sheng-miao laughs. Establishing the education park, he hopes it will serve as a venue for science education for elementary and junior high school students, while also providing customized activities based on visitor needs, making ecological tours, or utilizing the space for various experiential games. This has indeed attracted many schools and organizations to come for outdoor teaching activities. Here, not only can visitors make good use of the farm resources and personally experience the joy of planting and harvesting vegetables, but Wu Sheng-miao also teaches children to use natural materials to create various toys, such as making water scoops from loofahs or folding arrow tubes from papyrus leaves. Additionally, he leads children on ecological tours to help them learn about various insects, plants, and animals. One of the park's most eye-catching features is the colorful "Corrugated Pipe Science Classroom," where each classroom can be designed as a scientific challenge venue, making it a favorite gathering place for children; it can also serve as a private room for visitors to enjoy the beautiful greenery of the park. Wu Sheng-miao particularly mentions that when viewed from above, the classroom and activity square resemble a blooming flower, a clever design idea from the beginning. Returning to his hometown, Wu Sheng-miao has an even greater vision; he hopes to promote the development of the JuPu community and contribute more to his hometown. In his mind, the JuPu area is filled with mountains and forests, Tung flowers, sunsets, the landscape along the Xiaoli River, Hakka persimmons, and tea leaves; more importantly, it is also the hometown of Taiwanese literary figure Wu Zhuoliu, adding to the local cultural atmosphere. Therefore, Wu Sheng-miao hopes that the education park will serve as a starting point to gradually boost the development of the JuPu community. In addition to hosting group activities, the park has also organized concerts and free ecological lectures, attracting many participants without specific external publicity. "Since retirement, it seems like I've been busier than before," Wu Sheng-miao shares. Despite the increased busyness, he is content because he has found a way of life that allows him to better utilize his expertise in his hometown.
