Jupu Eco Leisure Farm Introduction
Retired principal Wu Sheng-miao returned to the Giant Poo 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 give modern children the opportunity to better understand local life and stories. Following the road along the riverbank of the Xiaoli Creek, even before arriving at the Giant Poo Ecological Leisure Farm, one can already feel the charm of agriculture in this Hakka town. The northern bank features expansive farmlands swaying with the autumn rice harvest, while the southern bank is characterized by rolling hills with many farmers' houses nestled among the trees, enhancing the natural, leisurely atmosphere. If you're not careful, it's easy to miss the hidden Giant Poo Farm within a grove of greenery. Only by walking up the slope next to the road will visitors discover courtyards, ecological ponds, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, greenhouses, and restaurants emerging sequentially, revealing a picturesque landscape. Walking into the back mountain of the park, there's also the little-known Giant Poo Trail, where wandering feels like entering a mysterious mountain paradise. The farm has cultivated many organic vegetable gardens, and during events, visitors can personally experience the joy of vegetable harvesting. In addition, areas for butterfly conservation, stag beetle ecology, and firefly breeding have been planned, showcasing rich ecological diversity. Farm director Wu Jun-ying recommends visiting in March and May each year. In March, the yellow-flowered trumpet tree blossoms, creating a beautiful sea of yellow; in May, the tung flower season arrives, blanketing the mountain in white, offering a different sight. Customized activities like growing and harvesting vegetables are managed collaboratively by the Wu family at Giant Poo Farm, with family members responsible for different areas such as the vegetable garden and Hakka restaurant, all dedicated to protecting this family-run land for decades, which is also filled with their childhood memories. "When I was a child, this entire mountain was my playground," said retired elementary school principal Wu Sheng-miao. With over 30 years in science education, Wu Sheng-miao holds many interesting identities; he is not only a local cultural worker and writer but also has in-depth research on river conservation and Hakka literature, publishing works like "Hakka Children's Picture Books" and "Children's Plant Fables," actively promoting children's literature. Two years ago, Wu Sheng-miao returned to the farm and established the "Giant Poo Ecological Farm Education Park" not only to share his childhood memories with more children but also to integrate children's education with local community development. "In the past, all we needed was a knife to have the skills to spend a day in the mountains, knowing which plants were edible and how to use them. But today’s children can't do that, so we need to motivate them to think more," Wu Sheng-miao said with a smile. He established the education park to serve as a location for scientific education for elementary and middle school children, and he also offers customized activities, planning natural ecological tours based on visitor needs, which has successfully attracted many schools and groups for outdoor teaching activities. Here, not only can farm resources be utilized for personal experiences in planting and harvesting, but Wu Sheng-miao also teaches children to use natural materials to create various toys, such as making ladles from bottle gourds and arrow tubes from ginger leaves. Additionally, he leads children on ecological tours to introduce them to various insects, animals, and plants. The most eye-catching feature of the park is the colorful "Pipe House Science Classroom," with each classroom designed as a science challenge area, making it a favorite gathering spot for children and also serving as guests' private room to enjoy the park's lush scenery. Wu Sheng-miao particularly mentions that if viewed from above, the Pipe House classrooms and activity plaza resemble a blooming flower, which was the thoughtful design concept from the beginning. Upon returning to his hometown, Wu Sheng-miao has an even bigger vision; he hopes to promote the development of the Giant Poo community and contribute more to his hometown. In his heart, the Giant Poo area has mountains, tung flowers, sunsets, the riverside scenery of Xiaoli Creek, Hakka persimmons, and tea leaves. More importantly, the Giant Poo community is also the hometown of Taiwanese literary writer Wu Zhuoliu, adding to the local cultural ambiance. Therefore, Wu Sheng-miao hopes to use the education park as a starting point to gradually promote the development of the Giant Poo community. In addition to hosting group activities, the park has also held concerts and free ecological lectures, attracting many participants without special external promotion. "After retirement, I feel busier than before," he said. Despite his life becoming busier, Wu Sheng-miao is happily engaged, as he has found a way of life that allows him to better utilize his expertise in his hometown.
