Jupu Ecological Leisure Farm Introduction
Retired principal Wu Sheng-miao returned to the Jupu Ecological Leisure Farm where he grew up to establish a new "Ecological Farm Education Park." Through activities like agricultural education and ecological tours, he hopes to provide modern children with the opportunity to better understand local life and stories. Following the road along the banks of the Xiaoli Creek, even before reaching the Jupu Ecological Leisure Farm, one can already feel the agricultural charm of this Hakka town. On the north bank of the road, vast agricultural landscapes stretch out, with rice waves swaying in the autumn wind; the south bank features rolling hills, with many farms nestled among the trees, enhancing the natural, leisurely atmosphere. If you do not pay special attention, it is easy to miss the Jupu Farm hidden within a lush forest, but once you walk up the slope beside the road, you will discover the courtyard, ecological ponds, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, greenhouses, and restaurant appearing in sequence, revealing a unique landscape. Walking into the back mountains of the park, there is the little-known Jupu Trail, where strolling through feels like entering a mysterious mountain secret. The Jupu Farm has many organic vegetable gardens where visitors can personally experience the joy of harvesting crops during activities. Additionally, butterfly breeding areas, rhinoceros beetle ecological zones, and firefly breeding areas have been planned, rich in ecological diversity. Farm director Wu Jun-ying recommends that visitors come in March and May. In March, the Tabebuia aurea blooms, creating a beautiful sea of yellow flowers; in May, it is the season of the Tung tree flowers, making the mountaintops appear white, showcasing a different scene. Customized activities allow visitors to plant and harvest vegetables themselves. The Jupu Farm, operated collaboratively by the Wu family, has members responsible for different areas, such as vegetable gardens and Hakka restaurants, all dedicated to protecting this family-run land for decades, which is also filled with their childhood memories. "When I was young, this whole mountain was my playground," says Wu Sheng-miao, a retired elementary school principal. With over 30 years in science education, Wu Sheng-miao 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 like "Hakka Children's Picture Book" and "Children's Plant Fables," making great efforts to promote children's literature. Two years ago, Wu Sheng-miao returned to the farm to establish the "Jupu Ecological Farm Education Park." Besides wanting to share his childhood memories with more children, he also hopes to integrate children's education with local community development. "In the past, all we needed was a knife to survive a day in the mountains, knowing which plants to eat and how to use them, but today’s children can't do that, so we need to encourage them to think more," Wu Sheng-miao smiles. He has set up the education park to serve as a place for science education for elementary and middle school students and kindergartens, providing customized activities based on visitor needs, planning nature ecological tours or various experiential games, attracting many schools and groups for outdoor teaching activities. Here, visitors can make good use of farm resources, personally experience the joy of planting and pulling vegetables, and Wu Sheng-miao also teaches children to use natural materials to make traditional toys, like turning gourds into water scoops and folding Araca leaf blades into arrow tubes. Moreover, he leads children in ecological tours to learn about various insects, animals, and plants. Among the most eye-catching features of the park is the colorful "Science Classroom," where each classroom can be designed as a science adventure space, also serving as a favorite gathering spot for children and, at times, private rooms for visitors to enjoy the greenery of the park. Wu Sheng-miao particularly points out that from a high perspective, the classroom and activity area resemble a blooming flower, reflecting the thoughtful design. Upon returning to his hometown, Wu Sheng-miao has even bigger aspirations; he hopes to boost the development of the Jupu community and contribute more to his hometown. In his mind, the Jupu area boasts mountains and forests, Tung flowers, sunsets, the riverside scenery of the Xiaoli Creek, Hakka persimmons, and tea leaves. More importantly, the Jupu community is also the former home of Taiwanese literary writer Wu Zhuo-liu, enhancing the local cultural ambiance. Therefore, Wu Sheng-miao hopes to use the education park as a starting point to gradually drive the development of the Jupu community. In addition to hosting group activities, the park has also held concerts and free ecological lectures, attracting many participants without special publicity. "Since I retired, it seems I've been busier than before." Despite a busier life, Wu Sheng-miao is happy about it because he has found a lifestyle that better utilizes his expertise in his hometown.
