Shanshui Organic Rice Farm Introduction
Yuanli Township in Miaoli County is known as the granary of Miaoli, with an extensive area of 3,000 hectares dedicated to rice cultivation. The Shanshui Rice Organic Rice Farm, established by Shanshui Rice Company in 2004, serves as a hope station aimed at promoting organic rice farming and helping the public understand the challenges of rice cultivation and the importance of cherishing food. The Shanshui Rice Organic Rice Farm was created to promote organic rice farming in the Yuanli region of Miaoli. In 2006, the Guanshu Education Foundation officially became part of this initiative, responsible for promoting environmental education. The farm aims to teach people to treat the land with kindness, respect all forms of life, and care for farmers' lives, while also encouraging creativity and supporting the concept of "Eating Taiwanese rice, loving Taiwan's mountains and waters." Adjacent to Shanshui Rice Company, the Organic Rice Farm is centered around a "classroom floating on rice waves," surrounded by an old granary transformed into a traditional farming tools exhibition, DIY classrooms, organic rice fields, and an organic fruit and vegetable garden. The rice fields utilize the "duck-rice co-cultivation" organic farming method, with adorable little ducks assisting in agricultural work, providing a close-up opportunity to experience rice field ecology. Beside the rice fields is a vegetable garden where visitors can get hands-on experience with organic farming. The indoor area includes interactive displays for educational purposes, a "Rice Play Restaurant" offering a variety of healthy rice dishes, and a souvenir shop. The Organic Rice Farm is a natural learning center focused on promoting organic farming and environmental education, fostering a spirit of "100% Rice Play" through creative and engaging experiential learning activities. Visitors of all ages can embark on a joyful learning journey here, participating in seasonal activities related to rice growth, including harvesting and transplanting rice seedlings, experiencing the flavors of hard work and sweat as modern farmers for a day. Emphasizing organic farming practices, the farm employs a duck-rice cultivation method, allowing the ducklings to assist in agricultural activities. Watching the little yellow ducklings weave through the seedlings brings smiles to both adults and children alike. The buildings are divided into several areas, with a multifunctional classroom serving as the primary venue for DIY activities, and an exhibition area for displays and explanations related to rice. A restaurant offers organic rice dishes, and a retail area features a variety of charming souvenirs. However, the most exciting aspect of the farm, embracing the "100% Rice Play" philosophy, lies not in its physical facilities but in the diverse experiential activities and guided tours aligned with the seasons and the rice growing process, such as becoming a one-day farmer, field experiences, harvesting, transplanting, and DIY activities like stone painting, eco-friendly soap making, and creating biological kaleidoscopes. Led by enthusiastic young instructors, these engaging activities allow visitors to get close to the rice fields and gain insights into rural culture through hands-on experiences.
