Shanshui Organic Rice Field Introduction
Yuanli Township in Miaoli County is known as the granary of Miaoli, with a rice cultivation area of up to 3,000 hectares. The organic rice field was established by the Shan Shui Rice Company in 2004 as a hope station, primarily aimed at promoting organic rice cultivation and helping the public understand the importance of valuing the effort that goes into rice production. The Shan Shui Rice organic rice field is a hope station set up by the Shan Shui Rice Company in 2004 to promote organic rice cultivation in the Yuanli area of Miaoli. In 2006, the Guanshu Education Foundation formally became a part of this hope project, responsible for promoting environmental education. The aim is to learn ways to treat the land kindly, respect all forms of life, and care for the farmers' lives, as well as to engage in creative activities to support the motto “Eat Taiwanese rice, love Taiwan's mountains and waters.” The "Organic Rice Field" is adjacent to the Shan Shui Rice Company and features a "classroom floating on rice waves" at its center, surrounded by a display room for traditional farming tools renovated from an old granary, a DIY classroom, organic rice fields, and an organic fruit and vegetable garden. The rice field employs an organic farming method called "duck-rice co-cultivation," where adorable little ducks assist in farming, providing everyone with a chance to get up close to the ecological environment of the rice field. Next to it is the organic fruit and vegetable garden, where visitors can play in the mud and personally experience the joys and challenges of organic cultivation. Additionally, there are interactive explanatory displays, a "Rice Creativity Kitchen" offering diverse and healthy rice dishes, and a souvenir sales area. The "Organic Rice Field" is a natural learning center that promotes organic farming and environmental ecology education. With the spirit of "100% Rice Playism," it offers creative and fun experiential activities so that both children and adults can embark on their learning journeys filled with happiness and laughter. The "Organic Rice Field" also invites everyone to participate in rice harvesting and transplanting throughout different seasons and the growth process, allowing visitors to experience the joy of hard work as modern farmers. Emphasizing organic farming, the field adopts the duck intercropping method, allowing ducklings to assist in the farming tasks. Watching the little yellow ducks weave through the rice seedlings brings smiles to both adults and children. The buildings are designed with several areas; the multifunctional classroom is the main venue for DIY activities, while the display area is used for explanations and showcasing rice-related items, and there is a restaurant offering organic rice dishes along with a sales area for various cute souvenirs. However, because it advocates "100% Rice Playism," the most exciting aspects here are not the physical facilities but the various experiential activities and guided tours launched in accordance with the seasons and the growth of rice. Such activities include becoming a one-day farmer, field experiences, harvesting, transplanting, as well as DIY activities like stone painting, eco-friendly handmade soap, and biological kaleidoscopes. Under the lively guidance of enthusiastic young men and women, visitors can not only tour the organic rice fields but also closely engage with the rice fields, deepening their understanding of rural culture through experiential learning.
