Woodcarving Dream King and Free Store Introduction
The area of Shierliao was originally intended by his father as a place for a leisurely retirement. However, after returning from studying abroad, Hsu Chien-Chih, upon retiring from the military, brought back the concept of young people occupying ruins and promoting bartering. This land underwent significant transformation: most of the area became the Shierliao Leisure Agricultural Zone and the Tung Flower Valley Camping Area. A small shopping street opened his and his sister Hsu Chi-Jung's experimental base, called the "Free Store" and "Woodcarving Dream King." The "Free Store," which opened in June and July 2016, features a simple storefront but carries their profound dreams. It is filled with well-organized items, ranging from small toys to thermos bottles. New and clean secondhand items from homes can be donated here, and visitors can "trade" with their items. For instance, eggs from home might be exchanged for a teddy bear, leading the community and guests to recall the spirit of mutual assistance and trust from the old rural days, yet executed in a more modern way. During the interview, a neighbor mom brought a bag of freshly picked citrus fruit, saying it was for trading! It seems the neighbors have already understood their concept. Moreover, at the entrance, a green refrigerator made of blackboard material bears the sign "Community Refrigerator," encouraging people to take freely, while those with extra ingredients can place them inside. For hygiene considerations, cooked food and meat are not accepted; only various ingredients and dry goods are collected. They have also introduced support from brands like Ah She Restaurant, allowing everyone to experience the charming simplicity of Hakka farms. During this period, community building like this has achieved exciting results: more people have learned about Shierliao and the communal dining times on Wednesdays and Saturdays, where residents and tourists dine together, building bridges of exchange, enhancing community cohesion, and promoting positive interactions, in addition to a notable increase in the item exchange rate. As media coverage increased, students from various universities visited this place to exchange their labor for food by serving the elderly, weeding, writing reports, and promoting the area through volunteer work; the locally collaborated children's ecological camp has also received great feedback. On the other hand, "Woodcarving Dream King," recalling the former plan, is a deep travel program co-created with Shierliao. The walls of the store are filled with photos of culture, landforms, industries, and scenery, allowing customers to choose the places they want to visit and activities they wish to experience, crafting a tailored deep experience journey for them, which may include farming with local farmers or admiring eagles flying over the lake. The store also offers services for creating picture frames made from leaves, branches, and dried flowers, allowing you to package memories in an eco-friendly way and embrace sustainable travel concepts. Their dream is to expand into the areas of food, clothing, housing, transportation, education, and recreation, aiming to create a self-sufficient ideal world where one can pursue a beautiful life without the use of money.
