Wood Carving Dream King and Free Store Introduction
The area of Shih-liao was originally a place where the father intended to enjoy a leisurely retirement. However, after returning from studying abroad, Hsu Chien-chi, upon retiring from the military, introduced the concept of "bartering" by bringing young people from abroad to occupy the abandoned land. This land underwent significant changes: most of the area became the Shih-liao Leisure Agriculture Area and the Tung Flower Valley Camping Site. The shopping street opened their experimental bases called "Free Store" and "Wood Carving Dream King," established by him and his sister, Hsu Chi-jung. The "Free Store," which opened in June and July of 2016, has a simple storefront yet carries their profound dreams. The store is filled with well-organized goods, ranging from small toys to thermoses, where new and clean second-hand items can be donated. Visitors can exchange items, such as using some eggs to swap for a teddy bear, creating a spirit of mutual assistance and trust reminiscent of the old rural days but executed in a more modern way. During the interview, a neighboring mother brought a bag of freshly picked citrus fruits, saying it was for exchange! It’s believed that the neighbors have understood their philosophy. Furthermore, the green refrigerator at the entrance, resembling a blackboard, is marked with "Community Refrigerator," encouraging self-service for taking items. Those with excess food can place it inside; for hygiene reasons, cooked food and meat are not accepted, only various ingredients and dry goods. They introduced support from brands like Ah She Dining Hall, allowing everyone to experience the charming simplicity of Hakka farms. During this period, the community building effort has shown exciting results: more people have learned about Shih-liao and the shared dining time on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Residents and tourists share meals, building bridges for communication and enhancing community cohesion, leading to increased positive interactions and a significant rise in the rate of item exchanges. With media exposure, university students from various regions have come to this place to "work for food" through activities like serving the elderly, weeding, and writing reports for promotion. Collaborations with local children's ecological camps have also received favorable reviews. On the other hand, the "Wood Carving Dream King," recalling the ancient plans, is part of a deep travel project jointly planned with Shih-liao. The walls of the store are covered with photos of culture, geography, industries, and scenery. Customers can choose the places they want to go and the activities they wish to experience, and they will customize an in-depth experiential journey for you, which may include farming with smallholders or admiring eagles soaring over the lake. The store also offers the making of photo frames from fallen leaves, branches, and dried flowers, allowing you to pack your eco-friendly memories and the concept of sustainable tourism. Their dream is to expand into various aspects of food, clothing, housing, transportation, education, and entertainment, creating a self-sufficient and ideal world where one can pursue a beautiful life without the need for money.
