Youdian Grass Ecological Farm Introduction
This is a story about a tech talent who abandoned a high salary to return to the mountains. Here, one can hear the intertwined struggles of caring for the environment and the warmth of the community. It is a great place for children to learn about nature and humility. Recently, the Nanwai community in Beipu Township received subsidies from the Ministry of the Interior, the Soil and Water Conservation Bureau, and the Hsinchu County Government; their community activity center is about to be completed and will take on the major responsibility of caring for the elderly in the community. The ecological pond shaped like a butterfly in front of the center has also begun to rehabilitate aquatic plants. One of the key driving forces behind the establishment of these important soft and hard facilities is Chen Shaozhong, the owner of Youdian Grass Farm. Chen Shaozhong grew up in the Nanwai community, where the mountain at his home is the lifeblood of his family. Whether growing citrus, tea, or sweet potatoes, he relied on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It wasn't until the fluttering butterflies and the thunderous croaking of frogs gradually disappeared from memory, and fireflies no longer lit the way at night, that he realized the land beneath his feet had changed color. To save the farm's ecology, Chen Shaozhong resolutely resigned from his job in the science park and started learning natural farming and ecological teaching from scratch, aiming to turn Youdian Grass Farm into an ecological base suitable for family visits and teacher-student learning. Twelve years have passed, and he has transformed from an engineer with a technical background into an ecological farmer who speaks passionately about the lives of insects and casually recalls the characteristics of plants and flowers. His achievements are all found in Youdian Grass Farm. Youdian grass is a common wild grass found beside farmland, unique to Taiwan. Its flowers have nectar at the base, making it a beloved wild food for rural children. Using it as the farm's name not only fills Chen Shaozhong's childhood with beautiful memories but also represents his hopes for the farm—to create an atmosphere filled with the lively sounds of frogs croaking, butterflies dancing, birds singing, and bees buzzing, making it somewhat "noisy" yet vibrant.
