Embracing Nature with Yue: A Day at Jiusan Organic Farm

### Farm Experience with Yue and Guoguo #### Duration: 1 Day #### Time: November #### Cost per Perso[...]

### Farm Experience with Yue and Guoguo

#### Duration: 1 Day
#### Time: November
#### Cost per Person: 400 Yuan
#### With Whom: Parent-Child Activities
#### Style: Cultural, Weekend Getaway
#### Posted on: 2020-11-30 13:59

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### Introduction

When Yue was one year old, I discovered that her elementary school classmate, an architect with a PhD in architecture and CEO of a U.S.-based architectural firm, along with her husband, had established a farm. Since then, I have been following their progress and have been sourcing organically grown vegetables and fruits for Yue, particularly the winter strawberries which are truly remarkable. In 2018, we made strawberry jam from Jiusan-grown strawberries and shared it with friends, who were all highly complimentary.

After three years of anticipation, Yue has finally reached the age where she can participate in farming activities. It’s time to plan a farm date with her cousin Guoguo!

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### The Weekend Before

The week before the Saturday open day saw five days of rain, with heavy downpours even the day before, causing much concern. The staff reminded everyone to bring rain boots, and I also prepared a set of clothes for Yue. Surprisingly, the rain stopped on Saturday, and we were blessed with the long-lost sunshine. The 66-kilometer one-way distance was not an issue.

To arrive on time, Yue woke up earlier than usual, actively cooperated with getting dressed and washed, and her excitement was indescribable. Upon entering the farm, Yue, who was visiting for the first time, seemed to be returning home, showing no signs of unfamiliarity.

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### Activities and Experiences

#### Welcoming Snacks

The farm provided homemade waffles and specially prepared lemongrass lemonade to start our day.

#### Autumn Planting of Rapeseed

The teacher prepared rapeseed oil, rapeseed, rapeseed branches, and heating tools produced by the farm itself. A clip from Miss Li Ziqi’s ‘The Life of Rapeseed Oil’ was played, followed by an explanation of the origin of rapeseed oil, the cultivation process of rapeseed, and a live frying of the seeds, allowing the children to hold them. This learning experience was enhanced through visual, taste, and touch.

After the lecture, it was time to start planting rapeseed for the autumn. The children collected rapeseed seedlings, took tools, turned the soil, fertilized, and transplanted the seedlings.

#### Planting Garlic

After successfully planting rapeseed, the teacher rewarded us with the addition of garlic planting. We learned that garlic planted in the field acts as an organic insecticide. The children peeled garlic, loosened the soil, planted garlic (with the head down), and covered it.

#### Feeding Lambs

After planting, the teacher took the children to feed the lambs. They passed by two rabbit families and arrived at the lamb family. The children competed and spared no effort to feed them. Aunt Shu made an earring for each of the hardworking two little ones and hung it on them.

#### Rustic Lunch

Firewood cooked rice with vegetables and handmade wontons were the highlights. There were also various Chinese and Western cuisines, with all vegetables homegrown. Yue had two bowls of wontons by herself, which shows how tempting it was.

#### Nature Walk – Seed Mobilization

Five-star recommendation. The teacher took the children to climb slopes, enter greenhouses, and go into the fields… Observe every plant and collect their seeds. The gifts of the land and nature are thus implanted in the children’s hearts in a down-to-earth way. The fruits picked during the trip included camphor, sesbania, crape myrtle, wisteria, rose, pokeweed, pampas grass, dandelion, sunflower, cotton…

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### Conclusion

Throughout the day’s activities, before and after lunch, in the middle of activities, and after activities, the two little ones made full use of every minute and second to enjoy themselves to the fullest. Not only do the children like it, but even I am deeply attracted by this place. The classmate’s original intention of doing this farm is: ‘I hope to find answers from the land.’Treat a piece of land with a new attitude. Observe, nourish, and cultivate it attentively. Experience the essence of nature and life attentively and have more connections with this essence instead of squandering at the end of the chain.

Starting from the second half of this year, I began to see videos of her two children on the farm’s official WeChat account. They record every bit of their lives on the farm, such as roasting persimmons, harvesting and threshing rice, weaving straw… These vivid and lovely scenes are so appealing that I can’t help but leave her a message of praise. She replied that seeing me making the ‘Growth Diary’ for Yue, writing travel notes, and editing photo albums… was touching. Although she can’t do these things, she can take videos of the children on the farm as a growth gift for them.

At this meeting, seeing that she is tanned again. She said with a smile, ‘This is already a bit better. I was even tanner in summer.’ This is the pride of being down-to-earth. Instantly, my fair skin is eclipsed.

During the chat, there are constantly soft voices saying, ‘Oh, she is the proprietress.’ Seeing her evasive eyes, I can’t help but think of an interview I saw before where she was the president of an architectural design firm: She doesn’t like to be called ‘boss’. Think about it. Master Zhang may give you a strategic plan for urban development or a philosophical and mysterious human settlement concept. Teacher Zhang may give you a set of detailed and comprehensive plan drawings. And Boss Zhang should give you a set of floor plans plus three renderings and a small perspective as a New Year’s gift package.

How much I dread being called ‘boss’; the mere mention of it makes me blush and gasp for air… Is there a worse title than ‘boss’? Yes — ‘boss’s wife’. When I saw this interview, I laughed so hard my stomach ached. After establishing the farm, she finally got what she wanted, haha.

The greenhouse is the most captivating part of the farm for me; observe how the wise boss’s wife has designed it with such beauty (original phone picture).

Because of their two children, the farm’s attention to children is meticulous, even making the family restroom a place one lingers to leave.

After the event, the two little ones were reluctant to part. I’ve decided to bring Yue to see the seasons and be accompanied by plants and crops.

Tips:
1/ Jiushan Farm operates on a membership basis and is not open to the public;
2/ There are member open days every month; occasionally there are open days for individual visitors, with limited spots, making them quite hard to secure;
3/ Jiushan Farm cultivates an organic lifestyle. Detailed introductions to the farm, and the sale of organic fruits and vegetables are available.

Thank you to all the big and little friends who participated in the event on November 28th!