farm Archives ⋆ Leia Khu

Pear Picking at Dong Rong Farm

Posted on March 10, 2017January 21, 2019 by xerox

Situated in the cool mountains of Dongshi District in Taichung, Dong Rong Farm is known for their mouthwatering organic pears.

Pear trees can produce fruit for up to 100 years. Did you know that pears have been cultivated for over 4000 years and they are actually related to apples, strawberries, apricots and peaches? Amazing, isn’t it?

For our D.I.Y. activity in this Taiwanese pear farm, we harvested grafted pears.

In Dong Rong Farm, pear fruits are carefully wrapped in waxed paper bags which acts as a natural barrier to protect them pests and diseases – a labor-intensive yet cost-effective solution that keeps the fruits free from chemicals.

To harvest these grafted pears, bags are simply untied to reveal the fruits inside. You know these pears are of the highest quality because they are smooth, vibrant in color, have no sunburn injury and are in perfect condition.

A perfect day starter, it is said that “a pear a day keeps the pounds away”.

Pears are a good source of dietary fiber and contain vital vitamins and minerals.

These fresh organic pears are the most luscious pears I’ve had in my life! These sweet, crunchy and juicy pears are best eaten when chilled. As the Greek poet Homer called it, indeed, pears are “a gift from the gods”.

Thanks Taiwan Leisure Farms Development Association and Ma’am Jane Syjuco of Everbright Travel Agency for this fun and educational experience!

Read about my Taiwan Travel Guide here
What to Eat and Drink in Taiwan
Rice puff making at Tea and Rice Resort
Rice harvesting at Fairy Story Village Organic Farm
Mosquito repellent making at Forest 18 Farm
Dragon fruit picking at Xing Ke Dragon Fruit Farm

Making Mosquito Repellent at Forest 18

Posted on February 10, 2017January 21, 2019 by xerox

Forest 18 is home to over 800 eucalyptus trees in 4000 hectares of land – making it the largest eucalyptus forest park in Taiwan.

Situated 400 meters above sea level, it lies somewhere in the mountains of Nantou County and has a stunning view of the Baguashan Drought Irrigation Reservoir which locals fondly call “Mingjian Shangri-La” or “Little Sun Moon Lake”.

Nature lovers will surely enjoy here just by walking around and basking in the greenery of the forest. The subtle sound and refreshing scent of the cool air will leave you feeling relaxed and invigorated.

Shinrin-yoku
is a Japanese practice which means

walking in the woods and immersing oneself in nature or simply “forest bathing”. Benefits of forest bathing include reduced stress, improved mood, increased energy level, improved sleep, boosted immune system and more.

And in case you’re wondering what’s behind the name of Forest 18, the Chinese word for “eighteen” is 十八 (shí bā) which sounds like spa. So Forest 18 just means Forest Spa which, if you ask me, is a very fitting name.

Koalas typically live in eucalyptus woodlands so it should be no surprise to find the place decorated with these cuddly, tree-hugging marsupials.

Forest 18 has a restaurant that serves delicious Muslim-friendly dishes using the freshest organic ingredients cooked with no oil and little to no salt.

Hot Pot

Steamed Fish

Fruit Salad

Sweet Potato Casserole

Forest 18 also offers fun D.I.Y. activities for all ages. When we were there, we made mosquito repellent!

Each of us was handed with an empty pump bottle, a Popsicle stick, 4 bottles of essential oils, stickers and

measuring cups filled with water and emulsifier.

Here’s their very own recipe for mosquito repellent:

6 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
6 drops of mint essential oil
6 drops of lemon grass essential oil
2 drops of tea tree oil
10 ml of sweet almond oil as emulsifier
80ml of water

First, add 30ml of water to the emulsifier. Stir while gradually adding another 30ml and then 20ml of water. Just keep stirring until its color turns opaque white and its texture becomes

thick and smooth like that of a lotion. Once the desired consistency is achieved, add all the essential oils and stir once again until everything is well-combined. Transfer the mosquito repellent lotion to the empty pump bottle and place the stickers.

This all-natural, non-toxic mosquito repellent moisturizes your skin while keeping you protected from those nasty bites which can lead to life-threatening diseases such as dengue. Reapply as needed.

Thanks Taiwan Leisure Farms Development Association and Ma’am Jane Syjuco of Everbright Travel Agency for this fun and educational experience!

Read about my Taiwan Travel Guide here
What to Eat and Drink in Taiwan
Rice puff making at Tea and Rice Resort
Rice harvesting at Fairy Story Village Organic Farm
Dragon fruit picking at Xing Ke Dragon Fruit Farm

Dragon Fruit Picking in Taiwan

Posted on January 28, 2017January 21, 2019 by xerox

On the second day of my leisure farm tour, we traveled all the way to the fourth smallest county in Taiwan to visit Xing Ke Dragon Fruit Farm.

Just located alongside of Douyuan Road, Erlin Township in

Changhua County…

Xing Ke Dragon Fruit Farm is probably the smallest one in size among the organic farms that I’ve visited in Taiwan. With only about half a hectare to work with, it’s incredible how they managed to fully utilized every square foot of this land to produce different dragon fruit varieties.

Did you know that dragon fruit is actually a fruit of a climbing cactus plant that is native to Central America? Dragon fruit plants have fleshy stems which can grow up to 20 feet long. Since its discovery it has made its way to Asia and other parts of the world.

Harvesting them is very easy. Once they’re ripe and ready for harvest, they can be removed from the plant by cutting them off with the use of garden shears or by just simply twisting them off.

This beautiful exotic fruit got its name after its outer skin which resembles dragon scales.

Dragon fruit is a tropical superfood that is rich in phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals. It is said to boost the immune system, lower blood glucose levels, prevent cancer and among others.

The flesh of the dragon fruit comes in a spectrum of colors that ranges from white, pink, bright magenta to dark purple.

Dragon fruit is quite bland actually but it does have a hint of sweetness.

Its texture is quite similar to that of a kiwi. I love the crunch that comes from the seeds and it is really good to eat when chilled.

Thanks Taiwan Leisure Farms Development Association for this fun and educational experience!

Thanks Taiwan Leisure Farms Development Association and Ma’am Jane Syjuco of Everbright Travel Agency for this fun and educational experience!

Rice Harvesting at Fairy Story Village Organic Farm

Posted on January 26, 2017January 21, 2019 by xerox

Fairy Story Village Organic Farm is a

certified organic farm-stay bed and breakfast

surrounded by pastoral landscape

in Yilan County.

Photo courtesy of http://nickhow.pixnet.net/

They offer a rejuvenating escape in a bucolic setting and is an ideal getaway spot for families, health conscious travelers and for all those who just want to experience a rural lifestyle.

Photo courtesy of

http://www.camemberu.com/

Fairy Story Village Organic Farm

is run and managed by the warm and hospitable owners, Wu Li Chu and her daughter Shandy. This mother-daughter pair grow rice, mulberry, roselle, various seasonal fruits and vegetables in their 5-hectare farm located

near Meihua Lake Scenic Area and is only a 10-minute drive from Luodung Night Market.

Photo courtesy of http://taiwan.zizaike.com/h/1600

Guests who want a taste of organic food can enjoy a farm-to-table dining experience at their restaurant which features a relaxing view of the garden.

Their specialties include handmade mulberry pasta and hot pot all made with fresh ingredients handpicked from the farm.

Photo courtesy of http://taiwan.zizaike.com/h/1600

They have 6 charming wooden cabins surrounded by trees that help you connect with nature and enjoy the fresh air at the shared courtyard.

Photo courtesy of Jude Bacalso

Accommodating up to 4 people, each cabin is fully air-conditioned, has WiFi access and comes with a 32-inch LCD TV, bath tub and small fridge.

The place is clean and cozy.

I am particularly in love with the loft bed! #iwokeuplikethis LOL

Photos courtesy of Jude Bacalso

They have fun D.I.Y. activities such as scallion pancake making, fish feeding and rice harvesting. But in order to appreciate and experience the beauty of harvest, we tried the traditional method of harvesting rice. Each of us was handed a conical hat for sun protection and a small scythe to cut the ripe rice.

I was immediately reminded of a traditional Filipino song entitled “Magtanim ay Di Biro" that describes the

difficulties of the life of a farmer. In case you want to listen to the English version, watch this video:

And just before we left Fairy Story Village Organic Farm each of us came home with a box of organic rice!

Thanks Taiwan Leisure Farms Development Association and Ma’am Jane Syjuco of Everbright Travel Agency for this fun and educational experience!

Read about my Taiwan Travel Guide here
What to Eat and Drink in Taiwan
Rice puff making at Tea and Rice Resort

Mosquito repellent making at Forest 18 Farm
Dragon fruit picking at Xing Ke Dragon Fruit Farm