An increasing number of urbanites are becoming leisure farmers and renting plots of land to pursue their agricultural passions. (Courtesy of Songshan District Farmers’ Association)Xinyi District is considered the Manhattan of Taipei City given it is home to Taipei City Government, the headquarters of financial companies, various shopping malls and luxury apartments priced at over NT$400,000 (US$13,361) per square meter.
In such an urbanized and modern area, many might be surprised to know that numerous rural activities are taking place in the surrounding hillside suburbs, with Taipei City Government even publishing a guide to local leisure agriculture.
One such example is Songshan First Citizen’s Farm located in the Four Beasts Mountain. It is less than a 10-minute drive from Taipei 101 or 40 minutes hiking from Yongchun metro station, and visitors are sure to find the effort worthwhile as the farm has a stunning panoramic view of the ROC capital.
The leisure farm’s operator Kuo Rong-long owns 2,310 square meters of land, which he rents out in lots measuring 33 square meters for NT$1,000 a month.
“I often get approached to develop my land into the second Taipei 101 or luxury apartments, but I just want to offer a place for people to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and urban life,” Kuo told Taiwan Today May 11 in an interview.
“I don’t see this as a business but rather a good opportunity for families to bond and enjoy each other’s company in a rural setting.”
Kuo Rong-long, a former cook, is committed to preserving farmland in the center of Taipei City. (Staff photo/Rachel Chan)
Kuo, 60, said his father and uncle used to run the farm but after they passed away in 1995, he took over and five years later changed cultivation methods from traditional to organic under the supervision of Songshan District Farmers’ Association.
According to Kuo, he offers plots with four-month leases and all 60 are occupied with a long list of potential farmers waiting to move onto the land.
“This is a seller’s market,” he said. “The rotation rate is low and I cannot tell those interested in renting how long they would have to wait because I really don’t know.”
For Kuo, who beat oral cancer 20 years ago, the biggest pleasure in running the leisure farm is that he has the luxury of enjoying a simple existence and making friends with people from all walks of life.
“I find it extremely satisfying to stroll around my farm and pick fresh vegetables for my noodles,” Kuo said. “Perhaps I am a fool for not selling up, but I am a proud and happy farmer.”
Lu Shi-ting, 43, who visited the farm during a torrential downpour the same day, said she spends at least two hours every morning taking care of her plants in the mountains before going to work.
Employed by an electronic company, Lu said she finds leisure farming a good way to relax and growing vegetables not difficult at all.
An urban farmer displays the fruits of her labor, an organically grown radish. (Courtesy of Songshan District Farmers’ Association)
“Kuo and his manager Chan Feng-yu teach you everything about organic farming, and there are also lessons to attend organized by Songshan farmers’ association,” Lu said.
“It certainly gives me a great sense of satisfaction watching my plants grow. I even worry about them whenever it rains.”
Wang Ming-hua, an official with Songshan farmers’ association, said there are two government-accredited and 50 nonacredited organic farms in Taipei.
“The city government is pulling out all stops in promoting leisure agriculture through offering training courses and upgrading local sewage systems and paving roads,” Wang said, adding that although the activity is relatively new, it is rapidly growing in popularity.
“Some people I know rent Kuo’s land but do not farm,” Wang said. “They just come here to enjoy the sun and fresh air.”
Xinyi Community College is playing its part in catering for the needs of Taipei’s urban organic farmers. In 2008, the college started offering farm management course and continues experiencing semester-on-semester increases in student enrolments.
Based in Xinyi Junior High School, the college’s rooftop was spectacularly transformed into an organic garden and farm with the assistance of teachers and students.
The rooftop of Xinyi Community College boasts a green lawn and organic vegetable garden. (Courtesy of the Xinyi Community College)
“I teach my pupils about the relationship between plants and soil,” said Bai Yi-sin, who conducts a beginner’s organic farming class. “Without the foundations, you cannot appreciate nature and understand organic farming.”
Weeds and worms are not necessarily bad and fertilizers are not always good for plants, Bai said, adding that they are all closely linked to creating a healthy farming environment.
“The key is to understand how nature works and strike a balance among the environment, plants and human beings,” he said. “People often wrongfully apply excessive fertilizer to help plants grow and pesticides or herbicides to destroy ‘harmful’ pests.”
For example, Bai said, the presence of worms might indicate that a plant is unhealthy. “What growers should do in this instance is try and create healthy plants instead of killing all the worms.”
A variety of vegetables are grown on the rooftop organic farm of Xinyi Community College in Taipei City. (Courtesy of the Xinyi Community College)
Huang Yi-ting, 30, a student at the college, said she is taking classes to learn about growing vegetables. “This experience has been invaluable in instructing me on the finer points of applying microbial and organic fertilizers.”
Echoing Huang’s remarks, Lin Chiu-ling, 60, said she joined the class because she has no confidence in the quality of vegetables sold in supermarkets.
“I learned that farmers must use a lot of fertilizer and pesticides so as to make their produce appealing to the eye. Now I will think twice about beautiful vegetables and only buy seasonal offerings as they may well be healthier,” Lin said.
Lin said organic farming is no easy task and farmers deserve full credit for their hard work and commitment. “Despite the pouring rain, I took a leaf out of their book and attended class so I could understand how to protect plants from such conditions.” (JSM)
