Retired Principal Wu Sheng-mo returned to the Giant Pu Ecological Leisure Farm where he grew up and established a new "Ecological Farm Education Park". Through food and agriculture education, ecological tours, and other activities that connect people with the land, he hopes to give modern children the opportunity to better understand local life and stories.
As you drive along the road beside the Xiao-li Creek, you can already feel the charm of the Giant Pu community, a Hakka town, before arriving at the farm. The north side of the road is lined with vast fields, where rice waves sway in the wind during the autumn harvest. The south side features rolling hills, with many farms scattered among the trees, creating a natural and leisurely atmosphere. If you're not careful, you might easily miss the Giant Pu Farm, hidden in a green forest. However, as you drive up the slope beside the road, you'll discover a series of scenic spots, including courtyards, ecological ponds, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, greenhouses, and restaurants.
The park also features a Giant Pu trail, known only to locals, which offers a mysterious and secluded hiking experience. The farm has many organic vegetable and fruit gardens, where visitors can participate in activities such as picking vegetables. The park also features a butterfly breeding area, a rhinoceros beetle ecological area, and a firefly breeding area, showcasing a rich variety of ecosystems.
Farm manager Wu Jun-ying recommends visiting the farm in March and May. In March, the yellow flowers of the wind chimes tree are in full bloom, creating a beautiful sea of yellow flowers. In May, it's the turn of the oil桐花 season, with the mountains covered in a white blanket of flowers.
Customized activities, such as planting and picking vegetables, are offered by the Wu family, who operate the farm together. The family members are responsible for different areas of the farm, including the vegetable garden and the Hakka restaurant. They work together to protect the land, which has been in their family for decades and holds many childhood memories.
"I used to play in these hills and mountains when I was a kid," said Wu Sheng-mo, a retired elementary school principal. With over 30 years of experience in science education, Wu Sheng-mo has many interesting roles, including local historian, writer, and advocate for river conservation and Hakka literature. He has published books such as "Hakka Children's Picture Books" and "Children's Plant Fables" and is dedicated to promoting children's literature.
Two years ago, Wu Sheng-mo returned to the farm and established the "Giant Pu Ecological Farm Education Park", hoping to share his childhood memories with more children and combine children's education with local community development. He believes that by engaging children in hands-on activities, they can develop a deeper understanding of the natural world and their local community.
The education park offers customized activities, including natural ecology tours and experience games, which have attracted many schools and groups to visit for outdoor teaching and other activities. Visitors can not only enjoy the farm's resources but also participate in activities such as planting and picking vegetables. Wu Sheng-mo also teaches children to make various toys using natural materials, such as creating water dips from bottle gourds and folding arrow tubes from moon peach leaves.
The park's most eye-catching feature is the colorful "culvert house science classroom", which can be designed as a science challenge venue and is a favorite gathering place for children. It can also be used as a private room for tourists to enjoy the scenery.
Wu Sheng-mo mentioned that if you look down from the air, the culvert house classroom and activity square resemble a blooming flower, which was a deliberate design element. Returning to his hometown, Wu Sheng-mo has a bigger vision - to contribute to the development of the Giant Pu community and do more for his hometown. He believes that the Giant Pu area has a rich cultural heritage, with its mountains, flowers, sunsets, riverbanks, Hakka persimmon cakes, and tea, as well as being the hometown of Taiwanese literary writer Wu Tuo-liu.
Wu Sheng-mo hopes to use the education park as a starting point to drive the development of the Giant Pu community step by step. The park not only receives group activities but also hosts concerts and free ecological lectures, which have attracted many people to participate without any special promotion. Wu Sheng-mo said, "After retirement, I seem to be busier than before, but I'm happy to have found a way to live in my hometown that allows me to make a difference."