Young farmers return to create a new ambiance in Xingjian Village

Located in Yilan’s Sanxing Township, Xingjian Village has a number of 65-year-old farmers who when aren’t growing organic rice, fruits or vegetables, are busy organizing DIY activities and tasting sessions for city slickers. The events allow those from urban areas to connect with farming, the earth, and agricultural products, thereby facilitating a better understanding of food sources and reestablishing a link with the land.

It has been eight years since the establishment of Xingjian Organic Dream Village. The founder, who encourages young people to return to their hometowns, said: “There was no future in farming before. But that’s all changed now because organic farming has real value.” Farmers in Xingjian Village look upon organic farming with a sense of honor and hope the scale of organically farmed rice will continue to expand in the future.

以下為中文對照

位於宜蘭縣三星鄉的「行健村」是由一群高齡六十五歲的老農民共同組成，他們平時栽種有機米食及蔬果，假日則舉辦體驗活動和品嚐會，提供都會區家庭透過實際與土地、農產品接觸，了解食物的源頭，並重建與土地的連結。

行健有機夢想村創辦至今已有八年的歷史，創辦人鼓勵年輕人返鄉，「以前種田沒出息，現在不一樣，因為農業轉作有機，價值無限。」對於行健村的農民來說，種植有機已然成為他們的榮譽感，希望未來的有機稻作耕種面積能夠愈來愈大。

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