For the 2025 "Sustainable Local Journey," the Mai's Hsin Tung Yang Foundation invited children from the Xingfu Children's Home and company employees to explore Taoyuan’s Zhongzhen New Village, Peifang Farm, and Shezi Pond Ecological Park. After spending the morning learning about multicultural heritage through the exhibits at Zhongzhen New Village, participants stepped into an afternoon sustainability class without blackboards or textbooks. Through food-and-farming education and ecological observation, participants walked into the fields, touched the soil, and traced the journey from sowing to harvesting, gaining a firsthand understanding of the connection between food and the land.

Peifang Farm: A Farm-to-Table Classroom

Following the morning visit to Zhongzhen New Village, the afternoon kicked off at Peifang Farm. Founder Mr. Wu Cheng-fu, a recipient of the 32nd National Shennong Award, led his team as field instructors to deliver a customized farm-to-table curriculum for the children and event participants. Throughout the visit, the Peifang team emphasized their guiding philosophy: "Providing healthy and nutritious ingredients for family and friends."

hrough five interactive learning stations—planting, harvesting, identifying vegetables, packaging, and agricultural knowledge—participants sowed seeds, covered them with soil, and watered the beds, learning the patience and meticulous care required in farming. During the harvest, they experienced teamwork and gained an appreciation for the labor behind food production, seeing how small efforts yield meaningful results. This practical curriculum directly reflects United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), a core focus championed by the Mai's Hsin Tung Yang Foundation.

Shezi Pond: Co-Learning on Water Resources and Ecology

After completing the farm curriculum, the group visited Shezi Pond Ecological Park to observe the Shezi Branch Canal in Xin'an Village. Revitalized through a partnership between the Irrigation Agency and the local government, this community waterway serves as a model site for local co-learning and is rich in natural biodiversity. Walking along the canal, the children observed aquatic plants and insects while discovering the vital role water plays in agriculture and community life. The Mai's Hsin Tung Yang Foundation hopes that by exploring the canal, participants gain more than factual knowledge, extending their awareness into real-world ecological understanding.

Inspiring Sustainable Action and Everyday Impact

During the final reflection session, the foundation hosted an interactive quiz, inviting the children to serve as lead and assistant hosts to encourage confident self-expression. The foundation also distributed gifts themed around Taiwan's native and protected species to foster long-term interest in local wildlife. At the end of the day, participants returned home with freshly harvested vegetables, practical agricultural knowledge, and lasting memories. Through experiential education, the Mai's Hsin Tung Yang Foundation aims to plant seeds of sustainability in young hearts, encouraging actions that respect the land and ecosystems in daily life.