On Jan.24,2015, XMFSC organized a trip to experience “ LOHAS HAICANG, BEAUTIFUL YUANQIAN” for foreign workers under the support of Haicang Sub-district and Qingjiao Village. The foreign workers took this opportunity to experience the real version of “Happy Farm” and spend a LOHAS weekend.

The foreign workers are from Germany, France, England, Singapore, South Korea, India and Philippines. First, they visited Jishengyuan City Vegetable Field, which is grown in an organic way. City residents rent the plots to grow their own vegetables here. Then, they tried farm work-- push the stone mill around to grind the soybeans and make the soymilk. The French guy Simon commented “the hand-made soymilk tasted much better than the one bought in the supermarkets!” Besides the soymilk, they also tasted roast sweet potatoes, taros, free-range eggs and fried peanuts. In addition, they also made dumplings for dinner.

The tour guide of the village showed the foreigners around this community where the villagers under the village officers’ leadership contributed their great efforts in expanding the village roads, making renovations on their houses, and carrying out the Kangaroo Program to collect all the trash and put them in the bins. After the whole village’s efforts, the village looks much cleaner and organized than before. As well as renovation, this village also well protected its southern Fujian architectures. The foreign visitors showed great interest in the old houses, which went through the times but still kept its glamour. They took pictures with the houses and posted them on the social media.

In the night, the foreign workers and the villagers joined in the New-Year’s Gathering, which was held at the yard before the age-old house named “Dafudi”. The programs took in various forms, including singing, dancing, Chinese Kung-fu, short acts and clapper talk, etc. The programs reflected the achievements Yuanqian village has made and the villager’s spiritual outlook, as well as the fusion of different cultures.

In the end, the participating foreign workers showed their gratefulness to XMFSC for providing them such a great opportunity to get close to nature and know the local culture. They expect XMFSC’s next activity! (Evelyn)