Professor Chien-Chih, Chen
- ◆ Becoming a Conservation Expert
- ◆ From Biodiversity to Ecological Civilization
- ◆ Ecosystem Conservation Techniques
- ◆ Contribution to the Community
Tea Grower You-Li, Wang
Tea Grower You-Li, Wang
◆ Operation and Passion
Mr. You-Li Wang's tea field is situated on the high mountain of Pinglin Township, which is also the water source protection area of the Feitsui Reservoir. This place is of great importance, as it is related to the water use in the large Taipei area. Although Mr. You-Li Wang is not highly educated, he was able to express his wisdom and life philosophy that he gained from planting tea and interacting with nature. His words made me wonder: Is it necessary for agricultural development and ecological environment to be in contrast with one another? Is it necessary for people to rely on the government, academics, and officials to find the answer and solution to make agricultural development and ecological environment be able to complement one another?
and other insects to hide and grow.
ecological chain developed after
he grew tea trees organically.
Mr. Wang has been practicing planting tea trees in a completely natural way for over 20 years. Though he has endured difficult and sorrowful memories, he has also benefited and learned a lot from nature. For example, he initially found it difficult to eliminate weeds without using chemical fertilizers or herbicides. The weeds would return as soon as he pulled them out, and this interfered with the harvests of his tea trees. Over time, however, he realized that the weeds acted as "competitors" to the tea trees, stimulating them to root deeper and become stronger. Therefore, he continued to weed, but it became less of a stressful task. Furthermore, observing nature enabled him to gain a better understanding of the natural principles behind the growth of tea trees. Every April and May, he takes a break from weeding since fireflies are abundant during this time, providing him with a pleasant viewing experience.
of his tea-growing career.
Mr. Wang shared his experience in running his tea field. He initially followed the advice of professors to spray hot pepper bug repellent and pheromones in order to control insects. Unfortunately, this backfired as some pests that liked the smell of hot pepper increased in numbers. Moreover, the use of pheromones led to even more pests gathering and mating, leading to a surge in their population. Mr. Wang eventually realized that the best way to control these harmful pests is to let nature take its course, as it will find their predators and establish its own ecological chain, and its balance.