21 Young People Embark on a Journey Even ChatGPT Couldn’t Imagine

In early 2023, Foodthink opened applications for the second cohort of its “Eco-Agriculture Internship Programme”. Our aim is to connect young people aspiring to work in eco-agriculture with well-established eco-farms. This initiative equips newcomers with practical farming knowledge and techniques, ensures that the hard-won expertise of seasoned growers is documented and passed on, and addresses the ongoing shortage of skilled agricultural labour.

The announcement generated immediate interest and a surge of applications. Following a careful selection process, 21 interns were chosen. They have now set out on their journeys, heading to nine eco-farms across the country to begin an unconventional internship. They are committing themselves wholly to the farm and the land, learning directly from those who work the soil.

Intern: Mai Zi

“In the summers of my childhood, I could eat bright red, pulpy tomatoes, and small but wonderfully sweet watermelons. As I grew older, these became memories. While agricultural advances have increased yields, the authentic flavour of food has largely disappeared from our plates.

This curiosity drew me to ecological agriculture. In my view, it reflects a deep care for nature and the environment, as well as a thoughtful engagement with the socio-economic and livelihood issues behind our food. I look forward to exploring a sustainable, ecological farming lifestyle, rooted in nature and the soil.”

Lüwo Farm is situated in the heart of the Guanzhong Plain in Shaanxi, beside the historic Zhengguo Canal. Established in 2014 by farmer Da Hei, the farm practises Australian Dynamic Agriculture. Guided by the principle of preventive care, its core focus is restoring and strengthening soil vitality. It uses soil-activation formulas made from pure natural materials alongside diverse green manures. By attentively observing the farm’s unique characteristics, it develops and applies suitable conservation tillage machinery and other systematic methods to achieve healthy soil, resilient crops, labour efficiency, and environmental friendliness.

Ecological Farm Mentor: Da Hei

Founded Lüwo Farm in 2014 to study and practise Dynamic Agriculture. Established a local Dynamic Agriculture association and teaches as a lecturer. Has modified a wide range of agricultural machinery that preserves soil structure and is suited to local conditions.

“ Spending a week at Green Me Farm, I carried out routine tasks such as turning the soil, weeding, and transplanting flowers, alongside odd jobs like cleaning, packing goods, and moving supplies. I even unearthed the exclusive ‘500’ preparation from the farm’s vitality farming system, along with the horn used to hold it, and learned how to drive a tractor!

The schedule was crammed full, leaving me physically drained but deeply fulfilled. Far removed from the city’s polished, pristine exterior, I was often caked in dirt, yet the fleeting moments of inner freedom I discovered—bumping along country tracks in a minivan, lying on the grass to watch birds wheel across the sky after a tiring shift, washing the horns to reveal their speckled, vibrant colours—all made me truly wish time would slow down.”

Farm Intern: Yan Cha

With four years of experience in the environmental non-profit sector, I am dedicated to ecological conservation and sustainable development. I am currently exploring how I can best contribute to sustainable agriculture. I hope to learn practical skills and knowledge at an ecological farm, helping me understand the potential of building a grassroots, bottom-up venture in this field. 

 

 

 

“The first week at the farm was incredibly fulfilling! Turning the soil, mowing the grass, packing products, driving the van—alongside my friends, we were tired but happy as we learned, practised, and prepared late-night snacks together… While working the earth with pitchforks, Teacher Dahei guided us to truly feel the soil, telling us to ‘let it crack for a moment’. Under the patient guidance of Teacher Xiaohei, we even learned to drive a tractor! On this flat, open, and fertile land, I followed my heart, let my wild side out, and felt my own vitality flourishing.”

Intern: A Yue

Born in the late 1990s. After completing a marketing diploma, I worked in after-sales support, sold insurance, and served as a pharmaceutical representative. Finding city life unappealing, I have been preparing to return to my hometown, and Green Me Farm has become my first stop on the journey back.  

 

 

 

“ It feels as though I’ve just had two large bowls of hot-oil noodles at Brother Dahei’s, yet it also feels like ages have passed since this once-faraway place became home. It’s made me ponder: does returning to one’s roots mean going back to where you grew up, or heading somewhere with a deeper rural character, closer to the earth?

It used to be said that there’s always endless work in the fields. Now at Green Me Farm, between the biscuit production line, processing flour and barley tea, managing pre-sales and after-sales across multiple platforms, plus handling all manner of visitors and unexpected hiccups… When chatting with other partners in the living room before bed, I’ll often suddenly blurt out: “Ah, have we not done that thing today?” During this time, the biggest shift compared to my old city life is simply this: I can stretch and sit straight up the moment I wake. Though my days are physically busy, my mind is calm and content, brimming with anticipation rather than impatience.”

3 Xiqing Farm｜Beijing · Daxing

Established in August 2015, Xiqing Farm grows strawberries and a variety of seasonal vegetables. Xiqing’s planting philosophy is straightforward: use quality soil to cultivate high-quality produce. Fertiliser is primarily green manure, supplemented with plant-based compost. Over four years, we have built a foundational ecosystem on the farm, and the biodiversity within it continues to expand.

Ecological Farm Mentor: Wang Xin

Born in the late 1980s, he graduated from Beijing University of Agriculture with a major in landscape horticulture. He began researching ecological agriculture in 2011, hoping to use good soil to cultivate a healthy, organic way of life.

 

 

 

Intern Fellow:Chaoyan

After graduation, I worked in IT testing in Beijing. While resting back home last year, I started contemplating other possibilities for life, and two weeks ago came to Xiqing Farm to begin my internship.

 

“ Over these two weeks, my greatest takeaway has been a shift in perspective. Before coming here, I simply wanted to grow safe, delicious vegetables for my family and friends, hoping to change their casual attitude towards food safety. Now I realise that ecological agriculture involves many more considerations. Farming is not a pastoral utopia, and organic ecological farming certainly isn’t. It is a highly technical, multidisciplinary field that demands extensive learning and firm commitment to do well; otherwise, it will only wear you down both physically and mentally.

”

Once I began my internship at Xiqing, I realised food safety issues in the market were far worse than I had imagined. It left me with a profound sense of powerlessness, yet also sparked an inexplicable sense of purpose. Perhaps the right path is simply to start by making a difference to those close to us.”

4 Letian Haiwan Farm | Shanghai, Fengxian

Located in Haiwan Village, Fengxian District, Shanghai, Letian Haiwan Farm was founded in early 2020, making it quite literally a ‘post-2020’ venture. Covering 85 mu (c. 5.7 hectares), the land comprises over 30 mu of arable fields, nearly 40 mu of woodland, and more than 1,000 square metres of warehouse and workshop space. Ponds and lawns provide public spaces for visitors to relax and unwind. Operating as an agricultural experience and education base, the farm delivers a varied curriculum on agricultural science, hands-on farming, environmental creativity, nature education, and survival skills.

Ecological Farm Mentor: Yuan Qinghua

Yuan holds a Master’s degree from Renmin University of China and is an invited researcher at the Institute of Rural Development, Southwest University. She co-founded Shanghai Bancheng Bannong Industrial Development Co., Ltd. and serves as General Manager of Letian Haiwan Farm. Her previous roles include Deputy General Manager at Little Donkey Citizen Farm, General Manager at Shanghai Design Fengshou, and Operations Director at Chuangzhi Farm. She spent a year studying organic farming techniques in Thailand and has made multiple exchange visits to the UK, Vietnam, India, and elsewhere. In 2010, she qualified with the International Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) in Hong Kong, and in 2019 completed a nature education course certified by Cornell University.

Intern: Cui Xianling

A graduate student in anthropology with an interest in food, animal welfare, and sustainability.

“Public discourse has long stressed the need for high agricultural yields. Yet after interning at an ecological farm, I was amazed to find that just one fen (c. 0.067 hectares) of land can yield 10 to 20 different vegetables. Without any chemical fertilisers or pesticides, the harvest more than feeds a family of three. It begs the question: do we truly need all these agrochemicals to produce such surpluses?”

 

 

Intern: Dou Li

“By conventional standards, I’d say I’m a restless soul. I passed a gruelling qualifying exam but turned down a PhD. I spent time in a Fortune 500 company crafting grand PowerPoint visions that ultimately felt hollow. I even crossed oceans to study ancient Greek philosophy and medieval theology… After all that restless searching, I unexpectedly found a long-missed sense of peace in nature.

Nature education has helped me rediscover the beauty of the wild and the wonder of life. It has also shown me that a meaningful relationship with the land demands long-term devotion. I am soon heading to Letian Haiwan Farm, hoping to put down roots, stay grounded, and become a practical, hands-on farmer.”

 

Intern: Qiu Tian

A final-year graduate majoring in Chinese Language and Literature.

“Throughout my studies, agriculture and rural life have always been inescapable themes. Whether through literary portrayals or Fei Xiaotong’s sociological observations of the countryside, these have been my windows into understanding farming. I chose to intern at a farm to gain a hands-on feel for agricultural production, and to understand the concrete realities and histories behind the land and rural communities.”

 

 

5 Yuefeng Island Organic Farm | Kunshan, Jiangsu

Established with investment from the Kunshan City Construction Group, Yuefeng Island Organic Farm is a national-level ecological farm. Covering 230 mu (approximately 15.3 hectares), it began operations in 2010 on the shores of Yangcheng Lake in Kunshan. It safeguards water sources through land-friendly organic cultivation, keeps soil health at its core, and actively practises organic principles. By applying landscape design techniques, the farm blends agriculture with natural scenery, nurturing a balanced aquatic ecosystem alongside a thriving terrestrial one. The result is a layered landscape where fields, vegetable plots, wetlands, woodlands and distinctive structures coexist harmoniously. Rooted in agricultural tradition, Yuefeng Island explores the ecological value of farming, systematically preserves local agrarian culture, develops educational materials for outreach activities, and hosts a wide variety of farming-focused educational programmes.

Ecological Farm Mentor: Tang Yaozhong

As Head of Production Technology at Yuefeng Island Organic Farm and a local expert in organic rice cultivation, he oversees operations across the entire site. He leads the team in strictly adhering to organic standards while actively exploring sustainable ecological agriculture. He also collaborates with research institutes across Jiangsu and beyond to collect and conserve germplasm of local specialty crops, identifying varieties best suited for local cultivation and wider promotion, such as Suyu glutinous rice, Yayue glutinous rice, and native taro. On the farm, he designs interactive edible landscapes that blend learning with enjoyment. He partners with local schools and families to co-develop food and farming education courses. 

Intern: yifan

“After graduating, I quite fortuitously stepped into the agricultural supply chain sector, keen to understand the production stages further up the line. Having read updates from others who’ve already arrived at the farm, I’m really looking forward to the work and life ahead. I hope to learn the skills and principles of sustainable, ecologically friendly agriculture here, and to immerse myself in the local farming culture.”

 

 

Intern: Liu Yue

A city-bred office worker dreaming of an ‘iron-fist’ career. Hopes to forge genuine connections with the people, creatures, and land on the farm, while exploring a new way of life.

“Inspired by overseas farming reality shows, I have always been fascinated by agriculture and rural life. Yet one day it struck me that, despite living in the city, I knew absolutely nothing about China’s domestic farming. On reflection, that is rather peculiar. This internship at Yuefeng Island Organic Farm is my chance to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese agriculture. I hope to use this experience to contribute more to nature education, rural communities, and the environment in the future.” 

Intern: Qi Yao

Born in Nanchong and raised in Guangzhou, I did not return to Chengdu until university. I am currently a university student.

 

 

 

“I have always felt that contemporary specialist education pushes students into highly siloed thinking. It narrows the way we engage with the world, conditions us to passively absorb information, and mentally severs the connections between different things.

Agriculture cannot be taught through any single academic discipline. Farming brings you into closer contact with the natural environment; it demands an understanding of both seasonal cycles and the land, as well as collaboration between people, making it a powerful way to resist and adapt to the trend of over-specialisation in education. During my forthcoming farm internship, I hope to find more opportunities for self-directed learning and to explore the nature of education itself.”

6 Liangliang Farm｜Chengdu, Sichuan

The farm spans 30 mu (approximately two hectares), with small yellow ginger as its primary cash crop, rotated with vegetables, grain and oil crops, and green manure. Liangliang Farm is more than a straightforward ecological family farm; it also encompasses the Ai Jiayuan Cooperative, a Farmer Field School, the Niujiaoyan Living Village Learning Centre, a Children’s Aesthetic Education Space, and a community children’s reading volunteer team. The cooperative currently operates two main divisions: an agricultural machinery service team and a micro-store operation.

ECOLOGICAL FARM MENTOR TANG LIANG

Born in the late 1980s, Tang Liang is the founder and manager of Liangliang Farm. He graduated from Southwest University with a degree in Biological Sciences in 2008 and subsequently worked for a technology firm in Chongqing. Between 2011 and 2013, he completed a two-year internship at the Xiaomaolv and Fenxiangshouhuo ecological farms. In 2013, he returned to his hometown to establish Liangliang Family Farm, dedicating himself to nature-friendly agriculture, bringing rural families together, and exploring a rural lifestyle closely aligned with the essence of life. Upon becoming a father in 2020, he aimed to use his own hands to create a vibrant, life-affirming home for his child, while exploring the development of local ecological communities and future living villages. In early 2023, he completed a second qualification in Horticultural Technology at the Chengdu College of Agriculture and Rural Technology.

INTERNSHIP PARTNER: LIU HENG

A wanderer by choice. He has worked as a delivery courier, homestay manager, restaurant server, and fruit tree production assistant at an organic farm. He is currently working on a labour-exchange basis at the Wogan Orchard and Herbal Garden in Guigang, Guangxi, and will soon head to Liangliang Farm in Chengdu to begin his internship.

 

 

 

 

“I began exploring ecological agriculture last year. Initially, I absorbed knowledge about material and energy cycles and soil health from secondary sources like books and documentaries. Through hands-on experience with organic fruit tree cultivation, I’ve come to appreciate the profound science behind it. As living organisms, fruit trees offer countless fascinating insights. These individual insights weave together into a broader understanding, deepening what was once a superficial grasp, and infusing seemingly repetitive, monotonous labour with genuine enjoyment and purpose.

Equally important is how, within a specific local context, one can work in harmony with nature to produce high-quality food while simultaneously engaging with wider challenges such as environmental pollution and climate change. This practice of addressing ‘grand themes through small-scale actions’ keeps me grounded, steering me clear of empty rhetoric, and allows me to commit to steady, tangible work that I can actually deliver on.”

Intern: Liu Biyu

A Russian language graduate with a passion for nature and environmentalism, eager to learn more about the natural world and agriculture.

“ I grew up in a small town with a rice field right behind our house. The changing seasons across that field hold many of my childhood memories. Though I’ve lived away from the countryside since secondary school, and spent four years studying in Beijing, I’ve never quite acclimatised to the hustle and bustle of city life. I’ve always longed for a slower pace. I hope to reconnect with the land at Liangliang Farm.” 

 

7 Yinlin Farm｜Conghua, Guangzhou

Established in 2009, Yinlin Farm spans over 70 mu and began practising ecological agriculture in 2013. Focusing primarily on vegetable production, the farm operates in harmony with natural rhythms. Beyond entirely forgoing pesticides, chemical fertilisers, and herbicides, Yinlin Farm has consistently adhered to production methods that are gentle on the soil, the environment, and the people. By relying on in-house composting and maintaining ground cover, the farm actively enhances soil health and biodiversity. Through a continually deepening scientific understanding of ecological agriculture, Yinlin Farm has gradually developed its own cultivation system, yielding wholesome, flavoursome ecological vegetables that have earned the trust and appreciation of a growing number of people.

Ecological Farm Mentor: Guo Rui

After graduating in biotechnology from South China Agricultural University in 2005, he returned to his hometown in 2009 to establish the farm, commencing ecological cultivation in 2013. Along the way, he has completed training in natural farming, biodynamic methods, and soil regeneration, continually dedicating himself to the study and refinement of ecological agriculture. His vision is for the farm to provide a comfortable livelihood for his family, a joyful setting for his children to grow up in, and wholesome, nutritious, safe food for consumers.

 

Intern: Li Weiwen

Freelancer, social worker, and practitioner of organic living.

“I have been at Yinlin Farm for two weeks now. Life here is simple yet deeply fulfilling. My days are mainly spent working in the fields alongside the farm staff, and recently, germinating seeds and raising seedlings for the melon crops. The work may seem straightforward, but approaching it with curiosity and reflection yields considerable rewards. Observation is equally vital. Every insect that appears on the crops forms a connection with them. What is their symbiotic relationship? What is their antagonistic one? The vast world of plants will never cease to captivate me.” 

 

Intern: Xinyi

“If my past work experience were to define me, I suppose I’d be a rather inexperienced, self-taught cook.

I loved the kitchen, but the demands of a commercial kitchen left me deeply conflicted, driving a wedge between myself and food. I probably looked utterly miserable most days. After I quit, I spent two weeks lying in bed before I finally felt myself again. Now I want to get out in the soil, learn directly from the earth, the plants, and the farmers, forge new connections, and gain a different perspective on food. I want to soak up the sun, too. I want to practise paying attention, feeling, and savouring the present moment, slowly gathering my strength…”

Intern:Mu Bai

Cares about people and the environment, exploring how humans can develop in harmony with nature, with a commitment to continuous learning and practice.  

 

 

 

 

“After a week, I experienced the damp, muggy weather brought by the southern winds. Unsold carrots rotted in the fields, and it seemed the flowering of some crops was affected. I learned how to raise seedlings, pollinate, weed, till the soil, and build trellises. I’d face the yellow earth, wondering why the vegetables hadn’t sprouted yet, and why the male and female flowers didn’t bloom at the same time. The rest of the time was spent picking over vegetables, cleaning off the mud and arranging them neatly.

Over the course of a week, surrounded by the scent of osmanthus and eating loquats, walking past flowering lychee, longan and wampee trees, listening to the rain, sweating and pulling weeds, I finally understood what it means that “every grain is hard-won” and that “farming lives at the mercy of the weather”. Agriculture is truly a vast subject!”

8 Yirun Farm | Guigang, Guangxi

Yirun Farm is located in Guigang, Guangxi. Spanning 53 mu, it features 40 mu of ecologically grown Orah mandarins, 10 mu of Shatian mandarins, and intercropped lychee, bananas, and local sugarcane. More than a farm, it feels like an ecological orchard of a hundred fruits.

Ecological Farm Mentor: Yan Ping

 

To do something that can support myself and my family while also nurturing my mind and body was my original intention in returning to farming. Listening to birdsong and insects while quietly awaiting the harvest is my current vision, and it is gradually taking shape through down-to-earth effort. I hope more people can experience the feeling of letting loose in Mother Earth’s embrace, finding the greatest joy in hard work, and restoring our vitality through labour, which also makes the farm’s atmosphere more relaxed and joyful.

Intern:Da Wang

Born and raised in a rural village in the Central Plains, a woman of the 1980s generation. Over a decade ago, reading 《The Revolution of a Single Rice Straw》 planted the seed for practising natural farming. After more than ten years wandering through the non-profit sector, that seed is finally ready to sprout~  

 

 

“I was fortunate to join the Foodthink internship programme and visit Sister Yan Ping’s Happy Fruit & Herb Garden. I’ve been on the farm for over half a month now. Aside from participating in farming activities like harvesting, sorting, and packing Orah mandarins, mowing grass for mulch, and sowing seeds, I’ve also accompanied the farm mentor, Sister Yan Ping, to the Nanning urban farmers’ market, tried rice transplanting in flooded paddies, and learned to identify wild medicinal herbs in the orchard.

Sister Yan Ping’s openness and warmth allowed me to fully experience the authentic daily life and work of an ecological farmer. My greatest feeling right now is happiness and contentment. Ecological agriculture, as a way of producing and living, certainly faces many difficulties and obstacles. But as long as we trust in nature’s power, work in tune with the seasons, and avoid reckless interference, we are bound to reap unexpected rewards.”

Intern:Hezi

Graduated with a degree in agronomy, I hope to become a farmer deeply committed to ecological agriculture in the future.

“ Given that my previous education held many concepts quite different from ecological farming, I was keen to understand the practical differences between ecological and conventional agriculture. The farm internship has been both joyful and demanding. There are stories to hear, alongside tasks like harvesting Orah mandarins, weeding, and making compost. Yet working together always lightens the load; everyone chips in a little, and before you know it, the work is done. I look forward to observing and learning more skills and knowledge at the farm.” 

9 Citan Village, Hainan | Haikou, Hainan

The farm’s main crops include Hainan dried tangerine peel (30 mu), Tiger’s milk mushroom (2 mu), and mountain olive (3 mu). We produce ecological fertiliser from fruit peels and kitchen waste to improve soil quality, thereby boosting both the yield and quality of the Tiger’s milk mushroom and Hainan dried tangerine peel. The Hainan Provincial Department of Culture, Tourism, Sport and Broadcasting’s “Coconut-level Village” rating will also bring signage, road markers, and a comprehensive tourism map to Citan Village. A brand-new, zero-pollution rural community is now unfolding before everyone’s eyes.

Ecological Farm Mentor: Hu Shize

Named one of China’s Top Ten Annual Figures for Loving the Homeland and a recognised grassroots talent of the region. Born in Ding’an, Hainan, in September 1983, he graduated from Yanshan University, a key national institution, in 2006. In 2002, he founded the “Hainan Returning University Students Volunteer Service Team,” which continues to operate today. Building on this volunteer work, he began community development initiatives in Citan Village in 2013. After returning from Shanghai to start a business in 2015, he established the Ding’an Xinzhu Citan Sightseeing and Tourism Professional Cooperative. The “Citan Model” has been featured by media outlets including the People’s Daily, Guangming Daily, and Youth Daily, attracting widespread attention across various sectors.

 

Intern: Liu Dazhuo

Having worked as a chef, cruised on a ship, and tried his hand at entrepreneurship, he has now arrived at Citan Village in Xinzhu Town, Ding’an County, Hainan Island, to complete his internship. 

 

 

 

“ A little over a week into the farm, I’ve experienced a fair share of agricultural tasks. What stands out most is weeding the pineapple fields. The process was grueling; despite taking precautions, I still couldn’t avoid being scratched by beggar’s ticks, pineapple leaves, and tall mimosa plants. It made me sigh: getting an eco-friendly pineapple on your plate is no easy feat!

Hainan’s weather has turned into a season of relentless rain. The weeds I’d just cleared sprouted back up after a few showers. Suddenly, I understood why smallholder farmers with limited labour resort to herbicides. I really wish there were a less physically draining yet effective way to manage weeds—perhaps that’s just city folk’s laziness speaking! I hope to gain new insights through the work and learning ahead.”Coordinator: Xiao Chao

Editor: Ze En