An ENFJ Newbie’s Farming Journey
On this flat, open, and fertile stretch of yellow earth, I was accompanied by vast skies, deep soil, free-spirited animals, healing flora, and people brimming with passion for ecological farming. Letting my heart run wild, I felt my own life truly coming into full bloom.
In terms of farming methods and techniques, I didn’t learn or retain a vast amount. So, what was my greatest takeaway? And what do I miss the most? Perhaps the following sights, observations, feelings, and reflections are more worth sharing than specific technical knowledge.
I. Unlocking New Skills, Boosting Vitality
In April, Da Hei showed us the abnormal and unhealthy states of crops found in conventional farming, teaching us to approach plants with a ‘philosophy of life’ and to provide them with the nutrients they naturally require.
By May, the roses were blooming. We picked the buds in waves just before they opened to make rose jam and hydrosol. Aside from the fear of offending our competitors, the bees, it was an absolute joy of a job.
June marked the busy wheat harvest season. Between harvesting, drying, winnowing, and storing the grain, it was a great time for physical exercise. While the manual labour was tiring, having my teammates with me kept the spirits and energy high.
During the same month, Green-I Farm expanded its land, and we had to lay water pipes for the new plot. To finish before the rains arrived, we worked late into the night. Meanwhile, to welcome the rain, the tractor experts Da Hei and Xiao Hei were tirelessly sowing green manure on the new land. Working together with my peers to beat the clock was exhilarating, leaving me with a profound sense of satisfaction at the end.
In July, we all teamed up to build a 300-cubic-metre reservoir. First, the excavator moved in, then we manually smoothed the bottom and sides before covering it with a waterproof membrane. From a distance, one might have thought we were conducting an archaeological dig.
In August, Teacher Da Hei noticed my interest in handmade soaps and invited his friends to teach us how to make eco-friendly versions. We experienced the richness and creaminess of the soap bubbles and the moisturising effect of the natural glycerol. It turned out that products with simple ingredients could still have a real ‘wow’ factor.
Eventually, without me even noticing, my weeding skills grew more proficient. Once, at sunset, while we were assigned to weed, Teacher Da Hei’s tractor arrived to ‘sweep’ the green manure in my row. To avoid the dust kicked up in his wake, I switched to ‘night-mode turbo-weeding’. Guided by the tractor’s headlights, I finally successfully cleared the stage.
Looking back at my teammates who had been left in the dust, I felt a surge of pride, before quickly rushing to help them complete this thrilling task in the dark.
Indeed, when one finds motivation, one finds grit.
II. Perceiving the Soil, Awakening to All Things
How is this put into practice? Teacher Dahei demonstrated the correct method of tilling, explaining that the goal is to loosen the soil. There is no need to turn the deep soil to the surface; instead, soil disturbance should be minimised to avoid altering the structure of the various soil layers. By tilling slowly to allow air to enter, the process is vividly described as “letting the soil crack for a while.”
Teacher Dahei would also use a garden fork to lift a small patch of earth, then scoop up a handful of soil from a depth of 15–20cm to show us the state of the soil’s aggregate structure.
If plants can absorb nutrients from humus, they avoid the water-salt imbalance and oedema commonly seen in conventional farming. Instead, they stand upright and are less susceptible to pests and diseases. Furthermore, water that flows through such soil remains clean upon exit, preventing fertiliser runoff and environmental pollution.
Australian Vital Farming also suggests that plant root systems consist of deep-brown taproots, which work tirelessly 24 hours a day to absorb water, and white root hairs, which absorb nutrients when they feel the warmth of the sun.
If water-soluble fertilisers are used, the plant is forced to absorb nutrients while taking in water, leading to an accumulation of water and salts. This weakens photosynthesis and transpiration, leaving the plant with a bloated, heavy appearance—dark green or even blue-green in colour—and a bitter taste.
Looking back at the fields, it was evident that the wheat at Lüwo Farm was indeed a lighter shade of green than that in the adjacent conventionally farmed fields.
In the past, people admired science; now, they rely on it, and some believe only in (mainstream) science. To me, believing solely in mainstream science is far too conservative or narrow-minded; after all, scientific abstraction and demonstration cannot be separated from the living world in which they exist. Science is by no means the only way to understand the world; there is also one’s own observation, reflection, imagination, and the act of leaving room for the unknown—all of which depend on perception.
I understand the perception of the land as an instinct to observe phenomena through sight, touch, and all the senses, combined with experience. In farming, it is vital to observe the state of the crops, the soil, the weather, the water, and the small animals.
III. Convergence of Life’s Journeys
Meeting these vivid individuals, each steadfast in their own pursuits, was far more interesting than seeing the beautiful but abstract words “sustainable agriculture“. It made me realise that ecological agriculture is not just about environmental protection; it is also about our daily food safety and public health.
At Lüwo, the diet is generally ovo-lacto vegetarian. I quickly adapted to not eating meat. We tried to source our vegetables from Uncle Xiao Hei, who grows organic produce, but the variety of seasonal vegetables was limited. Accustomed to the vast choices available in the city and being very reliant on leafy greens, I worried about nutritional imbalance and occasionally bought vegetables from outside.
It was only through later conversations with my companions that I realised our priorities regarding eating habits differed. My priority was nutritional balance and a variety of flavours, whereas some of my companions prioritised healthy, organic food that was in season.
IV. Different States of Life
All the windows of the pig farm were tightly shut. Once, one window was half-open, and I stood on my tiptoes to peer inside; there were a few small pink piglets in a cramped “stall”.
Many times, passing by this farm and hearing their incessant squealing, I wondered: confined to those narrow “stalls”, how do they endure the gloom, the stale air, the fear, and the hopelessness?
I heard that pigs are fattened to such an extent that they must remain standing in their stalls; if they become too heavy and lie down, they can no longer stand up. In that sense, a “fat pig” is not a natural phenomenon.
Late one night, lying in bed, I heard the agonising screams of pigs from another farm in the distance. Recalling the slaughtering process Xiao Hei later described to us, and remembering scenes of slaughtering during Lunar New Year back in my hometown, I felt truly distressed. I wished their lives could have been filled with less suffering.
Afterwards, when buying meat, I tried my best to choose free-range or organic pork, while reducing both the amount and frequency of my meat consumption.
During my six-month internship at Lüwo, I became deeply aware of how much we owe to the land and the creatures that inhabit it. Faced with the issues of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, sewage from pig farms, and the plastic waste so easily found at the edges of fields and along irrigation ditches, what can we actually do?
A statement from Teacher Da Hei was particularly inspiring to me: “Actually, we don’t always have to worry about doing the right thing; simply not doing the wrong thing is already good enough.” May we all encourage one another.
<An Introduction to Australian Regenerative Agriculture>
<Preventing Illness Before it Occurs: The Chinese Practice of Australian Regenerative Agriculture>
Unless otherwise stated, all images in this article were taken by the author