Who says no one will farm in the future? Meet 25 young people returning to the land

At the beginning of 2024, Foodthink launched the recruitment for the third ‘Ecological Agriculture Internship Programme’. We would like to thank everyone for their interest and enthusiastic applications. This year, we received a total of 62 farm internship applications. Following detailed discussions between Foodthink, 12 farm mentors, and our partner organisations, we have decided to invite 25 partners to officially join us as interns.

We wish them a harvest not only of food from the land, but also of experience, skills, and friendship.

I. Tianyuanbang Rural Learning Centre

Huizhou, Guangdong

Tianyuanbang’s old site covers 30 mu and the new site 12 mu. To support organic farming and rural craft natural education, the farm has developed diversified cultivation and husbandry, featuring various grains, vegetables, herbs, and fruits, as well as chickens, ducks, geese, cattle, sheep, horses, and fish. Tianyuanbang runs over a hundred activities throughout the year—including spring and autumn outings, short-holiday parent-child camps, winter and summer camps, and study tours focused on farming and rural crafts—with different themes for every season.

E C O L O G I C A L F A R M M E N T O R

Hu Weihe

In 2004, after leaving university, he joined the founding team of the Chengdu Waldorf School as a gardening teacher, also teaching woodworking and clay sculpture for five years. In 2009, he spent two years at Emerson College in the UK studying biodynamic organic agriculture and visited numerous Waldorf schools, biodynamic farms, and communities across Europe. He returned to his hometown in 2015 to found Tianyuanbang, exploring the development of ‘farming and scholarship’ education for a new era.

 

I N T E R N S H I P P A R T N E R

Landa

Born in the 90s, a Nordic soul at heart, and having left the world of design consultancy in Shanghai, Landa is exploring a sustainable lifestyle based on labour rather than a traditional 9-to-5 job.

Healed by nature during a low point in life, Landa became interested in natural education and permaculture. Through this internship, he hopes to begin a grounded rural life, learning from both the farm partners and nature itself. His goal is to let his mind, body, and spirit receive nature’s “education” before becoming an educator himself.

II. Pengcheng Natural Farm

Conghua, Guangzhou

Founded in 2014, the farm covers approximately 50 mu, with sweet potatoes, lychees, and guavas as its primary economic crops. The founder hopes that through the practice of natural farming, people can return to a healthy and peaceful life, and that more people will have the opportunity to experience a healthier, more environmentally friendly and sustainable way of farming.

E C O L O G I C A L F A R M M E N T O R

Wang Pengcheng

Born in the 80s and formerly an employee of a state-owned enterprise, Wang decided to change his lifestyle ten years ago due to concerns over food safety and environmental issues, dedicating himself to practicing and promoting natural farming methods.

 

 

 

I N T E R N S H I P P A R T N E R | Little Whale

Born in the 90s and a pursuer of truth, goodness, and beauty, Little Whale has over six years of experience in the non-profit sector and has been exploring and practicing sustainable living since 2022.

With a love for nature, she yearns for an authentic, healthy, and free rural life. In this fast-paced era, she hopes to stay true to her original intentions and root herself in the land to clear her mind and develop a stronger, more grounded inner self.

She looks forward to witnessing the true state and possibilities of ecological agriculture, learning planting techniques that are healthier for both nature and humans, and meeting like-minded partners to embark on a journey of ecological exploration together.

III. Guixinyuan Farm

Huizhou, Guangdong

Guixinyuan is a permaculture design practice farm. Covering over 110 mu, half of the area is mountain forest, with 30 mu of ponds, 10 mu of orchards, and 10 mu of vegetable gardens and farmland. The farm employs diversified planting, ranging from seasonal vegetables and fruits to staple grains, and primarily raises fish and chickens.

E C O L O G I C A L F A R M M E N T O R

Zhang Suqiang

Engaged in urban farming, Zhang has balanced a professional career with farming for 14 years. He has worked on projects including small-scale urban permaculture farms, school food education, community food waste composting, and ecological environmental protection.

 

 

 

I N T E R N S H I P P A R T N E R | Ze Jun

25 years old, with a degree in Chinese and Sociology, Ze Jun previously worked for a food sustainability advocacy organisation for a year.

Though he has only been at Guixinyuan Farm for three days, he already feels at home. Waking up to birdsong, stepping out into the sunshine and breeze, and falling asleep to the sound of frogs and insects—it is sheer bliss. Working alongside everyone makes the days fly by. He came to the farm while standing at a crossroads in life, torn between continuing food research and becoming a manual labourer. Since arriving, he has realised that the two are not contradictory. Realising how little he truly knows about food and agriculture, he is determined to continue learning through labour!

I N T E R N S H I P P A R T N E R

Cheng Hao

Born in the 90s, Cheng Hao has worked in digitalisation within government departments since graduating.

Driven by concerns over food safety, he has been interested in organic ecological agriculture since 2019 and has always longed to immerse himself in it. He hopes that while practising sustainable farming, he can open himself up to nature, find a more liberated version of himself, and meet like-minded friends to walk with in the future.

 

IV. Yinlin Ecological Farm

Conghua, Guangzhou

Established in 2009, Yinlin Farm covers over 70 mu. It began practising ecological farming in 2013, focusing primarily on vegetable production in harmony with natural laws. Beyond eschewing pesticides, chemical fertilisers, and herbicides, the farm has always adhered to production methods that are kind to the soil, the environment, and people, utilising home-made composting and grass-mulch cultivation to enhance soil quality and biodiversity. By continuously deepening its scientific understanding of ecological agriculture, Yinlin Farm has gradually developed its own system of cultivation techniques.

Ecological Farm Mentor

Guo Rui

Graduated in 2005 from South China Agricultural University with a degree in Biotechnology. He returned to his hometown to start his own business in 2009 and began practising ecological farming in 2013. Along the way, he has undertaken training in Natural Farming, Vital Farming, and soil improvement, continuously studying and researching ecological cultivation techniques. He hopes the farm provides his family with comfortable living conditions, his children with a happy environment to grow up in, and consumers with healthy, nutritious, and safe food.

 

Intern Partner

San Qi

Educator, self-explorer.

A beautiful life is a process, not a state of existence; it is a direction, not a destination. I came here to open up another possibility in life. This does not mean my previous life was not good, but rather that I long for life to hold more possibilities. I hope to learn ecological farming methods, start my own farm, and practise a sustainable way of living.

Intern Partner

An Tian

A vegetable grower who loves nature and building.

My childhood in the countryside—climbing trees, catching fish, picking fruit, and various farming tasks—provided me with ample nourishment for my adult self. After ten years of working in the city, I chose to return home, planning to create a small farm with my partner that suits our lifestyle. Before starting, I hope a six-month internship will lay the foundation for my future farm life.

 

V. Letian Bay Farm

Fengxian, Shanghai

Letian Bay Farm covers 86 mu, including over 40 mu of woodland and 20 mu of cultivation area, with the remainder dedicated to public spaces. Established in April 2020, the farm promotes a rural lifestyle of “five days in the city, two on the farm”. Its primary business is renting plots to city dwellers, while also offering educational courses in farming, nature experiences, and handcrafted arts. Each member’s plot grows around 60 varieties of seasonal vegetables per year, using traditional farming methods throughout. No chemical agents such as pesticides or chemical fertilisers are used; instead, the farm employs organic methods, including organic fertilisers and biological pesticides.

Ecological Farm Mentor

Yuan Qinghua

Master’s graduate from Renmin University of China. Since 2003, he has worked on China’s rural construction alongside Professor Wen Tiejun. He has served as General Manager of the Little Donkey Citizen Farm, General Manager of Design Harvest, and Operations Director of Chuangzhi Farm; he is currently the General Manager of Letian Bay Farm. In 2008, he studied natural farming under Cho Han-kyu of South Korea, and in 2010, he received a certification in Jeff Purmington’s course in Hong Kong. In 2019, he earned a certificate in Natural Education from Cornell University. From 2009 to 2010, he spent a year studying organic planting at the “God of Rice” system in Thailand.

 

Intern Partner | Huang Qingye

27 years old, holder of a Master’s in Organic Agriculture. I have successfully become a giant of theory and a dwarf of practice—a city-dwelling chicken keeper. I’ve grown cherry tomatoes when I meant to grow regular ones, and gourds when I meant to grow pumpkins; I’m almost too embarrassed to tell people I studied agriculture.

After quitting my job without another one lined up, I travelled everywhere, pondering the way out of the “youth crisis”. Taking advantage of this rare “leisure”, I came to the farm as an intern to answer my doubts about ecological agriculture and rural revitalisation through practice. I want to continue pursuing a utopia regardless of the cost, but I also hope to break through my idealisations and recognise the real-world challenges.

 

Intern Partner | Xiao Ling

Master’s in Design, with five and a half years of experience in landscape design, seeking to explore new directions for personal development.

My interest in agriculture was forged by my childhood experiences; farming activities throughout the four seasons weave together my childhood memories, and every unique food records the seasons and locations of my hometown. My understanding of ecological agriculture began with research during my student days; various topics regarding the city and countryside, and “from farm to table”, helped me build a basic understanding. Now, being able to participate in the actual work of a farm and understand how it operates makes me very happy.

Intern Partner

Chi Chen

33 years old, PhD in Economics, Christian, researcher of social innovation in agri-food systems, and baking enthusiast.

My original intention and expectations for joining the internship programme: 1) To understand sustainable farm operations and management methods. 2) To learn and practise farming. I hope that by the end of the internship, I will have learned how to use and repair various pieces of farm machinery.

 

Intern Partner

Tong Qi

Born in 1995, a quality inspector in a pharmaceutical factory.

After nearly seven years of work, my physical and mental health suffered. My initial goal was to find a natural, healthy, and sustainable way of working and living; I want to eat healthy food, do healthy work, and live a healthy life.

 

 

VI. Zhiliangtian Ecological Farm

Alxa, Inner Mongolia

The farm covers 1,000 mu, with a cultivation area of 160 mu. The primary crops are honeydew melons and millet, and it also collaborates with partners in Alxa to produce ecological plums and desert lamb.

Ecological Farm Mentor

Ma Yanwei

Founder of Alxa Zhiliangtian Ecological Farm and Zhixing Study Tours, and holds a Master’s in Ecology from Beijing Normal University. He joined the Alxa SEE Ecological Association in 2005 and, after leaving, settled in Alxa to found Zhiliangtian Ecological Farm.

 

 

Intern Partner | Gu Zi

30+, someone who has always been on the road yet still feels lost regarding themselves and the world.

Since graduating, I have always worked in fields related to nature, ecology, the countryside, and education. After circling through these spheres, I realised that the further I was from nature, the more frequently I fell ill. To improve my health and to face the flicker of panic that accompanies drastic environmental changes, I look forward to spending more time with the land and settling my mind. I also hope that after gaining a deeper perception of ecological agriculture, I can do more for healthy soil, a healthy environment, and healthy food in the future.

 

Intern Partner

Zeng Yunchuan

A young woman born in the 90s, who has worked in the corporate sector, government, and NGOs.

I was once a “floating” idealist; after a long period of grassroots practice and self-reflection, I have finally “grounded” my body and soul. At thirty, following my inner guidance, I felt the need to reconnect with the land and with nature. Finding Zhi Liang Tian was the perfect new beginning. And so, starting here at Zhi Liang Tian, I embark on a new path.

 

Intern | Ah Chao

Born in 1995, withdrew from a Master’s programme in Agronomy.

My motivation for joining this farm internship stems from a desire to understand the practical differences between ecological and conventional agriculture, as the modern agricultural education I received at university differed significantly from the concepts of ecological farming and my own upbringing in the countryside. I also wanted to find a way to support myself and my family while cultivating my spirit and reconnecting with nature and the land.

 

VII. Yuefengdao Organic Farm

Kunshan, Jiangsu

Yuefengdao Organic Farm is a national-level ecological farm established with investment from the Kunshan Urban Construction Investment Group. Covering 230 mu, it began operations in 2010 on the banks of Lake Yangcheng in Kunshan. The farm puts organic philosophy into practice, focusing on maintaining soil health and using soil-friendly organic cultivation to protect water sources. By applying landscape garden design techniques, Yuefengdao integrates agriculture with aesthetics to build a comprehensive aquatic ecosystem and a rich terrestrial ecosystem, creating a composite landscape where croplands, vegetable plots, wetlands, woodlands, and specialised architectural sites coexist. Grounded in farming, the farm delves deep into the ecological value of agriculture, systematically organises local farming culture, compiles educational materials for agricultural science, and carries out diverse farming education activities.

Ecological Farm Mentor

Tang Yaozhong

Technical Head of Yuefengdao Organic Farm and a local expert in organic rice. He manages the production and daily operations of the entire park, leading his team to produce and manage strictly according to organic techniques while actively exploring sustainable ecological agriculture. He also collaborates with research institutes within and outside the province to collect and conserve the germplasm resources of local specialty varieties, screening for cultivars suitable for local planting and promotion, such as Su Yu Nuo (glutinous rice), Ya Xue Nuo (duck-blood glutinous rice), and local taro. He designs educational and entertaining edible landscapes on the farm, liaising with local schools and families to help develop agricultural science courses.

 

Intern | Ju Zi

An amateur cook with a fondness for wild vegetables. My interest in food led me to learn about agriculture, only to discover that without actually becoming a farmer, my understanding would remain superficial.

A few days ago at Xiqing Farm, Wang Xin, who has grown strawberries for ten years, happened to mention that “plants can talk”. This gave me a new understanding of how ecological agriculture differs from conventional farming. From the farm to the table, the process actually takes a full season (or longer) on the farm, but only a fleeting moment at the table. I want to know: if one approaches farming with a reflection on conventional agriculture and productionism, what actually happens on the farm?

 

Intern | Shan Yun

27 years old, born and bred in the countryside.

Hard work earned me a ticket to a job in a corporate office in the big city. In the three years since graduation spent in Beijing, walking daily on reinforced concrete and riding subways that are as bright as day regardless of the hour, I began to feel a sense of panic—a feeling of being “ungrounded”. I love the land; connecting with it makes me feel secure. I want to use this internship as an opportunity to return to and rediscover the land, and through my own efforts, receive the gifts that the earth bestows.

 

VIII. Lüwo Farm

Xianyang, Shaanxi

Located in the heart of the Guanzhong region in Shaanxi, beside the Zheng Guo Canal, Lüwo Farm was founded by Da Hei in 2014. It practices the Australian “Vital Farming” method. Its hallmark is the principle of “treating the disease before it arises”, focusing on the restoration and strengthening of soil vitality. By using soil activation formulas made from purely natural materials, diverse green manures, and a system of protective tillage machinery developed based on an intuitive understanding of the farm’s characteristics, the farm aims to achieve healthy soil, resilient crops, reduced labour, and environmental friendliness.

Ecological Farm Mentor

Da Hei

Founded Lüwo Farm in 2014, where he studies and practices Vital Farming. He established the local Vital Farming Association and serves as a lecturer. He has modified a large number of agricultural machines to be suitable for local use without damaging the soil structure.

 

 

Intern | Chang Hongliang

Born after 1995, after graduation, he participated in the construction of hydropower stations for the overseas “Belt and Road Initiative”. He has since resigned to become a youth returning to his hometown, exploring and learning knowledge and skills related to ecological agriculture. While starting from a need for a livelihood, his goals extend beyond mere survival; he seeks to find and realise his self-worth and truly take root in the countryside.

It has been nearly three months since he returned home, and life during this time has been a mix of joys and worries. The joy lies in the arrival of spring and the awakening of all things; these nature-centric experiences have allowed someone who was away for so long to feel the rhythm of life once again. The worry stems from the challenge of making a living in ecological agriculture starting from zero, as well as the clash of values with friends and family, which makes it difficult to establish effective links with the land and people of the village. He is now preparing to head to Lüwo Farm, hoping to systematically learn the Vital Farming method, acquire skills in farm production, processing, and operations, and learn to be a grounded “new farmer” who can gradually take root in the countryside. He also looks forward to meeting the mentors and fellow interns to learn and explore together.

Intern

Ci Rao

Cityboy A man of action and a victim of consumerism.

After experiencing a shift in mindset from fearing bugs to liking them, he began to rethink the relationship between humans and nature. Feeling that his previous job left him with far too much unused physical and mental energy, he hopes to start from scratch to redefine labour, production, and social relations. By experiencing the differences and inequalities firsthand and “taking the long way around”, he aims to expand the map of his life experiences.

 

Intern | Cheng Jin

Born in the 90s and raised in rural Chongqing, he previously worked as a PR officer for a real estate company and an employee at a Web3 studio.

After resigning at the end of 2023, he moved to Dali for a long-term stay and began farming a piece of vacant land amidst his landlord’s walnut grove. Driven by a desire to learn how to farm scientifically, he happened to meet several partners interested in or engaged in ecological agriculture at the Chaimiduo Living Farm, where he was first introduced to concepts such as “no-till” and “mulching”. Since then, he has been learning about ecological agriculture through documentaries and books, and has frequently participated as a volunteer in food forest co-construction activities at Chaimiduo Farm.

Healthy soil is the foundation of agriculture; he looks forward to learning how to vitally restore and strengthen soil and how to plant crops scientifically at Lüwo Farm. He hopes that by studying agriculture, he can improve his survival skills and re-nourish himself through a connection with the soil.

Intern | Ya

Born in 1992. I have worked in media and finance, but I wanted to get closer to the land.

I am very grateful to Foodthink and Lüwo Farm for giving me the opportunity to engage with agriculture. Having grown up in the city, I had almost no knowledge of agronomy; I was eager and confident that this internship would give me a more vivid, multi-dimensional understanding of ecological farming. Through physical labour, I will learn the true meaning of terms like soil health, vibrant farming, farm machinery design, sprinkler systems, breeding, product processing, sustainability, ecology, and environmental protection—memorising them not just with my mind, but with my body. I will grow closer to the land and cherish it, and I hope that the benefits I receive from the land can be shared with others.

 

IX. Liangliang Family Farm

Chengdu, Sichuan

Established in 2013 and spanning 30 mu, the farm focuses primarily on small yellow ginger, alongside various vegetables including carrots and wheat, as well as food and oil crops (utilising a rotation of vegetables, oil crops, and green manure). The farm also hosts activities such as farming-based food education, living camps, and summer camps. Liangliang Farm is a family farm rooted in its local village, bringing rural families together through the practice of gentle farming and the creation of an ecological community (Niujiaoyan Living Village), maintaining strong links and interactions with the surrounding village.

Ecological Farm Mentor

Tang Liang

Born after 1985 and the manager of Liangliang Farm. He graduated in 2008 from Southwest University with a degree in Biological Sciences. After graduation, he worked for a technology company in Chongqing. From 2011 to 2013, he interned for two years at Xiaomaolü and Sharing Harvest Ecological Farms. In 2013, he returned home to found Liangliang Family Farm (Tangjia Liangliang Farm), practising gentle farming, uniting rural families, and exploring a rural lifestyle closer to the essence of life. In 2020, he became a father and hopes to use his own hands to create a vibrant home for his child to grow up in, exploring the creation of local ecological communities and future living villages.

Intern | Shi Liang

A member of the ’80s generation who loves the land and is convinced that the path of ecological agriculture is a bright one.

Ten years ago, I was deeply captivated by the organic farm life described in *I Have a Farm*. This past year has been a turning point for me as I reached 35. While working as a delivery driver, seeing the conditions in a cancer hospital made me re-examine my health; being laid off by a property management company left me disillusioned with corporate employment. After reflecting on these hardships, I finally realised that participating in ecological agriculture is the only way to ensure healthy food, dignity, and a balanced state of wellbeing for my family. Given the chance, I can also give back to society through clean ingredients.

I have been at Liangliang Farm for five days and have felt the enviable quality of life led by Tang Liang and his family. Early to bed, early to rise; the elders engage in light labour for health, the children play in the wild and visit temple fairs; they don’t farm in the rain or at noon. There is a harmonious family atmosphere. Perhaps what I need to learn is not just techniques and knowledge like soil improvement, but also how to improve my own awareness and home environment. This is the core of the farm’s ‘greater ecology’. Beyond the produce, the goal should be to attract city dwellers to co-build an ‘ecological’ global village through harmonious families and an ecological environment.

X. Xiqing Family Farm

Beijing

Xiqing Farm was established in August 2015, growing strawberries and various seasonal vegetables. Xiqing’s planting philosophy is to produce high-quality agricultural products using high-quality soil. Green manure is the primary fertiliser, supplemented by plant-based compost. Over four years, we have built a basic ecosystem on the farm, and the biodiversity within this system continues to enrich.

Ecological Farm Mentor

Wang Xin

Born after 1985, graduated from the Beijing Agricultural College with a degree in Landscape Plants. He began researching ecological agriculture in 2011, hoping to cultivate a healthy, organic lifestyle through healthy soil.

 

 

 

 

Intern | Ba Jin

A member of the ’80s generation who has worked in corporations, non-profits, startups, and schools—someone who has always been a bit of a wanderer. Now, I’ve arrived at Xiqing Farm to start learning how to cultivate the land!

I’ve always been searching for the kind of life I truly want. Moving from the city to the countryside and back to my hometown, I found that the city no longer attracts me. So, where is my pastoral paradise?

After seeing the recruitment call from Foodthink, I felt a surge of passion that aligned with a dream of owning a bit of land I’ve had for years. I decided to set aside my fantasies and experience farm life authentically, to ask myself if I can and do enjoy this work. I look forward to evolving from an agricultural novice to someone with basic farming skills. My immediate goal is to be able to grow vegetables and tend a plot of land independently; in the long term, I want to make farming a part of my life, finding a sustainable way to support myself and my parents in our old age.

I hope I can truly become one of the farmers!

XI. Yirun Planting Farm: Happy Fruit Herb Garden

Guigang, Guangxi

Yan Ping’s orchard is located beside the Shitang Reservoir in Jidou Village, Wule Township, Guigang City, Guangxi. She grows 40 mu of Wokan citrus, 10 mu of Emperor mandarins, over 60 lychee trees, and more than 50 banana trees, along with intercropped sugarcane and a small variety of miscellaneous grains and wild vegetables. From June 2018, she began experimenting with pesticide- and fertiliser-free management across six rows of fruit trees. By 2020, the entire orchard had transitioned to ecological cultivation, and Yan Ping had grown into an eco-conscious ‘new farmer’ with both a clear philosophy and practical experience.

Ecological Farm Mentor

Xie Yanping

My fellow farmers like to call me Sister Yanping. After graduating from high school, I left my hometown to work in Guangdong. After twenty years of drifting, I returned to the land. My hope is to live here on the farm, working daily to both keep fit and provide for my family. The following is my understanding of ecology, which serves as the compass and goal for my journey: every inch of land is a paradise for microorganisms, and thus this land can become a paradise for all living creatures—mutually nourishing, mutually regulating, coexisting and prospering together. As the saying goes, ‘you reap what you sow’. Only when the food forest serves as a sanctuary for all living things can ecology become as natural and simple as the cycle of the sun, moon, and seasons.

Intern | Chen Yujun

24 years old, mathematics graduate. After a gap year, I had intended to become a teacher, but a health issue that prevented me from speaking for extended periods forced me to abandon those plans. I love exploring, learning, and putting theory into practice.

 

 

 

 

After reading the manga *Natsuko’s Wine* and the book *Revolution of a Straw*, I was deeply moved by the emotions and ideas conveyed by the authors, which sparked my interest in organic agriculture and natural farming. During the Spring Festival, while helping at my uncle’s ‘Red Beauty’ grape orchard, I tasted organically grown grapes and was amazed by how different they tasted compared to the conventional ones found in the city. This left me deeply curious about the environment and methods used to grow our food. Our society is drifting further and further away from the tangible, moving towards a hollow virtuality; people are lost in artificial simulations and illusions, unable to find a sense of authentic existence. The connection between people, and the connection between humanity and the earth, seems to be becoming increasingly difficult to achieve. As society becomes more ‘sophisticated’, the things closest to the essence of life—sleep, diet, human connection—are the ones left unprotected. I believe that caring for our food and its origins is a vital step in reconnecting with a more genuine existence and the primordial nature of life. Perhaps a corresponding lifestyle can be found by improving our relationship with our food and where it comes from. These overlapping reflections drove me to join this activity and fuelled my desire to explore and practice agriculture.

Intern

Yi Nan

30 years old, biology researcher; an urbanite seeking to understand and learn how to live in harmony with the land.

I am eager to learn how to coexist with the earth and to plant my own roots in the soil. Due to my professional background, I am also very interested in the scientific aspects of ecological agriculture.

 

 

XII. Little Willow Farm

Shunyi, Beijing

The farm is not particularly large—just over 50 mu—but it is managed with extreme precision. Production plans are set according to the season, maintaining 20 to 30 different varieties of vegetables and fruits each season, while physical and biological methods are used to ensure soil health and suppress pests and diseases. Little Willow Farm insists on not using chemical inputs such as herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, waxes, or preservatives. Adhering to the philosophy of respecting nature and following its natural order, they strive to create an optimal growing environment for plants. Thanks to the meticulous and diligent care of Liu Gang and the farm workers, the farm provides a stable output of a wide variety of delicious produce. It has built a loyal following and a client base of high-end restaurants, and has “never run at a loss,” making it a successful model for the new generation of farmers.

Ecological Farm Mentor

Liu Gang

Born in the 60s. In 2013, he leased land in Shunyi, Beijing, to found “Little Willow Farm.” He is dedicated to following the laws of nature to create a harmonious natural growing environment for plants.

 

 

 

Intern | Zhi Xing

Born in the 80s. He holds a Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences, a Master’s in Plant Ecology, and a PhD in Environmental Engineering. Having worked in universities and the Academy of Agricultural Sciences, his research has covered ecological treatment technologies for water pollution, powdery mildew in muskmelons, and the management of soil sickness caused by continuous cropping. He is committed to integrating sustainable agricultural research with industry.

I want to observe and learn through hands-on experience in organic fields, accumulate practical agricultural production experience, and test and develop the agricultural knowledge and theories I have studied.

 

XIII. Farmers’ Seed Network

Founded in 2013, the Farmers’ Seed Network focuses on the *in situ* conservation and sustainable use of agricultural biodiversity. It currently promotes participatory plant breeding, community seed resource registration, and community seed banks across more than 40 rural communities in 14 provinces. The network is also dedicated to sustainable agri-food systems, the inheritance of eco-cultural knowledge, and adaptation to climate change.

Shitoucheng and the Naxi-Mosuo Three-Village Network, Lijiang, Yunnan: Located along the dry-hot valley of the Jinsha River in Lijiang, Yunnan, the Naxi and Mosuo villages—Shitoucheng, Labo, and Youmi—have formed a tight-knit mutual aid and exchange network with the help of organisations like the Farmers’ Seed Network. In addition to their own community seed banks, they regularly hold sharing and exchange events for seeds and local culture. The diversity of ecological culture has fostered a rich agricultural and culinary tradition, and the three villages have already produced several successors to intangible agricultural cultural heritage.

Mentor

Mu Wenchuan

Naxi ethnicity. He is currently the Deputy Secretary of the Baoshan Village Party Branch, head of the Shitoucheng Participatory Action Group, and founder of the Three-Village Network. His ancestors have lived in Baoshan Shitoucheng Village for generations, and he possesses an intimate knowledge of the environment, culture, and history of the area. He has mentored many young people conducting research and studying in Shitoucheng and successfully promoted the Lijiang Intangible Cultural Heritage project for traditional walnut oil extraction.

 

 

Intern | Ziqi

Artist. Interested in seeds, domestication, care relationships, and eco-feminism.

I only began to truly care about species, seeds, soil, and the entire ecological network when I started growing tomatoes on my balcony in 2022. Last year, I started a small city vegetable garden with friends, learning and working alongside the land and the crops. I originally hoped to use the Foodthink internship programme to learn more about the conservation of heirloom varieties, and by chance, I discovered that the Farmers’ Seed Network was also looking for interns. Through a stroke of luck, I will soon be heading to the network’s project site in Shitoucheng, Lijiang. Although I am full of anticipation for the journey ahead, I have told myself not to overthink it—I’ll just start with the most everyday labour!

2024, we’ll see you in the fields!

Coordination: Mei Ying

Images: Interns, Internship Farms, Foodthink