Tse-Xin Organic Agriculture Foundation
As the first international group to visit the Tse-Xin Organic Agriculture Foundation in Pinglin we were welcomed with a presentation about their Pure Spring Reservoir Protecting Project. The project was started in 2009 to educate the tea farmers of the importance of growing tea organically, not only to get better and purer quality tea, but also to preserve the water in the Feitsui reservoir which is polluted by the chemicals and pesticides farmers use in their tea gardens that surround the reservoir.
The Feitsui Reservoir provides drinking water to over six million people in Taipei county.
Traditional tea farming causes toxic fertilizers to leak into the reservoir
Another imbalance of the polluted water is extinction of the useful green tea frogs. The frogs eat the invasive tea mosquito bugs that spread wildly – so without frogs the tea leaves become damaged.
The green tea frog - almost extinct because of toxic fertilization of tea fields
It takes a good amount of explanation and education to convince tea farmers to change the bad circle of toxic fertilizing to organic farming. Traditional tea farming is done with open ditches between the tea bushes, so that the fertilizer will stay in the soil. This method hardens the soil. The Foundation therefore decided to provide liquid organic fertilizer to the farmers for free and teach them how to use peanut shells to prevent weeds and to organically provide nitrogen to the soil. It takes about three years to convert the hardened soil to healthier organic soil and the output of the tea crop will decrease in the period. Instead of an expected 1,000 kg the output could typically be only 200 kg. But as soon as the whole Eco-system is turned around birds and green tea frogs will return to the area and eat the damaging bugs and the annual yield will increase to more than the previously expected level. At the same time organic tea brings in up to three times higher prices, which is a good and happy circle of life for the farmer, nature and consumers.
After the presentation the Foundation provided the most delicious and healthy organic vegetarian lunch – almost all dishes made with tea in one way or the other.
After the delicious organic lunch it was time for a cupping of three of the Foundation’s organic teas.
Organic Baozhong tea
Organic Jade Oolong
Organic Brandy Oolong black tea
Thomas Shu with two of the Foundation members
After the traditional “Thank You” photo the group drove a bit outside Pinglin to visit an organic farm that is supported by the Foundation.
The residents of Pinglin are very proud of their tea industry and tea related statues are found all over the area.
Let us pray that the farmers learn and accept the concept of organic farming so that the rivers and reservoirs keep flowing with clean water.
