What a Farm Visit Taught Me about Experiential Learning?
With young adults fleeing the countryside for better jobs and modern life, many rural areas in China are experiencing the so-called “hollowing out” effect, with only the elderly and children left behind. However, most recently, a group of individuals and families known as New Farmers have decided to return to the countryside. These new farmers have abandoned the modern values placed on money and success but instead seeking alternative values and lifestyles pursued in the fields. Our protagonist, Daxiong, is the epitome of this New Farmer movement in Shanghai.
Daxiong is the owner of Heartland Farm, a beautifully designed waterfront farm inspired by permaculture philosophy located on Chongming Island in Shanghai. A former architect, Daxiong makes the 2.5-acre farm his home with his wife Moqi and two young daughters. His latest project is the canoes and sailboats which he built from the workshop right on the farm.
In September, I visited the Heartland Farm with a group of NYU Shanghai colleagues to seek inspiration for experiential learning design, and help our faculty members explore connections between Heartland Farm and their teaching and research. The aesthetics of Heartland and its proximity to nature boosted our energy in discussions. During the trip, I interviewed Daxiong to learn about the people who visited and the exciting things that happened there. In his poetic and authentic narration, Daxiong shared his perspectives on how we can immerse ourselves in the present moment and surrounding environment, which can inspire how we think about experiential learning.
Interviewer: Chunhao Qian, Community Engaged Learning Coordinator at NYU Shanghai
Interviewee: Daxiong, owner of Heartland Farm on Chongming Island, Shanghai
Chunhao: Daxiong, tell us who comes to visit Heartland?
Daxiong: A lot of people from the art community and many young people. They value freedom and they enjoy music and dance. We get connected by chance and they visit frequently. I think we have the atmosphere and space they need on our farm. Also, people from the expat community visit quite often since we opened. If you enjoy nature and a slow-paced lifestyle, this is the environment you want to immerse yourself in. It is simple and real. The villagers living here see smokes rising from their open fire stove, and our visitors notice the same thing happening here too.
The People at Heartland Farm
Chunhao: What do the local villagers think of the farm?
Daxiong: They are proud that so many visitors from various backgrounds find this place fascinating. Heartland also brings much joy to their life. Most of the villagers living around Heartland are old. The artistic atmosphere that we created, like music and bonfire, brings back liveliness and passion to their life. Perhaps they have only seen those things on TV before. Sometimes when they see foreign visitors, they say to them: Welcome to Chongming!
Chunhao: Any groups of visitors that you particularly remember?
Daxiong: A group of children who came for a drama education trip. Families came here and performed dramas on stage in the middle of the rice field. It was a combination of parent-child relationship building, eco-education, and improvisational theatre.
Chunhao: Are your daughters involved in the activities on the farm?
Daxiong: My elder daughter usually helps warm up the atmosphere for our guests. Then she takes the children among our visitors on explorations. Just by exposure to what is happening around, she gains the implicit knowledge of what we are doing and how things work here.
Chunhao: Why do you think people are attracted to your farm?
Daxiong: We actually serve a niche market. Most city folks want comfort and quality service when they are on vacation. Some others aspire for life in the countryside. They have dreams of living in their hearts. These characterize our clientele. You can go to a beautiful resort but you only passively admire its beauty without much else to do. Our farm, situated on this natural, healthy piece of land, has plenty of opportunities to fulfill the lifestyle people want. We try to create a coexistence of a poetic environment and life and make people enjoy a pastoral atmosphere here. That’s also why we don’t have service staff. The idea is not about paying to be served. Because when we are served by others, our hearts are not necessarily in their most natural state. Instead, our guests can gain much more freedom.
In another sense, Heartland eliminates the distance between people, which is a big challenge today. The abundance of information has not brought people closer to our world. We are wrapped in substances that stand in between us. It is hard to have this mutual feeling between people that is focused on the present, the real, and the wholesome. That chasm is more salient between people and nature.
People, Nature, and the Present Moment
Chunhao: For this thinking about our relationship with others and nature, does it have to do with why you started the farm?
Daxiong: Actually it’s something that I learn along the way. Just like raising a kid. You don’t know what she’s good at or which direction she’s going in. So you just nurture her with a pure and simple kind of love. Gradually, she will learn many things, gather more meaning, and grow into a mature person.
Chunhao: What is your understanding of immersive learning? What qualities do facilitators and learners need? To put it simply, we think of immersive learning as learning that happens where first-hand experiences take place, which is kind of the opposite of learning from a textbook.
Daxiong: I think that’s kind of the purpose of our farm. We put people in direct interaction with plants and animals. Some people can’t put down the burden they carry from urban life even when they come to this immersive environment. We need guidance on how to prepare them for immersion. Although I’m not an expert, this makes me think of wellness and healing. I also think of one time when we had a group that had a cell phone ban policy. The moment everyone’s phones were taken away, they became present and part of the team. Their experiences about nature and the activities on the farm became more authentic and meaningful.
Chunhao: Thank you so much for talking with me Daxiong! Fall is here. What’s happening on the farm now?
Daxiong: It’s the harvest season! The rice field is slowly turning golden. I imagine that it is an impressive view for the city folks. When everything turns golden, we will host a golden party for celebration!
An Afterword
Daxiong’s comment on creating the natural condition for learning to happen deeply inspired me. A lot of that is about our connection to others and the environment around us. Being connected to others, to the environment, and to the present moment prepares us to fully take in the experiences to come. Shouldn’t that be the first step towards learning?
Chunhao Qian is the community-engaged learning coordinator at NYU Shanghai. He is passionate about experiential learning design and reflection as a tool to transform experiences into learning. He works closely with faculty, students, and NGOs in Shanghai and China to facilitate collaborations that engage both the university and communities outside in ways that are mutually beneficial. Chunhao enjoys walking, cooking, and making art in his free time.
