Dong Nan Joy & Hope Wheat Team planted wheat in the school by following the Environmentally-friendly planting method.
Joy& Hope Wheat contracted farmers who are interested in wheat planting and is willing to pay them above market for their products. However, the farmers must agree to abide to the environmentally-friendly planting agreement in which the farmers are prohibited from the use of pesticide, weed killer and poisoning of birds. Joy & Hope Workshop will process the purchased wheat into flour and then make them into breads, noodles, cookies and other DIY products. This way, visitors of young and old will be able to have hand-on experience and taste the wonderful products of Taiwan’s flour.
The wheat variety planted by Joy& Hope Wheat is the Taichung Select Number two which is the same as Daya and Xueji and its growing period is 120 days. It is suitable for autumn and winter planting. Wheat is an extensive crop which can be cultivated through the “no tillage method” or the “tillage method”. It is easy to manage and a rice harvester can also be used for harvesting wheat, so no additional purchase of machinery is necessary. It is a low maintenance crop. Nonetheless, wheat has its own enemies. Apart from the hot south wind in the early spring, there are also the spotted munia, the robins, the mice and the stray dogs who were all great threats to its growth.
Wheat Contract Management
Wheat Contract Management
•Planting Method: Straw mulch method (no tillage), tillage method
•Growth Process: sprouting, tillering, booting, heading, flowering, ripening
•Days of Growth: 120 days
•Planting Season: Mid-October every year (after the autumn harvest period)
•Ideal type of soil: Loamy well-drained soil
•Environment and Temperature: autumn winter low temperature, plenty of room and sunshine
•Plant Variety: Taichung Select number two, hard spring wheat
•Machine used for Harvest: rice harvester or specialized harvester
•Harvest Weight: 3000 kg--2200 kg (per hectare) •Contract Price: Environmentally-friendly Planting 30 NTD, with Organic Certification 39 NTD per Kilogram
Wheat Contract Cooperation Procedure
Joy & Hope contracted wheat were planted abiding to the environmental friendly planting method which poisoning or capturing of birds, and any use of weed killer, pesticide and inorganic fertilizer are prohibited; a method which lowered crop yield. It is a challenge for farmers. However, with the same goal and self-expectation the wheat contract of Joy & Hop had developed a friendly culture which became a protection for the farmers and the planting environment. The wheat contract is not only a contract of wheat production, it is tie which bonds the farmers together and it has become their pride and joy!
