Sketch of Archilife Study Tour, April 2023
2023年4月份見識之旅縮影 ![]() For the study tour of April 22, 2023, Ms. Lu Ming-yun led 12 ARF interns and their parents on a trip to learn about green energy development and black bean soy sauce in Mailiao Township, Yunlin County. ![]() The morning's itinerary brought everyone to Wuan Chuang Soy Sauce Museum located on Yanping Old Street in Xiluo. After learning about the history of the brand through a video, the interns tried their hands at DIY fermented black bean. Instructed by the tour guide, everyone started by washing off the mold culture from the fermented black beans, and then soaking, draining and storing the fermented black beans in an urn. While waiting for the fermentation process to start before mixing in the salt and sealing the urn, the tour guide showed everyone where all the urns are being placed for the soy sauce making process. To allow everyone to make comparison, one of the urns was opened so the fermentation condition could be seen and everyone could taste a little of the unflavored soy sauce. Having experienced the wonder and transformation of the fermentation, everyone looked forward to tasting the same salty soy sauce with its sweet undertones when their DIY soy sauce is ready in six months. After leaving the Museum, everyone visited Xiluo Bridge that spans both sides of Zhuoshui River. The tour guide said the bridge was a new-age construction in the period of the U.S. aid. Since its use in 1953, it has further improved transportation between southern and northern Taiwan, prospering local economy. The transportation function of Xiluo Bridge was gradually replaced after Taisugar factory closed and road transportation network continued to expand. Today, it is painted a vibrant red color and functions as a tourist attraction. Along the way, the tour guide introduced the modernist style of architecture on Xiluo Old Street. Most buildings were rebuilt after the massive earthquake in central Taiwan in 1935, and featured art deco design such as open-mold printing, sand-washed pebbles and wall tiles, with a touch of rustic village style. ![]() In the afternoon, the tour took everyone to Chao Yang Solar Farm in Mailiao, Yunlin. This is Taiwan's first organic farm that has its own solar power plant. The tour guide showed everyone the solar power generator and explained its construction. As Yunlin lies north of the Tropics of Cancer, the solar panels are placed at 23.5-degree angle to receive the most sunlight, forming a unique sloping roof. As solar energy infrastructure requires extensive land use, green farming is developed below to utilize space more effectively. There are a total of 22 solar-powered greenhouses in the farm that utilize this model, generating enough to supply electricity to 1400 normal households. Green agriculture in the farm consists of avian husbandry, restoration of field crickets, and fruits and vegetables planting. While picking golden oyster mushrooms in a fully covered solar-powered mushroom greenhouse, everyone learned that a mushroom substrate bag that has been depleted of nutrients after multiple reuses can be used to make natural fertilizer, becoming beneficial cultivation soil and vermicompost. The on-site visit gave interns a deep understanding of the sustainability model of agro-photovoltaics. As the day's tour came to an end, everyone took a group photo before heading back home and looked forward to the next study tour. |