Author: CHENGJIA ZHANG

Photo: JINYI CHEN

Slowly drive into the forest along the winding Taiwan Route 9, walking against the clear water of Daiyujue River. We arrive the village which is surrounded by the tea garden---Shicao community in Pinglin district, New Taipei City.

Pinglin is the one and only way people used to travel from Taipei in Yilan. It is the bridge between these two places without a doubt. Because of the geographical location, many people in Pinglin have been able to settle down in this small village due to this road. However after the opening of Hsuehshan Tunnel in 2006, it have become easier to travel two places and the forest lost its mission as a relay station.

The Shicao community has no exception. The opening of the Hsuehshan Tunnel speed up the migration of the population.The small coffee stands and grocery stores on the community roads have closed down one after another. The Shicao bus station has only a mottled sign stands at the intersection. Just like the guard of the community, keeping the old good times of this place. There is only one shuttle bus between Shicao and Pinglin town. It is a bus that has no return, from Monday to Friday, departs at 13:20.

The agriculture was once prosperous here. Because the established of water conservation, many development have been restricted. Most of the land are returned to the government and the farming area are getting less. It is difficult to reach the economic scale. Under such challenges, the population in Shicao moved out a lot. There are only 450 people register living in Shicao and only about 200 to 300 settled population. According to the calculation of household administration in 2018, the aging population comes to 25% and there are only 10 children in Shicao community’s elementary school. However, how such a truly “old and poor” small community could involve the work of community build-up and how much effort is required to win the “2018 New Taipei City Golden Community award"?

Since 2015, Chen-Jin-yi, the chairman of the Shicao Community Development Association, has organized residents. With the spirit of “doing today, or regretting tomorrow”, they have combined the resources and the subsidy of community build-up related from New Taipei City. Started from making inventory of resources, they start the resource research. By participating the research to sort out the resources of community step by step. For example, to re-recognize the history of DanLan Ancient Road which used to be the road traveled between the north and Yilan, and cultivate the resources of Shicao community. The residents gradually realized that even if they grow up in this place, it is hard to fully understand the community. There are many ordinary corners which could be full of stories.

For example, in 2016, the residents of Shicao community followed the steps of the community planner to rebuild a deserted rammed-earth house next to BaoAn temple as a belief center. It let the Shicao community without a community activity center could have a place in the daily life where the residents can gather. Chen Jin Yi said, ‘’Most of people in this community in 1960s and 1970s lived in this traditional rammed-earth house. However, with the development of the times, it was a pity that these charming buildings were quietly abandoned in the community, it gradually deserted.’’ The residents getting more understand of the community and make the deserted rammed-earth house useful again and also conserved the traditional skills through they cleaned the environment together and the ideas from community planner.

In 2017 and 2018, the partners in Shicao community even applied the subsidy case by Cultural Affairs Department, New Taipei City Government with the themes of ‘’Experiencing the village culture with the natural ecosystems’’ and‘’Tea Green Stones’’. Based on the famous Feitsui reservoir water source protection area and the tea culture, they held the community mini trip with the local tea material. They set up tea production trips and the tea dyeing courses to let the residents and tourists understand this place through their own hands. What’s more important is to let the residents deeply realize that their community is unique thorough these activities again and again. It is worthwhile for all of us to work together to make this place reappearing.

It is not easy to promote the community build-up in such a small village based on agriculture. It faces the population aging problem. On the other hand, with the busy season of tea farming, the community often faces difficulties in recruiting volunteers in the community. However, the Shicao community is still working hard on the path of community build-up.

Besides the cultivationof culture, theyalso hold congregate meal activities for elders and the game sessions which can postpone the dementia. In the future, the community will combine with the tea culture and continue to pay their efforts oncreating any possibility of making this small community industry.

Although this is a small village, the people here shuttle between the mountains and work hard together. I think the god of mountain will also look after them.

Authorization in this article：CC3.0 BY-NC-SA