Eric Hwang spent his youth in the middle of bustling Taipei city, studying to be a chef. Disillusioned with the low quality of ingredients used by most restaurants, he eventually left the restaurant industry, returning to his countryside hometown to grow chickens in the natural way with his wife and parents.
“We don’t need more big successful companies … we need somebody to make healthy, good, and natural food. I know a lot of people trying to do this, and I want to do this too.”
Eric Hwang, Natural Farmer
Eric’s family farm is experimenting with new ways of using traditional knowledge for being environmentally and socially sustainable. His father (a former pharmacologist) grows traditional Chinese herbal medicines, feeding their chickens herb tea water instead of using antibiotics. Meanwhile, Eric’s wife supports a farm staff that are mainly single mothers, trained on site to learn all parts of running a small farm.
Join us, as City as Nature visits Kaohsiung to talk with Eric about his career choice, and what it’s like to be a young farmer in Taiwan:
Directed by
Patrick M. Lydon
Edited by
Suhee Kang
Music
“Shimmer” and “Life in a Moment” by Scott Holmes / CC BY-NC
“Nature Kid” by Podington Bear / CC BY-NC
“Kalimba 07” by Bomnunbyeol
More About Eric’s Work
Shanlindaye Farm (杉林大野山雞) – Website / Facebook
This film was independently produced by City as Nature
How to Support Our Films
This film was made possible directly through donations from viewers like you. To support the continued creation of more works like this, you can donate to City as Nature directly. A full 100% of your donation goes directly into the production of free, publicly available films, resources, and projects to further environmental wellness.
More from City as Nature Media Lab
Enjoy more stories, solutions, and inspirations from around the world, produced by our independent, not-for-profit media lab:
