In the gentle breeze of March, new green hues began to dot the fields. On the afternoon of March 12, a special group of 'young farmers' arrived at the farmlands of Beigang Village in Dongbang Town, Changshu City. They were 20 students from Changshu Experimental Primary School. Accompanied by youth volunteers from the 'Dongbang Golden Mini Corn Agri-Cultural Tourism Promotion Volunteer Service Project' and staff from Beigang Village, they participated in a hands-on labor education activity titled 'Young Farmers of Yixue'. From weeding and identifying plants to sowing seeds and nurturing seedlings, from plowing furrows to transplanting vegetable shoots, the children learned about cultivation through the scent of soil and experienced growth by engaging in physical work.
The activity began with the children lining up and entering a celery field. The vibrant green celery was thriving, but weeds had quietly grown among them. A volunteer crouched down, patiently pointing out different plants: 'This is celery, with shiny leaves and serrated edges. The broad-leaved plant next to it is crabgrass, a common weed that steals nutrients from the soil.' The children observed carefully, then bent down to cautiously pull out the weeds. Soon, their hands were full of 'trophies'. The volunteer also provided an on-site lesson about other common field weeds like green bristlegrass and barnyard grass, turning the farmland into a vivid, natural classroom for the children.
After weeding, the children moved to the Golden Mini Corn seedling area. A signature agricultural product of Dongbang, Golden Mini Corn is renowned for its golden kernels and soft, sweet, glutinous texture, with Beigang Village being one of its core cultivation areas. Under the guidance of an agricultural cadre from the village, the children carefully pressed seeds into seedling trays, mimicking the demonstrated actions. 'Seeds must be placed upright, and the covering soil should not be too thick,' they were reminded. Holding their breath, the children focused intently, feeling the weight of each seed. As the volunteer demonstrated, they also explained the lengthy process of corn growth from sowing to harvest. The children listened raptly, as if already seeing the tender sprouts breaking through the soil and the corn stalks growing tall. A banner by the field reading 'Today's Young Farmer, Tomorrow's Great Scholar' reflected the children’s concentrated expressions, perfectly capturing the moment.
The most challenging part was transplanting the pak choi. Two student representatives, guided by a farmer, picked up small hoes to try plowing furrows. Initially clumsy, they managed to create shallow grooves in the soil after several attempts. Then, divided into groups, the children received young plants and carefully transplanted each tender green pak choi into the soil, covering them with earth, firming the soil, and watering them. Though their movements were inexperienced, they were meticulous. Wiping sweat from their brows, the children’s faces were filled with the joy and sense of accomplishment that comes from labor.
During a break, the children ran into a nearby rapeseed field. In full bloom, the bright yellow flowers created a stunning backdrop for the children’s cheerful smiles, forming the most delightful scene in the spring fields. Volunteers and teachers raised their phones to capture these happy moments. Some children leaned in to smell the flowers, others gathered in small groups flashing victory signs, and some chased each other playfully along the ridges. Laughter and chatter echoed across the field, adding a touch of youthful innocence to the spring farming afternoon.
Planting this fresh green, growing upward. In just half a day, the 'Young Farmers of Yixue' touched spring through the soil and understood cultivation through their sweat. This visit by the Dongbang 'Small Group' volunteers to Beigang Village to participate in the labor practice with the teachers and students of the Experimental Primary School was not only an effort to assist the children in experiencing farming but also another vivid attempt by the 'Dongbang Golden Mini Corn Agri-Cultural Tourism Promotion Volunteer Service Project' to take root in the fields and cultivate the land diligently. In the future, the Golden Mini Corn seeds sown by the children's own hands will sprout and grow in the ridges of Beigang Village, fulfilling a promise about growth under the continued care of the volunteers.
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