📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Flow Farm & Sanctuary is an eco farm and animal sanctuary with a very simple heart-felt mission: to provide a fun and safe environment for humans and animals to learn about each other, so we can all live together in harmony. Located in the tranquil foothills of Wenbishan, Flow is part of the Windmill Eco Farm which includes a fresh water lake, hiking trails and 270 acres of country park. Flow is also home to about 60 farm animals including ponies, mules pigs, rabbits, chickens, ducks, dogs and cats. By participating in fully immersive, interactive experiences, visitors can connect deeply with nature and with animals, gain invaluable insights, form genuine bonds and leave with a renewed understanding and respect for all living beings.
Website: https://farmflow.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flowfarmchina/
💼 What the programme involves
Project Needs:
Plants, animals and humans are all part of nature and we rely on each other to survive. Climate change, biodiversity loss, soil degradation, habitat destruction, depletion of natural resources and species extinction are devastating results of our exploitation of nature. Redefining our role in nature and our footprint on this planet are key to our own survival and that of future generations.
Growing population and increasing demand for food have led to intensive industrial farming practices which are detrimental to both our health and the environment. Organic farming and permaculture are holistic alternatives, taking into consideration of the natural environment, animal welfare, local communities, and food nutrition. These methods produce food in a sustainable way that allows for ecological balance and maintenance of biodiversity.
Project Aims:
• Provide a unique experiential learning opportunity to enrich knowledge of organic farming and animal care.
• Connect head, hands and heart through hands-on experiences such as carpentry, cooking, gardening etc..
• Increase awareness of the negative impact of industrial farming on our health and on the environment.
• Encourage volunteers to engage with nature, physically, mentally and spiritually.
• Cultivate a harmonious, sustainable and regenerative co-existence with plants, animals and all others members of our ¡®earth community¡¯.
• Spread the principles of environmental sustainability and advocate for an active citizenship committed to a fairer society.
• Inspire future changemakers who will create positive impact in sustainable farming and animal care issues.
Work/Activities:
• Building upcycled furniture with used car tyres, wooden crates etc. (tentative)
• Painting a mural (tentative)
• Building treehouses (tentative)
• Organic farm work such as weeding, composting, and harvesting
• Caring of farm animals (feeding, grooming, exercising etc.)
• Participating in group discussions about change-making ideas and examples of sustainable farming and animal care
• Other duties assigned by the farm team
🏠 Accommodation on site
Grocery shopping and meals will be prepared by the workcampers. Seasonal fruits and vegetables will be provided by the farm. A cooking and cleaning schedule will be arranged at the beginning of the workcamp, and workcampers will take turns with cooking and cleaning chores. Please note that all the meals will be vegan.
Workcampers will live in dormitories with beddings provided. Tents will also be available for workcampers who wish to camp. Workcampers who wish to camp will need to bring their own sleeping bags.
📍 About the location
Located in the western side of the Pearl River Delta in Guangdong Province, Zhongshan is a city named after the finding father of modern China, Dr. Sun Yat-sen (aka Sun Zhongshan in Mandarin). Therefore, it is recommended to visit a series of historical attractions relating to Sun Yat-sen when you are here. Here you can also enjoy the famous Cantonese cuisine, while visiting the charming downtown river area and some beautiful Buddhist temples.
