Company/Organization

Leishan County Manyou Ecological Family Farm

Case name

Rural families’ sustainable practice based on indigenous diversified management

Project description

When modernization sweeps rural regions, it often impacts the cultural heritage of local indigenous groups, drawing the younger generations toward new technologies and lifestyles and away from their traditional cultures. Meanwhile, urban office workers who are used to being surrounded by steel and concrete and eating restaurant food every day are eager to escape into the mountains to be close to nature and enjoy the authentic taste of natural ingredients.

Perhaps the curiosity and appreciation that urban people have for the traditional rural ways of life can reignite these local indigenous peoples' confidence in their own culture. Located in southeastern Guizhou, Leishan County Manyou Ecological Family Farm is using this method to preserve and revitalize the cultural heritage of the local Miao people.

The picked-clean plate of a city visitor enjoying local farmers' home-cooked meals; the happy smiles of children going down the river to fish; the acceptance of local heritage crop varieties by the judges of Slow Food International; these successes show us that the traditional culture of the local indigenous people offers much value to the outside world. Cultural sharing and exchange is the best form of cultural preservation. We believe Leishan County Manyou Ecological Family Farm can provide inspirations to other ethnic minority communities.