National Formosa University's "Shuijing Village Smart Carbon Reduction and Water Conservation Integrated 'Production-Ecology-Life' Social Practice Project" team held the "Agricultural Garlic Skin Waste: New Flower Vibes" event on 4/22 (Tuesday) in Shuijing Community, Kouhu Township, Yunlin County. The team partnered with local homemaker class mothers and new immigrant mothers to promote a "Garlic-Free Flowers" Mother's Day floral arts activity. The event used "garlic skin" agricultural waste to create handmade floral art, blending environmental consciousness with creative craftsmanship to give new life to discarded materials, while also deepening cultural inclusion and strengthening emotional connections within the community's social network.
Yunlin County is Taiwan's largest garlic-producing region, and Kouhu Township is one of its key production areas. Centered on the concept of integrating "production, life, and ecology," NFU's team introduced this initiative to Shuijing Community, helping to overcome the industrial development limitations faced by the local saline-affected area. This event connected the garlic skin waste generated during garlic production with the daily lives of community women, transforming it into exquisite everlasting floral art — not only advancing the principles of circular economy and zero waste, but also injecting new opportunities into rural community revitalization.
This event was themed around Mother's Day potted flowers, with Assistant Professor Chen Feng-Chueh of NFU's General Education Center leading a student team to guide the instruction — from sorting garlic cloves, mastering flower shapes and stem lines, to composing the visual arrangement of flowers and leaves — gradually guiding community residents through completing their own handmade works. Corn husk leaves were also used to weave wreaths and greenery, showcasing the diverse applications and aesthetic potential of local agricultural materials.
Chen Feng-Chueh noted that throughout the hands-on process, community residents' exchange and mutual observation also helped bridge cultural and language gaps. She said the "Garlic-Free Flowers" will be available for reservation and charity sale in the future, with proceeds donated to social welfare organizations and used for community development — conveying appreciation for maternal love, while also demonstrating NFU's practical action in co-creating with the local community and advancing environmental sustainability and cultural inclusion.
Article provided by: "Shuijing Village Smart Carbon Reduction and Water Conservation Integrated 'Production-Ecology-Life' Social Practice Project" Team
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| NFU's USR project team partners with residents of Shuijing Community to transform agricultural garlic skin waste into Mother's Day potted flowers. | |