Going to the Peach Garden in the Youthful Home

jiejing

Going to the Peach Garden in the Youthful Home

Written by Huanxin

November 30, 2023

Once upon a time, a scene from the TV series 'Journey to the West' came to my mind. It was probably the moment when Sun Wukong managed the Peach Garden for the Queen of the West. The peach trees were laden with plump and luscious celestial peaches. Several fairies, adorned in colorful dresses picked the celestial peaches. Little did I imagine that we would also have the chance to experience the joy of picking celestial peaches.


In our Youthful Home, there are approximately 5000 peach trees, along with 1200 pear trees, 300 plum trees, and 50 loquat trees on the mountainside behind our rooms. Of course, peaches dominate. It is really a genuine paradise and an idyllic retreat from the world. The trees bearing pink-cheeked, sweet and juicy peaches are white peaches and another variety that appears green and pointed, known as fragrant peaches. These are exceptionally crisp, sweet, and refreshing. All community members carried small baskets, searching for the largest and most tempting ripe peaches. After careful selection, our sales director, Di Zu, and other brothers and sisters take them to the market to sell.


In addition to fruit picking, there are various other activities in our community, such as gardening, flower planting, cleaning, feeding animals, laundry, hairdressing, room cleaning, weeding, cooking in the kitchen, catering services, daily maintenance, and construction and renovation of houses. Community members collaborate and each takes on their responsibilities and provides mutual assistance. It's a joyful and harmonious atmosphere within collective labor. The scenes are seemingly ordinary and the labor is commonplace, but only through deep experience can one understand the boundless joy that the collective life of the Second Home can create. Collective life is a paradise for those who are selfless, and it is the best place for spiritual cultivation.


Please enjoy the photos of the brothers and sisters' working and living experiences!


Photos of the Youthful Home were taken in June 2023.