People often ask:
Where does the millet used in school lunches come from?
At Tse-Xin, the principle is simple yet meaningful:
local farmers grow the millet eaten by local schoolchildren.
This not only reduces carbon miles,
but more importantly allows Paiwan millet to feed Paiwan children,
and Bunun millet to nourish Bunun schools.
The meaning behind this is irreplaceable.
Jian-Zhong explains <br>how Indigenous millet knowledge is deeply scientific and aligned with natural rhythms.
Farmer Jian-Zhong also becomes the best millet teacher in schools, <br>sharing culture with children.
About 80% of Indigenous culture follows the millet seasons, <br>much like the Han people’s 24 solar terms.
Before you see him,
you hear his bright, hearty laughter—
that signature laugh that everyone remembers.
That’s Lin Jian-Zhong.
Although Jian-Zhong is a Paiwan born and raised,
he grew up feeling distant from tribal life
and from traditional Indigenous agriculture.
During his years away for school,
it was the post-Morakot reconstruction
and the encouragement of a tribal pastor
that led him to make a firm decision—
to return home and serve his community,
beginning his journey of exploring and reviving traditional Indigenous crops.
Returning home to grow millet
was, above all, an act of love—
a response to the sorrow he felt
watching his culture slowly fade away.
Whenever he talks about how to revive millet farming,
his eyes light up.
He explains:
“Much of Indigenous knowledge is passed orally, not recorded in modern scientific formats. Because of this, many outsiders mistakenly think Indigenous culture is unscientific or outdated.
But the truth is, Indigenous millet farming is full of scientific principles—
aligned with natural laws, and adaptable to each environment.”
He continues:
“About 80% of Indigenous culture follows the rhythm of the millet seasons—
just like the Han people’s 24 solar terms.
If children can learn culture through the act of eating,
that understanding and connection can last for generations.”
Even with a master’s degree,
his early days returning home to promote millet farming were anything but smooth.
His family didn’t understand—
why give up a promising future to come home and plant millet?
He invested in equipment, built a small processing site,
bought millet and red quinoa from farmers—
and fell deeply into debt.
But none of that shook his determination.
He founded Lima, a small tribal enterprise.
“Lima” in Indigenous language means “two hands” or “working together.”
Through traditional farming methods,
he hoped to produce quality crops
and create new possibilities for the entire community.
Today, nearly 30 farmers work with him.
The popular “Red & Smooth Millet Drink” from Tse-Xin Natural Farm,
and the organic chain Leezen’s “Taiwan Glutinous Millet,”
both come from Jian-Zhong’s millet.
He also supplies seeds to local farmers
and hosts monthly meetings
to share knowledge about millet cultivation, pests, and disease management.
One day, an elderly man—who wasn’t even part of the contract farming program—
came asking whether his red quinoa could be purchased.
Out of compassion, Jian-Zhong found a way to buy it.
He has always cared deeply for the elders of his tribe.
In truth, what Jian-Zhong gives
is far more than millet.
Inside every grain is his longing for home,
and his devotion to preserving the culture of his people.
Jian-Zhong’s millet is also sold through the organic retailer Leezen.
Leezen’s Taiwan Glutinous Millet —<br> product link at the end of the article.
Red & Smooth Millet Drink —<br> product link at the end of the article.
What farmer Jian-Zhong offers is not just millet—<br> but the longing for his culture and his homeland carried within every grain.🌾 Let millet continue to take root on the hillsides—and sprout in the hearts of our children.
Through the “Millet in Schools” initiative, the Tse-Xin Foundation invites companies and all caring individuals to join us.
Let’s help children eat with awareness, and let their taste buds remember the flavor of this land.
👉 Support the Millet in Schools Initiative: https://forms.gle/uMB1Ncb6Fi7nZJAP8
👉 Contact: Director Chien Yu-Chuan, Tse-Xin Hualien–Taitung Office
Email: Email住址會使用灌水程式保護機制。你需要啟動Javascript才能觀看它
📽️ Millet in Schools Video: https://youtu.be/3nI2_5EdMQI?si=eQOBJ5jSz19d5Bhp
＃Leezen Taiwan Glutinous Millet
Grown through friendly, toxin-free farming methods;
preserving Indigenous millet varieties and cultural heritage.
Link to product page.
＃Red & Smooth Millet Drink
A convenient small bottle—perfect for breakfast or snacks.
A comforting blend of red beans and millet,
pure, natural, and award-winning (2022 MOEA New Taste Award).
Developed with the support of Tzu-Hsin Foundation’s Hualien–Taitung Agricultural Program.
Link to product page.