There is a smile that has been passed down since ancient times.
When the warm wind brushes across waves of golden millet,
even the eyes begin to smile with the breeze.

Early in the morning, the elders from Jianhe Cultural Health Station had already gathered in the millet field,
waiting for the arrival of the Tse-Xin Foundation staff.

Part of today’s harvest will be sent to the Seedling Research Center for preservation;
another portion will be kept by the cultural health station to continue seed saving.

The weather was sweltering.
In less than ten minutes in the field, sweat poured down like rain.
Yet nothing could dampen the elders’ spirits.
They sang ancient melodies with joy, chatting and laughing as they worked.
Their hands remained deft and practiced. Before long, bundles of millet were skillfully passed outward one by one.
Beside the field, several elders took charge of sorting and tying, each person moving in steady, seamless coordination.

In between laughter, they also spoke of the taboos surrounding millet.

If one is on the way to harvest and happens to sneeze,
the harvest must be postponed to another day.

Before sowing, clearing stones and pulling weeds are allowed —
but fire must never be lit in the field.
Otherwise, the millet leaves will grow curled, affecting the yield.

In the past, elders planted millet in the mountains while children played nearby.
They farmed while keeping watch over the little ones.
During breaks, tribespeople would set up swings in open spaces for the children to play.
Over time, this simple joy evolved into a central activity of the tribe’s annual festival.
At the end of each year, men and women, young and old, dress in magnificent traditional attire,
gathering together to swing in celebration.
When it comes to millet and culture,
it seems there is never an end to the stories.
After finishing the day’s work,
everyone held the freshly harvested millet in their hands
and took a group photo by the field —
a portrait of abundance.

🌾 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