On May 13th, TU’s Linhai Campus officially opened its “Guangwen Cultivation Garden,” a new base dedicated to learning through practical work. University logistics officials, campus environment staff, property managers, and 35 students from the Schools of Humanities, Foreign Languages, and Teacher Education attended the launch event.

The garden embodies the idea of “learning and building character through labor,” aiming to help participants gain knowledge, develop skills, and foster personal growth by working the land. The Logistics Management Department set aside a 400 square meter plot south of Ziqing Road, west of the campus auditorium. To prepare the soil, they used a special mix of loess and organic fertilizer made from chipped campus branches—the pioneering work for the university. This prepared the ground for the “Guangwen Cultivation Garden,” where the 35 recruited students began their activities.

Launching the Garden

The first seasonal planting focused on corn. At the launch, the students signed in, donned matching red vests and straw hats, and took an energetic group photo in the new garden. The corn planting then got underway. Yu Hongbin, head of the Campus Environment Center, became the “field instructor,” carefully demonstrating and explaining each step: how deep to dig the holes, proper spacing between plants, and how to water effectively. Students listened closely, asking questions and creating a lively learning environment. The group then split into six teams, each led by an experienced groundskeeping worker. Guided by these experts, the teams quickly got to work: some dug holes and loosened soil with hoes, others planted the seedlings, and others watered the new plants. The garden soon buzzed with organized activity. “I had no idea planting corn involved so many details!” said Liu, a Foreign Languages student, after successfully planting under the grounds staff’s guidance. “This hands-on experience completely changed my view on work.”

Learning by doing

The “Guangwen Cultivation Garden” initiative provided students with practical corn-growing skills while teaching them the value of teamwork. Moving forward, the garden will host a variety of hands-on activities. Its goal is to be a place where students can develop practical wisdom, build character, and grow into well-rounded individuals through the experience of labor.