Keswick Ridge organic farm changes the lives of Chinese family

A program that offers young people a chance to live and work temporarily on organic farms in New Brunswick has changed the lives of one Chinese family.

It's called the WWOOF program, which stands for Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms.

When Yao Yuan and Bian Yao first heard about the program, the couple were both teaching at a university just outside Beijing, a city of more than 15 million people.

"I liked my job, but sometimes, I want a new life, that I never had," said Yao Yuan. "I want my child and our family to live without nervous, just enjoy, have more choice."

A regular work day for the couple was from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m, six days a week.

In that overcrowded area, they worried constantly about air and water pollution.

Then one day, Bian Yao come across a line in a book that made a whole lot of sense to her.

"It says 'Every mom should be able to provide her children with safe food.' And that is so something I can agree with," she said. "So here we are, searching, hunting, for safe food."

She said organic food in China can cost around $2,000 a month.

So instead, they sent out a hopeful letter through WWOOF.

It was read by organic farmer Brock Davidge of Good Spring Farm in Keswick Ridge, N.B.

"They were tired of the empty business of their lives, and they were looking to fill that hollow place in their hearts, and that term triggered in my head, what that is," said Davidge. "I knew that they would come, and that they were to come. So here they are, and here we are, and everything's cool."

Yao Yuan and Bian Yao felt they were destined for the farm too.

"We sold our apartment, we sold our car, we sold everything, nearly everything we had in the morning market in China," Bian Yao said.

They are now permanent residents, and get room and board, an honorarium and mentoring on the farm.

Family takes new names

They also decided to get new names: Their two-year old son is Daniel, Bian Yao who now goes by Beryl, and Yao Yuan has become George, and their last name is Fisher.

"When there is very good weather, I will take Daniel out and lay down on the grass, and tell Danny, see? That is what you have now," said George.

Two months ago, they had never even seen a farm. "A lot of trees, grass, and the beautiful sounds and the blue, with pure clouds. That's amazing," he said.

The family is now looking for ten acres to buy, so they can eventually start their own farm.

And the newly-named George Fisher found out he picked a good one:"George means farmer!"