Innovation

Old Five B&B provides an innovative lifestyle for its customers. Its main purpose is to go back to nature. Therefore, there is no WiFi or TV. In order to demonstrate the old-fashioned building style, instead of using a gas stove, burning firewood is the major way to cook. Also, bed frames and tables are hand made out of logs. The ground is paved with red bricks, which demonstrate the simple lifestyle of Taiwanese farmhouses in the early period.

The B&B can keep traditional characteristics, but Lu claims that the building materials should be modern. Before building the B&B, Lu reflected on how to construct a building that did not need air conditioning. He minimized the use of concrete because it retains heat. Recycled Cypress is largely used as the building material to reduce deforestation. Since window design is essential, the building receives much sunlight and achieves cross-ventilation through doors.

Lu asked, "How can people live in an environment where insects cannot live well?" Consequently, in order to preserve ecological integrity, he did not install any streetlamps in his courtyard and pavilion. Moreover, sewage treatment is another important issue that Lu addressed. He created a pond in the courtyard that includes several plants that are able to filter water, such as Waterweed, Ginger Lily, and Oriental Cattail. Through this pond, sewage can be purified before being discharged into ditches to water the grounds.

Inspiration

Lu grew up in the countryside and studied in a big city. After graduation, he stayed in the city and worked in a bank. He noticed that those customers who saved large amounts of money looked unhappy. Gradually, he was fed up with the unsustainable lifestyle and crowded city. Furthermore, he saw that his beautiful hometown, Nantou, was destroyed by typhoons so he decided to move back and revive his hometown.

Overall impact

When Lu moved back to Nantou, he noticed that pesticides and herbicides were used extensively in farmlands. He tried to persuade farmers to reduce the amount of pesticides and herbicides and introduced the idea of organic farming. In the beginning, it was really hard for farmers to suddenly change their farming methods from general farming to organic farming. Lu took those customers who came to his B&B to visit the farms. Through contact with customers, farmers began to understand that people now pay greater attention to food safety and health. Gradually, farmers were willing to devote their efforts to organic farming.

With Lu’s persuasion and assistance, farmers organized a farming team. These farmers grow different crops including rice, corn, mushroom, other vegetables and fruit, but their common interest is that they all adopt organic farming. In this team, all farmers provide help to each other and share their farming skills. Due to Lu’s assistance, three farmers received the organic certification.

Business benefit

Originally, Old Five B&B offered handmade steamed bread as breakfast for customers. Due to the natural and non-additive ingredients, steamed bread became the signature of Old Five B&B. Several customers persuaded Lu to sell the steamed bread. Even a listed company in the stock exchange wanted to outsource steamed bread from Old Five B&B. Consequently, it now operates a handmade steamed bread shop. In addition, there is a school receiving donations for students’ nutritious dessert. Due to its organic characteristic, its handmade steamed bread was selected as the school’s nutritious dessert.

Old Five B&B was selected as Taiwan Host, which is a certification program by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau to prove that B&Bs meet the high standard requirements. Old Five B&B has also been acknowledged by several business magazines and mainstream newspapers and ranked as one of the top 10 B&Bs in Taiwan. It attracts not only Taiwanese customers but also many travelers from other countries. It believes that as long as it establishes friendship with customers and offers organic food to make them healthy, they will be willing to come back.

Social and environmental benefit

Old Five B&B takes care of the local community by hiring local residents and partnering with local farmers. In this way, it not only creates job opportunities but also increases income in the local community. All ingredients at Old Five B&B come from local organic farmers, which means that customers can enjoy the freshest local food. The most important thing is that using local ingredients can diminish the carbon footprint resulting from the transportation of products, therefore decreasing the environmental pollution. In addition, steamed breads, the signature breakfast offered to customers, are steamed in a traditional stove, which has the perfect function of heat retaining, consequently conserving energy and also lessening carbon emissions.

In the courtyard, Lu plants many trees, such as Taiwan White Pine, Water Willow, and Camphor Tree. Furthermore, there are streams flowing through the courtyard. All of these factors can modulate the temperature at the B&B. With abundant trees, ponds and streams, the courtyard creates a small natural ecosystem. There are fish and shrimp in ponds and streams. The courtyard attracts many birds, such as Night Heron and Kingfisher. In addition, fireflies are also visitors to the courtyard.

Interview

Lu, Chen-Xu, Owner