During the Spring Festival season, while the chill still lingers across southern Henan, the greenhouses in Menglou Village, Wulong Town, Shangcai County, Zhumadian City, Henan Province, are filled with warmth and vibrant growth. Branches are laden with juicy, sandy tomatoes, while delicate morel mushrooms push through the soil, embracing the gentle warmth. Farmers move busily among them, harvesting, tending, and sorting the produce.

Zhou Haiyan, who returned from a major city a few years ago, established Baoqingchang Agricultural Development Co., Ltd. here. She has cultivated a thriving industry on this land, enabling Menglou Village residents to secure steady employment close to home and increase their incomes. Zhou identified morel mushrooms as the core product for cultivation. However, since morels cannot be grown on the same land consecutively, she conceived the idea of developing an ecological circular farming model. With guidance from an expert team at Henan Agricultural University and tailored to local conditions, she explored an integrated model combining grains, mushrooms, vegetables, and medicinal herbs, ensuring that every inch of land is utilized efficiently.

As a pilot base for Henan Agricultural University's "Ten-Thousand-Yuan Per Mu High-Yield Grain" project, the entire cultivation process here is supported by scientific technology. In Zhou's base, agricultural waste finds new purpose, forming a closed-loop ecological chain: grain straw and corncobs are used to make mushroom cultivation bags; spent mushroom bags mixed with grain straw and manure are composted at high temperatures to produce organic fertilizer, which then nourishes the cultivation of tomatoes and the medicinal herb Bai Zhu (Atractylodes macrocephala); after growing morels, the land is rotated with flavorful tomatoes for two years before being reused for morel cultivation, effectively solving the problem of continuous cropping.

"The organic fertilizer made from spent mushroom bags is both environmentally friendly and enhances the quality of fruits and vegetables. Growing medicinal herbs also reduces the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers," Zhou explained. This model not only significantly improves land utilization but also achieves a dual increase in planting benefits.

Inside the morel mushroom greenhouse, tender morels emerge from the soil, some already sporting their characteristic small black caps, growing densely and promisingly. "Morel mushrooms are notoriously delicate; they require a low-temperature environment throughout, with temperatures not exceeding 16 degrees Celsius. Every step from sowing to fruiting must be handled with utmost care," Zhou noted. "This year, the base's morel yield is expected to increase by 20% compared to last year. We have also equipped professional drying equipment to process fresh mushrooms into dried ones, further extending the industrial chain."

In the adjacent tomato greenhouse, a different delightful scene unfolds. Splitting open a tomato reveals a plump, sandy interior bursting with juice. "We adhere to healthy, natural cultivation practices. From selecting seeds and seedlings to field management, we use organic fertilizer as base fertilizer throughout the process, aiming to let people taste the tomato flavor from their childhood," Zhou said. This year, with guidance from professional technicians, management levels have greatly improved. The tomato yield is expected to increase by 20% to 30% compared to last year. Coupled with favorable market conditions this year, the harvest is projected to grow by 50%, achieving both high yield and increased income.

"It's just a three to five-minute walk from home. I can earn over two thousand yuan a month, which doesn't interfere with taking care of my children, and I can still manage my own farmland. It's much more satisfying than working away from home," said Li Xiuyun, a Menglou Village resident, deftly picking tomatoes. After returning from Guangdong a few years ago, Li was initially idle at home until she started working at the base four months ago, truly achieving employment at her doorstep. More importantly, technicians taught her planting skills hands-on—from the timing for pruning tomato suckers to pest and disease control methods. She learned diligently and has now become a "planting expert" in the greenhouse. Li Xiuyun said that seeing the bright red tomatoes covering the branches fills her heart with joy. This job not only provides her with a stable income but also covers her family's living expenses. When asked if she would continue working at the base in the new year, she answered without hesitation: "Yes! Definitely!"

There are many local villagers like Li Xiuyun working here. During peak employment periods, the base can provide jobs for seventy to eighty, or even over a hundred, villagers. Hundreds of thousands of yuan in annual wages go directly into the pockets of surrounding residents. "Our original intention in engaging in agricultural industry was to help our fellow villagers prosper together," Zhou Haiyan said. Seeing villagers earn money close to home and their lives improve steadily makes all her hard work worthwhile.

The development of Baoqingchang Agriculture has relied on the full support of the local county and town governments. This support has strengthened Zhou Haiyan's determination to put down roots in her hometown and lead fellow villagers to prosperity. "Last Spring Festival during heavy snowfall, Secretary Song organized a team of fifty or sixty people to remove snow from our greenhouses. Their dedication moved us deeply and solidified our resolve to settle in Menglou Village," Zhou mentioned. The Secretary Song she referred to is Song Futai, Party Secretary of Wulong Town.

In the past, employment channels for Menglou Village residents were limited, and both the village's appearance and the villagers' morale were less than ideal. With the establishment of the agricultural industry, villagers now have work to do and money to earn. The village collective's resources have also grown, and with the implementation of county-level funding projects, the collective receives dividends. Song Futai stated, "When people have money in their hands and lead better lives, conflicts decrease, and both the village's appearance and the villagers' spirit improve."

Now, Wulong Town plans to further support the base in expanding and strengthening. Once the morel mushroom cultivation technology is fully mature, they will promote the base's independent production of mushroom cultivation bags, disseminate the planting techniques to villagers, and encourage more people to participate in specialty cultivation. "We are an Agricultural Industry Strong Town, a 'One Village, One Product' Demonstration Town, and a Rural Construction Demonstration Town in Henan Province. Next, we will continue to optimize and strengthen the industry, enabling more villagers to achieve prosperity at their doorstep," Song Futai said.

The tomatoes in the greenhouses have ripened, the morel mushrooms have matured, and the villagers' lives are thriving. In Wulong Town, these greenhouses have not only yielded abundant mushrooms and fruits but have also cultivated a happy life for the villagers, painting a new picture of rural revitalization characterized by industrial prosperity, beautiful countryside, and affluent farmers.