Chinampas 101
Photo by Leila Ashtari of Modern Farmer
Chinampas are a sustainable farming system that's been around for centuries. In this post, I'll explain what Chinampas are, why they are sustainable and why you should care.
What are Chinampas?
Chinampas are a centuries-old agricultural system that was once very widely used throughout Mesoamerica and parts of South America. Historically, some have referred to chinampas as "floating gardens," but chinampas do not actually float. Rather, chinampas are systems of small artificial islands that farmers build in large lakes or rivers.
To build a traditional chinampa, farmers first build the islands’ perimeters by driving long stakes into a lake's soil. Then, they fill those outlines with layers of organic matter and soil dredged from the bottom of the lake. Once they layer the soil above the lake's surface, they plant native willow trees, called ahuejotes, around the perimeter of the island to prevent erosion. Finally, they plant crops in the middle of the island. Throughout the season, farmers dredge more soil from the bottom of the lake to restore nutrients and maintain soil levels.
Although chinampas were more widespread before the introduction of industrial agriculture, many chinampas are still in operation. The most famous present-day chinampa system is in Xochimilco, just south of central Mexico City. These chinampas and other chinampas around the world continue to thrive because they are a super sustainable method of farming.
Chinampas are so sustainable that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations named them a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS). To be designated a GIAHS, an agricultural system must rely on traditional ecological knowledge, be sustainable and have cultural significance. Chinampas check all those boxes and more.
Bottom line: Chinampas are systems of man-made garden islands that were v popular among the Aztecs and are still used today
How Sustainable are Chinampas?
Chinampas are both a biologically and socially sustainable farming method. Biologically, chinampas are able to save water because they are self irrigating. Building chinampas in lakes and separating them with large canals allows for very moist soils and little to no need for separate irrigation systems. Under this system, chinampas are not using more water than their ecosystem can give, which allows them to use water from the same location from generation to generation.
Chinampas' unique system of canals, tree cover and intercropping also encourages major biodiversity. The chinampas systems near Mexico City are home to 2% of the world's biodiversity despite only covering about 2000 hectares of land. Calling chinampas home are 139 species of vertebrates, 21 species of fish, six amphibians, ten species of reptiles, 79 species of birds and 23 species of mammals. This biodiversity helps create a more productive and resilient ecosystem that could sustain itself for centuries to come.
The longevity of chinampas also contributes to their social sustainability. Chinampas workers are able to have stable livelihoods because the ecology of chinampas is so reliable. This stability, and the strong sense of community and identity that comes from it, have also contributed to the fair distribution of power and property in surrounding communities. Governmental and community respect for chinampas has allowed them to remain privately owned and operated by tight-knit communities with a sustainable distribution of social power.
Chinampas are also socially sustainable because they are highly adaptable. Private ownership of chinampas, combined with their long and respected history, has allowed chinampas owners the flexibility and motivation to adapt as agricultural technologies have advanced and their surrounding areas have urbanized. Chinampas have (obviously) not remained the same since the time of the Aztecs. Rather, they have incorporated new technologies and built new ties with urban populations to adapt to new social conditions. This adaptability has enabled chinampas to survive for centuries and will continue to sustain them well into the future.
Bottom line: chinampas save water, enable biodiversity and promote social sustainability
Why should this matter to you?
If you're not living in southern Mexico, chinampas might seem meaningless to you. However, learning about sustainable agriculture across the world is far from meaningless.
Knowing the diverse possibilities of sustainable agriculture can help you recognize problems in modern agricultural systems. Currently, much of the agriculture in the U.S. is contributing to climate change, soil degradation, biodiversity loss, land, air and water pollution and other environmental problems. If you're familiar with sustainable agricultural systems like chinampas, you'll be better able to recognize the social and ecological issues in our current farming systems.
Learning about global sustainable agriculture will also arm you with the knowledge needed to discuss sustainable agriculture. Knowing the sustainable potentials of agriculture, you'll be more motivated and better able to fight for changing the status quo. This can help you discuss sustainable agriculture with your peers and demand more creative agricultural solutions from policymakers and bureaucrats.
Lastly, recognizing the genius behind chinampas and other global sustainable agriculture can help you gain respect for indigenous people and indigenous knowledge. Modern science is reliable in many different contexts, but we cannot dismiss indigenous knowledge. Many indigenous systems, including but definitely not limited to agricultural practices, have thrived for generations and can last for generations to come. These highly sustainable practices deserve the utmost respect in the food world and beyond.