Cassandra Garduño farms in one of the world’s most unusual locales. She works a chinampa, an ancient Mexican “floating garden.” But urban sprawl threatens Mexico City’s centuries-old chinampas and along with them, a way of life.
Chinampa is an Aztec word meaning “in the fence of reeds.” As far back as the 1100s, Aztec farmers built chinampas by weaving reeds and grasses together underwater. Farmers dredged lake mud, set it atop the trelliswork, and planted willows along the border. The mounded soil created an artificial island. Most were 20 to 35 feet by 325 to 650 feet.
Chinampas still exist in Lake Xochimilco (so-chee-MIL-coh) in the Valley of Mexico. The area has more than 2,500 acres of wetlands owned by generations of chinampas farmers. Canals crisscross between the fertile, watery rectangles.
But there’s trouble in floating garden land.
“People don’t want to farm anymore,” says Garduño. “And people don’t want to buy the products.”
Produce grown on chinampas doesn’t make much money, so many families abandon the island farming. Instead, they rent out or sell their land. It becomes soccer fields, food stands, or sites for tourist companies.
Many people are reluctant to talk about repurposing their chinampas. But one anonymous landowner says keeping the chinampas going requires more work and money for less income.
“If you do well [farming], you could earn $5,000 to $10,000 a year,” Garduño says. “In the tourist area, you could have that within a couple of weekends.”
Garduño farms her family’s chinampa where she grows crops, including sunflowers, eggplant, and Mexican marigolds. She’s banded together with other farmers to join Chinampa Refuge. The group encourages chinampa farmers to preserve their land, follow ancient growing techniques, and try new approaches too.
Chinampa Refuge farmers hope to safeguard traditional food production. They also want to protect animal life—chiefly the survival of the native and nearly extinct axolotl.
Salvador Gonzalez Ávalos and his brother have worked chinampas all their lives. Salvador says Chinampa Refuge’s approach reminds him of his family’s legacy. The brothers hope to pass ancient practices to their grandchildren.
But Chinampa Refuge has a long row to hoe. It’s currently more common to see soccer players boating to the islands than farmers tending crops.
Garduño’s attitude echoes biblical truth: “Change comes with educating the new generations,” she says. “Talking about the origins and efforts to conserve and why it’s important to do it.”
Tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His might, and the wonders that He has done. — Psalm 78:4
Why? Passing on generational knowledge and tradition is valuable. But as societies grow and develop, change is inevitable.
