Chinampa facts for kids
A chinampa is a special way of farming used by ancient people in Mesoamerica, especially the Aztecs. It involves creating small, rectangular areas of very fertile land to grow crops. These "floating gardens" were built on shallow lake beds in the Valley of Mexico.
Chinampas are like artificial islands. They were made by weaving reeds and stakes together under the water to form underwater fences. Then, soil and water plants were piled into these fences until the top layer of soil was above the water. This method helped the land stay perfectly moist for growing plants.
When chinampas were built, a clever drainage system was also created. Ditches were dug to let water and rich mud flow through. Over time, mud would build up in these ditches. This mud was then dug out and spread on top of the chinampas. This not only cleared the ditches but also fertilized the soil with lots of nutrients from the lake bottom. Adding fresh soil helped farmers get many harvests each year.
The word chinampa comes from the Nahuatl language, spoken by the Aztecs. It means "square made of canes."
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How Chinampas Were Built
Chinampas were made by marking out a rectangular area in the shallow lake bed. This area was then fenced in using wattle, which is a type of woven fence. Inside this fenced area, layers of mud, lake sediment, and decaying plants were piled up. Eventually, this pile would rise above the water level of the lake.
To make the chinampas strong, trees like willows (called āhuexōtl) and cypresses (called āhuēhuētl) were often planted at the corners. These trees helped hold the soil in place.
In some places, the long raised beds had ditches between them. These ditches gave plants constant access to water, meaning the crops didn't depend only on rainfall. Chinampas were separated by channels wide enough for a canoe to pass through. These well-watered beds produced a lot of food, sometimes up to 7 harvests in a single year!
The first chinampas were likely built around 1100 CE by the Nahua people in a settlement called Culhuacan.
History of Chinampas
The oldest chinampas found date back to the Middle Postclassic period (1150 – 1350 CE). They were mostly used in Lakes Xochimilco and Chalco, which had many natural springs. The Aztecs not only fought to control these areas but also worked hard to expand the chinampa system. Building and maintaining chinampas needed a lot of people and materials.
Some historians believe the Aztec government played a big role in expanding chinampas. They think dikes (walls) were built to control water levels and keep salty water from Lake Texcoco away from the fresh water of the chinampa areas. This would have helped make the chinampa farms much larger and more productive.
Chinampa farms also surrounded Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital city. As Tenochtitlan grew, it needed more food. Chinampas helped provide a steady supply of food because they could grow multiple crops each year.
After the Spanish conquest of Mexico, many chinampa fields were left unused. This was because the dams and gates that controlled the water were destroyed. However, many towns near the lakes kept their chinampas. Farming them required a lot of work, so Spanish settlers were less interested in taking them over.
What They Grew
On chinampas, farmers grew many important crops. These included maize (corn), beans, squash, amaranth, tomatoes, chili peppers, and flowers. Corn was planted using a digging stick called a huictli.
Old Aztec books, called codices, show pictures of chinampas. These include the Codex Vergara and the Codex Santa María Asunción. Written records from the late 1500s also mention chinampas as property that people left to their families in their wills.
Modern Chinampas
Today, you can still find chinampas in parts of Mexico City, especially in Xochimilco. Many of these "floating gardens" are still used for farming. Some chinampas have become overgrown, and some farmers now use wheelbarrows and bicycles instead of canoes to move around. Other fields have been filled in as canals dry up. These dried-up areas are often used for feeding cattle.
Many chinampa fields, both wet and dry, still produce fresh food. Farmers grow lettuce, cilantro, spinach, squash, corn, radishes, and many other vegetables. Flowers are also still grown on these plots. Some chinampa fields are even used for tourism.
A business called De La Chinampa a Tu Mesa (meaning "From the Floating Island to Your Table") works with local farmers. They help bring back traditional chinampa farming. They also connect farmers with customers online, who can order fresh produce delivered to their homes. This helps both the farmers and the chinampas themselves.
Challenges Today
Even though many people want to keep chinampa farming alive, there are challenges. During the Spanish Conquest, many lakes were drained, which reduced the farming area. An earthquake in 1985 also damaged some canals. Other problems include limited water, the use of pesticides, climate change, cities growing bigger (urban sprawl), and water pollution from sewage and waste.
See also
In Spanish: Chinampa para niños
