I love you guys! I saw you both on a show once about your house and really liked your vibe. I'm Kikapu Mexican - Indigenous American and our history goes from Mexico to Canada. Best video I've seen so far about implementing Chinampas! And I'm not surprised the three sisters are thriving in Canada. Con mucho amor!!
Having recently purchased 50 acres in Panama, about half of which is marsh, I appreciate the practical information on making and using chinampas. There is a real lack of this information in any depth, and you answered a number of my questions. Thank you!
Dear Bryce and Misty, my partner and I have been following you for the past year since the exploring alternatives video and are so inspired by your work and want to follow in your footsteps! I’d love to know when it comes to chinampas, do you find that they enhance the existing ecosystem? I know in Ontario there are many rules around protecting wetland ecosystems hence the building setbacks, but it seems you’ve really harmonized with the wetland in a beautiful way.
Good question! I would answer yes, chinampas greatly benefit wetlands for several reasons. The biggest we have observed is increasing biodiversity, from flora to fauna. The animal types have increased and diversified, and we have seen and interacted with greater species variety as a result. We have also, surely, better managed the "invasives" in our wetland now, as in simple terms, we can reach them now. We can select for species with benefits, while allowing diversity in the selections. The purple loosestrife has diminished, and beneficial biodiverse species have new footholds, with edges and spaces for animal interactions.
I am delighted that I seen your video today........and do have a question. I live in Central Florida and we know in the next few months we'll be getting quite the rain, especially June? July through September or October. My question is this, the wet land thing (obviously this is new to me LOL) but in these Months parts of my yard, good size areas actually have a tendency to flood, so their holding a lot more water underneath the soil than other areas. Do you think that I could make like a "make shift" sorta a wetland with certain vegetables in those areas?? Now I'm gonna have to ponder this LOL........would like your opinion though
Hi Pamela! Chinampas/ hugulkultur/berms and swales could all be beneficial for a flooded yard. Deciding precisely which design to use will depend on the exact situation (how it floods and the property layout) and what you want to accomplish with the design. For instance, if you want it to drain better, a system of berms and swales directing the surplus water to a low point where you create an storage pond might be best. If you just want to keep the veggies from getting water logged, a raised bed hugulkultur might be all you need. If the flooding is intense, and has a strong flow, a basket weave edged chinampa might be best. If you want to give more specifics, we can recommend further, or you may wish to research "keyline" design further. The book "Gaia's Garden" by Toby Hemenway is an excellent resource for learning about permaculture gardening, including site design. Best of luck!
Thank you for presenting a temperate chinampas example. I am starting something similar in much deeper water and in the same growing zone. Of course it brings up many questions: 1. Being zone 5, you get freezing weather. Any observations on freeze/thaw cycle effects? 2. Assuming you were going to create chinampas in much deeper water, there would be much more mass involved. What have you found to be an optimum width? The narrower, the smaller the ratio of erodable edge to growing space. Too wide and the centre may not get the chinampas benefits. Presumably something like 1m either side of a 1m path (to accomodate wheel barrows) for a 9m wide chinampas. 3. I didn't notice specific soil holding plants on the edges like willow/alder. But if you did use things to defend the erodeable edge, how do you balance the need for them to thrive, but also not to shade out your food crops in the centre of the chinampas? 4. Given the high humidity, have you tried integrating mushroom logs? 5. Given most of your swamp water likely comes off of other properties, how do you manage the uncertainty of neighbours dumping chemicals in their waterways and it flowing to you? 6. While wood under water can last centuries, wet wood in air will decay. Have you experience/recommendations on post wood for the edges? I don't have access to black locust or osage orange.
@@SeekingBeautifulDesign Great questions. For the size, we make the main beds wider, with smaller tributaries. We use a willow withe basket weave for edges. Sometimes the willow stakes will root, sometimes not. We do tend to let the already existing high zones dictate the layout, so we basically lay our beds from willow tree to willow tree. The water flow is not very great here, so erosion is not as much aof an issue as with more water volume and flow. We have not observed any issues with freeze/thaw, but have observed that frosts come much later to the chinampas, and the water holds on to warmth longer. It also thaws sooner in spring, giving the chinampas a slightly longer growing season (great for tomatoes).
As to contamination, we know it does contain road and farm runoff. It is still the best growing area we have, considering the amount of contamination sources, as the water there is always being actively filtered, whereas our upland crops have direct runoff from agriculture.
This is Chinampa inspired but I would definitely not call it a chinampa. 😊 chinampas were built by dredging the shallow lake they were built on, and filled with rich compost and algae. Willow trees were planted for support on the sides as they were quite tall beds.
OK, we shall call it "chinampa inspired naturally irrigated basket weave raised bed gardening in wetland areas built with compost, algae, lake dredged muck, willows, dogwoods and fruit shrubs to hold the sides, AND spent animal bedding, because our permaculture situation has this resource", because that is more specific, right? 😅
I would love to integrate them into our wetland but our government regulations won't let us make them. We can't touch the wetland without more paperwork than a forest could make. Nice video
the original chinampas used something like willow to stake the basket weaved retaining sides and the staves then self rooted and turned into trees. they may have grown trees in the chinampas for fruit but your illustration shows no growing trees along the edges
I disagree with this as true chinampa. They were floating rafts made from drift wood or reeds. Animals were placed on them. On a chinampa, you are using aerobic and anaerobic decomposition simultaneously. The mulch is being aerobically decomposing while the muck has been anaerobically decomposed. When muck is scooped out, you preventing eutrophication of the water.
Actually, a chinampa is an artificial island made by planting live willow stakes into the shallow water, weaving together in a rectangular shape, and filling the center with lake/marsh mud, compost, and soil, it doesn't actually float
too many veg. get chickens and pigs. i find that the best growing veg truly grow like weeds and they tend to have very specific growing needs if you dont want them turning bitter. but chickens and pigs and earthworms/soldier fly larvae dont care. plus the chickens and pigs taste soo good. plus there are areas that are too costly to farm or are too inaccessible to equipment but can easily grow weeds that are good fodder
![De Las Chinampas [FULL DOCUMENTARY] - Ancient Aztec Floating Gardens Restored!](/img/n.gif)
Thank you that was a wonderful explanation of chinampa, also good illustration
You need to check out the floating gardens of the Tigress and Euphrates delta quite possibly the origin of the Mexican gardens.
Fantastic work, so valuable. There is SO much land available for Chinanpas in Canada. Keep pushing the boundaries with your work. Congrats.
Wow chinampas in Ontario. I hadn't considered them in a cold climate. You've inspired me.
Thank you for this wonderful video. You're amazing ❤
I love you guys! I saw you both on a show once about your house and really liked your vibe. I'm Kikapu Mexican - Indigenous American and our history goes from Mexico to Canada. Best video I've seen so far about implementing Chinampas! And I'm not surprised the three sisters are thriving in Canada. Con mucho amor!!
Having recently purchased 50 acres in Panama, about half of which is marsh, I appreciate the practical information on making and using chinampas. There is a real lack of this information in any depth, and you answered a number of my questions. Thank you!
Love the small ‘basket’ idea - so easy to start and accessible! Thanks for sharing!
I'd love to see your book collection and some of your favorite books!
Amazing
I really like the baskets idea, I could see that working really well for me near my pond.
I could watch your channel daily just for Chinampa updates. Much love from sask!
Andrew Millison visited the chinampas and made a great video about them.
Our family loves all the videos. Such an inspiration, keep up the great work!
thank you for sharing this :) I'm studying horticulture and I love your videos!
Thank u so much
This is really useful and informative, thanks!
Would you please demonstrate how you dry your tomatoes? Thanks
Love to! Thanks.
Dear Bryce and Misty, my partner and I have been following you for the past year since the exploring alternatives video and are so inspired by your work and want to follow in your footsteps! I’d love to know when it comes to chinampas, do you find that they enhance the existing ecosystem? I know in Ontario there are many rules around protecting wetland ecosystems hence the building setbacks, but it seems you’ve really harmonized with the wetland in a beautiful way.
Good question! I would answer yes, chinampas greatly benefit wetlands for several reasons. The biggest we have observed is increasing biodiversity, from flora to fauna. The animal types have increased and diversified, and we have seen and interacted with greater species variety as a result. We have also, surely, better managed the "invasives" in our wetland now, as in simple terms, we can reach them now. We can select for species with benefits, while allowing diversity in the selections. The purple loosestrife has diminished, and beneficial biodiverse species have new footholds, with edges and spaces for animal interactions.
I am delighted that I seen your video today........and do have a question. I live in Central Florida and we know in the next few months we'll be getting quite the rain, especially June? July through September or October. My question is this, the wet land thing (obviously this is new to me LOL) but in these Months parts of my yard, good size areas actually have a tendency to flood, so their holding a lot more water underneath the soil than other areas. Do you think that I could make like a "make shift" sorta a wetland with certain vegetables in those areas?? Now I'm gonna have to ponder this LOL........would like your opinion though
Hi Pamela! Chinampas/ hugulkultur/berms and swales could all be beneficial for a flooded yard. Deciding precisely which design to use will depend on the exact situation (how it floods and the property layout) and what you want to accomplish with the design. For instance, if you want it to drain better, a system of berms and swales directing the surplus water to a low point where you create an storage pond might be best. If you just want to keep the veggies from getting water logged, a raised bed hugulkultur might be all you need. If the flooding is intense, and has a strong flow, a basket weave edged chinampa might be best. If you want to give more specifics, we can recommend further, or you may wish to research "keyline" design further. The book "Gaia's Garden" by Toby Hemenway is an excellent resource for learning about permaculture gardening, including site design. Best of luck!
Thank you for presenting a temperate chinampas example. I am starting something similar in much deeper water and in the same growing zone. Of course it brings up many questions:
1. Being zone 5, you get freezing weather. Any observations on freeze/thaw cycle effects?
2. Assuming you were going to create chinampas in much deeper water, there would be much more mass involved. What have you found to be an optimum width? The narrower, the smaller the ratio of erodable edge to growing space. Too wide and the centre may not get the chinampas benefits. Presumably something like 1m either side of a 1m path (to accomodate wheel barrows) for a 9m wide chinampas.
3. I didn't notice specific soil holding plants on the edges like willow/alder. But if you did use things to defend the erodeable edge, how do you balance the need for them to thrive, but also not to shade out your food crops in the centre of the chinampas?
4. Given the high humidity, have you tried integrating mushroom logs?
5. Given most of your swamp water likely comes off of other properties, how do you manage the uncertainty of neighbours dumping chemicals in their waterways and it flowing to you?
6. While wood under water can last centuries, wet wood in air will decay. Have you experience/recommendations on post wood for the edges? I don't have access to black locust or osage orange.
@@SeekingBeautifulDesign Great questions. For the size, we make the main beds wider, with smaller tributaries. We use a willow withe basket weave for edges. Sometimes the willow stakes will root, sometimes not. We do tend to let the already existing high zones dictate the layout, so we basically lay our beds from willow tree to willow tree. The water flow is not very great here, so erosion is not as much aof an issue as with more water volume and flow. We have not observed any issues with freeze/thaw, but have observed that frosts come much later to the chinampas, and the water holds on to warmth longer. It also thaws sooner in spring, giving the chinampas a slightly longer growing season (great for tomatoes).
The willows that grow on the edges get pruned for future edges, keeping the foliage low for the crops.
As to contamination, we know it does contain road and farm runoff. It is still the best growing area we have, considering the amount of contamination sources, as the water there is always being actively filtered, whereas our upland crops have direct runoff from agriculture.
@@ontariopermaculture3665 Thanks. How well have you found the dead wood on the edges lasting in the wet environment?
This is Chinampa inspired but I would definitely not call it a chinampa. 😊 chinampas were built by dredging the shallow lake they were built on, and filled with rich compost and algae. Willow trees were planted for support on the sides as they were quite tall beds.
OK, we shall call it "chinampa inspired naturally irrigated basket weave raised bed gardening in wetland areas built with compost, algae, lake dredged muck, willows, dogwoods and fruit shrubs to hold the sides, AND spent animal bedding, because our permaculture situation has this resource", because that is more specific, right?
😅
I would love to integrate them into our wetland but our government regulations won't let us make them. We can't touch the wetland without more paperwork than a forest could make. Nice video
the original chinampas used something like willow to stake the basket weaved retaining sides and the staves then self rooted and turned into trees. they may have grown trees in the chinampas for fruit but your illustration shows no growing trees along the edges
I disagree with this as true chinampa. They were floating rafts made from drift wood or reeds. Animals were placed on them. On a chinampa, you are using aerobic and anaerobic decomposition simultaneously. The mulch is being aerobically decomposing while the muck has been anaerobically decomposed. When muck is scooped out, you preventing eutrophication of the water.
Actually, a chinampa is an artificial island made by planting live willow stakes into the shallow water, weaving together in a rectangular shape, and filling the center with lake/marsh mud, compost, and soil, it doesn't actually float
too many veg. get chickens and pigs. i find that the best growing veg truly grow like weeds and they tend to have very specific growing needs if you dont want them turning bitter. but chickens and pigs and earthworms/soldier fly larvae dont care. plus the chickens and pigs taste soo good. plus there are areas that are too costly to farm or are too inaccessible to equipment but can easily grow weeds that are good fodder
Opinion america begs for homestead im lost not even asians farm
Even modern ones fish and vestables guess im lost all this wind energy abused by not respect region another bisness weird