Ancient Floating Farms Revive Sustainable Food Production in Mexico City
Affiliate Disclosure
Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
You may have noticed that Impactful Ninja is all about providing helpful information to make a positive impact on the world and society. And that we love to link back to where we found all the information for each of our posts.
Most of these links are informational-based for you to check out their primary sources with one click.
But some of these links are so-called "affiliate links" to products that we recommend.
Why do we add these product links?
First and foremost, because we believe that they add value to you. For example, when we wrote a post about the environmental impact of long showers, we came across an EPA recommendation to use WaterSense showerheads. So we linked to where you can find them. Or, for many of our posts, we also link to our favorite books on that topic so that you can get a much more holistic overview than one single blog post could provide.
And when there is an affiliate program for these products, we sign up for it. For example, as Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
What do these affiliate links mean for you?
First, and most importantly, we still only recommend products that we believe add value for you.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission - but at no additional costs to you.
And when you buy something through a link that is not an affiliate link, we won’t receive any commission but we’ll still be happy to have helped you.
What do these affiliate links mean for us?
When we find products that we believe add value to you and the seller has an affiliate program, we sign up for it.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra costs to you).
And at this point in time, all money is reinvested in sharing the most helpful content with you. This includes all operating costs for running this site and the content creation itself.
What does this mean for me personally?
You may have noticed by the way Impactful Ninja is operated that money is not the driving factor behind it. It is a passion project of mine and I love to share helpful information with you to make a positive impact on the world and society. However, it's a project in that I invest a lot of time and also quite some money.
Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.
Stay impactful,
At Impactful Ninja, we curate positive and impactful news for you. Follow us on Google News or sign up for our free newsletter to get these delivered straight to your inbox—just like our expert roundup below!
📰 The quick summary: A group of determined farmers in Mexico City are restoring the ancient chinampas farming system, revitalizing sustainable food production while protecting water quality and endangered species.
📈 One key stat: The chinampas of Xochimilco are recognized by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization as one of the most sustainable and productive agricultural systems in the world, capable of producing harvests year-round.
💬 One key quote: “I like to think that each generation is a layer, a layer that keeps adding to the soil, enriching it. So every time I come here, I always think, I hope the layer I left behind is good enough for the next generation to take the same care and to have the same way of thinking about the world.“
1️⃣ The big picture: In the heart of Mexico City, a small group of farmers is reviving an ancient agricultural marvel known as chinampas – floating farms first developed by the Aztecs over 1,000 years ago. Cassandra Garduño, who returned from working in marine conservation abroad, found these historic farming systems polluted and abandoned. Rather than walking away, she purchased land and began the difficult work of restoration. Chinampas are ingenious rectangular plots built on shallow lake beds using layers of mud, sediment, and vegetation. This traditional system allows for year-round harvests using rich volcanic soil and canal water, creating one of the world’s most sustainable farming methods.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: The revival of chinampas represents a powerful blend of ancient wisdom and modern sustainability. Farmers like Cassandra aren’t just producing food – they’re teaming up with researchers to clean waterways, protect endangered species like the axolotl, and preserve traditional agricultural knowledge. The restoration efforts help safeguard ecosystem services vital for Mexico City while reconnecting people with their cultural heritage and land. The project demonstrates how indigenous farming practices can offer solutions to contemporary challenges in food security and environmental sustainability. Through this work, a new generation of farmers is learning sustainable techniques that have stood the test of time for over a millennium.
3️⃣ What’s next: The restoration team will continue expanding their efforts to clean more waterways and rehabilitate additional chinampas. Educational programs will introduce more people to traditional farming techniques, ensuring this knowledge passes to future generations. Researchers will monitor water quality improvements and track the recovery of native species in the restored areas.
Read the full story here: Mongabay – Saving Mexico City’s ancient floating farms
