Floating Farms
Aquaponics might seem like something new, but there are ancient versions practised by certain indigenous cultures.
Chinampa
Chinampa are a form of aquaponics that the Aztec people made used of extensively. A chinampa is a floating garden built on a freshwater lake, made by making a raft of woven reeds, with stakes to keep it in place. Soil was placed down until it was above the waters surface.
“The earliest fields that have been securely dated are from the Middle Postclassic period, 1150 – 1350 CE.” Wikipedia
This system eliminates the need for watering, and was successful in growing maize, fruit, tomatoes, amaranth, beans, chile, and flowers.
While some are still used today, they are lowering in number as lakes are drained or dried out.
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Himalayan Foothills
A raad is a floating farm found in Dal Lake in Kashmir.
When a location is chosen, a plant called “piyach” is added. The farmers tend to its growth for the next 2-3 years, ensuring it stays the proper length and width as the roots grow deep into the lake bed. 1
“A raad liven, that looks like a gigantic pincer consisting of two planks – each three feet in width – is lowered by two people in two boats into the soft sediment of the lake bed. A two feet thick slab of soil, held together by the weeds, is manually severed from the bottom of the lake with the help of the planks which are fitted with steel edges. The planks then float to the surface bearing a portion of the lake bed with them. More soil is added to the surface of the raad. The weed decomposes to become a natural fertilizer for the vegetables to be grown.” DownToEarth 2
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