Quote from Alex bobby on November 12, 2024, 3:42 AM

Reviving the Ancient Chinampas of Mexico City: Cassandra Garduño’s Mission to Preserve Aztec Farming

In Mexico City’s Xochimilco district, traditional farming lands called chinampas—small, fertile islands first cultivated by the Aztecs—are under threat from urban expansion and changing economic priorities. Cassandra Garduño, a young chinampero (farmer) and environmental advocate, stands among the few remaining farmers dedicated to preserving these ancient agricultural islands. Despite the lure of converting chinampas into soccer fields or tourist venues, Garduño and other local farmers are working to sustain this heritage and safeguard its ecosystem.

The Chinampa Tradition: Farming’s Ancient Roots

Chinampas are floating plots, built over centuries with layers of dredged lake mud held in place by ahuejote trees. For generations, these fertile islands have produced vegetables without the need for chemical fertilizers or irrigation, making them largely self-sustaining. Xochimilco’s chinampas are especially rich in biodiversity and act as a cooling system for Mexico City’s urban sprawl, drawing both bird species and other wildlife to the area. However, rapid urbanization, economic pressures, and modern agricultural competition have threatened this heritage.

Gardening and farming are deeply rooted in Garduño’s family. Her earliest memories recall watching her grandfather work the land. After he passed in 2010, many family members considered selling or renting the land. But Garduño chose to uphold the legacy, learning traditional techniques and buying her own chinampa plot in 2020, where she now grows an assortment of crops including sunflowers, eggplants, and the iconic Mexican marigold “cempasuchil.”

The Shift to Soccer Fields and Tourism: Financial Pressures on the Chinampas

Today, many chinampa owners find farming financially unsustainable and are tempted to repurpose their lands for soccer fields or tourist attractions. “If you do well farming, you might make around $5,000 to $10,000 a year,” Garduño explains. “In the tourist area, you could earn that in just a few weekends.” The rise of soccer fields along the canals reflects this economic shift; they bring in substantial revenue and have seen rapid expansion in the past few years.

However, the transition from traditional agriculture to recreational spaces has its drawbacks. While the soccer fields lack permanent construction, they still bring a substantial ecological impact. Luis Zambrano, an ecologist from the National Autonomous University of Mexico who has studied Xochimilco’s ecosystem, warns that maintaining these fields requires heavy use of chemicals, which leads to significant pollution of the waterways and soil. In contrast, the traditional chinampa system relies on natural water sources and avoids fertilizers or pesticides.

Chinampa Refuge: A Community Effort to Preserve Tradition

Gardening is now only part of Garduño’s work on the chinampas; she is also a member of Chinampa Refuge, a collective started by the National Autonomous University of Mexico to help chinamperos preserve their land and practice sustainable agriculture. Chinampa Refuge encourages farmers to implement methods that blend ancient techniques with new marketing approaches, such as the Etiqueta Chinampera label. This certification assures buyers that the produce comes from authentic chinampas, offering insights into water quality, biodiversity, and sustainable practices.

Gardening on the chinampas is labor-intensive and requires both physical work and community dedication. Garduño has succeeded in persuading a few local farmers to join Chinampa Refuge. Juan Ávalos, a 63-year-old chinampero, and his brother Salvador Gonzalez Ávalos have joined forces with Garduño to continue their family’s legacy. By adopting holistic methods, they aim to protect both the farming practice and the natural heritage they wish to pass on to future generations.

A Legacy at Risk: Balancing Conservation and Economic Demand

Despite their importance, the chinampas face limited protections. The UNESCO World Heritage status of Mexico City’s historic center and Xochimilco brings recognition, but federal, state, and local authorities must act to protect the land. Carlos Vasquez, director of Natural Protected Areas under Mexico City’s Environmental Department, acknowledges the challenge of balancing conservation with economic demands. His department is drafting proposals to regulate soccer fields, which have rapidly taken over large portions of the canal areas. “Many [activities] are counter to the conservation of the ecosystems,” Vasquez noted, emphasizing the need for clearer regulations.

For those on the chinampas, the stakes are both economic and personal. Garduño and her fellow chinamperos hope that educating younger generations will instill respect for the land and the ancient practices needed to maintain it. “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.”

A Future for the Chinampas

Chinampas offer a sustainable farming model with vast environmental benefits, from self-sustaining agriculture to urban cooling. But as long as there are more immediate financial incentives for other uses, this heritage remains at risk. Garduño’s efforts exemplify the delicate balance between honoring tradition and meeting modern needs, but her work also reflects a wider movement among chinamperos dedicated to ensuring that this ancient legacy doesn’t vanish amid urban sprawl.

At the end of a day spent working under the sun, Garduño and her neighboring farmers gather for a meal in her makeshift hut, where they discuss both the day’s challenges and their plans for the future. Together, they aim to protect a piece of Mexico’s heritage and to cultivate not just crops, but a sustainable legacy that endures.