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Midwest Permaculture

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Commenced:	01/03/2011
Submitted:	21/11/2012
Last updated:	19/10/2020
Location:	125 Crescent Lane, Stelle, Illinois, US
Phone:	815-256-2215
Website:	http://midwestpermaculture.com/
Climate zone:	Cool Temperate

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Midwest Permaculture

Stelle, US

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Chinampas Element Added to the Design

Project: Midwest Permaculture

Posted by Bill Wilson almost 12 years ago

The chinampas of central Mexico, developed centuries ago by the Mayans and Aztecs, are said to have been the most agriculturally productive systems ever devised my humans.

There is plenty of room across the south shore of our pond and we plan to build three to five Chinampas extending out into the water like peninsulas for about 25 feet. They are located close to Earthcamp Village so that students, interns and/or guests camping in the cabins can quickly and easily access the chinampas gardens for food, fishing and enjoyment.

How and Why they were so Productive?

As in good permaculture design, Chinampas work by turning wastes into resources while stacking functions to maximize yields and minimizing work. After a plot is staked out into low ground or shallow ponds and lakes, a fence was woven between the stakes to create a cage or large basket that the farmers could then fill with the surrounding sediment and various forms of vegetation. The beds would be built high enough to become permanently above the high water mark and willows would be planted on the edges to protect the banks from erosion over the long term for when the posts rotted. Channels were maintained between the Chinampas for canoe access and for the growing of fish and water fowl.

Click here for our full Blog Post on Chinampas

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