Permaculture instructor Andrew Millison visits the chinampas, the floating gardens of Xochimilco in Mexico City. He looks at this ancient Aztec agricultural system and the project restoring it.
Why Hacker News points people here: HN recommends it as a clear introduction to chinampas and an example of productive agroforestry.
“who is an amazingly clear presenter about permaculture”HN comment, 2024
“who is an amazingly clear presenter about permaculture”
Clear explainer on chinampas by a horticulturalist
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I recently came across the videos of Oregon State horticulturalist Andrew Millison, who is an amazingly clear presenter about permaculture: link For example, he has nice videos about chinampas in Mexico this video , a medieval Indian canal tunnel of a style found throughout Iran link , efforts to return a Hawaiian watershed to something like its historical state link , the Indian Paani Foundation's "water cup" to revitalize drought stricken villages link , and the difficulty of using ancient iron-saturated aquifers for irrigation in western Egypt link
RecommendsdatametaOct 2023
“The chinampas are a super neat example of agroforestry.”
Chinampas as an example of productive agroforestry
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The chinampas are a super neat example of agroforestry. The soil is extremely dark (like Ukrainian chernozem or better) and has a very low depletion per cycle. Some still exist and are being stewarded toward renewal and proliferation! linkthis video
RecommendsculiApr 2026
“also made an in-depth minidoc on them”
In-depth minidoc on chinampas
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This is awesome, thanks for sharing. Andrew Wilson, who works with the United Nations World Food Program, also made an in-depth minidoc on them: this video
