A chinampa is a Mesoamerican agriculture method to grow food in wet areas.

Sometimes called 'floating islands' these artificial islands were first created by the Aztecs. They are a great way to grow food in land that is usually considered useless.

Here at Punta Mona in Costa Rica, their chinampas are packed full of diverse fruits, vegetables, roots, leaves and herbs. What was once swamp land is now a food heaven.

Now as our temperate climate in Britain gets wetter and wetter, we are wondering at Permaculture magazine whether we can use this method successfully in marine climates? Please tell us if you have planted up a successful chinampa.

Further resources

Punta Mona: Costa Rica's alternative farming

For more about Punta Mona visit www.puntamona.org

Biochar: how to build soil, lock up carbon and build fertility on the farm

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