Gardening experiment

[jnicholes]

Hello Everyone!

I did not know Backyard Chickens had a gardening section!

I wanted to share something with you all, an idea I had. Have you heard of Chinampa? They are artificial Islands made by to the Aztec and the Maya. I had an idea that would solve a lot of Agricultural space problems. It involves gardening. This is the article.

A rectangular area was staked out in a shallow lake bed. The rectangle was fenced in with waddle, which is reeds or thin strips of wood weaved through the stakes. The fenced off area was layered with lake sediment, decaying vegetation, and mud until it went above the lake. Trees like willows or cypress were planted on the corner sometimes to stabilize them. In some places the long raised beds had ditches between them giving them water for the plants to grow independently of rainfall or regular watering. Boats could pass through these easily.

It worked for the Aztecs for 1000 years. If this tactic was used for gardening, we would have more places to garden in the USA, increasing food and decreasing hunger in the USA.

I actually called Idaho State Department of Agriculture about this. They told me that it was legal, but there are two problems. First is Water Rights, second is a LOT of regulation research that needs to be done. Other than that, they said they LOVED the idea.

This is my idea. I also posted this on a gardening forum I am a member of also. I want everyone's opinion on this.

What do you think?

Jared

 

[itsasmallfarm]

i have seen the idea before (i think it was in history class).

its kinda like aquaponics right?

also didn't the Chinese do something like this with rice fields in water?

but on topic, i think this would be a great way to grow (as long as there is no pollution in the water) veggies. would save lots of space.

 

[lazy gardener]

I have been ruminating about that concept for many years, but never taken action on it. My dad has a camp on a lake that has a peat bog. His camp lot does not get much sun, and has a lot of tree growth, so no areas appropriate for gardening. Nor would it be condusive to garden there if folks are not around to keep plants watered. Kind of oxymoronic... needing to water plants at a lake, but there you have it! My ideas involve a smaller scale concept. Such as tethering a styrofoam box far enough out into the lake so that it would get good sun, then filling it with lake deitrus, and planting it. Or, if a sunny location close enough to the shore line could be found, one could build a frame that would be anchored on the lake bottom.

The big drawbacks that I see: Any greens planted would be devoured by the many snails in the lake. They would have direct access by sliming their way up through the deitrus. Water fowl: Geese and ducks would decimate any planting unless it was completely fenced from top and all sides. Insect damage (including snails). It would not be environmentally safe to use any kind of insecticide. Even iron phosphate for snail damage would most likely not be a safe option.