Row, Sow, Grow: The Past and Future of Mexico's Floating Gardens

Indigenous Mexican history meets agricultural science in this stunningly illustrated book that introduces readers to a centuries-old and environmentally friendly way to grow your food!

At the beating heart of Mexico City is a big, beautiful lake. Hundreds of years ago, this lake was covered in bountiful floating farm plots stewarded with care by the Indigenous Nahua people. Could these old links to Mexico's past hold the key to a greener future?

This fascinating story introduces readers to the floating farms and gardens of Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City. Called “chinampas” (chee-NAHM-pas), these extraordinary agricultural plots built by the Nahua date back to the precolonial sixteenth century. Though vastly more productive and environmentally friendly than many modern industrial farming techniques, the chinampas largely fell out of use after the arrival of Spanish colonizers. Until...

In recent years, this sustainable urban farming technique has been revitalized, serving as both a connection to the Mexican people’s past and a model for a more environmentally friendly way of growing food around the world in the future.

Mexican author-illustrator team Cynthia Harmony and Laura Sandoval Herrera bring a personal touch to this story. Lyrical second-person narration invites readers to imagine stepping on a boat, rowing through the canals, and getting an up-close look at the fruits, veggies, flowers, and critters that can be found on a modern chinampa. Charming, colorful illustrations capture the beauty that makes Xochimilco a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Extensive backmatter includes diagrams, a timeline, and further resources for curious readers.

A Books for a Better Earth™ title!