Floodplains grow remarkable greens — until silt ruins a crop overnight. Floating bed trials keep roots wet and leaves clean when rivers rise.
Rafts are simple: recycled barrels, food-safe liners, and anchors that allow vertical travel. Farmers walk boards to harvest even when pastures are underwater.
Early yields match ground beds in mild years and beat them when floods arrive. Labor is the tradeoff; tying rafts takes patience.
Wildlife agencies monitor fish passage around anchors. So far, designs with wide gaps perform best.
Chefs already list “raft lettuce” on spring menus. The name sounds whimsical. The engineering is not.