Our Goal At Mezzacello Urban Farm

Sustainability, Applied STEM, Artistry, and Workforce Development

Welcome to our goal at Mezzacello Urban Farm. If you are not familiar with Mezzacello this is a good place to start. In the gallery above and the images below you can learn a lot more about us.

We focus on creating fun, technology and culturally-rich sustainable food oases in urban environments. Mezzacello, located in downtown Columbus, Ohio is the flagship site of our potential mission. We believe that with the right care, attention, and community input there should be more.

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Be A Part Of Our Mission

Our Mission: Grow, Maintain, Sustain, Explain, and Entertain around sustainability.

Our Vision: Create frictionless opportunities for people to explore relationships between ecologies, farming, robotics, automation, and applied STEM in a densely populated urban environment.

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Mezzacello is a Non-Profit!

2022/2023 Internships

Welcome to the 2022/2023 Internships page at Mezzacello. Please review the three internship options available and use the application form to submit a request or ask a question.

Mezzacello Urban Farm is opening the livestock management, energy production, and engineering and automation sections to three interns this winter/spring season. Intern applications will remain open through 11/25/2022. Be sure to include a cover letter and what your pathway area of interest is in the application.

The Origins of the Name Mezzacello

Like most good stories, the origin of the name “Mezzacello” begins with both a misunderstanding and some snark. First we’ll clarify the misunderstanding. Then we’ll get to the snark.

Monticello 2.0!? Ha! We can barely afford Mezzacello!

Richard Riley

Cross Purposes

Since the beginning of our relationship together, Rick and I knew we wanted both a garden and a house. What we didn’t know was how far apart our definition of ”garden” was. Garden is a pretty vague English word.

For Rick, garden meant a space of beauty and elegance and a peaceful calm quiet place. For Jim (myself) garden meant a dynamic system for growing food and manufacturing life. We had been living in apartments until then.

We had never really talked about what the garden would be, just said it would be outside and part of the house. Big ideas and dreams were on hand. Rick’s were in his head. I had all mine laid out in CAD.

Buying the House

When we found the house in Olde Towne East it was quite the happy accident. It had been long ignored with it’s vacant and overgrown south-facing lots, we were very excited. “This could make a great garden” we’d both said.

The Devil Is In The Details

We set about clearing the lot and identifying areas where we wanted things to go. And that’s where everything went south. Our vision for what this could be was wildly different.

Rick was planning long flower and boxwood beds with graceful walks meandering everywhere. I pushed back and asked where were the animals going to go or the robots and the gardens for food and labs for experiments? It was clear we were talking about two different things.

Enter Monticello

The ironic thing is we both referenced Monticello in our defense. Rick wanted a charming Gentleman’s formal city garden. I wanted what I called ”Monticello 2.0” with technology, recycling, biochemistry, and renewable resources and energy.

I clearly remember Rick staring blankly at me and taking a deep sigh. Note: this is where the Snark comes in. Rick looked at me wearily on that fall day in the middle of this vacant yard – still smoldering from where I had used a flamethrower to destroy weeds – and sighed.

“Monticello 2.0!? Ha! We can barely afford Mezzacello!” And instantly I fell in love with that name. He was absolutely right, of course, we could not afford it.

But in my mind we could not afford to even try! We agreed that day that Mezzacello would be about both stories. They would have to compliment and compromise.

That has been the guiding principle ever since. If it is here, it had to benefit all truths of the ”gardens”. And to make sure that happened we split the garden in two.

That is a story for another time.

USDA Zones vs EcoRegions

The conflict between the USDA zones vs Ecoregions is pretty obvious when you see them together. one is a broad approximation of climate across a continent and the other is a more nuanced map of the topology and regions of a state. Both are true, one is more accurate.

The USDA hardiness zones take into account the continental averages and impacts from the artic and the jet streams. The EcoRegion map takes into account smaller regional impacts of rivers and geology that is of a smaller scale. This is an important distinction.

Summer Camp Launch 2023

It’s time for the Summer Camp Launch 2023! I am looking forward to it this year because I have been able to greatly expand my impact and mission. I am reminded of that mission with these amazing folks from National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) who showed up to help me get the Farm ready for primetime! This will also allow me to expand my teaching about the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals and expand my outreach even more.

More Expansive Programming and 11 Camps

Mezzacello Summer Camp Schedules

Traditional Camps and Maker Events

• Jun 5 – Jun 11 – AM – Biotech Camp
• Jun 5 – Jun 11 – PM – BioTech Maker
• Jun 12 – Jun 16 – AM -BioEngineering
• Jun 12 – Jun 16 – PM – BioEngineering Maker
• Jul 10 – Jul 14 – AM – BioRenewables
• Jul 17 – Jul 21 – AM – BioChemistry
• Jul 24 – Jul 28 – AM – STEM of Tai Chi*
• * At CAS Campus

New Camps at Mezzacello

City of Columbus Camps and Workshops

• Jun 19 – Jun 23 – AM -BioTech and Life Sciences
• Jun 26 – Jun 30 – AM -BioEngineering and Mechanics
• Jul 5 one day workshop – Systems Integration
• Jul 6 one day workshop – Power Generation
• Jul 7 one day workshop – Soil Science and Water Purification
• Jul 31 – Aug 4 – AM – BioTech and Animal Health
• Aug – Aug 11 – AM – BioEngineering and Mechanics

It is sure to be a busy summer, but I am really excited to share my passion for sustainability, systems thinking, design thinking and gardening with a new group of kids. They make this a better world for me. I intend to return the favor and help them have a blast!

Enclosed, Interdependent Ecosystems

You’ve probably seen this map before, but not in this way. This is a map of the enclosed, interdependent ecosystems at Mezzacello Urban Farm. I always intended to build ecosystems this way, but it was my friend Chris Atchison who helped me coin this idea.

It is my hope that it also helps you understand the ways in which each ecosystem both supports and depends on the others. It is a system, but it is not always clear. That is why a map is an excellent way to see this in action.

First, A Breakdown

It may not be immediately obvious how these are all integrated and interdependent. It wasn’t planned this way initially. The feasibility and necessity of this configuration emerged over time.

The key features here are accessibility, sustainability, and ease of maintenance. That is how we developed our system of 3 to 5 sustainability ratio. You can read about that here.

Deepening Our Understanding of Systems

The other benefit to looking at the Farm layout this way is that it helps us to develop new systems to extend this version even further. If I overlay the water access and purification protocols, the energy production systems, and the Animal and insect distributions, it makes it an even more dynamic map.

This summer we will be working on doing just that. With 11 camps and four workshops on site that will really dive into the ways that thoughtful application and placement of intentional ecosystems can bring the land alive. It’s just like nature, but with a tad more technology.

BioChemistry Lesson Plans

Welcome to the BioChemistry Lesson Plans at Mezzacello Urban Farm

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Day One:

Farm Systems –

1. Design Challenge: Compost 101
2. Design Challenge: Create a Simple Pump
3. Design Challenge: Understanding The Cycles on a Farm

Team Building – What makes a good team and how do you make that happen?

1. Design Challenge: Atomic People (creating teams with atomic properties)
2. Design Challenge: Team Identity
3. Design Challenge: STEM Identity

Layers of Reality – a fun way to introduce the STEM in #UrbanAgTech by creating a model for the way the world works through art and lecture.

Day Two

Webs of Life – a quick review of where in our world we interact with Atoms and why.

1. Design Challenge: NHCOPS Challenge
2. Design Challenge: Creating a Perfect Fertilizer
3. Design Challenge: How Nitrogen Propagates

Data 101 – A deeper dive into how and why we collect and use data from graphs and labels to predictions and proof.

1. Design Challenge: Create a Data Set
2. Design Challenge: Create a chart
3. Design Challenge: Tell a Story with Data

Day Three:

The Circle of Life – a crash course into Applied STEM and Math integration in Ag and in STEM.

1. Design Challenge: Create a Lasagna Garden
2. Design Challenge: Identify a Useful Pollinator
3. Design Challenge: Using Bases to Bleach things

As Above; So Below – a reminder that life is sophisticated and deeper than we want to acknowledge, but is essentially Yin and Yang with a boundary layer.

1. Design Challenge: The MicroFauna
2. Design Challenge: Air, Water, Earth, Fire
3. Design Challenge: Create a Water Purifier

Day Four

Career Crossover – Allows students to reflect on what they have observed and how it impacts their curiosity and their future

1. Design Challenge: Career Memory Game
2. Design Challenge: Team Algorithm
3. Design Challenge: Interview for Your Future Job

Analyze and Modify – Create a script for the final video for the team at Camp.

1. Design Challenge: Discuss with your team what your video will be
2. Design Challenge: Assign Random Roles
3. Design Challenge: Create a Carbon Sink

Day Five

• Finish Your Product Development
• Prep for Presentation
• Present your Final Presentation

BioRenewables Lesson Plans

Welcome to Week One Morning Camp and the BioRenewables Lesson Plan page. Each day is laid out below with links to lessons, activities, and design challenges. If you are looking for a list of all lessons, click here.

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Day One:

Farm Systems –

1. Design Challenge: Build a Power Grid Map of Mezzacello
2. Design Challenge: Create a Multimeter Display
3. Design Challenge: Complete the Circuit

Team Building – What makes a good team and how do you make that happen?

1. Design Challenge: Grace Under Pressure
2. Design Challenge: Team Identity
3. Design Challenge: STEM Identity

Layers of Reality – a fun way to introduce the STEM in #UrbanAgTech by creating a model for the way the world works through art and lecture.

Day Two

Webs of Life – a quick review of where in our world we interact with Atoms and why.

1. Design Challenge: Electricity and Matter
2. Design Challenge: Create a Simple Motor
3. Design Challenge: Using Electromagnetic Radiation to Bleach Plastic

Data 101 – A deeper dive into how and why we collect and use data from graphs and labels to predictions and proof.

1. Design Challenge: Create a Data Set
2. Design Challenge: Create a chart
3. Design Challenge: Tell a Story with Data

Day Three:

The Circle of Life – a crash course into Applied STEM and Math integration in Ag and in STEM.

1. Design Challenge: Conductors VS Insulators
2. Design Challenge: Identify a Reframe of a Simple Problem
3. Design Challenge: Using The Force

As Above; So Below – a reminder that life is sophisticated and deeper than we want to acknowledge, but is essentially Yin and Yang with a boundary layer.

1. Design Challenge: What IS Lightning?
2. Design Challenge: Air, Water, Earth, Fire
3. Design Challenge: Creating a simple LED Card

Day Four

Career Crossover – Allows students to reflect on what they have observed and how it impacts their curiosity and their future

1. Design Challenge: Career Memory Game
2. Design Challenge: Team Algorithm
3. Design Challenge: Create a Portable Broadcast System

Analyze and Modify – Create a script for the final video for the team at Camp.

1. Design Challenge: Discuss with your team what your video will be
2. Design Challenge: Assign Random Roles
3. Design Challenge: Create an Exploded LED Light

Day Five

• Finish Your Product Development
• Prep for Presentation
• Present your Final Presentation

Ford F-150 Has a Name Now

We have had this truck for five years. I bought it from my brother and his wife and it has been a workhorse! The Ford F-150 Has a Name Now.

This Truck Is a Star

I can always rely on my Mezzacello truck. It is no frills and dependable. My mechanic can always fix it and reminds me regularly what a great truck it is.

A lot of people drive trucks as a lifestyle statement. This guy does work, and now it advertises as well. It sits on the street outside Mezzacello and even though it has been stolen, crashed into and had multiple windows broken, he’s a real friend.

He’s dirty and getting a little bit worn down – but so are we all. I still love him and this truck has been a star. Now he has a name and it is Mezzacello Urban Farm.

Intentional Accessibility At Mezzacello

We decided to undertake an expansion of programming and production opportunities here at Mezzacello Urban Farm. We did this through more thoughtful classroom installations and planting areas. We added 13 raised planter beds and planting tables and configuring intentional accessibility at Mezzacello.

Diversity And Inclusion

We were on a mission to build a more ADA accessible and inclusive space for teaching and learning. We started building out these planned raised bed systems in CAD to identify the best placement. What we were surprised to find is that so much of Mezzacello is already inclusive and accessible.

This entire focus came to a head after I had ordered a portable shed 10’x12′ to replace my greenhouse. I poured a slab that was sunk into the ground to make it more accessible to a ramp addition. What was delivered was a prebuilt shed on sleds that sat on the slab and was 12″ in the air.

It’s Not Rocket Science

What followed was an ordeal to lift this new shed up on a 3 ton hydraulic jack and onto concrete piers so the sleds could be removed (see photo below). It was a really powerful – and annoying that we need to work harder to make learning and exploring at Mezzacello easier for everyone, especially our wheeled friends.

Once we had the sleds removed and the shed was placed flat on the concrete pad, we had to deal with the final 4″ of access. We will be adding aluminum railed ramps to the bio shed, and an additional ramp to the classroom shed. We already had a rubber matte space between the sheds that is completely accessible.

We may run into some space and maneuverability issues within the sheds, but those can be managed. We are working on linoleum flooring in all classrooms and labs and thoughtful use of off floor shelving and cabinets and ADA compliant stainless steel counters and sinks. We want to be accessible and inclusive.

The Last Surprise of the Survey

Once we had the farm all put back together. EVERYTHING in the Lab and Bioreactor area (see gallery above) had to be moved to get that shed in here. Then we started creating an asset map in infrastructure here at Mezzacello. It was a surprise.

There are ground-based planting and farm beds, but a large majority of the plants and planters are raised by default. Grassy areas are stabilized by vinyl trellis paths that create firm rolling areas for our wheeled guests. And the livestock area is entirely surfaced in accessible and sterilzable rubber mattes, including the chicken run area.

This makes me proud. I want people to come here and learn, thrive and be seen. I am delighted that we have made so much headway in this area and we plan to continue to expand that moving forward.

Design Challenge: Birds vs Mammals vs Insects vs Bacteria

In this Design Challenge: Birds vs Mammals vs Insects vs Bacteria we will be creating a tool that will help us better care for all the forms of life that we encounter on an urban farm. Looking at the template the challenge is to create healthy and sustainable ways to provide a safe ecosystem, housing, and care strategy for each form of life. You will be able to ask an intern or mentor, but the internet is also an option!

Break into teams and start researching the answers to these five prompts. Each team will have 30 minutes to do research or make direct observations. Be ready to share out and record your answers.

Start With The Ecosystem

Then Create Housing

What Does It Eat?

How Much Water Does It Need?

Determine Three Aspects That Makes Each Form Of Life Unique

Share You results as a group.