Tour of the Pond at Mezzacello

I decided today to break out the Shark Cam and capture some footage of the pond this summer. It came out pretty good so I loaded it up to YouTube. Here is a tour of the pond at Mezzacello.

Hi-Res cameras like this allow us to see the health of the fish and the pond infrastructure close up. I can see the health of the scales and gills, as well as how much sludge I have to clean up. I really need to power wash my pump!

Rick collects koi and he has a decent collection of them here and three generations of fish. I love how curious they are when they see the camera coming at them! It makes monitoring them this way so much more fun.

Summer Camper’s Delight

This is a view of the pond from the surface. The hula hoop allows us to monitor and easily feed the fish.

The City of Columbus Parks and Recreation were delighted by the sharkcam. They loved their ability to watch and diagnose the finish in their native environment. Surprisingly, the students used the hi-res camera to diagnose the fish for healthy scales was an unexpected benefit!

We added a hula hoop with a pool noodle buoyancy ring to the pond. This ring allowed the students to peer into the pond through clear and unobstructed water. This was also where they inserted the sharkcam and the hi-res waterproof camera.

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This is a part of the City of Columbus Parks and Recreation Summer Grant Grant #1521-2023

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Tour of The Pond

Welcome to the Tour of The Pond at Mezzacello. This is not just a pond, or a well of water: This is an aquatic ecosystem with specific inputs and outputs. It looks good and it is pleasing but it plays a pivotal role in the ecosystems at Mezzacello.

An ecosystem (or ecological system) consists of all the organisms and the physical environment with which they interact.

Wikipedia

More Than Just Fish

It’s true the pond is water and it has koi and catfish that live in it. But beyond the fish there are at a minimum seven different outputs and inputs that this pond is useful for. Let’s run through them.

Remember that two of the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals deal with water and life underwater. This is a very important aspect of Mezzacello. We take water, water purification, and water management very seriously here, and you should as well.

So what is the value of this pond?

1. The pond is 6.8 KL (1,800 G) and is 1.8 M (6 ft) deep
2. This depth serves a purpose

   • It never freezes over in winter
   • The fish can live just fine in the coldest of weather
   • The pond is essentially drought-proof as we have 6.8 KL of water

3. The fish produce nitrates that become nitrites and ammonia
4. There is a biofilter that pulls out nitrates, nitrites and algae from the pond
5. The biofilter and the UV filter destroy harmful pathogens
6. UV radiation destroys microbes and sterilizes water
7. The biofilter contains media that traps algae and nitrates on sponges
8. These sponges can be pulled out and the algae and waste manures can be harvested
9. Algae is an excellent source of fertilizer
10. The algae at Mezzacello is collected, dried, packaged and reused
11. The Bakki Shower further filters the water so that the water that returns to the pond is 95% pure
12. The pond is run entirely from renewable energy in the form of solar and wind power
13. The fish that live in the pond are sources of food (catfish) and beauty (koi)
14. There are two types of plants that we grow in the pond
15. The plants that live in the pond are selected because they perform five functions:

    1. The plants eat algae
    2. The plants shade the fish from sunlight
    3. The plants roots give the fish a place to lay eggs
    4. The plants produce oxygen and moisture
    5. The plants allow pollinators to land safely on the pond and drink water

16. The plants also produce oxygen which makes the air fresher and better to breathe
17. The pond cools the surrounding atmosphere
18. The fish in the pond will eat fish food and rabbit droppings
19. Using rabbit droppings makes the farm even more sustainable.
20. The pond is a source of beauty at Mezzacello.

The Garden of Grace and Charity

On a recent trip to visit family in Norfolk, Virginia we found this lovely piece of sculpture in our favorite garden store in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Wright and Anderson. We thought instantly of the John Berendt novel, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil“. We will call Mezzacello the garden of grace and charity.

Of all the virtues to balance we strongly believe in the power and beauty of grace and charity. These two are the cornerstones of kindness and love. They deserve a spot in our gardens.

We’ll Call Her Charity

There is a story here. This statue was made famous for being on the cover of Berendt’s book and on the movie poster. The image is iconic: the young maid caught in a pose of reflective tranquility while balancing those two plates.

I have always thought of her as balancing grace and charity. These are very rare qualities and worth reflecting on. Mezzacello is also a non-profit 501(c)(3) so charity seemed appropriate.

Speaking Of Reflections

The statue reminds me of the physical manifestation of Mezzacello. The gracious formal gardens of the east and the applied STEM and production gardens of the west. This little statue is the fulcrum that those two realities are balanced upon.

The statue has a personal subtext for us as well. Richard is a Virginia boy and loves the culture and sensibilities of the gracious south. I had just finished reading “Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil” when I met Rick. The man truly made me think of one of the more charming and eccentric characters from that book!

Fate and Foundations

It’s fate that we walked into that garden store and discovered Charity. Now we are driving her home (all 91 Kg (200 lbs) of her!) back to Ohio. This week I will dig a foundation for her, pour it, cure it, and set her in her new home behind the bakki shower at the pond.

Come by and visit her. She will always be happy for the visit and to never meet a stranger. Grace and charity are always ready, willingly given and balanced at Mezzacello Urban Farm.

Lesson: Pressure and Water

In this lesson: pressure and water we explore the relationship water, pressure, and sanitation. We know pressure has a big role in temperature, electricity, and fear, it plays a role in water too. The more pressure we apply the better in terms of water.

Water is Heavy

Dihydrogen Monoxide weighs 1kg per liter (7lbs per gallon). That mass comes in handy when you add pressure to the equation. The tight constriction makes the weight of the water focus even tighter.

We can use this constriction to a great many things. We can clear mud and waste products from any surface. It destroys the cell walls of bacteria.

Water is a Universal Solvent

Water is also magnetic. It has a magnetic charge that allows it to stick together and to pull things apart. That is why water is referred to as the Universal Solvent.

When we add KINETIC energy to water we increase its ability to dissolve things. Think of running really fast into someone. You know instinctively that that is going to hurt.

This is what happens we when we pressurize water. Firefighters count on this when they spray water from a firehose. Yes, the water will douse fire, but high pressure water pulls air away from the fire as well.

Enough Water Will Crush You

A Mini Design Challenge

Just for fun let’s imagine the pressure that the fish in the pond are under when they swim in the deep end of the pond. If I give you a simple equation, could you figure out how much water pressure those fish are swimming in? Is it safe for them?

((W x L x D)7.5 x 7) D = Pressure per square inch

The pond at it’s greatest depth is 6′ deep. It will be 4′ wide and 5.5′ long. Once you have the answer, you must convert that number into Metric equivalents. 1 ft = .304m and 7lbs = 3.18kg.

Clean Water and Sanitation and Sustainability

Clean Water and Sanitation and Sustainability is a MUST have aspect everywhere – and especially in an enclosed, interconnected series of ecosystems. This is why UN SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation is a no brainer.

When I started building Mezzacello, I assumed all water – rain, drain, grey, and stray was equal. I was wrong.

It might seem odd that I would choose number six of the UN sustainable development goals as my favorite of the civil sections of the development goals. After all I live in a city and a very well developed country with access to clean water and sanitation without a thought. But that is beside the point and not the purpose of the UN sustainable development goals.

Jim Bruner

Water is a Resource and Clean Water is a Privilege

it’s precisely the point that water is a privilege and a real problem for so many. Lack of access to water and clean water is an emerging global threat. Climate reality is not helping matters.

That’s why I focus on water purification and sanitation in all of my outreach work. You do not know what a precious resource water is until you don’t have it — and by then it’s too late. If I’m going to spend time and energy educating young minds on the realities of a natural world and an urban farm, water is critical.

More Than One Path

Water flows where it meets the least resistance. It is also magnetic and molecular. This is the first lessons at Mezzacello.

All water is liquid, but not all water is potable. That lesson was a tough one to learn for me personally. When I started building Mezzacello, I assumed all water – rain, drain, grey, and stray was equal.

I was wrong. Water is a unique resource because it is both magnetic and molecular — that means It attracts pollutants and it is easy to clean. This is a blessing and a curse.

Seven Strategies for Purifying Water

So let me start by discussing the SEVEN ways I actively purify water at Mezzacello:

1. Rain water cachement with engineered baffles in a 1000L IBC that allows fresh water to be pulled from the top and wastes collect at the bottom.
2. Water Tower filtration through the bioreactor water tank which used ultrasonic purification of water to vibrate particulates out of pumped water to further purify it.
3. Chemical purification that uses bromine or a life straw to purify water chemically or through nano-chelation.
4. Natural filtration through a matrix of paper, stones, gravel, sand, and activated charcoal to further purify water on demand in 3 gallon batches.
5. Solar Evaporation Stills that use sunlight to evaporate and recapture evaporated water into a clean collection vessel.
6. A natural bakki shower that purifies pond water using evaporation, chelation and nitrite/nitrate fixing to collect pollutants and algae and return nearly pure water.
7. I also use biological processes, specifically plants like water lettuce and water Hyacinths to naturally purify water and manage algaes and wastes. The plants digest both and release O2 into the water through their roots.

Of all of these systems, only chemical purification requires outside resources to work. All the others are naturally occurring or derive their power entirely from solar and wind turbine power and are thus energy neutral actions.

Sanitation On an Urban Farm

Sanitary conditions are a hallmark of modern society. But living on an urban farm, with mud, water, chemicals and especially animals makes sanitation a NECESSITY. In the united states, avian flu is running rampant and killing millions of birds in the process.

At my farm I keep chickens and ducks in a livestock shed that includes a chicken coop, a run that is shared by both species, and a pond that is shared by multiple species and ecosystems. That manure is a real liability and can be deadly if it is not kept sanitary.

The best methods I have found to manage sanitary conditions is access to water at all times, and an integrated sanitary drain where poultry and fowl wastes can be collected, isolated, and reused. The way I go about this is through rubber mattes on an incline that drain into a sewer modeled after the sewers of Paris, France at the end of the 19th Century.

The rubber surfaces are easily washable and can be both power washed and sterilized with diluted bleach. The other benefit is that is discourages pests like rats and mice from digging and creating nests in the coop. Lastly the sewer centralizes and streamlines waste removal.

With a sterile surface I can feed birds directly on the ground with no disease issues. The surface also reduces the risk of spreading Avian Flu. Lastly, the mattes keep the odor of animal wastes at a minimum which is a huge benefit living in downtown Columbus, OH.

Personal Sanitation

In addition to animal sanitation, there is also the need for personal sanitation. This takes place in one of two ways: Sinks and soap, and Bleaches and boots.

I have portable sinks deployed all around Mezzacello. The sinks use recycled potable water in their bases, and the grey water from washing is recollected, cleaned and reused. This is very resource savvy.

In addition to the hand washing sinks, everyone interacting on the farm is required to wear rubber boots. The boots keep disease to a minimum and have thew adding benefit of being easily sterilized after use. I can also store them outside upside down on a pole so they stay dry and the sun can further sterilize them.

Power Heat and Water Even in the Winter

I’m really excited about power heat and water even in the winter at Mezzacello. Especially as I enter my third season of summer camps. Why am I excited about winter for the summer?

I’m so glad you asked! The reason is these systems are integral to all four of the camps that I focus on at Mezzacello. Bio technology, bio engineering bio renewables and energy, and bio chemistry.

I have found that my summer camp kids love the fact that Mezzacello is a living machine. It seems magical to them and they really love problem-solving to help all the various animals plants ecosystems micro biomes and systems live together in a fun way. This applied stem playfulness is at the very heart of the success of Mezzacello.

Why sustainability is cost-effective

As a farmer and a scientist I am intensely Interested in how all four of these systems integrate throughout my farm. The energy components, the bio chemistry components, the animal safety, and the natural resources are all very important. Also, they are impossible to replicate and financially difficult to replace by hand.

Let’s look just that water. If I were to pay for all the water that I regularly use on my farm annually my water bill would be OVER $1000 US dollars – I’ve included a currency calculator here. That is not affordable.

Nor is this sustainable. But my systems for storing and using water cost me under $1000 to implement and they re-integrate rain and snow back into my water table. That costs me zero dollars.

What’s the catch?

The one caveat to water is that it needs one further treatment before I can use it to grow food or water animals. So do I buy an expensive water treatment system? Or do I use gravity and natural filtration systems to clean the water on demand?

if you guessed option number two congratulations you were right. What are the benefits of the Bioreactor tower is that it pulls water from rain barrels. But only water from the top of the rain barrel. All of the heavy elements and dangerous elements sink to the bottom and baffles where they can be cleaned in the spring.

Interoperability and integrated sustainability

This interoperable and integrated sustainability method is a life changer. But it did require an initial capital investment three years ago. Since then the system has run entirely through wind and solar power including in the winter when I need it most.

I recently gave a lecture on the 17 UN sustainable development goals to a group of high school kids here in Columbus. I’m very pleased that all of my integrated systems at Mezzacello touch on almost all 17 of those UN SDG. It is a point of pride for me.

in 2023 I plan on talking more about these integrated systems and what they have to do with the UN 17 SDG to avoid climate reality and ensure sustainability is an easy option for anyone. I don’t have a title for the series yet, maybe you could help me out with that. I’ll probably be work shopping it in my summer camps.

After all, who is better suited at coming up with clever ideas for sustainability than the very people who will inherit this world well after I’m gone. I hope you’ll join me. And of course you’re welcome to give options in the comments and I hope you do.

Crazy Winter Weather in 2022/23

This crazy winter weather in 2022/23 is driving me crazy. But to be fair, it is also delighting me. The images above were taken two days before Christmas and then one day after New Years Day.

On the left the temperature was -20C (-6F). On the right the temperature was 18C (60F). The birds were very confused, but especially the ducks.

Ups and Downs

We need winter – especially on a farm! The cold is how we overcome the pests and problems in the gardens. These crazy temperature fluctuations are ominous.

The high temps confuse the autonomic systems of delicate flowers and trees. When it’s warm for multiple days tender shoots are vulnerable to freeze. this can be hard in the spring.

I’ll have to keep an eye out there for what the outcome is going to be. Expect the best but prepare for the worst I guess. But I think we got to like it while we have it!

Winterizing the Pond at Mezzacello

It’s that time of the year again! Time for Winterizing the Pond at Mezzacello. If you anything about this pond, you know this is always a scary time!

Keeping Fish Safe and Ducks Out!

I usually cover the pond with a loose plastic fencing that allows sunlight in and O2 and nitrogen as well. This year I replaced the plastic netting with a finer grade mesh. This mesh does the same as the netting, but does a better job of keeping the ducks out.

The ducks will still walk on the pond, but their claws cannot hurt the baby koi fish that Rick is nurturing in the pond. Ducks are very charming, but persistent.

The Bakki Shower and Water Quality

The water in the pond this year has been remarkably clean this year. I credit the Bakki Shower and keeping this netting atop the pond. The leaves will pollute the water, so I need to keep it clear.

The clarity and Ph of the water is stunning still this far into winter. The Nitrates and Nitrides are also perfectly under control. The only weakness is hard water.

So in the coming season I will look for ways to mitigate the hardness of the water. If you have ideas or solutions that I could deploy. Share them here if you’d like.

Bakki Shower and Biofilter Combo

This combo is the latest foray here at Mezzacello to care for the koi and the water quality of our aquatic ecosystem. It is called a bakki shower and is paired with an efficient biofilter combo. I am showing a breakdown of the bakki shower and biofilter combo systems here.

I will cover all of these systems in a later blog. This is just a detail of the systems for now. Check back and read how my systems integration plan went.

It’s Getting Hot In Here

This summer was a unique summer at Mezzacello Urban Farms. For the first time, I ran summer camps, tours and online programs around renewable resources like solar, wind, and battery power, soil, fertilizers, and water. One of the camp design challenges was called “It’s Getting Hot In Here”.

I chose convenience is an important statement at a sustainable urban farm.

Jim Bruner

From Climate Change to Climate Reality

Water is a strategically important and valuable resource at Mezzacello. I take great pains to capture, recycle, and store water as a renewable resource. From the pond, to the IBC rain water capture cubes to the water tank atop the bioreactor and even the waste water from hand washing stations. All of it get used and reused.

The one source of water that I try very hard to shy away from is city tap water. It’s not only that I have to pay for it. Being committed to sustainability means not using a resource just because you can.

The True Costs of Convenience

The header image on this blog post is a water house from the city tap refilling the pollinator fountain in the front formal gardens at Mezzacello. Usually I cart over 70 L (18 Gallons) of rain water and then treat it with 10 ml of bleach. But this day I was exhausted and I was expecting a tour with hundreds of people the next day, so I chose convenience.

I chose convenience is an important statement at a sustainable urban farm. I try very hard to make systems inter-related here. Sometimes they work well, other times I need help and that’s OK too.

I need a robot that will carry water for me. That’s what’s next on the drawing board. I know they exist, I have seen them in use on Amish farms (Obviously not robotic, but wheelbarrows designed to easily carry water).

I am bringing on three new interns this season. maybe one of them can help me design this thing. Meanwhile, it’s fun to watch the water instantly vaporize in the hot summer air!