2024 Earth Day School Visits

Are you a high school or middle school teacher in Columbus City Schools? Looking for a fun and exciting Applied STEM tie-in to Environmental and food science? Consider bringing Mezzacello Urban Farm mobile farms to your class with 2024 Earth Day School Visits!

Why Earth Day?

Environmental awareness is a very important aspect of the Earth Day experience. However we know that knowing the problem is not enough. We need to also give our kids applied STEM tools to help address, solve, and better understand our challenges.

In addition, the theme of the 2024 Earth Day events this year is Planet Vs Plastics and their impact on Nature. All of our programming here at Mezzacello Urban Farm are aligned to the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Dealing with the inherent pollution of living in and growing in a dense urban environment is at the core of Mezzacello’s mission, this includes combatting micro-plastics pollution.

Bringing The Urban Farm To You, 2024 Earth Day School Visits

Each of the three portable urban farm carts is completely mobile and modular. There are three themes that can be explored using the mobile labs: Energy, BioEngineering, and Ecology.

If you are interested in having a mobile lab come to your school, please comment on the form below. This year, Earth Day falls on Monday, April 22, 2024. I can bring a mobile lab to a STEM class or an assembly. But a registration must be made first.

Visit Mezzacello Urban Farm

If you’d like to tour Mezzacello Urban Farm you are welcome to that as well. Mezzacello is located on the Near East Side of downtown Columbus, Ohio at Broad and 20th. It is central enough that Olde Towne and King Lincoln/Bronzeville schools can easily visit!

Mezzacello Urban Farm’s Applied STEM and agriculture infrastructure is extensive! We run programming here throughout the year, on site and online. On site there are four lab classrooms (Livestock, Energy Production and Renewables, BioEngineering and Automation, and BioTechnology).

In addition to the labs, Mezzacello Urban Farm has a complete standards-aligned and UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals aligned curriculum, formal gardens, aquatic, herb, hydroponic and traditional food gardens. All of these gardens have applied STEM and advanced permaculture and technology solutions built-in.

Camps and Workshops

Mezzacello runs summer camps, workshops, and online courses. Perhaps your students would be interested in taking a week-long camp or a one-day workshop? Perhaps you would be interested in becoming a teacher alongside my team of interns and teachers?

Workshop: Quantum Effects in Nature

Workshop: Quantum Effects in Nature and The physical periodic table of elements in nature

The universe is both weirder and more reasonable at the quantum level at an Urban Farm like Mezzacello. In this Workshop: Quantum Effects in Nature we explore the way chemicals, materials, math, energy, and physics coalesce and function in the world. Don’t freak out, kids really LOVE this camp and workshop series.

90 Minute Factor

In this workshop we will explore how quantum effects like light, electricity, chemical elements and compounds, and molecular, and atomic systems can be managed, controlled and leveraged to do work.

• The first portion of the workshop will deal with understanding the way that physics and subtle quantum effects are used here at Mezzacello Urban Farm.
• After the intro, the workshop will allow students to experiment with the way we interact with these quantum effects in vision, color, life, biology, and energy via exercises in the BioTech shed (shed 4).
• The second portion of the workshop will empower students to use their new found insights to develop functional hypothesis of how the science of the VERY small impact our world in powerful ways.
• Finally, the students will use their better understanding of quantum effects to describe how these basic effects can be applied as a useful tool on the farm.
• At the end, students will share their perspectives with one another.

Half Day Factor

The Map of the quantum realm

In this expanded half-day workshop we will explore in a full design challenge that will employ basic engineering principles around quantum reality and the math behind it to solve an issue on the farm and will create a video presentation.

• The first portion of the workshop will deal with understanding the way that physics and subtle quantum effects are used here at Mezzacello Urban Farm.
• We’ll start by exploring how the standard model of atomic theory interacts with the relativistic and classical mechanics of the observable world.
• Once we understand the way that nature proceeds from Ecosystem all the way down to Energy. Then they will map it out visually.
• For the rest of the workshop, the group will choose an aspect of the quantum realm to look at a real-world problem and find a solution.
• The second portion of the workshop will be entirely committed to creating a pathway game of how the key players in the quantum effects game interact with an animal, a plant, or a mechanical system.
• Once the pathway artifact is created it will be modeled and practiced.
• The workshop ends with the teams presenting their maps.
• Then using a “judging circle” model each team will discuss how their quantum effect supports or differs from each other in constructive critique and critical analysis.

Full Day Factor

Dirac’s Equation as a map to understand nature

In this expanded full-day workshop we will create a full design challenge dealing with how we integrate electricity, engineering, and data to use and understand basic quantum effects in a real-world issue or problem at Mezzacello using the Design Cycle, and writing and recording a video presentation.

• The first portion of the workshop will deal with understanding the way that physics and subtle quantum effects are used here at Mezzacello Urban Farm.
• Run the Why is quantum physics important to an urban farm? design challenge.
• This design challenge will be conducted using two teams and must create a map of the standard model of quantum physics.
• The teams must then trade maps and explore at least one way that one aspect of the model is explained using their part of the standard model and working backwards or forwards until they can trace the line back to either the electron or the photon.
• Then we will break for lunch and play a game of their choice.
• In the second part of the workshop involves exploring the complete spectrum of light and the most of the complete spectrum of light and how we encounter it.
• Wave and particle duality will be explored using technology from microwaves to UV waves.
• The last part of the workshop will be spent creating a presentation of learning and a video.

Revisiting the Chicken/Duck Run in 2024

Ah, the poultry run between the livestock shed and the energy generation shed! What a delight it is. I think it’s time for revisiting the chicken/duck run in 2024.

Why Revisit?

Well there are two main reasons I need to modify this system. The first being that when it works, it’s great, but when it doesn’t – like in the winter – it’s bad. The second is that it is labor and resource heavy to maintain it with satisfactory sanitation.

The issue is the rubber horse mattes. They are terrific and are required by law in my City. They are easy to clean, impermeable and long-lasting. The weakness is that I cannot adequately collect the manure runoff in a sustainable way for long before they clog or at all in the winter.

I was beginning to think that I had to modify the understructure of the mattes in a way that allows for chickens and ducks to have more natural materials beneath their feet. Secondly, I need a system that will manage manure in a way that does not back up. I found my solution from an unlikely source.

Paris or Bust

My original proof of concept was the redesigned 19th Century sewers of Paris. Allow water and waste to flow through channels and down into a main sewer where I could treat wastes with diatomaceous earth and UV radiation to cure the hot, acidic manure in a covered cistern. Then I could reuse the manure as a potent nutrient resource.

Alas, my sewers were under-designed and would clog easily. Even an 8″ diameter pipe and grated sumps placed strategically around the run were insufficient. In order for the system to work, I needed to engineer a 30cm (18″) drop which meant a cistern five feet deep.

Obviously that is a lot of work. It would also be a pain to empty. It does not work well in winter either.

Clean and functional poultry run

Dysfunctional Run in winter

The bioPath to the north of the poultry run and the manure collection cistern

Leave It To The Kids

Because this BioTechnology Summer Camp is an applied STEM summer camp, the team also came up with a series of solutions to the messy wastes and backup problem. Scrap it. Create a hybrid system that benefits animals and humans.

Team Duck, Mezzacello BioTechnology Camp Students

I have known this was a brewing issue for a while now. After two winters I can see the many flaws in my plan. But it was my BioTechnology Summer Camp Kids that really drove the point home.

In a section of the camp called sustainable habitats, one team of kids ran a meticulous review of the run and readily identified these issues. I was very proud of them.

Because this BioTechnology Summer Camp is an applied STEM summer camp, the team also came up with a series of solutions to the messy wastes and backup problem. Scrap it. Create a hybrid system that benefits animals and humans.

Listen To The Kids

Their suggestion was to install long French Drains located at the matte edges beneath the mattes. This would allow a small gap covered in hardware cloth to let water and wastes drop in and flow. They encouraged me to seal the south ends end to prevent rodents. They encouraged me to cover the rubber horse mattes with river rock to allow the manure and to percolate down and stay clean at the same time.

The drains would empty straight into a single 25cm (10″) deep, 8″ trough with a grate over at the run side of the walkway. Lastly, I am impressed that they recognized quickly the three major flaws with my existing system. I was quite surprised when they delivered their analysis.

I actually think this analysis the kids did is quite genius. One of them even drew what they thought the biggest problem with the system was: Too many 90 degree turns in the pipes. That had never occurred to me, but I see now that they were absolutely correct.

Their calculations showed that this stone hybrid interface would require .5 cubic meters (7.2 cubic yards) of river rock to achieve. The french drains would stretch north to south beneath the mattes and I could repurpose the existing sewer into a straight run in the walkway with a 10cm drop at the east end. The run drains to the north towards the walkway so this makes great sense.

This straight run and the smooth drains with steeper runs and no turns or wells to clog will allow me to clear wastes and recycle them easier – even in winter. The stones will keep the birds healthier and control the mess. The entire system will be far more sustainable and sanitary.

My BioTechnology design cohort!

I will keep you posted on the progress. Follow me if you have a coop and want to see the CAD plans and the before and after. If nothing else, show this to your kids to remind them that kids are the future, and a bit of Applied STEM goes a LONG way!

Workshop: Physical Electricity

Electricity is one of the fundamental resources we use at an Urban Farm like Mezzacello. In this Workshop: Physical Electricity we explore the way materials, math, energy, and physics that allow humans play with and manipulate electrons in the human world. Using nothing more than the sun, wind, 12, 9, 6, and 1.3V batteries.

90 Minute Factor

In this workshop we will explore how electricity, electrons, and the forces of the electromagnetic spectrum can be managed, controlled and leveraged to do work.

• The first portion of the workshop will deal with understanding the way electricity is used here at Mezzacello Urban Farm.
• After the intro, the workshop will allow students to experiment with the way wires, batteries, insulators and resistors interact in the BioEngineering shed (shed 4).
• The second portion of the workshop will empower students to use their new found skills to develop functional circuits with discrete voltages to power a tool.
• Finally, the students will use their electrical and battery array to power a useful tool on the farm.
• At the end, students will share their perspectives with one another.

Half Day Factor

In this expanded half-day workshop we will explore in a full design challenge that will employ basic electrical engineering principles to solve an issue on the farm and will create a video presentation.

Full Day Factor

In this expanded full-day workshop we will create a full design challenge dealing with how we integrate electricity, engineering, and data to solve a real-world power issue or problem at Mezzacello using the Design Cycle, and writing and recording a video presentation.

Glyphosate and The Hormone Regulation Mystery

Last year, I and several of my colleagues began noticing that our egg productionn standards had begun to drop precipitously. We began to suspect that it may have something to do with feed tainted with Glyphosate-Resistant grains. We began to explore Glyphosate and the hormone regulation mystery.

This blogpost contains data and discussion of Genetically Modified Organisms and Genetically Engineered Grains.

The Science and the Doubts

Causation does not imply correlation. This is true. There is a lot of research on the efficacy and safety of GMOs. But there is NOT a lot of solid research on the effects of Genetically Modified Glyphosate-Resistant Feed Corn and Wheat products on animals and livestock.

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Given glyphosate can kill commensal members of the microbiome like Lactobacillus spp., Ruminococaeae and Butyricoccus spp., resulting in reductions in key microbial metabolites that act through the gut-brain-microbiome axis including indoles, L-glutamate and SCFAs.

NIH Research

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What I and my colleagues – across the United States – were noticing was that our egg production rates were plummeting for some unexplained reason. It was anecdotal, sure, but we realized quickly that all of us were using feed grain from big box farm supply stores. But those of us using special grains or their own feed were not experiencing egg production issues.

The Shikimate Pathway and Soil Modifications

The herbicide glyphosate inhibits the shikimate pathway of the synthesis of amino acids such as phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan. Unsurprisingly, you’ll find all three of these key amino acids are requirements for both hormone regulation and calcium synthesis for eggshell production.

What is missing is a complete understanding of how this process plays out in Genetically Modified Crops. Yes, there are some crops that allow them to escape the impacts of the shikimate pathway. But it is not the most efficient pathway.

The most common way that Glyphosate Resistance is engineered into crops is through engineered alternative pathways in soy, corn, wheat, and cotton that protects the plant from disruptions in the shikimate pathway. This genetically engineered crop has the benefit of making the plant Glyphosate Resistant. In doing this though it has dire impacts on the ability for a key bacteria to survive intact.

This bacteria is none other than Lactobacillus Acidophilus and related species. This particular bacteria plays a VERY important role in the mammalian and avian biome. It is absolutely vital to proper digestion, immunity, and hormonal regulation.

Glyphosate Is Everywhere

It [Glyphosate] exacerbates the issue we are addressing here; The impact on the egg cycle of My poultry livestock by genetically engineered grains.

Jim Bruner

Now you know that one of the integrated pathways of a plant to become immune to Glyphosate’s destruction was to engineer a new biological catastrophe. This is to cause a major disruption in a very beneficial and universally common bacteria, you and all vertebrates use to digest food. This is sadly the truth.

No matter where we turn, we cannot avoid Glyphosate and its extended and integrated impacts. It is a scourge to people with Glyphosate sensitivity. Genetically Engineered Glyphosate crops and their soil additives are creating the unintended consequence of Glyphosate-resistant weeds.

These “super weeds” are a bigger problem, because to combat them, agriculture needs to use even more Glyphosate to accommodate. It exacerbates the issue we are addressing here; The impact on the egg cycle of My poultry livestock by genetically engineered grains.

Mezzacello and the Impact on Health Careers

Mezzacello Urban Farm‘s mission is simple: Grow, Maintain, Sustain, Explain. I spend a great deal of willing energy and time reaching out to the community. We are talking about Mezzacello and the Impact on Health Careers.

We also do a great deal of outreach.

Jim Bruner

Careers Are Dreams Disguised as Work You Love

Our goal at Mezzacello is to change the world with our mission. We do this through career exploration and applied STEM experiences. We also do a great deal of outreach.

To a kid (I remember) careers are dreams that have yet to come true. The most important part of dreaming about a career is gathering the necessary skills to make that dream a reality. I have talked about that before.

Building a career also takes getting to know yourself! What you love, what you can do and where your boundaries are. It’s a journey of honest self-reflection.

noun
openness or susceptibility to attack or harm:
We need to develop bold policies that will reduce the vulnerability of farmers to drought and floods.

willingness to show emotion or to allow one’s weaknesses to be seen or known; willingness to risk being emotionally hurt:
The foundation for open communication consists of honesty, trust, and vulnerability.

Webster’s Dictionary

When I present in public it is always to a hope, a dream, a goal for a better future. There is promise in every interaction and story. But we have to be willing to be honest and vulnerable.

If it is true, and I think that it is, that careers are dreams disguised as work you love, we have to be willing to be honest, scared, and brave. A new future requires courage and genius. Genius requires trust and experience.

I know I have more to give in this area. I believe in the power of dreams and young people to dream big. I long to be part of their journey.

The Foodist: Scotched Quail Eggs

This was a surprise and a delight, The Foodist: Scotched Quail Eggs! In 2023 we started keeping quail to supplement the ecosystems of the chickens and the ducks at Mezzacello. The quail eat similar foods, but their manure is a different consistency and contains more unique minerals.

In addition to the fabulous and interesting biome enhancements, we also get really cool little quail eggs! It’s been fun making omelettes, quiches, and deserts with these funny little eggs. Rick decided to scoth them and this was great!

INGREDIENTS

• 18 quail eggs
• 1/2 pound ground beef or loose sausage

  • Optional
  • 1 tablespoon prepared English mustard
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 packed teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

• 2 chicken eggs
• Flour
• Bread crumbs
• Chives
• Oil for frying

DIRECTIONS

1. Bring a pot of water to a hard boil. In 3 batches, boil the quail eggs for exactly 1 minute and 50 seconds. Immediately rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
2. Gently peel the eggs, removing the shell and the thin inner shell lining.

   • This is a little tricky if you have never worked with quail eggs before, and I lost 2 or 3 eggs before getting the hang of it.
   • Break the shell all around the egg first, then start at the top, making sure to grab hold of the inner lining as well as the shell.
   • Then work in a spiral around the egg, pulling off the entire shell in one continuous strip.

3. Beat the 2 chicken eggs to form an egg wash, and prepare your breading station with a plate of flour, a plate of egg wash, and a plate of breadcrumbs.
4. Roll out the beef or sausage very thin and lightly salt. If seasoning add 1 tablespoon prepared English mustard, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/2 packed teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg in a medium bowl. Fold and mix until combined.
5. Lightly flour the egg. Wrap in a thin layer of meat and press into your hand in an effort to seal the meat all around the egg. Don’t press too hard or you will break the yolk!
6. When the meat is sealed around the egg, lightly flour it and roll it around in your hands again, using the flour coating to help seal everything shut.
7. Lightly dust with flour again, then coat in egg, and finally the breadcrumbs.
8. Deep fry at 350°F for about 2 minutes until the breadcrumbs are nicely browned.
9. Garnish with chives and serve.

SAUCE

• A simple sauce consists of 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 3 tablespoons stone-ground mustard, juice of 1 lemon. I like using horseradish. Add to horseradish to taste.

NOTE:

• Keep the egg shells! Broil them in an oven and crush them. Return them to the quail or chickens as a ready source of calcium! Or use them in your plants to make strong stems or in your compost!

BioDome Automated Systems 2023

Gallery of the BioDome Automated Systems 2023 showing the steel frame, the dual insulated covers, and the systems inside to encourage tropical plant growth.

Well it was a bit of an obsessive struggle, but I can say I understand my modified geodesic system well enough to build and dismantle it now. I also discovered that I needed two layers of plastic to better insulate it. I also needed to add vents to let in fresh air – regardless of the external temperatures.

More Focused Sensors This Time

In my original iterations of the biodome I had too many sensors that were giving me data that I could not use. Too Hot, Too Humid, Too much sun, Too much chill. This time there are three sensors:

1. How much sun as a function of time
2. How often and long does water need to spray
3. What are baseline temps during day and night only

This will make it much easier to use the data from the sensors to give these fragile plants a better chance of surviving our Ohio winters. And the automation will save me a lot of time. I need to come up with a way to monitor scale and pests though.

So for now it’s a visual test. I am putting this system to the test now as i am on vacation and this system is running on automated systems. Wish me luck!

Time To Upgrade The BioDome Again

Despite what you might think, this is actually a planning document to understand if the biodome and the rainbow pavilion can occupy the same space at Mezzacello. According to my calculations it can. It’s time to upgrade the BioDome again.

I was also watching a program on dinosaur adaptation and it also captured my imagination. So I started drawing, and drawing and drawing more (24 iterations and two straw and pipe cleaner models). Think Close Encounters of the Third Kind obsession.

An Idea For a Long Time

This will be my third year engineering the functionality of the biodome. But the idea of combining a steel pavilion and a geodesic dome is actually pretty old for me. I have been designing this in my mind for my whole adult life.

I am intimidated by three things:

1. The geometry of the dome and the combo of pentagons and hexagons
2. The base that raises the dome to adult human height
3. How can I keep this in the same space as my current classroom space at Mezzacello?

This time I will be building the biodome underneath the steel rainbow pergola. The pergola and the dome are similar sizes. The dome is righter than the square as it’s corners stick out just a few centimeters.

Taking down the pergola is just as hard as taking down or building the biodome. So this year, I will just leave the pergola in place and remove the pergola awning. This will allow me to expand the dome functionality in three important ways:

1. I can add an extra layer of insulative material if the weather drops too low
2. I can add solar panels and a wind turbine to the steel pergola to power the biodome
3. I can expand the ways I use this area in programming and functionality

This quick little gallery is the two days I spent trying to balance 90kg (200lbs) of steel beneath a steel pergola. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but rope is a poor choice. Finally a friend pulled one side into place so I could fasten the last piece and create a door.

I am curious what the rainbow pergola will be like with the biodome in place all year long. I don’t have the luxury of keeping the dome or classroom pergola where they are. Phase III of Mezzacello requires that space for a porch, a classroom and a kitchen extension.

I already know from my previous three years that the biodome is not an all-year solution. Those were the first two failures. Now I can design an easily removable plastic welded clear dome cover with Nd (magnetic) couplings.

I already know I cannot use the covered biodome in the summer as it is impossible for life (super hot) and expensive to cool. Perhaps the pergola tarp and power will allow me to keep the dome on all year long? We will see.

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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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The Moon and Other Garden Jewels

Recently I was out in the side gardens of Mezzacello Urban Farm doing some routine maintenance. As it grew dark, my solar powered allee lights and the sidewalk access LED lamps came on automatically. I was struck by how beautiful The Moon and Other Garden Jewels were at that moment.

Document Everything

I believe it is important to document and record things so you can come back to them later. Every bit of data has value, if not alone then as part of a data set that correlates with trends. This is how I realized I had a reall groundhog problem here at Mezzacello.

There are three pots of parsley that I started midsummer when I realized that the parterre garden boxwoods had grown too tall to allow some delicate herbs in the tighter corners to grow. You can see here that the parsley has been nibbled down severely.

I assumed it was the squirrels. But on this night I discovered it was a groundhog and they had decimated my turnips as well. Now I have data on where that groundhog is hiding.

Underlying Issues

The moon that night also exposed a series of underlying issues at Mezzacello. Namely:

1. The boxwood parterre needs trimmed and dead material removed.
2. Collecting cardboard for reuse all year is a bad idea as groundhogs and rats love that.
3. The water collection and storage IBCs need reset and raised so that the groundhogs can’t make dens under them.
4. The solar array for the allee lights need to be joined into one 9 volt array to save on resources.
5. I need more trash receptacles at Mezzacello if I am going to keep the grounds clean.

All that from a quick snap of the moon on an autumn night. Now I have documentation on things that need to be done over the fall and winter of 2023-2024. I’d better get busy.