ecology
The “Keeping Up With The Jones’” Effect
When you are doing something you’ve never done before you are doing something new. It’s easy to think that you are exactly where you need to be. What I mean when I say “Keeping Up With The Jones’” I don’t…
Being a Shiva Diva at Mezzacello
I post a lot on here about the urban ag technology and methods I employ at Mezzacello. The fact is, I just find it all so fascinating – and counter to everything our society expects. What can I say? I…
Elements of an Ecosystem
This is the aquatic ecosystem at Mezzacello, also known as the pond. Arrayed around it are all the input and output streams that come from this one ecosystem and will go to other 4 ecosystems at Mezzacello in turn. The…
Harvest, Hunger, and the Art of Preservation
The harvesting of food is the single greatest chore in urban farming, the next greatest is preserving it!
Unsung Heroes in the Urban Farm Kitchen
Ah the plastic takeout container! These round polypropylene take out containers are essential in a modern urban garden. They are usually given to me by friends who get takeout lunch from Chinese food or dinners from better restaurants. I love…
Zen and the Art of Hornbeam Maintenance
A major part of the formal gardens at Mezzacello is the east west allee. The allee is defined by the 44 hornbeam trees Rick planted four years ago. It is the major visual wall of Mezzacello from the street elevation….
Fragile Food Systems
This is a photo that will one day be iconic. It carries all the hallmarks of a transitory period in history. Climate change is presenting multiple challenges to farmers across the world. In North America take your pick; wildfires, drought,…
Not All Mulch Is The Same
Not all mulch is the same or as good for the soil. I found this out this summer at Mezzacello with my burlap mulch experiment. I’ve written about using burlap as mulch before and I still swear by it. But…
When An Urban Farm is More Urban
When the line between work and farming becomes most obvious is usually where those two worlds collide, like you see here.
Preserving Eggs: A Six-Month Update
My mission at Mezzacello is to Grow, Maintain, Sustain, and Explain. This blog post aims to do all of that at once. If you are looking for details on how to get started preserving eggs, see more here. It’s important…