Workshop: Partners not Pets

In this one-day Workshop: Partners not Pets we will explore the role that livestock and their products and habits play in the health and productivity of the modern world and on the farm. Workshop: Partners not Pets asks the participants to look deeper at the way humans, livestock, ecologies, and soil health all belong together to ensure health and sustainability.

90 Minute Factor

In this workshop we will explore how we integrate animals and livestock and create maximum biodiversity.

The first portion of the workshop will deal with understanding the population of livestock housed here at Mezzacello Urban Farm.
After the intro, the workshop will allow students to interact with the animals in the livestock shed (shed 1).
The second portion of the workshop the students will observe the animal they are working with and create a map of their living area.
Finally, each student will release their animal into a unique ecosystem and observe.
They will share their maps and return the animal safely to its home.

Half-Day Factor

In this expanded half-day workshop we will explore in a limited design challenge the care and integration of livestock on the farm and will create a video presentation.

If there are enough students, have them form teams and choose a name.
Students will choose an animal at Mezzacello and explore why they are important.
Students will create a device that successfully highlights why their animal is important for a specific ecosystem..
Students will work together in teams to work on a design challenge for their animal.
Students will follow the Design Cycle to create this solution.
Students must make a video showing their integrated ecosystem and animal in use on the farm at Mezzacello.

Full-Day Factor

In this expanded full-day workshop we will create a full design challenge dealing with how we integrate poultry, rabbits, and crickets in a stable and healthy, balanced and integrated enclosed ecosystem to solve a real-world problem at Mezzacello using the Design Cycle, and writing and recording a video presentation.

In the first part, students must learn about the ways livestock are important on a farm.
Students will create a device that successfully addresses the needs of livestock.
Students must work together in teams and create a useful idea together.
Students will explore the intersections of data, chemistry, physics, and biology to determine a path to success within GIVEN parameters.
Students will follow the Design Cycle to create this solution.
In the second part of this workshop, students will identify an ecosystem that could be improved with the application of life, carbon, nitrogen, O2 and water cycles and STEM to solve that problem.
Students have the option of either designing and building a prototype of their solution or illustrating their solution at Mezzacello Urban Farm.
Students must make a video showing their solution in use on the farm at Mezzacello or the solution that they designed to solve a real world problem.

Mezzacello Zoo Brew Adventures 2023

Well, now what do I do? Earlier this year I was gifted 25 cubic yards of Columbus Zoo and Aquariums manure called Zoo Brew. This is the story of Mezzacello Zoo Brew Adventures 2023.

Why So Much?

The truth is, 25 Cubic Yards is what Price Organic Farms proposed to me originally. I knew instinctively that that amount was FAR too much. But I knew I could spread 10 Cubic Yards around quite easily.

So I turned to the data. I have 45 growing beds and permaculture installations at Mezzacello. Once I started mapping out area and volume, that amount of manure disappeared quite quickly. It also meant that I had to move that mountain myself.

A Diagrammatic Map of Mezzacello Urban Farm with every system in place.

These Areas are the growing and garden beds at Mezzacello Urban Farm.

Once I started looking at Mezzacello to scale in CAD, I knew I was right. I was going to need at least 10 Cubic yards of manure and compost for all of the growing systems I have at this modest farm. This includes all of the farm febs and raised beds, hedges, and permaculture formal garden, parterre, and allee beds as well.

Yes, it’s a big pile of refined poop. Yes, it smells like elephants, zebras, and giraffes. As soon as this pissy gray late fall drizzle weather passes, I’ll begin moving this mountain.

Workshop: BioTech Basics

In this one-day Workshop: BioTech Basics, we will explore the role that livestock and their products and parts play in the biotech reality of the modern world and on the farm. Workshop: BioTech Basics asks the participants to look deeper at the way humans, livestock, ecologies, and soil health all belong together to achieve sustainability.

90 Minute Factor

In this workshop we will explore how we integrate animals and livestock and every day care and feeding on the farm.

The first portion of the workshop will deal with understanding the population of livestock housed here at Mezzacello Urban Farm.
After the intro, the workshop will allow students to interact with an animal in the biolab (shed 4).
The second portion of the workshop the students will observe the animal they are treating and discover any anomalies they see.
Finally, each student will use the tools and charts available to determine a prognosis
They will share their prognosis and return the animal safely to its home.

Half-Day Factor

In this expanded half-day workshop we will explore in a full design challenge the care and housing of livestock on the farm and will create a video presentation.

If there are enough students, have them form teams and choose a name.
Students will choose an animal at Mezzacello and why they are important.
Students will create a device that successfully treats an animal for a specific prroblem..
Students will work together in teams to protect their animal.
Students will follow the Design Cycle to create this solution.
Students must make a video showing their solution in use on the farm at Mezzacello.

Full-Day Factor

In this expanded full-day workshop we will create a full design challenge dealing with health and wellness of poultry, rabbits, and crickets, solve a real-world problem at Mezzacello using the Design Cycle, and writing and recording a video presentation.

In the first part, students must learn about the ways livestock are important on a farm.
Students will create a device that successfully addresses the needs of livestock.
Students must work together in teams and create a useful idea together.
Students will follow the Design Cycle to create this solution.
In the second part of this workshop, students will identify a system that could be improved with the application of STEM to solve that problem.
Students have the option of either designing and building a prototype of their solution or installing their solution at Mezzacello Urban Farm.
Students must make a video showing their solution in use on the farm at Mezzacello or the solution that they installed to solve a real world problem.

Workshop: BioEngineering Basics

In this one-day workshop we will explore the role that simple machines play in the engineering reality of the modern world and on the farm. Workshop: Bioengineering Basics asks the participants to reverse engineer a series of objects from the six simple machines and the materials involved.

90 Minute Factor

In this workshop we will explore the role of the six simple machines in every day farm tools and inventions.

The first portion of the workshop will deal with understanding the six simple machines and their variations. After the intro, the workshop will allow students to design a tool that uses these simple machines.
The second portion of the workshop the students will build and test their devices.
Finally, each student will share out their design and prototype and discuss ways they could use their tools together.

Half-Day Factor

In this expanded half-day workshop we will create a full design challenge with simple machines and a video presentation.

Students must learn about the 6 simple machines and why they are important.
Students must create a device that successfully uses at least 4 of the 6 simple machines.
Students must work together in teams and create a useful idea together.
Students will follow the Design Cycle to create this solution.
Students must make a video showing their solution in use on the farm at Mezzacello.

Full-Day Factor

In this expanded full-day workshop we will create a full design challenge with simple machines, solve a real-world problem at Mezzacello using the Design Cycle, and writing and recording a video presentation.

In the first part, students must learn about the 6 simple machines and why they are important.
Students will create a device that successfully uses at least 4 of the 6 simple machines.
Students must work together in teams and create a useful idea together.
Students will follow the Design Cycle to create this solution.
In the second part of this workshop, students will identify a system that could be improved with the application of STEM to solve that problem.
Students have the option of either designing and building a prototype of their solution or installing their solution at Mezzacello Urban Farm.
Students must make a video showing their solution in use on the farm at Mezzacello or the solution that they installed to solve a real world problem.

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.

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

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.

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:

How much sun as a function of time
How often and long does water need to spray
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.

This level of obsession. (Courtesy Columbia Pictures)

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:

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

Don’t forget to design a door! Don’t forget that base will roll back under!

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:

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

Chaos trying to build a 90Kg (200 lb) steel dome

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.

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

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:

The boxwood parterre needs trimmed and dead material removed.
Collecting cardboard for reuse all year is a bad idea as groundhogs and rats love that.
The water collection and storage IBCs need reset and raised so that the groundhogs can’t make dens under them.
The solar array for the allee lights need to be joined into one 9 volt array to save on resources.
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.

The Golden Ticket Presentation

This is the Golden Ticket Presentation I gave 10/15/2023 at the Global Innovation Field Trip. It is a very nice presentation and I am very proud of myself. I am a Willy Wonka for summer camps and workshops on biotech, renewables and sustainability!

YouTube of my October 15, 2023 presentation to Global Innovation Field Trip.

I chose Willy Wonka because I know globally this reference is still relevant to many kids around the world. I wanted something fun and accessible, but still mysterious and a tad dangerous? Mostly I wanted kids to see that failure is the path to learning when we play rather than work.

Oompa Loompas AKA Student Interns

I also love my “Oompa Loompas”. These were my kid teachers. You can see them in the screenshot of the video above.

They are LITERALLY the three young (and only) girls in this photo. They were (from Left to Right) Milana, Summer, and Arya.They helped me run and teach this summer camp on BioEngineering to this group of 16 boys.

I never told them I thought any of my interns were Oompa Loompas of course. I didn’t know it then either. This idea of Mezzacello Urban Farm as a metaphor for Wonkaland is quite new.

But these five young interns were just that! The magic that makes the magical place work and come alive in the hearts and the imagination of the young people in the camps and workshops. I literally could not have had the success I did without them.

Impacts and Pride

They did a terrific job, and I am very proud of them. I am proud of all the kids in my camps and workshops this year! 160 kids in 13 programs, and an additional 103 in my online events and tours.

The success of this intern program has been so great that I am extending it into 2024 with a new series of workshops on leadership and peer to peer mentorship and training. I will be announcing details later in November. To those parents who have already reached out, I have your data!

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

Hopes and Dreams

Hopes and Dreams matter to us adults and to the kids we support, encourage, and adore. This is Gabe. One of my #PostCOVID summer camp kids at Mezzacello Urban Farm and there is a great story here.

Fearless Dreaming

[Gabe] taught me to not be afraid of my dorkiness, but to always lean into what I was passionate about.

Jim Bruner

In June of 2021 the world was realing from the devastating effects of the COVID19 pandemic and the global mandatory lockdowns through all of 2020. Fear was everywhere. But I KNEW – I KNEW – I needed to give people hope here at Mezzacello. After all, it had sustained Rick and I all through the pandemic.

I just needed a brave cohort of families to trust in me and my partners at PAST Foundation to share their children in a summer of transformational learning. All courtesy of the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation. So we launched the BioLEGO and ProjectMartian Grants.

It was still a very scary time. COVID deaths could rise again and everyone had to wear masks still.But more than anything we all of us wanted to learn, dream, grow, connect, and hope for more. I met some remarkable people that year.

Enter Gabe

The kids in my two camps that year, BioLEGO and Project Martian were so amazing. They wanted more from life. They wanted fun, mystery, challenges – and they wanted to connect.

After a year of isolation, they were nervous, but more human now than ever. Gabe was a fabulous kid in my Project BioLEGO camp. He taught me to not be afraid of my dorkiness, but to always lean into what I was passionate about.

A kid. A kid modeled this for me and MADE me believe it. It was Gabe’s idea to take this photo.

Who Knew Robots Could do this?! Samuel in Fin 2 Feathers Workshop

Jim Bruner

He casually informed me that we were BOTH going to wear the same hats in this photo. Black stetsons that I wear a lot. And we were going to pose for the camera, but we had to also wear the NASA helmets.

He SAW that I was willing to dream, he WATCHED me lay down for 30 minutes after every meal that I ate for two solid weeks straight. He KNEW I wanted a brighter future for ALL kids. So we took this photo together.

People Can Be More Than One Thing At A Time

Gabe and I were both wearing NASA helmets. You can’t see Gabe’s helmet, he is way too cool. Gabe wanted us BOTH to be farmers and astronauts.

The backstory here is that JUST THAT DAY, Gabe had asked me what I thought about every day – three times a day after I ate – what I thought about lying still for thrirty minutes. I told him the truth: I think about all the ways that I plan to change the world.

Gabe decided right then and there that he wanted to change the world too. He didn’t need to be JUST a famous Tattoo artist on YouTube, he could also be a fabulous nano-fabrication lithographist on Mars. People can be more than one thing at a time, Mr. Jim.

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