Urban Farm

Too Much Nitrogen, Not Enough Nutrients

After a hopeful start, I realized I missed the mark on nutrients, minerals and compost vs manure. Another season.

Compost, Soil Enrichment, and Garden Infrastructure
final layer of soil and nutrients

Twenty-First Century Realities to Restoration

Ah the things you find while transforming a vacant urban lot into an urban farm and garden. Kevlar Gloves!

Twenty-First Century Realities to Restoration
An old drug needle left by a sad soul in the brambles that used to define the lot at Mezzacello.

Sustainability and Renewal

The secret to sustainability is finding ways to reintegrate waste and produce more than you started with. Repeat and add diversity.

Sustainability and Renewal

Spring and the Art of Yard Maintenance

April is here. The grubs and pests are waking up, but the plants aren’t yet sending up their tender shoots. It’s the perfect time to let the ducks and chickens forage. Both species of birds are the perfect gardeners friend…

Poultry in the formal gardens

Unlabeled Perils of Modern Urban Farming

Salts and other chemicals unlabeled are dangerous. This seems like it would be obvious  until you face working a full-time job (that you love) and then cramming all the chores, ordering supplies online or from stores when funds are available…

Bags of salts and chemicals that have languished unlabeled over winter.

Watering an Urban Garden Efficiently

Living in the city means living in a heat bubble. Watering efficiently is a challenge. My solution to the problem.

Watering an Urban Garden Efficiently
View of the urban garden ecosystem from above

When You Have Love That Dovetails

Rick and I are an ecosystem, a system, a partnership. We need each other, we love each other, we improve and strengthen each other. We are also two independent people with enough foresight, history, wisdom, and vision to know that…

2019 Columbus Gay Pride Parade.

A Tale of North and South Korea: or East Mezzacello & West Mezzacello

North and South Korea: East and West Mezzacello North and South Korea is at the heart of Mezzacello. We always knew we were of two minds when we designed Mezzacello. Rick wanted Pretty and Plentiful, I wanted Functional and Farmland;…

New fountain garden