Workshop: Physical Electricity

In this Workshop: Physical Electricity we explore How we use BASIC electrical expertise to create solar panel, wind turbine, pump, and battery arrays here at Mezzacello Urban Farm. No voltages over 12 V and Amps constrained to 6A to assess the impact this has on creating a sustainable and safe community through the lens of the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals. When we understand what the goals are, we can start looking at ecosystems and engineered systems with a better outlook.

Workshop Benefits

• A basic introduction BASIC electrical components in use at Mezzacello Urban Farm
• Learning applied STEM cues and patterns will help any person better understand how we are sustainable
• We will rebuild a simple game and a simple solar panel and wind turbine
• We will be exploring some of the quirks of AC and DC voltage on an urban farm
• We’ll be caring observing and highlighting the advanced energy systems here
• Waterproof boots and jeans are a MUST
• Encourage trust and communication, respect and belonging in your community
• Encourage kids to see their value together as problem solvers!
• This workshop is optimized for grades 5 – 9

Workshop Costs and Structures

Sunday, June 2, 2024 9:00 – 2:00 Presentation at 2:00

COST: $90 for a seat and this includes supplies and a video presentation

MAX Class size: 10

All of Mezzacello’s Workshops are $90 and have a max capacity of 10 students. Each workshop offers students to work together in teams and with Mezzacello staff to learn applied STEM and natural systems, or work in two teams! Teams in this context is very popular.

This camp will run Sunday, June 2, 2024 from 9:00 – 2:00. Lunch is not provided. From 1:00 – 2:00 each team will come together to teach each other what they know. This can be filmed or not. But sharing new knowledge is central to Mezzacello Urban Farm’s mission of Grow, Maintain, Sustain, and Explain.

Do you think you and your kid are up for the challenge? Sign up today before this weekend workshop fills up!

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Workshop: Partners Not Pets

In this Workshop:Partners, we explore the role a of chickens, ducks, rabbits, and quail in the ecosystems and health of Mezzacello Urban Farm. Care and cleaning, integration into soil health, compost, byproducts and humane care are covered, as well as Problem-Solving, Using animals to influence the impact this has on creating a sustainable and safe community through the lens of the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals. When we understand what the goals are, we can start looking at ecosystems and engineered systems with a better outlook.

Workshop Benefits

• A basic introduction on the care and feeding of the livestock at Mezzacello Urban Farm
• Learning applied STEM cues and patterns will help any person better understand how we are sustainable
• We will take the time to care for, clean, and treat both humans and livestock
• We will be exploring some of the quirks of integrating animals on an urban farm
• We’ll be caring for, feeding and inspecting and working with the livestock!
• Waterproof boots and jeans are a MUST
• Encourage trust and communication, respect and belonging in your community
• Encourage kids to see their value together as problem solvers!
• This workshop is optimized for grades 5 – 9

Workshop Costs and Structures

Saturday, June 1, 2024 9:00 – 2:00 Presentation at 2:00

COST: $90 for a seat and this includes supplies and a video presentation

MAX Class size: 10

All of Mezzacello’s Workshops are $90 and have a max capacity of 10 students. Each workshop offers students to work together in teams and with Mezzacello staff to learn applied STEM and natural systems, or work in two teams! Teams in this context is very popular.

This camp will run Saturday, June 1, 2024 from 9:00 – 2:00. Lunch is not provided. From 1:00 – 2:00 each team will come together to teach each other what they know. This can be filmed or not. But sharing new knowledge is central to Mezzacello Urban Farm’s mission of Grow, Maintain, Sustain, and Explain.

Do you think you and your kid are up for the challenge? Sign up today before this weekend workshop fills up!

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Workshop: BioTech in Action

In this Workshop: BioTech in Action, we explore the role a of treating and diagnosing common problems and pathologies of chickens, ducks, rabbits, and quail, as well as Problem-Solving, Using Tools and Strategies to build and solve basic problems on a farm and what impact this has on creating a sustainable and safe community through the lens of the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals. When we understand what the goals are, we can start looking at ecosystems and engineered systems with a better outlook.

Workshop Benefits

• A basic introduction on the care and feeding of the livestock at Mezzacello Urban Farm
• Learning applied STEM cues and patterns will help any person better understand how we are sustainable
• We will take the time to understand three pathologies that impact humans and livestock
• We will be exploring viruses, bacteria, and fungus and parasites and how to avoid them, safely
• We’ll be caring for, feeding and inspecting and working with the livestock!
• Waterproof boots and jeans are a MUST
• Encourage trust and communication, respect and belonging in your community
• Encourage kids to see their value together as problem solvers!
• This workshop is optimized for grades 5 – 9

Workshop Costs and Structures

Sunday, May 26, 2024 9:00 – 2:00 Presentation at 2:00

COST: $90 for a seat and this includes supplies and a video presentation

MAX Class size: 10

All of Mezzacello’s Workshops are $90 and have a max capacity of 10 students. Each workshop offers students to work together in teams and with Mezzacello staff to learn applied STEM and natural systems, or work in two teams! Teams in this context is very popular.

This camp will run Sunday, May 26, 2024 from 9:00 – 2:00. Lunch is not provided. From 1:00 – 2:00 each team will come together to teach each other what they know. This can be filmed or not. But sharing new knowledge is central to Mezzacello Urban Farm’s mission of Grow, Maintain, Sustain, and Explain.

Do you think you and your kid are up for the challenge? Sign up today before this weekend workshop fills up!

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Lesson: Animal Babies and Health

This lesson: Animal babies and health will allow students to explore the basics of animal health and safety. Access to baby animals will be supplied and students will tour the Vet tech facilities at Mezzacello and learn common disease vectors for various animals.

Special Needs

Students love baby animals, but they might not fully understand the life cycle of an animal. This lesson is designed to help students understand the complete life cycle on an urban farm, and that sometimes that means they are a source of food.

But first they need a healthy environment, care, warmth, and a balanced diet. Even if an animal is destined to be a food source, it still deserves dignity, care and respect. Animals that are destined to provide alternate food source to meet (Eggs, manure, more animals) will have different needs.

Animal Anatomies

Materials

• A source of baby animals
• A cage to secure them, feed them, water them, and provide shelter from wind, cold, or sunlight
• A whiteboard or paper for making notes the camp can see
• Dry erase markers
• Microfiber cloth for erasing things
• Gloves
• Boots
• Paper Towels
• Hand sanitizer
• A space preferably outdoors with grass, although asphalt or linoleum is fine, just bring sanitizer to clean up
• Access to fresh water from a watering can or a hose

Instructions

1. Introduce the animals to the students
2. Allow the students to identify the baby animal

   • It’s OK to allow the students to handle the animals, but you MUST INSIST they wear gloves or wash their hands with soap afterwards
   • Handling a a baby animal is fun, but insist on treating the animal with grace kindness and ask students to listen to the animal for signs of fear or distress
   • This is a great lesson in empathy and mindfulness
   • If only one person expresses concern or fear, ask that person to be brave and share what they fear
   • Acknowledge that thought and show them kindness, ask others to as well
   • Remind them that we all of us were baby animals once

3. Ask the students to observe and share everything they know about this animal in their world
4. Record those observations on the whiteboard
5. Discuss the life cycle of this animal from birth to death

   • This might be a bit much
   • If one of the students mentions them as a food source you can address that
   • On an urban farm animals all serve more than one role and more than one source of food (meat, eggs, manure for plants, ect)
   • Ask students to reflect on the difference between a farm animal and a pet
   • Are pets sustainable? Do they require extra care and feed and time?
   • Are farm animals pets?

6. Discuss the role of death in the lifecycle

   • Why are some animals food sources and not others
   • Why is that?
   • Discuss the role of culture in food
   • Why do some people eat insects and not other people
   • What about chickens or rabbits, cows and horses

     • Are these food choices random?
     • Are they food – or not – a result of any specific cultural theme?

7. Ask your students if an animal can have more than one use on an urban farm?
8. Now attend the needs of this baby animal

   • Do they or it have adequate food, water, shelter, care?
   • If not what would the students add?

9. Discuss the role of electrolytes and medicated feed for baby animals
10. Poll the students to see if they all agree that these baby animals are safe and healthy