October 2025 GIFT Presentation
My Journey to the Sustainability | Energy | Ecology (SEE) Mobile Tractor
Welcome to Mezzacello Urban Farm. This is a presentation to the Global innovation Field Trip 24-hour STEM presentation event. In this presentation I am explaining the Sustainable | Energy | Ecology (SEE) secure solar-powered mobile tractor designed and built by 2025 Summer Camp Kids.
In addition, this presentation highlights the other innovations put in place - by kids - to truly make this concept sustainable.
Introduction to the Concept
The First Chicken Tractor Concept
The Second Chicken Tractor Concept
The Third Chicken Tractor Concept
The Latest Mobile Tractor Design
The Problem
SEE (Sustainability, Energy, Ecology)
Keep animals, grounds, and plants, safe, healthy, and fed
Make this sustainable with on-board power
Maintain or improve the ecologies of Mezzacello
The SEE Concept
The SEE Tractor Base
A Standard Dog Kennel
Layers of Connection and Context
The Full Extent of the SEE systems Engineering Built into this Mobile Tractor Image Expands - Click
Sustainability
The Grounds: The First SEE Conflict
A Map of the Grounds at Mezzacello Urban Farm
Sustainability and Ecology
A Matter of Scale
You Can See How the Scale of the Tractors from 1 - 4 differs (Red Rectangles for scale) Image Expands - Click
Which Animals This Mobile Tractor SEE Unit Serves
Various livestock at Mezzacello Urban Farm
The STEMpathy of Mezzacello
STEMpathy = STEM + Empathy
“What is STEMpathy? It is using creativity, STEM, Art, and Compassion to learn to and reframe problems in the world based on making the lives of others better through our actions and impacts.”
This project was driven by a real-world need and it was relevant to the kids at my STEM Farming Summer Camps. The over-arching project was to create a portable system to protect 10 chicks that I had hatched for Columbus City Schools to study life sciences. The chicks were returned to Mezzacello after six weeks, where they were kept in the Biodome.
The chicks needed fresh grass and the opportunity graze, but the floor of the biodome is concrete pavers. the chicks were also decimating the sweet potato vines in the biodome. We need a tractor, but it had to be a truly integrated tractor. I tasked the summer camps to research, design, build, test, and modify it. This is the result.
Life from the Atom Up
Understanding security, sustainability, and empathy on an urban farm
Understanding feed and Nutrition needs for various livestock - AND Humans!
A Quick note on #MenTerns: The child smiling in the hat is the TEACHER! A Mentor + Intern at Mezzacello
Building Water Purification Systems to turn Filthy duck muck water back into water
Sustainability Part 2
Other Backend Systems Designed By Kids
Testing the Duck Muck Purifier
Sorting and Prepping edible weeds for making animal feeds from waste
Using AI and Art to help kids understand and identify edible weeds
Exploring and mastering structural tensegrity projects to adapt tools and products
MenTerns mastering, installing, and teaching solar energy and battery systems technology
Solving The Problem
In this image, you can see that the solution meets all three needs outlined in the original problem statement.
Working in teams, and during 10 different STEM-Themed Farming camps, the kids built out the systems and structures and built two models. One as a Control and the second to test and modify.
Dandelions, grubs, drought, and charging an e-bike
The SEE Rubric is met
Here we can see that all three components of SEE are being met.
The grass, weeds, grubs, and other pests are being digested and processed, and the soil is being fertilized. The animals are safe, secure and most importantly, mobile. They have become an effective part of the grounds.
The 200W panel will charge my ebike in 30 minutes. The system will also power heat lamps, water pumps, and fans, if needed. The panel provides rain protection for the animals and DC/AC charger/inverter (not shown).
The systems integrate seamlessly into 6 of the 10 ecologies at Mezzacello Urban Farm.
Compost, Livestock shed, Parterre Gardens, and Pond are off limits due to inaccessibility.
The Final Layout
Here you can see the way the components of the steel structure and the PVC are integrated to support and reinforce their role. The cage serves as structure, protection, and housing. The PVC provides the tractor a sled to slide across grass, and serves as roosts, and a mounting wall for the solar panel. The large square open floor of the kennel allows animals to forage and deposit wastes into the grounds for fertilization, but keep animals safe from predators.
Various views of the system as designed
Bonus Uses!
Life Finds A WAy
The system in use for isolating Rooster-damaged Hens. The rooster is recovering as well.
Isolating broody or rooster-damaged hens. The Rooster is recovering as well. His No Crow collar pulled out feathers and the hens were picking at him. All have been cleaned, treated, and sprayed with antibiotic skin care and are doing fine.
Avian Flu Option for testing and isolation.
Isolation and H5N1 Testing Process
This is a great system for isolating new animals, testing suspected or sick animals, or using for H5N1 testing and holding.
Better Safe Than Sorry, and Sustainable to boot?! Yay!
Questions or Comments?
What was your favorite part of this presentation? What questions do you have for me?
How to find me on Social Media and email
