The Foodist: Lox and Goat Cheese Omelette
This was a delightful breakfast! It was a re-imagining of the traditional bagel with lox. Eggs and goat cheese fill in.
Water Conservation Systems
Water is a valuable and limited resource. Yes it can be reused, recycled, and is abundant - but only to a limit. Preserve water!
Boot Storage on an Urban Farm
My strategy for keeping boots accessible, safe and dry. Using the picket fence to store boots to keep the rain out.
Recycling Boxed Wine Bags
Preparing fertilizer with recycled boxed wine bags! Luckily my neighbors can provide plenty of wine bags and serve as testers as well
Unlikely Interns on an Urban Farm
We had hosted a guest at Mezzacello who wanted to help around the farm. There was a learning curve. Hilarity ensued.
Get The Lead Out
Chicken farming group posted a story about high lead contamination in backyard flocks in Australia, my neighbors and I had our soil tested.
It’s Getting Hot In Here
As part of my continuing series of blogs about water as a resource, this blog discusses sublimation and vapor.
When Water Goes Missing
Two years ago this was a great mystery. We thought we had a leak in the pond. What I found shocked me. The atmosphere and plants!
Martian Zero-Dirt Soil Update 2022
It’s been a few years since I initiated the bioreactor and compost engine at Mezzacello. Time for a year two update.
10 Facts About Mezzacello (Part 1)
Le sigh... 10 facts is not nearly enough to describe the diversity and magic of Mezzacello effectively. Part 1
Carbon Footprint in a Yard
QuickVue at all the ways you can reduce your carbon footprint in your own backyard with a little effort time and Applied STEM
Water From Waste Part Two
After testing the design for a simple plastic solar still, we will build a better more efficient model with wood, metal and glass.
How the Bioreactor Works
A simple schematic of the bioreactor as it was originally designed. How the sun, wind, air, water, chemicals and compost all interact.
Care and Instructions for a Parterre Garden
The parterre garden has a long and storied history. It is a good system for gardening and is quite effective.
Parterre Herb Garden Update 2022
A quick update on the parterre herbal gardens. A note on how to how to harvest and preserve them. And they smell delightful.
From Waste to Water
Using off the shelf buckets, washed sand, gravel, charcoal and was large river stone we can purify even the dirtiest water.
Next-Level Algae Collection
I have been cleaning biofilter sponges of their dried algae by hand. Today I repurposed my chicken feather plucker for algae.
Avian Flu and Sanitation
Avian Flu is deadly for chickens and ducks. When kids visit Mezzacello, I insist they sterilize the shoes in bleach. All feet covered!
Lessons in Food, Water, and Waste
The Luke Skywalker Effect. We had rice that was contaminated with weevils. So we cooked the rice with star wars still water.