Map of Mezzacello Urban Farm
Formal Gardens
These are the gardens that face North 20th Street. They are planted in a traditional city garden format with three distinct rooms defined by boxwoods, flowers, and various flowering shrubs and Perennials.
Each bed is a permaculture swale and this these gardens function as zeroscape and add much needed biomass (and beauty) to Mezzacello Urban Farm.
Hornbeam Allee
This is the secret garden of Mezzacello Urban Farm. Surrounded on three sides by Hornbeams all propagated by cuttings, in five years the allee has grown to 3 meters tall and is cool, private, and quiet. Each bed is a permaculture swale and this these gardens function as not only as shade and privacy, but as zeroscape and add much needed biomass (and beauty) to Mezzacello Urban Farm.
The lighting is all powered by renewables from solar and wind, and the fountain and trees rely on renewable rain water resources as well.
Pollinator Runway
This is another secret garden of Mezzacello Urban Farm. Located behind the Hornbeams these series of undulating beds are designed to catch the attention of pollinators through thoughtful placement of native and pollinator friendly plants, bushes, and flowers.
The pollinator runway is an essential feature of Mezzacello Urban Farm. By both attracting pollinators, and leading to sources of water and food, the pollinators stay a bit and pollinate all the other gardens and fruits and vegetables. Life attracts life.
Aquatic Ecosystem
The pond at Mezzacello Urban Farm is a critical and delightful feature. The pond holds 7K Liters (2K gallons) of water, is 2 meters deep at its lowest point, recycles all algae and precipitates, and provides water during winter. Typically the pond is covered with Water Hyacinth to shade the koi, but they also feed the fish and the ducks and help control algae.
The ponds purification and water management systems are also very sophisticated. A biofilter collects and isolates algae and destroys algae with UV light. A Bokki shower exposes returning water to 1000 ceramic tubes to break up nitrites and nitrates and oxygenate the water. All systems run on solar and wind power. Life attracts life.
Herbal Parterres
The boxwood framed herbal parterres at Mezzacello Urban Farm are not just pretty gardens. They serve a critical mission here at Mezzacello Urban Farm. The parterres create microclimates and soil patches that can accomodate a variety of herbs and plants. The boxwood also blocks harsh wind and heeps many predators out and away from tender herbs and plants.
The parterre to the south is for medicinal herbs, and the parterre to the north is for culinary herbs. Behind the statue you can see both the biofilter and the bakki shower structure.
Livestock Shed and Run
The livestock shed (Shed 1) and it’s adjacent poultry run is the home of all the livestock that live at Mezzacello Urban Farm are housed. The Livestock shed holds chickens, ducks, rabbits, quail, crickets, mealworms and the waste collection tank houses worms. All manure is collected and repurposed on site.
The livestock provide valuable manures, food, feathers, furs, eggs, and of course, more livestock. It is a critical component of the success of the enclosed, integrated and inter-related, sustainable ecosystems of Mezzacello Urban Farm.
Energy Production and Power Systems
The energy production shed (Shed 2) is adjacent to the poultry run. This shed is home to the main battery array and six of the 20 solar panels and four of the eight Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT) that power Mezzacello Urban Farm. Why technically, this is not part of the enclosed integrated and sustainable ecosystems at Mezzacello Urban Farm, it is nonetheless a critical resource on a 21st Century Applied STEM Urban Farm.
The vast majority of the 1200W of wind-generated power comes from East Broad Street traffic (rush hour, busses, Delivery trucks, and cars speeding down the alley just below these wind turbines. Mezzacello Urban Farm has invested heavily in renewable energy technology as a commitment to our mission of Grow, Maintain, Sustain, Explain and our passion for Sustainability.
Potager Gardens
The potager gardens, vertical gardens, and raised bed growing systems lie at the very heart of the Applied STEM and Educational Locus of Mezzacello Urban Farm. There are 24 Compost and soil hybrid raised bed growing Beds at Mezzacello, five vertical gardens, and nine raised beds around the perimeter of the potager garden. Each bed and system has a very important role to play. potager beds (surrounded by a steel fence and three gates) are used for growing mostly root vegetables and legumes. The vertical gardens are for vining crops and provide four rotating waterers that automatically water all the potager environment. Greens are grown in raised beds to better protect them from predatory groundhogs and squirrels.
Composting Systems
The biomass at Mezzacello Urban Farm is specifically curated to create equally robust sources of green and brown biomass for our composting systems. The primary composting pathway is through the bioreactor which resides at the northeast corner of the potager garden.
This 3 meter (12 feet) tall tower plays many roles. It is part pressurized 1000L water tank, part energy generation plant, part automated composter using modified 1000L IBC tanks. The compost is collected and deposited in the tank at the base of the bioreactor. An Arduino-based robotic system applies water from above and accelerant at regular intervals to the tank below. The bioreactor tank can break down compost in 45-50 days and collects compost tea at the base.
Classroom and Lab Spaces
Sheds 3 and 4 of Mezzacello Urban Farm are located on the north side of the potager gardens. They are connecting with a classroom space that is capable of comfortably holding 15 kids. Shed 3 is dedicated to additive manufacturing, microelectronics, and bioengineering. Shed 4 is a dedicated wet lab with sinks, lab equipment, microscopy, and chemical synthesis.
Each lab plays a critical role in teaching applied STEM traditional ag and 21st Century technology and automation strategies on an urban farm. Mezzacello Urban Farm host multiple week-long and day-long camps and workshops. These events cover Biotechnology, Bioengineering, Biomechanics, EcoJustice, Climate Reality, and Quantum Effects in Nature.
Biodome Facility
The Biodome is the newest research system and facility at Mezzacello Urban Farm. This structure is entirely unique at the farm. It is a 3m wide by 3m tall geodesic dome with a plastic double shield dome for winter greenhouse use, and open air from spring through summer.
It is entirely automated and runs on renewable power. In the winter it can maintain a constant 23C and water automatically. in spring and summer it serves as an animal clinic and classroom.
The dome shielding in winter is two layers of plastic over a steel frame with silicone connectors. When sensors register tight expansion, (too much pressure) fans are activated to let in cooler air or release air.
My Amazing Community
The last ecosystem at Mezzacello is the amazing and diverse community I live in. Mezzacello Urban Farm is located in downtown Columbus, OH in the United States. The neighborhood I live in is just 10 blocks east of the epicenter of downtown Columbus. It is an older neighborhood comprised of wealthy homeowners who have been remodeling the pre-20th Century mansion, and the community that has been here all along.
As an urban farmer and futurist, i deeply value diversity, mission, and hard work. This community provides. They give me resources to jumpstart compost, take spare eggs that I have and provide valuable security and donated resources that every non-profit needs. The garden of people and community I have around me is one of the most dynamic ecosystems at this urban farm.