Summer Camps and Workshops Are Open!
Learn More About Our Spring and Summer Schedule
Get ready for an exciting summer at Mezzacello Urban Farm!
This year, we are enhancing our Summer Camps and Workshops by expanding and merging themes for a more dynamic experience. Previously focused on applied STEM—covering engineering, technology, biology, chemistry, and physics—our camps will now also offer fun and diverse activities in a range of subjects.
Join us as we explore the themes of Farming, Invention, Livestock, Renewable Energy, Leadership, and Sustainability. Don’t miss out on the adventure of learning and discovery!
Mezzacello Urban Farm
A Sustainable Urban Farm in the heart of downtown Columbus, OH
“We love Mezzacello! My boys attended multiple camps last summer and each time one ended they couldn’t wait to get to the next. Jim has been an amazing mentor and teacher for them-teaching not only incredible science and sustainability, but encouraging (and demonstrating) good character.
My oldest will be working as an intern and helping teach during the 2025 camps!”
Ecosystem Map of Mezzacello Urban Farm
UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals
The Farm at Night
The Pond in Summer
Robotic Fish to Monitor Pond Health
Prepping for the Environmental and Climate Justice Academy
The Hornbeam Allee and it's Solar Array and Lights
Columbus School For Girls Discovering baby chicks!
Rick is allergic, but Alice Cooper is kind
Portable Ag Workshop station (PAWs)
The Foodist is back in action
Service Learning Day at Mezzacello Urban Farm
Proudly displaying footage from the Sharkbot
Wind and Traffic Generated Power and Solar
Columbus City Schools Learning About Renewable Energy
Columbus City School Kids Making a YouTube Video about Solar Power
Summer Camp Kids Reviewing Video for YouTube Presentation
Mezzacello "Menterns" training together to teach programming
Sustainability
Our dedication to sustainability is a heartfelt mission. We aim to implement sustainable practices in our gardens, home, outputs, and educational outreach—making a difference in yours as well.
Why Sustainability?
Our world is at a crucial juncture. Rather than dwell on challenges, let’s focus on the positive changes we can make NOW in our communities.
I started a blog chain detailing all of my work in this area. You can read them all here.
Science and Summer Camps
Mezzacello Urban Farm represents a groundbreaking blend of providing insights and challenges to help kids grow confidence and STEM skills, traditional farming, and advanced technology, creating a sustainable model for the future. Our farm features six Learning Labs, diverse livestock, and ten enclosed ecosystems.
Our innovative summer camps, affectionately dubbed “Techno-Amish” by a parent, provide unique experiences.
On a scale of 1-5 Mezzacello Camps are an 11!
PARENT OF A SUMMER CAMPER
Ecosystems and Automation
We started our mission with two ecosystems: Formal Gardens and a small farm. As we progressed, we recognized the need for expansion and integration.
Now, in 2025, we proudly feature ten innovative and enclosed ecosystems at Mezzacello. [See our ecologies]. These ecosystems reflect our dedication to sustainability and interconnectedness.
These ecosystems include:
The formal garden permaculture beds
The pollinator gardens
The parterre and herbal gardens microclimates
The sustainable koi pond
Our advanced and h5N1-tested livestock integration system
An automated potager garden
An advanced and integrated composting system featuring
a power and water generation system, 5G repeater, weather station, a dedicated battery array and AC/DC inverter, and lastly,
The 1868 house we live in located on this farm.
Join us in our mission of building the future, and reflecting on the past.
Our Vision is to grow, maintain, sustain and explain the path forward for sustainability, workforce skills, health, and food security.
Jim Bruner, Futurist Farmer and Alpha Animal at Mezzacello Urban Farm
Mezzacello is a magical place. I have seen my child open up and do things that just a week ago would be impossible. And then to have them tell a crowd of strangers WITH a microphone why this is important. Stunning magic.
PARENT OF A STUDENT
Over the last seven years we have converted 2 abandoned plots of land and a 158 year old house in downtown Columbus into eight distinct and inter-related sustainable ecosystems. Today we continue to build, experiment, and innovate in urban farming and ag science. See an example of our philosophy here. We innovated right through COVID 2020 lockdown and proved this concept works.