FOUNDERS

  • Anaïs Dervaes

    Anais is an apron-wearing barefootin’ dynamo who is passionate about food, wellness and music. When she’s not leading kids through a magical tour of the farm, she enjoys hiking, foraging, practicing her autoharp and spending time in the kitchen, creating tasty meals from seasonal harvests.

    She is a hands-on activist for sustainable living, sharing her practical knowledge teaching people of all ages. Carrying on the family’s work and mission, she’s co-founder and Executive Director of the Urban Homestead Institute.

  • Justin Dervaes

    Justin’s love of growing things runs like blood through his veins. He oversees the daily farm operations and manages the farm box program, serving the customers with his down to earth “know-how” style and ever-ready smile. When he’s not trying to grow every heirloom tomato that exists on this planet, he enjoys beekeeping, and working alongside the interns where he’s able to share his witty wisdom and passion for growing food.

  • Jordanne Dervaes

    Jordanne loves all creatures great and small and uses her skills and knowledge to help others treat their animals with an encyclopedic mind of holistic & herbal remedies. When she’s not mucking out the chicken coop or welding power tools you’ll find her in the kitchen baking scrumptious desserts, brewing up medieval mead or wild wines.

    Carrying on the family’s work and mission, she’s co-founder and Associate Executive Director of the Urban Homestead Institute.

 

IN MEMORY OF OUR FATHER AND FOUNDER

Jules Dervaes Jr. (1947-2016)

 “ I measure short-term success by how much I have improved at what I am doing to make my world a better place. However, I see long-term success as being measured by what others have accomplished because of what I have done.”

 

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

 Thank you to the 'farm hands' who donate their time and energy to help grow the future.

Board & ADVISORS

 

  • Leigh is an educator, eco-sensitive designer and horticultural interpreter at the LA County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens. She has trained many county agencies in regenerative practices as well as conducting hands-on workshops with local schools and professional groups. Her love of collaboration and education infuse all aspects of her work, leaving participants with a profound sense of empowered accomplishments. Currently she holds multiple artist’s residencies at the LA County Arboretum, Metabolic Studios, and New Horizon School. She has received a Global Citizen Award from the United Nations, an Angel Award from the City of Los Angeles, and an Outstanding Citizen Award from the County of Los Angeles.

Our homegrown team are dedicated to serving the community. 

  • Lindsey brings passion, expertise and commitment to expanding awareness about food supply chains as a means to help people make informed decisions about what they eat in support of their own health as well as the health and well-being of our global communities and the environment. The convergence of both a learned sensitivity to the marginalized perspectives outside of Western-centric narratives as well as a recognized importance of food knowledge is what brought her to the drawing board.

    Lindsey currently works at Disney leading the implementation of programs designed to reduce foodservice emissions at Disneyland Resort. She is also a producer and host of Point of Origin docuseries, and a writer with bylines in Civil Eats, Life & Thyme, and Eater. Previously, she worked with agribusinesses across multiple countries in West Africa and Central Africa to scale agricultural development work.

    Lindsey holds a B.SC in Political Science from Santa Clara University and an M.SC in Environment and Development from the London School of Economics.

  • The Reverend Dr Ignacio Castuera is a renowned social justice activist and United Methodist minister. He was born and raised in Puebla, Mexico, coming to the United States to attend California State University at Long Beach. He later earned both a masters and doctorate at Claremont School of Theology. Ignacio served congregations in Mexico, Hawaii, and California, including eleven years at the Hollywood United Methodist Church. He was also the first Mexican-American to serve as a district superintendent in Los Angeles. He is editor of Dreams on Fire: Embers of Hope: From the Pulpits of Los Angeles After the Riots, which was one of the top ten religious books of 1992.

  • Onil Chibas to pursued a career in film but his constant pursuit of creativity and love of food finally came together when after finishing culinary school and becoming a chef he started his venture of Elements Kitchen in Pasadena, CA.

    Chibas first started buying and partnering from Urban Homestead in 2005 after being impressed with the quality of the edible flowers he purchased. Quickly he discovered the other things they were offering and has always featured their quality produce on his menus. He is excited to be part of the new Urban Homestead Institute and be part of furthering the mission of urban farming and sustainability that the Dervaes family has championed for so many years.

  • Dan Whitmore has worked in TV, music and fashion. He is a musician, real estate investor and aspiring Homestead owner. Dan has shifted from corporate life to side hustles that have more meaning and impact. When he’s not volunteering at the Homestead twice a week, he is working at a rehearsal studio, camping or hiking in the mountains. He has been an intern since 2019 and helps organize activities for the growing intern/volunteer group.

  • Ben is currently pursuing a degree in Sociology at California State University, Northridge. He hopes for a future in teaching, research and academic social theory. He brings a diverse skillset to The Urban Homestead Institute through his lived experiences and work in food resource sustainability as well as community land trust models in East Hollywood. Ben is certified in grant writing and has recently shifted his focus to working to grow the non-profit administrative capacities.

SHARING OUR JOURNEY

PODCAST

Find us on your favorite podcast app

The Urban Homestead Radio podcast show is available on a variety of listening platforms.  Just access the links below via your computer, tablet, or phone and you're good to go.

 
 

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