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Urban Homestead Facts
LOCATION
Pasadena, CA
(Northwest Pasadena, one mile from downtown Pasadena)
PROPERTY SIZE
1/5 acre (66' x 132' / 8,712 sq.ft.)
GARDEN SIZE
~ 1/10 acre (3,900 sq.ft. / ~ 66' x 66')
GARDEN DIVERSITY
Over 350 different vegetables, herbs, fruits, berries
FOOD PRODUCED
6,000 lbs annually
challenging for 10,000 lbs in 2008 (read more)
URBAN HOMESTEAD SUPPORTS
4 full-time adults, volunteers, and many clients
ENERGY USAGE
6.5 kwh day (and going down!)
SOLAR POWER PRODUCED
9000 kwh ( as of 10/20/08)
GALLONS OF BIODIESEL MADE (since 2003)
1,500 gallons (as of 2/12/08)
"EARTH IMPACT FOOTPRINT" 5.2 acres per person
Tally Ho 2008
PRODUCE
4,340 lbs (9/31/08)
EGGS
Chicken 921 & Duck 1028 (10/22/08)
HONEY
25 lbs (10/20/08)
Steps Taken
Everyday Steps
Growing 99 % of produce
- 6,000lbs on 1/10 acre
Food Preservation/Storage:
- canning
- drying
- freezing
In the Kitchen:
- baking/cooking from
scratch
- yogurtmaking
- breadmaking
- cheesemaking
- sprouting
- cast iron cookware
- no dishwasher or
microwave
Food Choices:
- buying in bulk
- organic
- local
- eating seasonaly
- reducing "food miles"
- fair trade
- vegetarian(over 17 years)
Raising Small Farmstock:
- chickens (eggs/manure)
- ducks (eggs/manure)
- dwarf rabbits (manure)
- dwarf/pygmy goats
(milk/manure)
Composting Methods:
- making/using EM Bokashi
- vermicomposting
- composting food, garden
and green waste
Fuel:
- homebrewing biodiesel
- running diesel car on
biodiesel(~4,000 miles a yr)
Energy Conservation:
- "powering down"
- cut daily energy use in 1/2
12 kwh to 6 kwh a day
- 12 solar panels
- "green" power
- rechargeable batteries
- line drying clothes
Energy Efficient Appliances:
- washing machine
- refridgerator
- water heater(gas)
Energy Efficient Electronics:
- computer/printer/copier
- TV(no cable)/VCR/ DVD
Energy Efficient Lighting:
- compact fluorescent bulbs
- olive oil lamps
- oil lamps filled with
biodiesel
- homemade soy & beeswax
candles
- daylighting
- solar tube
Non-electrical Appliances /
Hand-powered
- blender
- toaster
- grinder(s)
- popcorn popper
- solar oven(s)
- hand washer/wringer
- pedal powered grain mill
- straight razor
- handcranked radio
- mortar & pestle
Natural beauty/no makeup
Homemade Non-toxic
Beauty Care Products
- toothpaste
- deoderant
Biodegrable/Non-toxic
Cleaning Products:
- vinegar
- baking soda
- lemon juice
Natural Health Practices:
- homeopathy
- herbal remedies
- prevention
Water Conservation Efforts:
- low flush toilets
- toilet lid sink
- reusing laundry water
- limit toilet flushings
- limit baths/showers
- mulching
- handwatering
- clay pot irrigation
- solar outdoor shower
- front load washer
- food not lawns
Hand powered garden tools:
- push mower
- broom, rake
- trowel, shovel
- hand clippers
Self-employed
Working at home:
- honey business
- produce/flower business
- craft business
Crafts & Skills:
- winemaking
- survival skills
- edible landscaping
- sewing
- leatherwork
- fiber arts
- animal husbandry
- holistic care
- tinctures
- carpentry
- plumbing
- building
- haircutting
- bicycle repairs
- soapmaking
- candlemaking
- herbs
- urban farming
- website design
- photography
- self publishing
- video & graphics
Living Simply:
- making use or do without
- bartering
- monthly shopping trips
- reduce, reuse & recycle
- second hand clothes
- salvage/thrift store
- consume less
Passive Cooling:
- no AC
- wood floors
- blinds
- windows
- screen doors
- edible forest
- "living" screens
- solar attic fan
Heating:
- no central heat
- woodstove that uses
scrap wood
- dress in layers
Walking the old paths:
- tithing
- day of rest
- stewardship
Saving seeds
Unschooling
Beekeeping
DIY Projects:
- solar oven
- cob oven
- solar outdoor shower
- depaved driveway/patio
- installed solar panels
- roofing
- sheds, etc
- animal enclosure, etc
- this website
- urban homesteading
Using canvas bags on
shopping trips / no plastic
Transportation:
- biodiesel "veggie" vehicle
- 4 "car free" days a week
- walk
- bike
- carpool
- mass transit
- cross country train trips
- 2 airplane trips in 25 years
"Green" Home Upgrades:
- metal roof
Outreach/helping others
along the path
CURRENT TRAILS
Growing 10k on 1/10
Rainwater
Waste water recovery
Support
We Support
« GREEN GOODS FOR THE GOOD OF THE PLANET | Main | NEWS FOR CHANGE »
March 18, 2007
PTF On Discovery Health April 5th
Our family doesn’t have cable so we won’t be able to see the show, but for those of you who do, PTF’s urban homestead will be featured on theDiscovery Channel’s “Get Fresh With Sara Snow.” The episode will air on April 5th at 8pm and again at 11pm.
In addition to that, we’ll keep our reader’s posted about a possible episode (and 3 “DIY” clips) on Hallmark’s ‘New Morning‘ show. Oh, yes, and there’s a possible Current TV piece, too, but as with all such media stories, it’s not certain until it airs.
Baby Chicks Delayed
On Friday, when Jordanne went to place her order she was told that because of the extremely warm temperatures (there’s that unseasonably warm weather again!) that have affected the hens and their laying, the arrival of the baby chicks has been postponed until April 9th. We will keep our local readers who ordered chicks posted when they can expect to pick up their orders.
Bone Dry
In the LA Times yesterday, Justin read that LA is 10 inches behind in normal rainfall levels this winter. With only three months left in the “rainfall window,” chances are getting slimmer and slimmer of our making it to normal rainfall levels. Unfortunately, for most folks this news won’t mean anything or affect their lives much, but to us this news is devastating. We count on decent rainfall in the winter to help the garden grow during the hot summer months. No amount of watering from a hose can replace a deep soaking from the sky.
This news is the reason why we are going to be installing gutters and cisterns to capture and store rainwater. (We haven’t got to this project yet because of all the spring plantings.) We are working on importing some innovative rainwater cisterns from Australia that would be ideal to fit on urban lots like ours where space is limited. Stay tuned for developing news.
We also plan to install a greywater system and anticipate that ourBrac Greywater System from Canada will be delivered this week. Instead of using the reclaimed water to flush the toilets, the water thesystem filters will be used to to irrigate the edible landscaping. Fortunately for us, the Pasadena municipal code allows the use of greywater if the water is subsurface. So with that in mind we are working on subsurface greywater irrigation plans. Also, Jules and Justin are working on plans build an outhouse complete with a composting toilet. Here in the arid west it’s all about water.
From the PTF Mailbox
Dear Dervaes family
Please accept my tax deductible donation
.. I’ve also visited your website many times, hence the donation. I like and support that you don’t accept advertising and you don’t proselytize.
… In closing, I wish you success in your ongoing quest on the Path to Freedom. I can fully appreciate the level of commitment, dedication and hard work it takes to maintain a lifestyle that most Americans would probably think borders on asceticism. However, in their rush to keep up with the Joneses, whose lives are more fulfilling?
- Craig
To Craig and all those kindred spirits who have donated or purchased from our online store, we are most appreciative of your kindness, generosity and support. Many blessings to you all.
Tags:
Composting,
edible landscaping,
EM
Topics: Chickens, Greywater Reclamation, Homestead Life, PTF Spotlights, Posts by Anais, Weather | Tags: Composting, edible landscaping, EM
RELATED POSTS:
PATH TO FREEDOM
PEDDLER'S WAGON
FREEDOM GARDENS
"LITTLE HOMESTEAD"
DERVAES GARDENS
URBAN HOMESTEADING
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March 18th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
I’m glad Australia is exporting something other than coal + uranium! The rainwater tanks are very popular here in Australia, and have experienced a resurgence in urban areas. No doubt due to all capital cities except one having restrictions on water use due to falling dam levels.
Good luck with the rain harvest and thanks for your inspiring work!
March 19th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
its great that PTF is getting publicity through cable shows! I hope you get paid for some of these.