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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
« GROW WHAT YOU EAT, EAT WHAT YOU GROW | Main | OBSCENE GREEN: DOING MORE WITH MORE »
April 8, 2008
It’s starting off to be a busy week. Besides on the happenings on the homefront, Farmer D will be giving a talk at UCLA tomorrow, there’s Earth Day preparations (thanks to those of you who donated to support our Earth Day outreach this year we’ve raised nearly a 1/4 of our goal!), and a few media inquiries we had to handle.
Also on Wednesday, there’s schedule wrap up session to record a few voice overs for an upcoming documentary.
Here’s a list of where we’ll be this month
Path to Freedom
Out and About Celebrating Earth Day 2008
Thursday, April 17 Arts District / Little Tokyo Farmers’ Market 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Los Angeles City Hall – South Lawn on First Street between Main and Spring Streets
Saturday, April 19 Vroman’s Earth Day Celebration 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Courtyard of Vroman’s Bookstore, Pasadena
Tuesday, April 22 Wilshire Center Earth Day/Car Free Day 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wilshire Blvd. between Western and Harvard, Los Angeles
Thursday, April 24 Arts District / Little Tokyo Farmers’ Market 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Los Angeles City Hall – South Lawn on First Street between Main and Spring Streets
Saturday, April 26 Pasadena Greening the Earth Day 10 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Memorial Park – 145 N Raymond Avenue, Pasadena
I’ll be working on a few posts to publish soon, so stay tuned!
Tags:
earth day,
outreach
Topics: Events & Outreach, Posts by Anais | Tags: earth day, outreach
RELATED POSTS:
Comments
PATH TO FREEDOM
PEDDLER'S WAGON
FREEDOM GARDENS
"LITTLE HOMESTEAD"
DERVAES GARDENS
URBAN HOMESTEADING
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May 16th, 2008 at 1:43 am
More of a question There is a gardening class for senior citizens at Mt. San Antonio college in nearby Walnut. I’ve been telling the instructor about you. He is a Master Gardener and teaches Organic gardening. We are all learning to grow our own food. Would it be possible for him to schedule a field trip to your homestead? If so, please contract me with the info that he will need to contact you to set it up. Thank you.
May 16th, 2008 at 11:20 am
I just saw the “Nightline” piece on you guys, and when it was finished I wanted to stand up and cheer! Yes! What you’re doing is SO cool! I live in Laurel Canyon, in a tiny cabin 75 steps up a hill. You give me hope that somehow, a 69-year-old woman who lives alone can pull it together for ONE LAST HURRAH!
May 16th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
I happend to watch yesterdays “Nightline” on you and was so amazed on what I saw. You created an oasis in the middle of the city! You inspired me and I hope all others who saw the program.
A small step in the right direction. About two months ago, I started to get rid of the lawn in my daughters and son-in-laws Riverside front yard. We are planning on planting fruit trees, vegetables and edible flowers. Next years project is the backyard.
I live in Long Beach and would love to see your vegetable garden with my own eyes. How can I find out about any scheduled workshops and other events held on your property.
May 21st, 2008 at 5:59 am
I saw you on Nightline and was amazed and inspired. You are really leading the way for many people. We all need to get off this runaway treadmill that we are on. We work ourselves to death to buy the things that we use to try to make ourselves happy because we are so miserable from working ourselves to death.
I wish you all the success in the world. Good luck!
June 16th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
You guys & gals rock!
Do you know about codex Alimentarius? People need to know.
September 25th, 2008 at 10:18 am
my 11 year old daughter and two of her friends are inspired by me to see your home. when ? thanks Charlie
I heard about your home listening to KPFK, 90.7 FM
December 19th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Hello,
I’m an organizer for a group in Ann Arbor focused on sustainability and transition to a low-energy, resilient culture (aka Transition Town). I work in developing community organic gardens and am a regular volunteer at my csa (Tantre farm). I’m visiting my sister in Altadena over the holidays and wondered if I could volunteer a few hours at your site? I know you are swamped by requests from visitors so understand if you cannot. Thank you,
Kris Kaul
January 1st, 2009 at 12:00 pm
hello,
I am 14 and have taken a permaculture design course so I am very interested in seeing your farm. is there a way i can visit?
thank you so much for your inspiring work.
cody
January 12th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
I saw this on the morning news about 8months to 1yr ago and it stuck with me. I’m truely inspired. I’m a local Pasadenian and I can’t wait to enjoy the same life.
Thank you for all your efforts to make the planet we share a better place for the generations to come.
January 28th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Loved the article in Mother Earth News (Feb/March 2009 issue) which led me to your website! So glad I came across it since I can’t wait to read all the interesting tips and articles. Truly a wealth of information here~many blessings to all for inspiring others!
February 7th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
This is what America needs. If everyone grows even a tiny portion of their own food, we could eliminate our dependence on foreign food.