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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
8000 kwh ( as of 5/31/08)
GALLONS OF BIODIESEL MADE (since 2003)
1,000 gallons (as of 2/12/08)
"EARTH IMPACT FOOTPRINT" 5.2 acres per person
Tally Ho 2008
PRODUCE
2,100 lbs (6/31)
EGGS
Chicken 518 & Duck 640 (6/22)
HONEY
53 oz (5/19)
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
« GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY - GROW YOUR OWN FOOD | Main | WEEKLY MEAL CATCH UP »
May 4, 2008
Yesterday Jules Dervaes once again delivered a thought provoking and inspiring presentation/talk to a very enthusiastic and inquisitive crowd at Ten Thousand Villages, Pasadena. A special thanks to Sam, the store’s manager, for inviting PTF to speak, who, afterwards presented us with a card which read:
Thank you on behalf of our whole organization for sharing your story and wisdom. It was inspiring. I look forward to partnering with you and supporting your wok in the future. Thanks again - Sam
For those who were interested in books (like ‘How to Grow More Vegetables‘) and some of the gardening tools mentioned in the presentation you can buy them online here.
Out & About
What’s upcoming…
Saturday May 17th PTF will be tabling at C.I.C.L.E’S (thanks to the wonderful Liz & Shay duo for once again inviting us to participate) 2ND ANNUAL URBAN BICYCLE COMMUTER EXPO
Stay tuned for these outreach events and more as PTF spreads the seeds of self self-sufficiency throughout the community.
From the Inbox
An inspiring email which we like to share.
Greetings,
My cousin just recently told me about your homestead. I never knew anything like this existed here! It is like a Findhorn Community where the Lord has blessed you with sustenance. I briefly perused the website as I was overwhelmed at what I saw and couldn’t digest everything so quickly.
I watched a video clip on YouTube and was really amazed. That is something I have always wanted to do but never learned how to do it correctly.
I would love to take a tour and better yet, get my hands dirty and even water plants and just take in the scenery. I am so turned off by technology. One day, our Creator could say, ‘down with the power grid’ and then what? People will all be lost. I love candles and was the ONLY ONE on my block who turned off all electricity for one hour that one Saturday when we were asked to turn off lights. ….I was just so overwhelmed at reading your website and thank God for people like you.
Thank you for educating people and I am thankful that I finally found your website. . . in 2008!!! The world is going to hell in a hand basket and technology doesn’t help anything either. . . . except that I found your website, thanks to my cousin. She is starting to grow vegetables, too. It’s very sad that people are so into themselves and it is a greedy culture we live in. I pray that your work continues to be blessed!!
Melinda
Rosemead, CA
Tags:
community,
inspiration,
Out & About,
support
Topics: Events & Outreach, Letterbox, Posts by Anais | Tags: community, inspiration, Out & About, support
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May 4th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Thanks honorable Journal keeper & dueling cycler Anais, for mentioning the UrbanBike Commuter Expo. Planning to peddal on over from downunder Temple City/ Alhambra to see the goings ons & catch your exhibits. Looking forward to consulting Justin’s valued cycle expertise.
Cheers, David in Temple City