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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
« OUTDOOR SHOWER | Main | WET & WILD »
May 22, 2008
Our fellow farmsteaders in South Pasadena have loads of duck eggs courtesy of their flock of over a dozen ducks. Jordanne takes full responsibility for turning them into urban quackers a couple years back when they dropped by our urban homestead one afternoon right after our first batch of baby ducks arrived back in 2003. The rest is duck-story!
The other day they dropped off a couple dozen figuring we have more contacts. So readers, if you are in the area and are interested in purchasing duck eggs contact us.
Of course, we fields lots of questions about using duck eggs. Here’s what Jordanne has to say on the matter:
In our baking experience here on the urban homestead we find that by using duck eggs our baked goods turn out very moist and fluffy (winning lots of great compliments like “what’s in these brownies?”).
Duck eggs also have more albumen (the protein in the white) than chicken eggs, which gives them more structure when cooked. For this reason, many people prefer duck eggs for baking: the extra protein creates additional loft in cakes.
Never eaten duck eggs? Duck eggs taste pretty much the same as chicken eggs. The eggs and yolks are larger and they have a richer nutrient level. They have a longer shelf life because the shells are thicker.
Many of those allergic to chicken eggs can often use duck eggs instead. Of course, if you have severe egg allergies, we suggest you consult your physician before using duck eggs.
Cooking with duck eggs doesn’t call for a major revision in technique. But there are differences: the yolks of duck eggs have more fat and the whites more protein than those of chicken eggs, and you need to take these differences into account when cooking. When fried, duck eggs set up firmer than chicken eggs (especially if they are very fresh) so you want to watch them carefully to avoid overcooking. Hard-cooked duck eggs are just like hard-cooked chicken eggs, only a bit richer. Because of the extra protein in the white, it is especially important not to overcook them. When beating eggwhites from duck eggs, it takes a bit more work to break the gel. As soon as they are frothy, however, they beat up fairly easily.
You can freely substitute duck eggs for chicken eggs in cakes, pies, cookies, custards, etc. Because the whites of duck eggs have more protein than those of chicken eggs, they will whip up higher when beaten and create more loft in cakes. This means lighter, higher cakes. But since the yolks are so rich, your cakes may also be richer with duck eggs.
HEALTH BENEFITS: Besides being great to bake with duck eggs are sought by cancer patients. Apparently, duck eggs are alkaline (basic), chicken eggs are acidic. Cancer cells don’t thrive in a basic environment, so some cancer patients adjust their body’s environment by eating alkaline foods like duck eggs. “
Tags:
Ducks,
eggs
Topics: Ducks, Posts by Anais | Tags: Ducks, eggs
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May 22nd, 2008 at 7:41 am
What can you tell us about the production ratio of ducks vs. chickens? For instance, I had thought that chickens laid about 1 egg/day, while ducks laid only twice a year.
What would be the most productive, if you could only have two animals?
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:51 am
Hello Diana
Our backyard breed of ducks (Khaki Campbell) are a hertiage variety breed exclusively for laying eggs. This English breed of ducks have a record of laying over 350 eggs a year!
Check out http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2007/09/06/143/
As for you quesiton chicken vs ducks. One of the benefits of ducks is that the KC ducks never go broody; however, ducks are messy in that their waste is “wet” so you have to manage their housing a bit different than chickens. Also, female ducks are relatively quiet - unlike chickens who like to let everyone know they’ve laid an egg. There’s benefita and disadvantages to both so it’s up to you.
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:06 am
Trying not to get too excited yet as it hasn’t been totally confirmed but I may be getting an unsexed pair of muscovy ducks early next week.
The pic I was shown it seems they haven’t feathered out yet , so probably less than 3 weeks old, and we are having reasonably cold overnight temps so I think they are probably going to be inside for a few weeks after they arrive.
Any thoughts that it would be useful to know as a first time duck owner?
Kind Regards
Belinda
May 27th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
That’s really good information! We have some Khaki’s (and a Harlequin). They’re just young things now but I’m excited about getting duck eggs later in the summer.