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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
« INTERDEPENDENCE DAY | Main | LAZY DAYZ »
July 4, 2008








Another week’s end and another round of weekly meal wrap ups.
SATURDAY
Breakfast - homemade, homegrown blueberry pancakes (made with homeraised eggs) and homemade, homegrown strawberry sauce
Dinner -homemade w.w. flour tortillas, homemade spanish rice (homegrown green onions, peppers, cilantro) topped with homegrown peppers, tomatoes, cilantro and organic cheese
SUNDAY
Breakfast - homemade granola and homegrown fruit
Lunch - leftovers from Saturday dinner
Dinner - hosted community local food potluck
MONDAY
Breakfast - homemade granola and homegrown fruit
Lunch - vegetable mac & cheese made with homegrown green onions, tomatoes, peppers
Dinner -homemade no knead bread topped with homegrown tomatoes, organic mozzarella cheese, homegrown basil, with homegrown cucumber salad with local farmer’s market feta cheese
TUESDAY
Breakfast - homemade granola and homegrown fruit
Lunch - homegrown green beans with homegrown baked tromboncino squash
Dinner - homegrown salad (homegrown greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, green beans) with leftover baked tromboncino squash
WEDNESDAY
Breakfast - homemade granola and homegrown fruit
Lunch - locally grown avocado (friend gave us a bag) on sprouted bread with homegrown tomatoes also homegrown green beans and homegrown tomato, greens and cucumber salad
Dinner - locally grown avocado (friend gave us a bag) on sprouted bread with homegrown tomato and homegrown cucumber and homegrown dill salad
THURSDAY
Breakfast - homemade granola and homegrown fruit
Lunch - locally grown avocado (friend gave us a bag) on sprouted bread with homegrown tomatoes with homegrown green beans
Dinner - homemade, whole wheat and homegrown herb pizza crust topped with homegrown tomatoes, peppers, eggplant zucchini, green onions and basil with homegrown cucumber and dill salad with farmer’s market feta cheese
FRIDAY
Breakfast - homemade granola and homegrown fruit
Lunch - organic whole wheat pasta with homemade tomato sauce with homegrown herbs, homegrown tomato and cucumber salad
Dinner -community potluck - we’ll be contributing homegrown tomato, cucumber salad and homegrown fruit bowl (homegrown strawberries, peaches, blueberries)
Tags:
100 Foot Diet,
Homegrown Diet
Topics: 100 Foot Diet, Homegrown Diet, Posts by Anais | Tags: 100 Foot Diet, Homegrown Diet
RELATED POSTS:
Comments
July 4th, 2008 at 6:54 am
I hate to ask for another recipe, but as great as your granola tastes, I’d love to try your ww tortillas too! Would you care to share with the class??? Tortillas/wraps are a staple in our house, but I have yet to find a really great recipe.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
That veggie mac ‘n cheese looks awesome! You ladies (and gents) need to compose a recipe book. It would be a hit.
July 5th, 2008 at 8:18 am
I agree on the recipe book idea. I just wanted to say that I read your journal and site regularly when I need a “pick me up”. It’s very inspiring. We are currently members of a CSA, but hope to move “up” to our own square foot garden soon.
July 5th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
I’m not sure I could have eaten another green bean after the week you guys had!
Gosh, though, I do love avocados! Your pasta shell dish looks fantastic. Hope you are enjoying your 4th of July weekend!
take car
Jennifer
HomeMattersMost
July 5th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
sorry, that should be ‘take care’ at the end, not ‘take car’ coz that doesn’t sound too good does it?
July 7th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Ooooh, blueberry pancakes with strawberry sauce!!! I’ve got to try that.