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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
« LAZY DAYZ | Main | LIVING LA VIDA LOCAL »
July 6, 2008
Declare Your Independence
FIGHT FOR FOOD SECURITY
This July 4th PTF is excited to announce the relaunch of our new sister site for all you homegrown revolutionaries out there. Here’s your chance to connect with fellow food fighters from all over the world.
The site will features feeds for contributing bloggers, spot for highlighting ‘Freedom Gardener’ of the month (this month we feature QUINCE HOMESTEAD), not to mention we’ll be offering prizes for points and sponsoring a “Tally Hoe” contest. Please note: we are still working on the site so there still could be error issues. But we hope to have them ironed out in the next few days.
As with any new venture, this site is in the seedling stage. We hope with your support, contributions it’ll grow and mature — and bear fruit.
In a few days time, we shift gears a bit move on to the social network for urban homesteaders, revamping the PTF site and more. For those of you who wrote offering to be UH contributing writers - thank you. We have your names on file and will hopefully be contacting you in the near future.
Not to mention I think we’ll have to re-do the LHITC journal. Seems like folks aren’t easily finding their way around the categories and entries too well. The journal is filled with so many answers but making the answers easier to find will be something to work on for reader’s ease and accessibility.
In the meantime, enjoy the newly launched FreedomGardens.org - sign up and grow for food security.
Onward garden soildiers!
Tags:
freedom garden,
Garden,
support,
Urban Homestead,
urban homesteader,
urban homesteaders
Topics: 100 Foot Diet, Challenges, Harvest Keeper, Liberate Your Yard, Posts by Anais, Website Updates | Tags: freedom garden, Garden, support, Urban Homestead, urban homesteader, urban homesteaders
RELATED POSTS:
Comments
PATH TO FREEDOM
PEDDLER'S WAGON
FREEDOM GARDENS
"LITTLE HOMESTEAD"
DERVAES GARDENS
URBAN HOMESTEADING
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July 6th, 2008 at 6:36 am
I’m a little confused about the purpose of these two new sites. Is one for ‘freedom gardeners’ and one for ‘urban homesteaders’ and if so, what’s the difference between the two?
July 6th, 2008 at 6:47 am
Hello LaVonne
To clarify that there is a difference in the two.
Freedom Gardens - is a site for those who are growing food and participating in certain challenges. A online resource center that allows them to connect with people in their area to barter trade homegrown goods, services and seeds. A place to talk about food issues - a rallying place for food fighters against the corporate controls.
Urban Homestead on the other hand will focused more on other aspects of creating a sustainable life in the city. With topics like citified farm animals, transportation, energy, waste, water, home economy. Basically all the 10 elements that make up and urban homestead with related articles and resources.
Hope that clears up any confusion.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Did some work on my profile this morning on the FG site this morning and it worked quickly and was really easy to use. that is the first time I have used it for pictures and it was really efficient.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Anais,
If you need someone to write a little somethin, I would be happy to try!
Thanks for clarifying the different sites. Keep up the good work. … How’s the smoke? And the fires? Hope things a starting to settle down. Did you animals get upset? Thanks, C
July 6th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Hello Christine
Thanks for the offer, we appreciate it. We could use a little writing help because sometimes with so many projects one can get a bad case of “writer block.”
The smoke’s not too bad here…. yet. Thanks for your concern. Most of the fires right now are in NorCal … but we have a long, dry summer ahead and I am afraid the situation can only get worse.
Contact me if you still want to try your hand at a writing assignment!
Have a lovely day.