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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
« WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE? | Main | WACKED OUT WEATHER »
July 27, 2008
What’s New On the Plate
This week - figs! Figs are one of those versatile fruit that can go both ways. Used in both sweet and savory dishes. Not only do figs make outstanding desserts they also are dynamite in quesadilla and pizza.
Growing up I was never really a fig lover (though did enjoy fig newtons as a kid - thanks to a hippie parent I suppose). But after years of growing what we eat and eating what we grow, I’ve learned to appreciate and really enjoy figs. Every year we look forward to these easy, no hassle, versatile fruits.
HG = Homegrown
SATURDAY
Breakfast - homemade, HG blueberry pancakes (made with HG eggs) and homemade, HG strawberry sauce
Dinner - potluck, contributed summer salad (HG tomatoes, cucumbers, basil) and fruit salad (HG strawberries, peaches, apples)
SUNDAY
Breakfast - homemade granola and HG fruit
Lunch - HG tomato, basil sandwich with HG green beans
Dinner - summer medley mac & cheese (HG peppers, tomatoes, green onions, zucchini)
MONDAY
Breakfast - homemade granola and HG fruit
Lunch - HG fig quesadilla (homemade flour tortillas) with HG tomatoes, peppers, green onions with HG green bean salad
Dinner - HG fig quesadilla (homemade flour tortillas) with HG tomatoes, peppers, green onions with HG summer salad (HG tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers) and organic feta cheese
TUESDAY
Breakfast - homemade granola and HG fruit
Lunch - HG green beans, lima beans with organic CA rice and pecans
Dinner - HG tomato sandwich
WEDNESDAY
Breakfast - homemade granola and homegrown fruit
Lunch - HG zucchini and eggplant patties with HG beans
Dinner - HG zucchini and eggplant patties with summer salad (HG tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers)
THURSDAY
Breakfast - homemade granola and HG fruit
Lunch - HG green beans and organic CA rice
Dinner - homemade HG herb pizza crust topped with organic cheese, HG figs, eggplant, peppers, basil and tomatoes
FRIDAY
Breakfast - homemade granola and HG fruit
Lunch - HG green bean with homemade CA organic rice pilaf
Dinner - organic whole wheat pasta with homemade tomato sauce with HG tomatoes, peppers & herbs with HG beans, homemade no knead bread and HG/homemade wine
Tags:
bread,
california grown,
celery,
eggs,
filming,
Herbs,
homegrow,
homegrown,
homemade,
Vegetables
Topics: 100 Foot Diet, Homegrown Diet, Posts by Anais | Tags: bread, california grown, celery, eggs, filming, Herbs, homegrow, homegrown, homemade, Vegetables
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July 27th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Your weekly meals really inspire me to be more creative with what is local and in season. What is in your homemade granola?
Thanks for your wonderful website.
Kim
July 28th, 2008 at 5:55 am
It all sounds and looks yummy! Especially the figs! I love figs but for years I forgot about that yummy treat from my childhood. We use to have a fig tree in our yard and my granny would make the best fig preserves. When I was pregnant with my last child; he is almost three; I developed a craving for some of my granny’s fig preserves. I found some locally, and have been buying preserves from the farmers market ever since. My mom is coming for a visit next week and bringing me 5 gallons of figs, so I will be trying my hand at preserving my own. I just wish I had my granny’s recipe, but she passed away three years ago at the age of 98.
July 28th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Wow I never knew figs can be used for savory dishes! Cool! btw, how do you keep the June Beetles from attacking your figs? My Mom is constantly battling them.
July 28th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Wow fig yum! How many fig trees do you have? I have 3 small ones and only 1 is producing. It only has 8 figs but they are huge. I put rabbit dropings on the one as an experiment. I guess it worked. I can not wait till next year when I hope they will all produce figs. And be bigger trees.
July 28th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Yum, yum, yum! Delicious!
July 28th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
We have a fig tree and I love them!! I stand and pick and eat. Don’t eat much jam, so not sure what to do with excess.
Have never tried them in savory dishes. May have to try that. Have you ever tried to freeze them?? I need to do some research on preserving extra figs.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
I have frozen a few pounds of figs (last year) but I haven’t used them yet. I’m planning to make a mead with figs, and hope to do it in September. I got the figs from a volunteer tree next to the sidewalk that I discovered when out walking. I’ve heard volunteer fruit trees usually don’t produce good fruit, but this one is great.
August 9th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
I would like to have your homemade granola recipe as well as your ‘no knead’ bread. I currently grind my own wheat and make bread and would like to try my hand at no knead.
thanks so much! Love the website.