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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
« HOMEGROWN THE FILM | Main | EATING CLOSER TO HOME »
August 11, 2008
“If every U.S. citizen ate just one meal a week (any meal) composed of locally and organically raised meats and produce, we would reduce our country’s oil consumption by over 1.1 million barrels of oil every week. That’s not gallons, but barrels.”*
From Oily Food, by Steven Hopp.
That was Then, This is Now.
In response to the heavy impact of World War II on the U.S. economy, Americans were urged to grow a victory garden (also called a war garden) in 1943. The gardens were planted by about 20 million families and would eventually provide nearly half of the fresh produce consumed during this troubled time. On rooftops, in back yards and even in containers on front porches, Americans produced eight million tons of fruit, vegetables and herbs in their own households.
Presently we are faced with a future that’s will be fraught with fuel scarcity, rising food cost and environmental implications.
As the world encounters hard times - there will be need of practical and back to basics solutions.
Freedom Gardens is growing beyond victory garden a food security movement person to person, blog to blog, neighbor to neighbor. Creating a sustainable future by promoting local food production.
Growing a Local Food System
We are thrilled to announce that Freedom Gardens has surpassed 730 members and growing daily.
But we know this site can continue to grow and you can help spread the word. We are counting on you to help us - it’s your turn now. Can you spare a few minutes… do this for us, for yourself and for others?
If you haven’t already signed up - then what are you waiting for? Join other fellow urban aggies - connect, share and grow.
Here’s a nifty poster to spread recruit Freedom Gardeners in your area. Network with folks in your area - offer encouragement, growing tips and advice and even meet up to swap crops, tools, seeds and more!
This site is still in sprout stage, so don’t forget you can help us make this site better - comments, suggestions are welcome.
Gardens Throughout History
Ancient Babylonian and Egyptian used edible landscaping techniques. Another form or edible landscaping or urban agriculture sprouted up in France during the 16th & 17th century. The gardens otherwise know as potager or kitchen gardens supplied herbs, vegetables and even fruit.
Then came…. ( list compiled and courtesy of SideWalkSprouts)
1. Potato Patches (1890-1930)
2. City Beautiful Movement (1890-1910)
3. World War I: Liberty Gardens (1917-1919)
4. Depression relief gardens (1930-1938)
5. World War II: Victory Gardens (1940-1945)
6. Community Garden Movement (1970-present)
Growing Forward
7. Freedom Garden Movement — new gardening era/movement resulting in efforts to become free of foreign oil, corporate controls, contamination and food miles.
Let’s get growing - forward, towards food security self-reliance and independence from corporate food systems.
There’s a growing movement afoot, can you dig it?
Tags:
community,
edible landscaping,
freedom gardens,
Garden,
gardening,
Herbs,
kitchen,
urban agriculture,
victory garden,
victory garden revival,
victory gardens
Topics: Grow the Future, Posts by Anais, Victory Garden | Tags: community, edible landscaping, freedom gardens, Garden, gardening, Herbs, kitchen, urban agriculture, victory garden, victory garden revival, victory gardens
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August 11th, 2008 at 11:56 am
More than 730 members and no comments yet? C’mon you all!!! This is a great idea whose time has come. I’m in.
Garlic Man in Texas
August 11th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
The East Atlanta Farmers Market enthusiastically embraced the Freedom Gardens flyers! Lets hope this leads to more people in Atlanta starting their own urban food gardens and joining the food fight!
August 11th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
This is a topic I have been researching because of the number of new people getting involved with gardening to help deal with high fuel prices, high food costs, and food safety. If we can just get them started successfully maybe more will stick with it after our economy gets back on its feet.
I posted about some people involved in this very topic on my blog and your site is one of them.
Keep the revolution alive. You are an inspiration to us all.
August 12th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Because I wanted to be prepared and grow a larger garden for our food source, fortunately I had my garden in full swing before my economic situation turned upside down…and then I got chickens and found this website and have been learning ever since. I have gone from a ‘gardener’ to a ‘freedom gardener’, and I feel that I am in control of my own life and food supply!!! And with every food I bring in, it just inspires me to do more and I’m hoping my fall/winter garden will do even better!!! I am inspired and I’m trying to get others around me involved as well.