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September 8, 2008
Catchy tabloidish title isn’t it? Well, it certainly grabbed my attention! I mean, I even know the man! Intrigued I had to read further….
Homegrown Revolutionaries
Pasadena man cures world hunger!Well almost, there are a few more details to work through, but he is definitely headed in the right direction. Actually, I have seen his YouTube videos for a while now and wanted to share those with you. This man and his beautiful family are heroes. Why? They care about those of us that want a sustainable food supply within our control to produce. Those of us that the retailers would let go hungry if we couldn’t pay and those of us who are increasingly sacrificing quality and quantity as food prices go through the roof. Our basic needs are under attack.
The Jules Dervaes family has planted the entire front and back yard of their home with edible plants. They even grow enough extra to sell fresh vegetables to local restaurants, share with friends and neighbors and feed their small group of animals. He is genuinely on to something big, and he knows it. When they are not working their 40-50 hour week down home (literally) on the farm, they host a lecture series and attend speaking engagements for a variety of groups. Why so passionate about food? You may have already guessed that it goes beyond having a full stomach for them. The name of their website gives us a big hint: www.PathtoFreedom.com. Here, the Dervaes remind us that “freedom” is earned and cannot be taken for granted. In fact, there are forces (lets call them market forces) trying to gain control of the food market for their profit. If they can control the supply of food through hoarding seeds, and the other means of production, we will pay them for their effort with whatever price they wish to charge. On a gut level we know this is wrong. Through his lectures Mr. Dervaes goes beyond that gut feeling to announce a heart-felt conviction that we have the “freedom” to make our own food production choices. He writes:
“In our society growing food yourself has become the most radical of acts.
It is truly the only effective protest, one that can—and will—overturn the corporate powers that be.By the process of directly working in harmony with nature, we do the one thing most essential to change the world…”
That family “walks the walk; and talks the talk.” This author eagerly joins the chorus of voices now speaking out about important issues related to healthy food. The message is spreading rapidly, these healthy food choices can be yours. Try it yourself, feel the benefits being offered, then help spread the word to others as a humanitarian gesture.
Click the video link to see the tantalizing rows of greens and vegetables. Perfectly laid out and cared for, enough to make this vegan grab his fork. Thank you Dervaes, for all that you do. Watch other videos where Mr. Dervaes lectures to students at the UCLA campus in Ca. where he takes questions afterwards. I only have one question for this ambassador of green living: “can I live with you guys?”
A special thanks to Vegan Filmmaker for highlighting our family’s and Farmer D’s work. We appreciate your spreading the word as the world searches for solutions in hard times.
And to answer your question - we liked to have you but we have no room at the moment (our bedrooms are filled with yarn, fabric, Peddler’s Wagon merchandise and supplies for the urban homestead) But we’ll keep you posted since we are looking to expand our operation at some point. Good luck on your film.
Speaking of video the ‘Homegrown Revolution” YouTube piece now has over 95,000 hits. The seeds of this revolution are certainly spreading. I know folks say never mess with a good thing, but we are going to be (in the next few months) polishing and revising it a bit. Why? Well, can’t tell you just yet.
Lots of work to do.
(7 votes)
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Topics: PTF Spotlights, Posts by Anais, Urban Farming | Tags: homegrow revolution, urban farming
September 8th, 2008 at 9:28 am
I have been lurking around your website trying to soak up information! I think that you guys are just awesome to be able to grow so much and make due where God has planted you. I planted my first garden this year in two 4X8 beds. Rabbits ate my green beans and lima beans before we put up a chicken wire fence- I have replanted and hope to harvest some before the cold weather kicks in. I had a lot of tomatoes off of 3 plants and one patio grape tomato plant, and also had about one yellow squash and one zucchini off of 1 plant of each. I want to add about 8 more beds little by little and try to grow more. I have 5 kids to feed and hope to grow what I can. I have searched your site and others learning all I can about gardening in raised beds. I am totally overwhelmed to the point of almost being inable to go forward for fear of doing things wrong and wasting time and money. I really would love to see posts about exactly when you start seeds and when you transplant them to the ground. How you extend growing seasons. What exactly you plant when. I am sure this would help many who feel as I do, and would give more people confidence. We are in a mild climate in Alabama, so I should be able to pretty much grow something all year. We might see freezing temps twice in a year. May God bless your family and efforts to teach us all about growing things!
Holly
September 8th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Great photo! Nice post!