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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
« NEW BEGINNINGS | Main | WEEKLY MEAL WRAP UP »
January 4, 2009
Thanks to last Sunday’s event we have loads of sweet apple pulp.
So what to do with a fridge overflowing with dozens of ziplocks.
Since our freezer is packed with frozen homegrown goodies, I dolled out some of the ziplocks to a friends freezer (thanks!).
As for the rest, thanks to my southern roots I have got a hankering to deep fry some apple fritters sprinkled with confectioners sugar. Gasp! Sorry not very healthful thought, but I think I have been scarred for life thanks to Cafe du Monde in New Orleans. I dare say you can pick up bad habits, er, eating habits after visiting.
Funny thing, no matter how healthy our diet has been these last 30 years one still get’s cravings now and then especially for eats that remind you of home.
The rest of the pulp will be great to use in apple crisp, bread, muffins, cakes - the list could go on.
No shortage of apple recipes that’s for sure do it won’t be that hard to use up the leftover apples in no time.
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Tags:
bread,
event,
homegrow,
homegrown
Topics: Kitchen, Posts by Anais | Tags: bread, event, homegrow, homegrown
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PATH TO FREEDOM
PEDDLER'S WAGON
FREEDOM GARDENS
"LITTLE HOMESTEAD"
DERVAES GARDENS
URBAN HOMESTEADING
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Thanks to last Sunday’s event we have loads of sweet apple pulp.
(4 votes)
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January 4th, 2009 at 8:25 am
You mean apple pomace, right? The spent solids left after the pressing? A great deal of the sugars have already left, so the pomace won’t be a very sweet ingredient.
I ran an experiment to make apple “cider” vinegar from the pomace, and it turned out great with an absolute minimum of effort. You can read about the results here:
http://livingthefrugallife.blo.....ments.html
Also, goats and chickens love apple pomace. Just sayin’…
-Kate
January 5th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
How has the IGIVE project been working for you.Everyone I urge you to use the IGIVE tool bar search a try.It will help the Dervais’ family.
January 6th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
I couldn’t believe the first time I went to Cafe du Monde in New Orleans and saw the nearby sidewalks covered in powdered sugar from their Beignets. They sell their Beignet mix at Trader Joes and I make them for my family on special occasions. My two sons say “Beignets Rule” LOL.
Like said above, my chickens also like the pulp in small quantities.
Thanks for all the efforts you and your family do!!
Have a Great Day!!
Frank
January 17th, 2009 at 12:30 am
Indeed, the pomace isn’t much for human food, especially if you press it pretty dry . . .
A couple of interesting tidbits: Raw cider off the first pressing is called “mill cider” and is very strong stuff if your body is not used to real and raw foods. Store bought ciders (even the “unfiltered” variety) including a second pressing after the pressed pomace has been soaked in a little water. This cuts the store cider by 20-40% depending on the thickness of the cider and the residual sweetness of the pomace. (I like the mill cider best.) Many places also uses enzymes to increase yield. (Yuk).
Pomace DOES make great vinegar, with just a little water and some other help.
It is also pretty good pig food, I’m told; and although all the resources I have found say it is too acid for compost, I use it all the time in the bin with no ill effects, and sometimes use it raw under my lemon tree, which likes the acid soil as it is. (One does have to watch for apple volunteers in the spring, though.)