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The Urban Homesteaders

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Cast of Characters

In Memory

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

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WILD & SCENIC SCHEDULE UPDATE

January 5, 2009



Here’s the latest rundown of happenings in Nevada City January 9-11.

Please note the updates and additional venues and hope to see you there!

OPENING RECEPTION
When: Friday, January 9 (4:00 PM)
Where: Mowen Solinsky Gallery & Bella Vita Gallery
Cost: Free & open to the public

FILM SCREENING
When: Friday, January 9 (7:00 PM)
Where: Great Hall, Miners Foundry  (please note venue correction)
What: World premier of HOMEGROWN REVOLUTION (15:44) In the midst of a densely urban setting in downtown Pasadena, radical change is taking root. For over twenty years, the Dervaes family have transformed their home into an urban homestead. They harvest nearly 3 tons of organic food from their 1/10 acre garden while incorporating many back-to-basics practices, as well as solar energy and biodiesel.
Cost: Tickets available here

CHAT WITH THE FILMMAKERS (possibly)
Grab a bite to eat & meet some of the filmmakers and speakers.
When: Saturday, January 10 ( 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM)
Where: Look for PTF at either Lefty’s Frill, Cafe Mekka, Java Johns, Broad Street Bistro or Dos Banditos  (venue will be determined upon arrival and whether we are selected to appear.
Cost: FREE to the public (not including lunch)

WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL GUEST SPEAKER
When: Saturday, January 10 (2:00 PM)
Where: Activist Center 1
What: Workshop on Urban Homesteading
Urban homesteader, Jules Dervaes, speaks about his journey toward a sustainable, self-sufficient life in the city. At Path to Freedom, the Dervaes family is living a protest against corporate control of the food supply by growing 6,000 pounds of produce a year on 1/10 of an acre. Mr. Dervaes will explain how, individually, we can take steps where we are, with what we have—right now!—to become more independent and secure in difficult times and responsible stewards of the earth, our home.
Cost: FREE

GALA EVENT
Includes wine and gourmet foods and visiting with special guests ( including Path to Freedom)
When: Saturday, January 10 (10:00 PM to Midnight)
Where: Nevada City Winery
COST: Tickets available here

MEET & SHARE

This gathering will only happen if there’s any interest and available people.  So please note this is still a tentative event and will be “played by ear”

When: Sunday, January 11  (10:00 AM)
Where: California Organics, 135 Argall Way Nevada City
What: Urban Homesteaders and No Cal Freedom Gardeners Meetup

Hey all you Northern Ca homegrown revolutionaries, would you like to meet PTF?

Contact our staff for details ( info(at)pathtofreedom(dot)com ) , let us if know you will be coming!

For more information on the festivities and events at the WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL, visit their website

:: Field Hand Appreciation :: LE $10 donations.  Happy new year to you and we thank you for your continuous support

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Topics: Events & Outreach, Posts by Anais | Tags: ,

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2 Responses to “WILD & SCENIC SCHEDULE UPDATE”

  1. Anais Says:
    January 7th, 2009 at 5:57 pm

    Comments are back on….sorry.

  2. Anais Says:
    January 7th, 2009 at 5:59 pm

    Sorry comments are back on.

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