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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
« BEANS & SQUASH | Main | SHRED SOME HEADS »
June 22, 2009
Thanks to FreedomGardens.org we been able to barter with a local farmer in the area. The most recent trade was for a couple pounds of cabbages for a few ollas and a couple jars of finished sauerkraut.
Have you hooked up with a FGer in your area and swapped yer crops. If not what are you waiting for?
SATURDAY
Breakfast - homemade/homegrown blueberry pancakes
Dinner - homemade flour tortillas, homemade spanish rice (homegrown tomatoes, peppers, onions) with organic black beans and cheese
SUNDAY
Breakfast - homemade skillet granola
Lunch - leftovers
Dinner - omelet (homeraised eggs) homegrown tomatoes, celery, onions and peppers
MONDAY
Breakfast - homemade skillet granola
Lunch - locally bartered cabbage (from a local Freedom Farmer) homegrown carrots, turnips and kale with homegrown herb/lemon sauce
Dinner - locally bartered cabbage (from a local Freedom Farmer) homegrown carrots, turnips and kale with homegrown herb/lemon sauce
TUESDAY
Breakfast - homemade skillet granola
Lunch - locally bartered cabbage (from a local Freedom Farmer) homegrown carrots, turnips and kale with homegrown herb/lemon sauce
Dinner - homemade black bean burger with homegrown/homemade sweet daikon relish and homegrown tomatoes and lettuce
WEDNESDAY
Breakfast - homemade skillet granola
Dinner - homemade black bean burger with homegrown/homemade sweet daikon relish and homegrown tomatoes and lettuce
Lunch - homemade spaghetti sauce (homegrown basil, onions, celery, tomatoes, peppers) with whole wheat pasta and homegrown salad
THURSDAY
Breakfast - homemade skillet granola
Dinner - homemade pizza topped with homegrown marinated peppers, tomatoes, basil, onions, organic cheese and homegrown salad
FRIDAY
Breakfast - homemade skillet granola
Lunch - grilled raw cheese sandwich with homemade sauerkraut made with locally bartered cabbage (from a local Freedom Farmer)
Dinner - OUT
Tags:
barter,
celery,
eggs,
granola,
green beans,
homegrow,
homegrown,
homemade,
salad,
weekly meal wrap up
Topics: 100 Foot Diet, Challenges, Homegrown Diet, Kitchen, Posts by Anais | Tags: barter, celery, eggs, granola, green beans, homegrow, homegrown, homemade, salad, weekly meal wrap up
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PATH TO FREEDOM
PEDDLER'S WAGON
FREEDOM GARDENS
"LITTLE HOMESTEAD"
DERVAES GARDENS
URBAN HOMESTEADING
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June 22nd, 2009 at 6:38 am
Is the ’supermarket garden’ sign in the first photo a sticker? I’d sure put that on my truck window if it is. I saw the larger bumper sticker color design from last week - but I prefer a smaller window size. Just thought I’d ask.
thanks!
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:37 am
We had our first salads of the summer with the lettuce grown from our Freedom Seeds this weekend. Wonderful!
June 22nd, 2009 at 4:00 pm
You guys ate out? I am appalled! Just kidding!
We are just about to have ripe Cherokee Purple tomatoes. I can’t wait!
June 25th, 2009 at 3:03 am
Looks yummy! Love what you guys are doing and love the blog/site.I definitely think sustainability is the way forward! You may be interested in the work of Send a Cow -http://www.sendacow.org.uk/ourwork - We work with rural community groups in nine countries in Africa, providing small-scale farmers with the skills and means to feed their families and earn an income. It’s all about helping to develop sustainable farming methods!