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The Urban Homesteaders

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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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WEEKLY MEAL WRAP UP

July 19, 2009



Really eatin’ good in the neighborhood last week from our garden’s bounty.  What a blessing to have food that’s grown right in our backyard…. or close by!

SATURDAY

Breakfast - homemade/homegrown blueberry pancakes with homegrown strawberries
Dinner - homemade flour tortillas, homemade spanish rice (homegrown onions, peppers, tomatoes) with homegrown sauteed pepper and local avocado (from Farmer S)

SUNDAY

Breakfast - homemade skillet granola
Lunch - leftover pizza

Dinner - homemade coleslaw ( cabbage from Farmer S , homegrown turnips, carrots) with homegrown tomato, homegrown lettuce and local avocado (from Farmer S) sandwich

MONDAY

Breakfast - homemade homegrown apple crisp
Lunch - homegrown carrots, turnips, green beans and herbs over organic CA grown rice
Dinner -omelet, homeraised eggs, homegrown celery, onions, tomatoes and local avocado (from Farmer S) sandwich

TUESDAY

Breakfast - homemade homegrown apple crisp
Lunch - homegrown carrots, turnips, green beans and herbs over organic CA grown rice
Dinner - summer salad (homegrown cucumbers, basil, tomatoes, peppers) with local avocado (from Farmer S) sandwich

WEDNESDAY

Breakfast - homemade homegrown apple crisp
Lunch - homegrown carrots, turnips, green beans and herbs over organic CA grown rice
Dinner - summer salad (homegrown cucumbers, basil, tomatoes, peppers) with homegrown/made zucchini pickle and cheese sandwich

THURSDAY

Breakfast - homemade homegrown fruit bowl (homegrown grapes, blueberries, strawberries, peaches, apples)
Lunch - homegrown carrots, turnips, green beans and herbs over organic CA grown rice
Dinner - homemade pizza topped with homegrown marinated peppers, tomatoes, basil, onions, organic cheese and homegrown salad

FRIDAY

Breakfast - homemade homegrown fruit bowl (homegrown grapes, blueberries, strawberries, peaches, apples)
Lunch -  homegrown green beans with lemon (local (from Farmer S) herb (homegrown) with organic rice
Dinner -homemade tomato sauce (homegrown garlic, celery, onions, peppers and tomatoes) with pasta

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3 Responses to “WEEKLY MEAL WRAP UP”

  1. Daphne Says:
    July 20th, 2009 at 10:49 am

    looks delicious!! thanks for the lovely potluck and film yesterday evening…i’m looking forward to future events.

    i think my friend wrote down this website for jules, but you might want to check out the organization we used to work for (called Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) - they have lots of underutilized seeds from different parts of the world…

    http://www.echonet.org

  2. Sherry Says:
    July 20th, 2009 at 12:10 pm

    OMG! These photos make my mouth water! So when’s the cookbook coming out!!! You guys are a real inspiration. Thanks for sharing.

  3. tina Says:
    July 21st, 2009 at 4:28 am

    Love your weekly meal wrap up posts. Was wondering if you have a pizza sauce recipe that you’re willing to share?

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