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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
« SCREENING NEWS | Main | MORNING HAS BROKEN »
November 16, 2009
It’s been awhile but with the holiday’s coming up I figured it was a good time as any to remind our readers how they can keep dispatches coming from the urban homestead via Little Homestead in the City (which is still by far the best, oldest and most comprehensive site/blog on urban homesteading if I may say so myself!)
I mean, over your morning cuppa, you wouldn’t want to miss luscious garden photos, lip smacking meals or read about the crazy antics of our critters. Not to mention some super cool projects that we hope to tackle in what we hope is the foreseeable future. Justin has gotten raising fish stuck in his noggin!
Not to mention the (what’s in store) improvements to the main Urban Homestead website (there’s more stuff in the pipeline I assure you)
Pretty soon we’ll see our 10 year anniversary online (gasp - please excuse me while I step away from the computer, mutter a silent scream, throw up my arms and shake my head in disbelief, ok I’m back) and site and outreach growing! So if you have found this site helpful, please consider supporting our non profit work — there’s a few easy ways you can help - visit our SUPPORT page to learn the details.
Fa la la la la…..
As we approaching the gift giving season please consider supporting this site so that we can take our work to the next level.
Suggested Gifts
from our online store….
Gardening by the Moon Calendar - 2010 are now in stock!
Metal Water Bottles
Homestead Blessings by the West Ladies DVD on canning, soap making, and more
Solar Ovens
Homegrown Revolution DVD
Trowel
Soil Block Maker
Wire Vegetable Basket
Kitchen Composter
To Go Ware
A slew of Kitchen Supplies & Low Impact Gadgets
Canning Kit
Soap Making Kit
and much, much more!
Giving Thanks
Field hand appreciation for your support this month from EG $25, LM $5, MM $5, JH $10, LE $10
And a most hearty appreciation and thank you to those of you who supported and contributed in 2009. We are extremely blessed and grateful for your support.
Ok, the “pledge break is over” (for now) stay tuned for more photos and musing from the urban homestead.
Tags:
holiday
Topics: Peddler's Wagonload, Posts by Anais | Tags: holiday
RELATED POSTS:
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PATH TO FREEDOM
PEDDLER'S WAGON
FREEDOM GARDENS
"LITTLE HOMESTEAD"
DERVAES GARDENS
URBAN HOMESTEADING
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November 16th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
What a lovely website! I found you after reading the article in L.A. magazine. It particularly grabbed my attention because:
1. Sustainable and organics rule
2. Cochins rule (We have 4; large size, blue and black)
3. Belgian Bearded d’Uccles rule (especially the mille fleur variety - ours is also named Millie)
4. Americaunas are pretty good too.
Since we live on several acres, our Alpine dairy goats are also large size. We too used to walk them on leashes, in their youth, and drove them around in the back of our station wagon! But I so admire what you’ve accomplished in the midst of Pasadena! Best wishes to you!
November 17th, 2009 at 5:36 am
Great site, an inspiration to us all!
You should try out Dorking Chickens, that’s what I have so I’m very partial to them - they are great free rangers!