A journal of modern day pioneers forging a new frontier in the city through intensive agriculture and extreme sustainability in urban homesteading.

Reviving the old-fashioned "can-do" spirit of self-reliance and resourcefulness, they have faced many challenges. With faith and determination, these once-ordinary city dwellers are boldly reclaiming their lives and land. continue

November 24, 2009

FRIENDS, FAMILY, GOATS & AWARD

3
Posted by Anais

Along the stream bed Justin and Sergio play with rocks

Going for a stroll

Sunday morning was spent as usual here on the urban homestead – planting, cleaning, chores, etc.

Sunday afternoon, we spent a good part of the afternoon reconnecting with friends who dropped by.

One friend needed an “eco project” for school so we suggested making a simple pizza box solar oven.  The other had some goodies from his farm to drop off (which included a huge watermelon!)  Yeah, I know, watermelon in November.  I couldn’t believe it either.   I stupidly asked “what is that?” knowing full well it was a watermelon! My mind just couldn’t grasp the thought.  Heck, here I was wearing a long sleeve shirt, scarf and long black tights- staring at watermelon.

Let’s see, in our kitchen now we have tangerines (thanks to JK) lemons (thanks to DD), our very own meyer lemons & very LARGE pineapple guavas, plus muskmelon and watermelon thanks to Farmer Sergio.   What a treat to trade, thanks in part to our free social gardening network FreedomGardens.org

Just as we were getting ready to go goat walking (this time around with Justin & Sergio) in the lower Arroyo Seco, we got a call from the folks at Green Screens Film Festival that we had won an award for our film!  They asked if someone could come to the closing ceremony to accept the award within the hour!  Within the hour!  Jeepers.

That news threw things into a tizzy for a bit.  Having already skipped the Saturday walk to attend the Homegrown Revolution screening on Saturday evening, we couldn’t disappoint Fairlight & Blackberry again. So, some of us took the goats walking while Farmer D went back down to Venice to collect the award.

After the goat walk we, as we do every week, stopped by our dear friend Betty.  She’s a senior woman who taught my sister and me knitting (going on 20 years ago) and we spent some time chatting with her and checking out her recent knitting projects.  Right now, I am knitting some cotton dishcloths but with winter coming up liked to knit a few more scarfs and hats.

Then it was home to watch a BBC TV classic production with family.

Sunday just couldn’t get any better.

Oh, and speaking of produce -we have a few extra lbs of persimmons and avocados from Farmer S’s farm.  Interested?  Then email me.



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3 Comments: “FRIENDS, FAMILY, GOATS & AWARD”

1

As I was driving around rural North Dakota this weekend with some family, we passed a very small town and a goat was standing at the door. It appeared he was waiting to be let in like a normal pet. Your story made me think of that.

[Reply]


11/25/2009



2

Persimmons? I just picked some the other day and made a pudding from them. It’s an “old-timey” Southern recipe that no one from my generation has ever heard of (I’m forty). Are yours the Japanese version? We have the little ones with big pits–what I call the “Virginia” version. They are better to eat, from what I’ve read. Stewed up, they look like cooked pumpkin.

[Reply]


11/29/2009



3

Glad to hear you are a multi-task knitter. I am as well, although my primary hobby is sewing. I’ve been doing quilts for many years as well as “making something out of nothing – or whatever is left” (see the book “Josephs’ Coat” by Sims Taback). I understand that you have a great knitting coach. If you need any sewing help – let me know.
I would like to know about your raised bed gardening techniques. I noticed from the photos that you use 2′ X 4’s. Does it have to be a special kind of wood? What is the purpose of the raised bed? Does this type of gardening decrease the bug/weed infestations?

[Reply]






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Jules DervaesJustin DervaesAnais DervaesJordanne Dervaes
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COMPLETE URBAN HOMESTEAD ARCHIVES:



LOCATION
Pasadena, CA
(Northwest Pasadena, one mile from downtown Pasadena 100 yards from 11 lane freeway)

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
~ 400 different vegetables, herbs, fruits, berries

FOOD PRODUCTION
~ 6,000 lbs annually / 99% of our produce $75,000 savings

URBAN HOMESTEAD SUPPORTS
4 full-time resident adults, a menagerie of animals, volunteers, and many clients

ENERGY USAGE
$12 a month / 6.0 kwh day

WATER USAGE
$600 / 175,000 gallons a year

SOLAR POWER PRODUCED
12,410 kwh as of 5/12/10

GALLONS OF BIODIESEL MADE
2,500 gallons as of 5/12/08

FACTS N FIGURES
Learn more about the Urban Homestead
Full Stats Summary