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The Urban Homesteaders

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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

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« WEEKLY MEAL WRAP UP | Main | GMO FOODS 101 »

DISPATCHES FROM THE URBAN HOMESTEAD

December 15, 2009



After a water soaked week, the sun’s out and we are finally able to dry out after a good drenching.  The two storms last week dumped 4″ inches of rain and boy did we need it - though we could still a couple of these storms a month until our rainy season ends in June.

Though the rains kept us in a better part of the week, we had another outreach opportunity (photos below) and working on putting together our crafty room (next is sorting out all the fabric and yarns!)

Speaking of yarn, I did finish a few UFO’s (unfinished objects) - so that felt good to finally get a grip on our crafty projects.

Sunday was a busy day with visitors to the urban homestead.  David stopped by to drop off extra greens from his garden for our critters and talk to Justin about bees, then Farmer Sergio came by dropped off some fruit and stayed a few hours for some engaging conversation, then two other friends joined us for dinner and dessert.

In the early evening, we went goat walking but that wasn’t all!  After the goat walk Jordanne & I went to see a friend sing in a holiday performance at her church while Justin and Farmer D stayed home with our dinner guest.  BUSY BUSY!

Another montage of photo from last week’s life on the urban homestead.

On goes the roof to the new honey shed.   Sure nuff, just like a thought, Justin’s new knitted cap matches his urban farmer camo uni  (that’s his version of urban homestead apparel)

Burnt tips. A bit of frost damage

Farmer D at the Pasadena Civic Center for a gathering of local greens for educators

Farmer D gives a power point to educators about the importance of gardening for kids.  The people putting on the convention informed us that Farmer D’s was one of the most popular and talked about presentations at the event.  WOOT!

Two more knitting projects - done!  Love these scarves and it’s certainly the weather for it.  Have some  leftover yarn so thinking about making some matching hats.

Jordanne spotted this second hand desk at the local Habit for Humanity store for $30 - made a good sewing desk (with lots of drawers for all the sewing notions and patterns)!  The chair and the lamp were second hand (free) and the sewing machine’s second hand too!

I bring in a tromboncino squash for lunch that almost looks like its namesake (trombone)

Unplugged kitchen.   I use our hand cranked blender to puree the cooked squash

Hey, urban homesteaders, don’t forget to stock up on supplies and gifts from our online store many of the items are the very ones we use and enjoy!

Goat walking and looking at the Arroyo Seco below.  We joke that we must look like “bag ladies” - hauling around bags filled with oak leaves for the goats.

Why are we gals so dressed up?  Well, like I just wrote, Sunday was a busy day with people visiting (David, Susan, Harold, Sergio) and we needed to squeeze the goat walk after dinner and before we headed off to see our girl friend sing at a holiday performance.  To save time we decided to get duded up (though I still kept my apron on!) before taking the goats out so that we could just go straight to the performance after dropping off the goats at home.

What a sight we must have been.  In the park, we walked past a “gangsta car club” wonder what they thought.   hehe

A scene straight out of Charles Dickens novel with beautifully lit City Hall in the background.  Now all we need is snow - not!

Farmer Justin saving seeds using the Food Pantry dryer racks

Justin’s combating the cold by growing a little more facial hair - nice!  Get any colder we’ll have our own Grizzly Adams!

Organic Surplus

If you are interested, we have a few boxes of Navel Oranges, Meyer Lemons and Fuyu Persimmons - email or call us if you are interested.

First come first served, get them while supplies last!

:: Field Hand Appreciation :: ML $20 donation.  Thank you for your support.  In these hard times for non profits we truly value and appreciate your support.  Would you like to help us grow to the next level, here’s how.

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