→ 2010-07-30 12:31:44 (31 Comments)
July 25, 2010
After a busy week, boy we sure did look forward to our Saturday stroll with the goats. Saturday is our “Time Out” day in which, for 24 hours, we take ourselves off the clock and away from computers and the like. Nothing de-stresses and renews the spirit a body like a walk in nature with these creatures.
July 16, 2010
This week, Fairlight the foodie, gets up close and personal with a jar of peanut butter. Warning: the montage of photos are not yet rated and may not be suitable for folks who are drinking their morning coffee or tea while reading….
June 30, 2010
Oh, the personalities of the creatures here on the urban homestead – now we know what they did for entertainment in the “old days.” Forget cable, we got critters. Speaking of critters, like to send a BIG “Thank You” to Nor Cal homesteader Julia for passing along a dvd set of All Creatures Great & Small.
June 13, 2010
The evening couldn’t have been more perfect, not too hot, not too cold. It was to time leash up the goats, go to the Lower Arroyo Seco for our weekly goat walk and stock up on oak, pine and sycamore leaves for the goatsies to eat during the week.
May 23, 2010
You never know when friends drop by the urban homestead for a visit – even better they never know what to expect!
April 21, 2010
Ya’ll know those dwarf peas we’ve been bragging about for these last few weeks – the ones that were supposed to only grow 3 feet high but topped 9 feet high instead? The peas we joking referred to as our “Tower of Peasa!“ Here’s a pic of Jordanne picking peas from a ladder!
Well, they are [...]
March 19, 2010
by Anais in Barnyard, Garden, Garden, Goats, Greywater Reclamation, Homestead, Kitchen, Laundry, Posts by Anais, Water, Water
We wrap up another busy week with a pictorial dispatch – highlighting our new grey water project and more!
Goat Walk & Talk
Student working on an profiling some local eco heroes for a NPR radio piece comes along on one of our goat walks. Jordanne shows her some wild edibles that are popping up all over [...]
March 10, 2010
by Anais in Barnyard, Bees, Clay Pot Irrigation, Garden, Garden, Goats, Homestead, Posts by Anais, Skills & Crafts, Water
Continuing our pictorial peek into life here on the urban homestead. As for the previous entry with the fish: FYI, we won’t be naming them anytime soon in case you are wondering!
Weekend Wanderings
Farmers Justin & Sergio visit the local nursery that’s right across the street from our urban homestead and check out the vegetable selection [...]
March 9, 2010
Wow, ya”ll put up a great bunch of comments/contributions to the Time Management post – check it out if you missed it. Thanks for some great dialogue!
There’s lots happening here on the urban homestead, I can’t even begin to start with details. So I am going to let pictures do the “talking.”
Once again here’s a [...]
February 17, 2010
Ok, we aren’t done having fun! This is what happens when you don’t have cable – uh, life!
First we had Fairlight modeling hats trying to drum up support, now we have her wielding the trusted tool of the urban homestead movement – a trowel (you can buy the very one here or here) We’ll make sure Fairlight [...]
February 11, 2010
Here’s a pictorial post from our weekly goat stroll in the Arroyo Seco on Saturday evening
The rains have brought mushrooms to the “Sherwood forest”
Wonder if these are edible? Does anyone want to try it?
Under the Colorado Bridge. Blue skies and fluffy white clouds
Moss grows on the rocks
The “Big Muddy”
Fairlight and sunlight
The ever dramatic San Gabriel [...]
December 2, 2009
They always say a picture is worth a thousand words and that would mean this entry must be worth 32,000 words!
So without wastin’ any more words, here’s another pictorial post of stuff and happenings around the urban homestead these past couple days.
Oh, and if you are enjoying these picture post as much as me then [...]
November 24, 2009
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 [...]
November 19, 2009
The menagerie of animals that live here on the urban homestead provides us with countless hours of entertainment and free “therapy” – bringing smiles to our sometimes stressed brows.
Here’s Lucie (aka Lucie Goosey) digging her way to China (well, grubs or bugs more likely)
Diggity dig!
Estella, seeing Lucie’s hole is bigger, stops her digging and comes [...]
October 20, 2009
Anaïs and Jordanne Dervaes give a video tour of the Pasadena homestead where they keep chickens, ducks, and goats (VIEW ONLINE VIDEO FEATURE running time 4:00 minutes)
LOS ANGELES MAGAZINE ONLINE EXTRA
By Wendy Witherspoon LAmag.com, October 19, 2009
If you’ve ever looked at your pet dog (especially after “cleaning up” the lawn) and wondered when he was [...]
August 6, 2009
It’s canning time here on the urban homestead.
Yesterday was a warm one so I decided once again to can a little later in the evening – about the time Jordanne let’s the goats out to hang out with the humans.
Water’s on the stove, glass jars heating in the stove and green beans from the garden [...]
July 27, 2009
Fairlight, aka Lady Fairlight or “herladyship”, knows she is the queen of this urban homestead’s household. Certainly a diva and makes sure everyone is aware of that. She’s sort of clandestine in her manipulations under the the guise of cuteness she certainly knows how to what she wants.
In the morning she loves visiting the kitchen [...]
July 13, 2009
One thing about raising goats is that you can watch their individual personalities take shape and it’s very entertaining (given that we rarely watch TV nor do we have cable)
Just when you think you have their quirks and habits down they surprise you with another one of their crazy antics.
Blackberry, being the smallest, is a [...]
July 6, 2009
Off with the wry winter coat!
Trading for a sleek, shiny summer one
Just about the time the goats were shedding their wry winter coats So Cal had an exceptionally cool/grey June. Normally the goats just shed down to a light summer coat but this year especially with Blackberry the shedding was more extreme. In fact it [...]
June 3, 2009
It’s been three years since we brought Lady Fairlight and Blackberry home with us on the bus (read New Kids on the Block). Yeah, you read right – baby goats on a bus!
They’ve certainly earned their stay here on the urban homestead offering us countless hours of entertainment, loyal companionship and are the best composting [...]
June 2, 2009
The documentary FOOD INC is still a hot topic at our dinner/lunch table here on the urban homestead. We are still talking about it days later. This film certainly got us thinking about modern meat consumption and the future of local, sustainable agriculture.
Over at Civil Eats they had this interesting review. Jordanne, who’s every perspective, [...]
May 3, 2009
Now that the flurry of earth celebratory activities have passed we had this weekend to ourselves. And boy did we take advantage of it – stepping away from all computer and public activity.
The goats were thrilled because that meant it was goat walking time on Saturday evening in the lower Arroyo Seco. Goats [...]
May 1, 2009
Never a day goes by without some case of crazy animal antics. The animals are an integral part of the urban homestead; not only do they provide a great composting service (most of them) but also hours of delightful entertainment (we don’t have cable TV).
Here are some of our animals, sticking their noses and paws into [...]
April 5, 2009
by Anais in Ammendments & Fertilizers, Barnyard, Chickens, Ducks, Garden, Goats, Homestead, Posts by Anais, Weather
The weather is acting up again – it’s as if winter’s is fighting with her sibling summer. Hopefully the cooler temperatures will bring some rain. In fact, there is a chance of rain mid week. We are definitely praying for rain because we need all the heavens can give us before the long, hot and [...]
March 11, 2009
Another round of photos for your enjoyment.
“You rang?”
“Well, even if you did I rather not come out. I’m right in the middle of my afternoon beauty sleep if you don’t mind.”
I can’t help myself, just had to ad lib and wonder what goes on in that pretty little head of hers.
Enjoying the spring sunshine.
A shipment [...]
February 19, 2009
(please note post was written yesterday – Wednesday )
Amen and pass the pitchfork. It’s a clear and sunny day! Honestly, the rain was getting a little much – too wet all at once.
No more soggy clothes and mucking boots for awhile at least.
It’s been so dreary and wet that we had to rig up a [...]
February 18, 2009
Most weekends we take our goaties for a walk. We normally walk the lower Arroyo Seco but, with the chance of showers on Sunday, we took them to the Rose Bowl Park, which is less than 5 minutes from our home.
We like to walk the trails on the hillside behind the Rose Bowl Aquatics center. [...]
February 13, 2009
Blackberry sunning herself with Dawn, one of our ducks catching a few rays herself
Ah lookie that face. Basically telling me to get lost. Alright I’ll leave you to sunbathe in peace
A few of the urban homestead’s chickens hanging out together.
Our Belgian Bantie – Estella.
Whatcha looking at?
Nap time for the duckies
Now preening time
Perching on an [...]
January 29, 2009
Goats are social creatures. When we bought our kids the owners knowing this made it a major stipulation that we could not just buy one goat from them. By nature, goats are herd animals and the owners concern and “before you buy” requirement confirmed that we bought our goats from the right place.
Our two [...]
January 18, 2009
The goats don’t seem to mind the hot & dry temperature. In fact, they LOVE lounging in the sun during the day in what we like to call their “goat yoga” poises.
Since winter decided to up and dissappear on us, I was commenting to Jordanne the other day, while I was sitting there giving Fairlight [...]
December 22, 2008
First off, thank you all for the wonderful anniversary wishes. We really appreciate them and we are glad to be on the path with so many kindred spirits.
After I posted the entry I got to thinking “you know that post is sort of incomplete” It just mentioned when our internet activism began and it failed [...]
December 19, 2008
This is one of those eclectic postings, lots of thoughts and stories all rolled into one.
Sorta like a jumbled post… you’ve been warned.
An easy up and salvaged canvas curtains protect the last two beds of tomatoes. Looks like a circus tent!
Protecting the crops with tarps and row covers
First Frost
The storm blew out late Wednesday night [...]
December 10, 2008
Since we can no longer host any public events here on the urban homestead because our community events now draw upwards of 120 people ( only have space for no more the 50, well, maybe not even that) we are making use of our very large garage. Which for awhile there, it started to become [...]
December 4, 2008
Jordanne gives Fairlight a tomato and what happens next…. we’ll just let the pictures tell the story
Every morning the goats love to visit the kitchen to see what’s all going on and perhaps get some tasty hand outs. They’ve figured out where all the tasty treats are stored. The urban homestead kitchen is a goat’s [...]
November 25, 2008
Hey Fairlight going shopping? Or are you just showing off how hip you are that you bring your own bag.
“What me shopping?” “Why would I need to go shopping? I got people here to do everything for me.”
“What I really want is another bag with those tasty dried sycamore leaves”
Yum, another bag full of tasty [...]
October 20, 2008
Enjoying good conversation
Sing-a-long time
Belting out a song
Lauren & Cory are”Heidi and Peter” for the day
Hanging out with the goats
Goatwalkers
In between work, meetings and projects this weekend we were able to take some time and spend some quality time with friends. On Saturday we hosted our monthly social. Thanks for providing great food and music everyone. [...]
September 9, 2008
Photo courtesy: Brian Vander Brug Los Angeles Times
The hills were alive with the sound of munching.
In fact, the only things that seemed missing Monday when a herd of goats climbed up a weed-choked lot in the Bunker Hill high-rise district were Julie Andrews and the Von Trapp family singers.
Leaders of the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment [...]
August 8, 2008
click here for more videos like this
Elizabeth Chambers interviews Jordanne Dervaes about the care and life of the urban farm animals.
August 8, 2008
click here for more videos like this
Host Elizabeth Chambers chats with Jordanne about the benefits of citified farm animals.
Since 2002, Jordanne and her family have shared their urban homestead with a menagerie of animals — chickens, ducks, two rescued cats, red wiggler worms (which compost garbage) and two goats (Nigerian Dwarf and a Pygmy goat. [...]
August 1, 2008
Here on the urban homestead, it’s our goats who receive most of the attention (and who can blame them!) I mean it’s so bad sometimes we can even get down right jealous that folks give them so much attention and leave us, well, out to pasture. Anyhow, won’t go into further details since [...]
July 22, 2008
We are full of animal antics this morning here on the urban homestead. Never a day goes back with some silly antic pulled by our menagerie.
Lady Fairlight snatches a tomato.
Oh my, just look at that face! Guilty with pleasure. Yum, yum.
Sheesh, Fairlight! Be a lady and close your mouth when you chew.
July 11, 2008
More photos from the animal farm….
Old Clem, our chicken matriach, rules the animal kingdom. Always in everybody’s business.
Lucie “Hey you gotta little something there on your chin”
Sissy comes over to help Lucie out.
Sissy “Sheesh, I know, she’s soooo sloppy. “ Sairey “Who me?”
Dinner time!
Knock, knock. Hey, Fairlight, can I come in? No, you may not. [...]
July 11, 2008
We really could have a whole site dedicated to the antics and shenanigans of our citified menagerie. It’s so fun to take pictures and add captions of what you imagine them saying/thinking.
Ears flat – meaning don’t disturb, I am taking my afternoon nap if you don’t mind
Yeah, that’s right. That’s what I said lady – [...]
June 23, 2008
It’s been an awfully hot and muggy weekend. Humidity is not something we Californians are used to. Is it just me, or is So Cal having more humid days?
Another monthly community gathering was hosted on Saturday night. Thanks for all those who turned up despite the muggy weather and brought such great [...]
June 20, 2008
Another day of scorching temperatures. Lady Fairlight does her best to keep cool… just laying in the shade. Too hot to move a muscle.
What a silly (& smart) goat she is.
