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

How to Start rss

October 22, 2007

Q. Hey just found your web site and I am very interested in your life style. I grew up with a grandfather who loved working the earth and taught me some of growing a garden, but I have since grown away from working the earth. I wonder what would be required to have a self [...]

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October 22, 2007

Q. I am so impressed w/ your garden.  I would like to learn more about
growing organic vegetables.  It would be so good if I can start educate
people of my community to protect the earth.  I do not want to make this
a business because I am a working single mom, so my time is filled up [...]

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October 22, 2007

Q. I would like to ask what kind of preparations I should be undertaking
for self-sufficiency. My home country is Finland, which I believe is
much better prepared for energy problems than many other countries
but it never hurts to prepare.
This is my basic situation.
Approximately 3-4 hectares of land. Some of it is forest while other
is farming land [...]

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October 22, 2007

Q. Do you have brochures on how to start producing
vegetables and fruits on a garden?? Can something be done if you live in
a apartment?
A. Information about growing vegetables and fruits in a garden may be found in our daily journal, where we write about what we are planting at different times of the year: [...]

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October 22, 2007

Q. Thank you for your work. I intend to move to the Atlanta area and would like to develop an urban
farm to supplement my income.
I am particularly interested in fruit trees and herbs. Can you give me
advice on the best fruits and herbs to grow and how to market them? khalil
A. Re: your question [...]

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The Urban Homesteaders
Jules DervaesJustin DervaesAnais DervaesJordanne Dervaes
Cast of Characters
    
   
    
    
    
 
Blogging Since 2001
Got an hour or two or a couple of days?

Clear your schedule, kick back, and follow the Little Homestead in the City chronicles through the years. Please read responsibly and in moderation. Remember to feed your family and or pets and water your garden...

There's 2,568 posts so it might take awhile. Consider yourselves warned.

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