→ 2010-03-24 05:35:54 (33 Comments)
May 10, 2010
Jumping jimmy! We reckon the move just might happen this week so the blog will be down for some time (not sure how long – depends on if Jordanne can pull an all nighter or not) as the upgrades and move takes place.
Keep your fingers crossed that the move goes “easy peasey” and without a [...]
May 9, 2010
On a cold, drizzly, gray day in February two chefs were dropped off at the Urban Homestead.
See what happens when they have to whip up a tasty meal with ingredients from the garden and pantry in this “foodie’s” drama.
May 9, 2010
“Red Heads” we gals show off our aprons and the now growing “red” cabbages from the garden
Awhile back I posted about our urban homestead wardrobe and how aprons ( our “domestic armor”) were vital apparel. Not only are the feminine but they help with the dirty work that needs to be done here on the [...]
May 5, 2010
It’s spring! Well actually, this week it feels more like SUMMER!
And that means lots of fun culinary delights coming out of the urban homestead’s kitchen.
Combining edible flower, herbs and butter for a delightful treat to slather on biscuits or smother veggies.
Here’s a recipe for HERB BUTTER
Fresh From Our Garden to Your Table
Our front porch farm [...]
May 4, 2010
Come and listen to my story ’bout a man named Jed a simple pioneer, who kept his family fed
And then one day he was growin’ some food
When up from the ground come a mountin’ of doo…soil, that is. Black gold. Earthy.
Well, the next thing you know, ol’ J’s a ‘farmer extraordinaire
His kinfolks said, ‘Jed, please [...]
May 3, 2010
Here’s a sneak peek!
We are almost ready for re-launch of the spiffy new Little Homestead in the City “Blook” (aka blog book)
Jordanne could use a bit of encouragement as she’s on the homestretch and dealing with all the headaches that come with moving and coding. A couple of pieces of chocolate helped her thru today [...]
May 3, 2010
Winter, visited us briefly again last week. Thankfully for us it didn’t get too cold ( just windy and nippy)- but for others north of us the unseasonable cold snap along with hail, snow, freeze has devastated gardens and fruit crops.
The cold didn’t last very long temps are going to warm up yet again.
Are [...]
May 2, 2010
The harvest weigh-in is in for the month of April
Produce (veg, fruit, herbs) – 555 lbs
Eggs (chicken) 83 (duck) 51
2010 Year to Date Tally
Total: 1,220 lbs
Eggs (chicken) 260 (duck) 132
Coming up!
Reckon ya’ll are ready for another pictorial post?
April 29, 2010
New, just out on DVD!
The Art of Quilting by the West Ladies of Tennessee
With warmth, hospitality, and southern charm, the West ladies offer great insight, encouragement, and a joyful picture of family unity. Their unique and creative DVDs are sure to provide fun skills that will inspire families to work together, learn together, and enjoy [...]
April 29, 2010
How much more can be squeezed here at our little plot in the city – you’d be surprised. There’s always improvement and maximizing/utilizing space better.
Every year we like to try out new projects, especially as part of our life-school training.
This is a new experiment of here on the urban homestead so there’s still lots of [...]
April 28, 2010
You don’t miss your water until your well runs day – country proverb
FACT: An average American family of four generates about 70 gallons of graywater a day! That is a lot of water going down the drain.
For comparison the average African family uses about 5 gallons of water each day.
What is Gray Water?
As its name [...]
April 26, 2010
Recipe will make eight 16oz bottles
INGREDIENTS:
3 ounces of fresh ginger root (You can add more if you like strong ginger taste.)
6 tablespoons of citrus juice (Lemon &/ or orange)
3/4 cup of sugar (Natural cane is best. Light brown sugar gives an extra richness to the flavor.)
4 1/2 quarts of water
Some yeast from the supermarket. Bread [...]
April 26, 2010
Another local write-up about the urban homestead that includes Jordanne’s Ginger Soda Recipe (note we use glass bottles but for the article recommend using recycled liter soda bottles for safety reasons)
Farming a 1/10 Acre Urban Homestead by Chris Bertrand / Mountain Views News
The Dervaes family live simply and richly, farming their Urban Homestead in Pasadena
On [...]
April 25, 2010
by Anais in Posts by Anais
Yesterday we celebrated taking care of the creation and being good stewards. Not to mention a lovely day with wonderful people.
I would say over 50 “familiar” looking folks came by to swap howdies, of course ask about Amy and inquire about our new projects that are happening on the urban homestead like grey water, fish [...]
April 23, 2010
Freedom Gardener for a Day! Pasadena’s Mayor Bill Bogaard stops by our table at one of the many community events that we participated in.
Well, that about wrap things up for now! Hope you enjoyed the mini posting blitz today.
With folks focusing on earthy things this month, next week things should die down on the [...]
April 23, 2010
One of the fun things about urban homesteading is growing your own herbs. Not only are you growing your own spice rack but tasty drinks, medicine chest and beauty products.
From teas to tinctures from herbal butters to brews herbs are one of the most useful things you can grow on your urban homestead.
Going Herbal on [...]
April 23, 2010
The guy love wearing caps — it’s a must in their urban farmer apparel. Um, that and camos. Farmer Justin digs camo’s and for a down and dirty guy camos make a lot of sense – you can wear dirty clothes and not look dirty (saves on laundry and water). Yep, Farmer J is one [...]
April 23, 2010
Back in 2008 our family and farm were featured on ABC Nightline (check out the original LIVING THE REAL SIMPLE LIFE circa 2008)
This week, they aired a piece which featured a snippet of the archival footage and focused on a very important question: “What is Your PLAN B?
That’s a really pertinent question. Especially since, these [...]
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 [...]
April 20, 2010
Our last jamming session was such a success at the school just down the road from us that we were asked back (thanks Lauren) to teach another group of gals.
Strawberries are in season here in California for this class we whipped up a batch of scrumptious strawberry jam.
Putting back in touch with our roots. Knowing [...]
April 20, 2010
We hosted a FOOD INC screening & potluck on Sunday night and you can too – in your own home!
Tomorrow night at 9 PM (April 21) PBS POV will air FOOD INC in its entirety and is encouraging folks to host a potluck too
Here are some ways you can help (I’ve taken the liberty to [...]
April 18, 2010
Can you guess what one of our next project is?
Hint: has to do with this plant in the picture.
:: Field Hand Appreciation :: EM $100 and order from our online store. We are extremely grateful for your generous support. Thank you.
THE ANSWER IS: Boy ya’ll are smart. “Hops” is the mystery plant. Good guessing everyone.
April 18, 2010
by Anais in Posts by Anais
Eating out Thursday night. Yep, this is a rarity, a rarity I tell you, for us farm folks! A friend of ours who knows we like to leave early suggested we stop by his favorite restaurant right across the street from the Santa Monica Library for a bite to eat before the presentation. [...]
April 16, 2010
by Anais in Clay Pot Irrigation, Garden, Greywater Reclamation, Homestead, Posts by Anais, Water, Water
Water! Water is vital to the all aspects of the urban homestead and, though we are dependent on the municipal water source for most of our water (digging a well is out of the question – looked into it), we do our best to conserve what water we do use.
On the homestead in New Zealand, there [...]
April 15, 2010
Good little article but there are some slight misstatements. 1.) We grow 99 percent of our PRODUCE not diet 2) We do buy supplement animal feed (grains pellets) oh, and our goal is “ZERO” food miles!
Path to Freedom conserves water while cutting ‘food miles’ from Dervaes family’s carbon footprint
By Carolyn Neuhausen PASADENA WEEKLY
On a quiet [...]
April 14, 2010
On newsstand today – TWO articles in the Daily News featuring the urban homestead.
Photos courtesy the Daily News John McCoy/Staff Photographer
Farm living in the city with the Dervaes
By Natalie Haughton, Food Editor
It’s trendy to go green, grow some vegetables in your back yard, have a few solar panels on the roof and drive a hybrid [...]
April 13, 2010
The harvest results are in for the month of March
Harvest: 396 lbs produce Eggs Duck 44 & Chicken 96
Why do we tally the harvest? No, is not supposed to be a competition of us vs them/you but us vs us. Keeping track, keeps us on track Here’s some of the reason’s why
66 ft x [...]
April 12, 2010
This first work order to humans was “to dress and keep the garden,” a command to do the work necessary to tend a garden , along with a compassionate care over animals that reside there.
Thank you all so very much for your care and concern over our lil Amy (named after a character in Louisa [...]
April 6, 2010
WHAT: Screening of FOOD INC Local Food Potluck, Produce & Seed Swap
WHEN: Sunday April 18 (6 PM – 10 PM)
WHERE: 626 Cypress Ave, Pasadena CA 91103
COST: $10.00
RSVP – click here (note we went back to our simple rsvp format)
You asked for an event; however, if we do not get enough folks attending this event we [...]
March 31, 2010
Taking a Blogging Break
It’s a Holy season for us here on the urban homestead, so going to take a few days break to concentrate on some projects and re prioritize a few things.
Lots of things happening, Holy observances and it’s that busy time of year. A farming life is 24/7 and it just kicked into [...]
March 29, 2010
I don’t know what it is about this year, but weeks are flying by just too darn fast. I blink and next thing I know two weeks have past. Geez!
Before wrapping up what we ate these last two weeks, like to thank those you who took time to share your thoughts on the pay per [...]
March 29, 2010
If you’ve seen our short Homegrown Revolution film (now available on DVD – purchase your copy here) where I say that we are “directly and indirectly self sufficient” from our little 1/10 plot here in the city.
BTW, the HGR film is NOT the same one that’s on YouTube (view here) which has over 318,000 [...]
March 28, 2010
“Air Jordanne”
I know, I know enough of the supposedly dwarf pea pictures. But we just couldn’t resist just one last one because now I think they are done growing! Pretty soon these peas will succumb to mildew and become goat food.
Peas on Steroids?
Remember the 9 foot eggplant that we grew one summer! (here’s a [...]
March 26, 2010
by Anais in Ammendments & Fertilizers, Compost, Composting, Fertilizers, Garden, Garden, Posts by Anais
Before the onslaught of summer – heat and heavy harvest season that tax the plants and soil. It’s that time of year to give the garden a spring booster shot!
Here on the urban homestead not only is our primary effort to grow our own food – but soil. Number one thing to remember when starting [...]
March 25, 2010
Growing food one of most dangerous occupations on this earth because you are in danger of becoming free. – Jules Dervaes
What: Screening of FOOD Inc (96 min) in collaboration with PBS’s POV
When: Sunday April 18 6:00 PM
Where: 626 Cypress Ave, Pasadena CA
Cost: Suggested donation of $10 paid in advance / *$15 at the door, $20 [...]
March 24, 2010
Food is the center of our lives here on the urban homestead – we grow it, cook it and preserve it. Our lives center on the change of seasons, good harvests and bad. The fruits of our labor is reflected by what’s on our plates.
Talking with a friend the other day, he mentioned what if [...]
March 23, 2010
Front porch farm stand
Getting to know your farmer and where your food comes from.
Our urban farming foray’s started back in the early 1990’s when Farmer D smother the front lawn to grow food. After 15 plus years supplying local restaurants we are now expanding our homegrown produce sales to be csa-like.
These days, folks are dropping [...]
March 23, 2010
It’s been really busy here on the urban homestead. With daylight savings and first day of spring, the flurry of activity and projects have increased a hundredfold.
Back when we were teenagers, we read Euell Gibbon’s classic Stalking the Wild Asparagus.
Since then, we’ve self-taught ourselves to identify wild edibles and their uses – both edible and medicinal. [...]
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 18, 2010
Who turned on the heat? It feels like summer out! Temps have topped 85 degrees. Guess winter is behind us as we sprung forward last weekend.
It’s certainly been a busy week of activity here on the urban homestead, so I am afraid I am behind in keeping ya’ll up to date.
So once again here’s a [...]
March 18, 2010
Webservant, sis -Jordanne, is still plugging away at the new blog and still working on making improvements to the main site.
Check out the latest cool feature (hint: look at the bottom of your screen) – helping you navigate from wherever you are, fast n easy!
Still needs a bit of tweaking but otherwise – NICE!
March 16, 2010
The iconic Saturday Evening Post does a feature on the Urban Homestead!
If Norman Rockwell were alive today, wonder what his artistic rendering of an urban homesteader would be? That would have been somethin’
Urban Homesteads and Hope
By Jen Stewart
The concept of “urban homesteads” are gaining popularity in recent years. To put it simply, modern-day pioneers who [...]
March 16, 2010
Our family’s been urban homesteading for the last 20 plus years, but when we started actually documenting our journey online 10 years ago, we knew it wasn’t about “just doing it” but keeping track of what was done.
Keeping records really helps you to see where you’ve been and where you want to go. “Keeping track” [...]
March 12, 2010
It’s been awhile since we’ve posted how Amy’s doing these days.
She’s doing well. Slowly, oh so slowly, improving. Thanks to concern and feedback from one of our readers after I wrote her describing Amy’s present symptoms, we’ve both come to the conclusion that she could be very well suffering from a very, very bad pinched/pulled [...]
March 11, 2010
Organic matter is known as the “soul of a healthy soil.”
Adding compost to your yard or garden soil will help your plants grow bigger and healthier. The organic matter in compost helps soil hold on to nutrients and water.
Composting saves you money
Using compost as a soil conditioner or mulch reduces your need to purchase these [...]
