Nothing says ‘I love you’ better than homegrown veggies

There’s a slew of photos from last weeks work and happenings here on the urban homestead (from cheese making to brewing a spring garden tonic with weeds) in queue but first I liked to take some time remind folks that spring is just around the corner and you know what that means!

Seeds, Goods & Supplies

Over 90% of the vegetables we grow here at our little farm in the city are featured and sold on our online store FreedomSeeds.org (it’s our first year so are aware that the variates are limited but, hey, it’s a start!)

In addition our other online store PeddlersWagon.com carries goods and supplies for the modern day urban homesteader featuring items that we actually own and use around our urban homestead.

Some of the best selling items this year are the handy dandy Soil Blocks, 2010 Growing by the Moon Calendars, the sturdy Wire Vegetable Basket and Ollas - clay pottery that drips!

Though it’s just a wee wagon full of goods I am sure there’s something useful that you could use.

Purchases made through these stores goes directly into the non profit to continue to keep this site online and our outreach growing.

Show your “lovin”” appreciation by supporting this site (count the ways)

Thank you all.

Upcoming Engagement

This Tues, Feb 9 (7:30 PM) Jules Dervaes will be giving a presentation at the OC Fair Grounds.

Check our online calendar for details.

Hope to see you there!

So this time around Jordanne took the camera into her possession and snapped a few photos

You just saw synchronized preening and here’s another sport our hens love to do in the afternoons - dust bathing.  It’s all about beauty and bliss.  Why do critters have it so easy!  Darned if I know.

What’s all the commotion?

It’s dust bath time!  Of course, Lucie is the first to start the mid afternoon ritual.

Frontside, now the backside - ahhh that feels good.

Sairey joins in.  Get that dust under those long and purty feathers of yours.

Rolling over, got to get the back.

Sissy’s turn.

and Biddy.

Ah, pure bliss.

Blackberry watches the bathing beauties and their cleaning routine.

Watching the animals taking care of themselves, got me thinking.  Then talking it over with sis, saying we got to be back into our “taking care of ourselves” routine that went out the window these last two years because we were just too darn busy or tired.   I know, I know no excuses, but - but!  This year gonna steal some time and do some stretching/yoga or whatever you call it.   Either that or will be sleeping with Mr Hotwater bottle for a very long time.

SATURDAY

Breakfast - homemade buttermilk pancakes with homepreserved strawberry sauce
Dinner - homemade flour tortillas, homemade spanish rice with organic black beans

SUNDAY

Breakfast - homemade skillet granola
Lunch - homemade vegetable soup (homegrown lima beans, broccoli, greens)
Dinner - homemade vegetable soup (homegrown lima beans, broccoli, greens) with organic CA grown brown rice

MONDAY

Breakfast - homemade skillet granola
Lunch - homemade vegetable soup (homegrown lima beans, broccoli, greens) with organic CA grown brown rice
Dinner - homegrown broccoli, pasta cheese casserole with homegrown salad topped with homegrown tomatoes

TUESDAY

Breakfast - homemade skillet granola
Lunch - homemade lentil loaf with homegrown salad
Dinner - homemade lentil loaf with homegrown salad

WEDNESDAY

Breakfast - homemade skillet granola
Lunch - out
Dinner - homemade lentil loaf with homegrown salad

THURSDAY

Breakfast - homemade skillet granola
Lunch - out
Dinner - homegrown broccoli, pasta cheese casserole with homegrown salad topped with homegrown tomatoes

FRIDAY

Breakfast - homemade skillet granola
Lunch - raw cheese grilled cheese sandwich with homegrown/canned jalepeno jelly and homegrown/canned squash pickles
Dinner - homemade no knead bread, homegrown/canned tomato sauce and pasta

Before leaving on our trip,  I didn’t have much time to make any “decent” meals.

Thankfully we were still getting homegrown, fresh tomatoes, crunchy lettuce and Farmer Sergio brought us some avocados for quick n easy sandwiches. Add a can of homegrown/canned pickled beans and you got yourself a meal!

SATURDAY

Breakfast - homemade buttermilk pancakes with homepreserved strawberry sauce
Dinner - homemade flour tortillas, spanish rice with organic black beans

SUNDAY

Breakfast - homemade skillet granola
Lunch - leftovers
Dinner - local avocados, homegrown tomatoes, homegrown lettuce, raw cheese sandwich

MONDAY

Breakfast - homemade skillet granola
Lunch - homegrown lima beans and organic CA grown brown rice
Dinner - local avocados, homegrown tomatoes, homegrown lettuce, raw cheese sandwich

TUESDAY

Breakfast - homemade skillet granola
Lunch - local avocados, homegrown tomatoes, homegrown lettuce, raw cheese sandwich with homegrown/canned pickled beans
Dinner - local avocados, homegrown tomatoes, homegrown lettuce, raw cheese sandwich with homegrown/canned pickled beans

WEDNESDAY

Breakfast - homemade skillet granola
Lunch - out
Dinner - homemade lentil loaf with homegrown salad

THURSDAY

Breakfast - homemade skillet granola
Lunch - lentil loaf sandwich with homegrown lettuce, homegrown tomatoes
Dinner - lentil loaf sandwich with homegrown lettuce, homegrown tomatoes

FRIDAY

left to Nor Cal

Do Things Different

There’s changes coming.  Seeing we have loads of fig jam and guava jam, going to start changing the breakfast menu and using up what we have in our pantry.

It’s going to be a challenge because everyone (these days) is getting up at a different times.  That’s why homemade granola was so handy and just a habit.  Make it the day/night before and whenever you wake up you could just pour yourself a bowl and top with whatever homegrown fruit that’s on the counter.

But with the new year, we resolved to do better and break out of old habits.  There’s (better) changes on the way.

What changes are you making so far this new year?  Care to share.

A major tv media outlet is looking to:

” profile someone who is in the LA area (from San Diego to Santa Barbara) that is in process of transforming his/her life as a combined result of the economic conditions and who is taking the Dervaes’ message as the inspiration for that transformation.  The more radical the shift the better.

Eg. The investment banker who is becoming an urban farmer would be an ideal candidate.

Of course I realize that something like that would be a real long shot…but you get the idea.  Someone who is making a gradual shift from one life style to another will work, as long as the long range vision is to end up somewhere very different from where they are today…and the shift is very visibly underway.”

Is this you, or know someone who is?

Contact us at info@urbanhomestead.org

With winter fleeting fast and spring ready to, well, spring.  There’s lots of outside work to be had.  Time to fix and spruce up the place like we do after a long winter.

Duckies enjoying the sunshine

Growing vertical!  Cleaning up some metal panels Farmer D is recycling into trellises.

Justin working on the car - this job is taking a couple days and a couple of beers (well, no beer but he could use one).  Old cars need lots of TLC and patience.

Justin captures a hummingbird “dancing” in the sprinkler that he set on top of the compost heap

Cob oven needs some TLC too and coat of boiled linseed oil

It’s an oily job!

Visiting a local salvage yard, Justin checks out some interesting objects

Score!  Salvage yard has pavers.  We borrow Struan’s truck and extra set of hands to haul the pavers back to the urban homestead

Struan and Farmer D unload the pavers

Handy woman, Jordanne, helps put the pavers in place

Brick by brick

A pattern forms

Amy update.  Now that we are home, I am back to giving Amy her daily massage.  I am noticing that she gets slightly worse after each massage but the next morning she almost, almost looks normal (progress!).  The inflammation seems to be in right wing socket near her neck.  I am noticing that there’s a knot of some sort and though she winces at first she then relaxes and likes the massage and acupressure that I apply.

So guess just have to continue what we are doing.  It’s gotten us this far so, so far so good.

Oh mother! I killed my mother.  OK that sounded gruesome.

Actually my “mother mushroom” aka “scooby” died.  Or at least I think it did.  That’s what happens when you go away - you leave instructions about feeding the critters, taking care of the plants but the scooby - well, got overlooked.  I left it in a homebrewed batch of kombucha in the fridge but this time not enough.  By the time I got back the mushroom (or evaporation) had dried up the liquid.

I am going to see if I can revive it - not sure if it’s alive.  We’ll have to see.

Just to be safe I am growing another one.  It will take awhile and gonna to miss our kombucha buzz.

We are still doing pretty well on stock of our home canned goods.  Not sure if the tomato sauce will last until our first crop of ripe tomatoes but we’ll see.   We may start our canning earlier this year because we have a load of fruit frozen in the freezer.  Either that or make some desserts!

New Olympic sport: synchronized preening.

Note: I actually had a pretty bland caption for this cute photo; however, I left this post on the computer for awhile, came back and Jordanne added a WAY better caption instead.  Thanks sis.

:: Field Hand Appreciation :: LM $5.00  Thank you for your donation.

I was sitting in the living room adjusting, testing my camera when I snapped this photo.  No reason for it but it’s pretty.

All stained.  The new “was to be honey turned into garden shed” (made with old shutters from Habitat for Humanity salvage)

Head of cabbage

Winter garden partially  under covers

Signs of spring

Farmer David brought us these wonderful winter squash.  Thanks for sharing, looking forward to more baked squash!

Homemade no knead bread fresh out of the oven

A gift from Julia’s handy husband Gary.  We squealed with delight when we got the package!  Fits perfectly in our country kitchen.  LOVE IT.  THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Back side! Blackberry lounging in the sun.  I let her be, even though I had a strong urge to “tickle her backside!”

Ducks and goats in the animal yard.  The chickens?  They are hanging ’round the corner perched and preening on old chairs.

Another sign of spring. Peach blossoms

Potatoes

Loaded!  Incoming!  Bees packin’ pollen.

Jordanne making repairs while the goats watch.  Yeah, watching not even lending a hand or hoof.  What’s up guys?

Lucie moseys on over to see what all the fuss is about.

Eggs!  Molting season is over, more hours of day light so there’s eggs to be had.  Oh, and the lovely dishes there on the counter were all given to us - two by our dear friend Jenny (who moved to CT) and the rooster one from Sherilyn.

Farmer Justin works in the garden

I see if there’s any eggs in the nesting boxes

Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back…

Now that you joined us on our recent travels time to get back into the swing of things happening here on the urban homestead.

Yeah!

Leaving for such a short time, the work never goes away just gets pushed back and then it hits you like a ton of bricks - “welcome home!” (a bit of sarcasm here)

The latest storm this week dropped another 1/2 inch of rain.   All we ask (pray for) is one small storm a week for the next few months.  That would be such a blessings.

The weather this week is actually mild - could winter be over? Guess I am done my knitting hats and scarves marathon.   Knitted enough to get us thru this winter and bartered to boot (I am expecting a load of nettles from Farmer Sergio…. soon).  So onto some different sorts of knitting projects. Hmmmmm

First, going to use up some of the scrap yarns to make a few hot water bottle covers.

For the life of me, Jordanne & I  wish we knew what the heck was wrong with Amy.  She’s better, mind you, but still scrunched like some tight rubberband is holding her neck down.  And then she goes into some sort of stretching conniptions that includes her left leg.  She has full neck function but it’s as if a nerve or tendon is pulled taunt that is keeping her head close to her body.   Darn if I know how to help her any more than I/we have.

One thing we did notice, after coming home, is that she is standing taller/straighter.   The change was noticeable so I guess that’s the good thing about going away.  You can get a better sense on things that, otherwise, you see every day.

Actually, in the morning I have to sometimes look twice to spot her among the others.  But, by afternoon she’s resting with her neck back and leg stretch out.  Jordanne reminds me that ducks especially are sensitive to pain - if something hurts just a little, they rather just “go lame,” looking worse then they actually are.

Sure wish we could just holler for someone like James Herriot (if they even exist anymore). That would be swell and an answer to a prayer just to see how things are going for her.

On the bright side, she’s happy and hanging with her pals - quack!

The DOA arrival fishes got recycled - fed to the duckies.  First time they ever saw a fish so they weren’t sure about ‘em.  I watched for awhile but they didn’t gobble them up like I had anticipated.   Coming back a little later, I noticed the little fishes were gone, so suppose someone ate them.

The garden waits for no one - and, boy, do we have a LOT of catching up to do.   Spring is almost here and the planting fever is just about to hit.  I can feel it just simmering under the surface.

At one of the dinners at the EcoFarm Conference, Farmer Sergio commented that it’s just about time to start planting tomatoes.  I almost dropped my fork.  “****crap, already!”   Just then, I felt that winter didn’t last long enough… or maybe not.

Justin is savoring the seeds he got at the seed exchange at the EcoFarm Conference and, boy, did he/we pick up a few beauties.

Just remember to not drool all over your keyboard - promise?

Like this one

and this one

or this one

Projects, projects, projects.  I am not one for cloning but when the projects start to pile up, that doesn’t seem such a bad idea.  Other than get hitched to someone who has kids or sprout limbs (is there a pill for that yet?) Hanging around farmers, I learned one thing - you got a have/keep a sense of humor; otherwise, you are toast!

Sunday it was “all hands on deck” here at the urban homestead doing some outside cleaning projects.  Just like keeping a a home clean, the outside requires the same bit of attention.  More so since we are in the city with neighbors.  Jordanne did a bit of repairing to the animal yard while I “mucked” out the duck and chicken house.  Justin and Farmer D were busy with all sorts of projects - moving dirt, plants, digging here, digging there.

Weather forecast has it that two storms are going to bring us some more rain by (possibly) mid week.

In other news…

Jordanne is busting her butt trying to get the new blog up  - it’s going to be so sweet.  After eight years of blogging, this is going to be the best blog yet.   You are gonna to love it, I just know it.

So, please give Jordanne some moral support or a bar of chocolate.  Working with computers is a thankless job which can make the sanest person insane and in much need of caffeine, chocolate or a hug!

Now, in the foreseable future, to get to all those great questions you asked while we were out of town.  Those of you whose questions we do answer will get you 15% off either PeddlersWagon.com or FreedomSeeds.org

Oh, and there’s some weekly meal wrap ups too and also writing about the downside of the urban farming/homesteading movement.  Yep, seems some folks aren’t taking into account one of the major elements of URBAN HOMESTEADING (”Be a good neighbor”) and they are now meeting with opposition from neighbors.

Attention local foodie writers, bloggers, critics!

Interested in trying eats from the Urban Homestead for an upcoming cable TV show, scheduled filming — weather permitting, Sunday Feb 21.

Inquire at info@urbanhomestead.org

Note: Please refrain from contacting if you have food allergies and or are vegan!

EcoFarm Conference (whose unofficial motto was “Still Dirty at 30″) sadly ended.  Inspired, it was time go home and “kick some butt” as a friend put it.

The sun came out on the last day of our trip so we decided to mosey on down the scenic and spectacular Hwy 1.

The drive home would take longer on HWY 1; but, reportedly, is the most dramatic meeting of land and sea in the world.   The winding drive down was worth the a little bit of tummy unrest (for me) as we gazed out into the majestic Pacific Ocean.  Before heading inland we stopped off in San Simeon to check out the congregation of elephant seals.

The scenes from the car window were breathtaking!

Now that you got the scoop from our travels, it’s (thankfully) back to our regularly schedule postings - and answering some of ya’ll questions.

Once again, we want to thank all the people that made this trip wonderful and possible!

Wrapping up my personal thoughts from this trip.

I was touched how many youngters (in Nevada City) enjoyed Robert McFalls HOMEGROWN .  Meeting and talking with them was really wonderful.

I fell in love… with vanilla syrup, that is, thanks to Patricia’s husband, David (more on that later).

Seed exchanges are addicting and should be avoided at all cost unless you have room (grin) to grow!  So much for that advice - didn’t heed it one bit!

Every knitting project has a story.  Sure glad I brought mine on this trip.  At least I can say this latest hat was knitted in a dark and historic theater (yeah, I can knit without lights - Helen Keller did.  Stick round long enough on this blog and you never know what you’ll learn!) while HOMEGROWN was playing or held up in the hotel room with family and farmer Sergio, while watching the Beverly Hill Billies (I have unbelievable kinship with Granny daggummit) while it rained cats & dogs.

Also, Dominos pizza really does taste better!   Um, do you just fall out of your chairs? ;)  You take what you can get on the road, you know.

Walking on the beach with a long skirt during blustery weather is, well shall I say, “interesting!”

On a serious note, the future of farming is at a critical crossroads.  What will “Organics” look like?  Read HELL NO CEO-The future of farming and food at the Eco Farm Conference!

We all came back,  determined to do better - in both our personal lives and here at the urban homesteading project.  There are always challenges to overcome and, with perseverance and humility, we hope we can climb the next mountain.

The end.

So there you have it!  Ramblings from Nevada City, Meadow Vista, Santa Cruz & Monterey.

Whew!

Monterey Bay/Asilomar, EcoFarm Conference Jan 20-23

Before the conference started, we needed a place to stay for night or two before we were given our designated rooms on the conference grounds and were blessed with a place to stay beachside. (A big thanks to the Bakke family who made this possible.)  There we rendezvoused with friend and farmer, Sergio, who stayed the night with us and who also was there to attend the conference for the first time.

We did get a chance in between raindrops to take a small walk along the beach which was nice.

The 2003 EcoFarm Conference is where Farmer D gave his very first urban homesteading presentation.  Seven years later, we were back - to cover all that has happened here on the homestead.  The topic was perfect: “Big Rewards from Small Spaces.”

Unfortunately, the rain just wouldn’t let up - just went where there was a break, another deluge would drench the conference grounds.  Wave after wave of rain pelted the coast from the huge storm that covered the whole state of California.

So we couldn’t really enjoy walks on the beach (bummer) but instead spent most of our time indoors - talking with people at our booth in the Exhibit Hall, checking out a few talks, attending plenary sessions with Wes Jackson, Eliot Coleman and Frances Moore Lappé,  taking part in the ever-fun seed swap (where we loaded up on more seeds) and hanging out in the dinning hall listening to some wonderful conversations about farm life.

At the farm conference, we met Chris of Chauffin Family Farm, who saw the film in Nevada City and invited us to visit their farm (will take a rain check on that, thank you!).  Thanks, Chris, for the wonderful and engaging conversation - not to mention the jar of olive oil from your farm.  You’ll definitely be hearing more from us!

Also, Frances Moore Lappé signed a copy of Diet for a Small Planet for us. On the shelf here on the urban homestead, we have an old and tattered copy from the 1970s, so now we have a new, autographed copy (sweet!). We brought greetings from John Robbins, who is long-time friends with Frances Moore Lappé. She and her daughter, Anna, also work together - yet another example of passing a legacy to the next generation.

Saturday morning was time for Farmer D’s Urban Homesteading presentation, which drew about 200 people to Merrill Hall, the main conference venue. (We didn’t check the Chapel so don’t know how many were there listening in to the live feed.)  The presentation must have been a popular one because when we got to the desk to pick up a CD of the talk, the stack was all gone!

Farmer D opened the presentation with a screening of the ever-popular Homgrown Revolution. We don’t know quite what it is about this simple film-that-wasn’t-supposed-to-be-a-film.  One of the EcoFarm vendors told us that her husband was in tears at the end of the film - it touches something deep down in people.

Farmer D then talked about what we had learned over the 20+ year urban homesteading experiment, especially when it came to front yard edible gardening (very timely with the bad PR some of these projects are getting - I’ll touch on that in a later post).  Lots of people were taking detailed notes. He emphasized that

“Change happens slowly, but you must start now-small can be beautiful and productive”

Perhaps in our spare time (huh) we can have our friend Dan put up the entire talk on YouTube….lots to do!

On the last day of the conference, the sun finally came out - but, alas, it was time for us to go.  We all headed down to the beach after lunch for quick walk - the air, ocean and sunshine were mesmerizing.

We all were extremely tired - don’t know why (actually,  in my case I think it’s because of the sheets - yep, sleeping on bleached sheets something we aint used to here the urban homestead) and it’s hard to be on the road moving from place to place.

Not to mention the worry of how things were at the urban homestead and Sergio’s farm with one of the biggest storms we’ve had in years.  Thoughts of the long drive home brought us back to reality, and we said goodbye to the sand and surf.

With such a land based lifestyle, even when on the road, there’s never really time off - your mind wanders back to the farm/homestead as you wonder what’s going on and the projects that await your arrival.   We, and even farmer Sergio, were on the phone calling home - wondering the same thing: “How are things there - animals, garden OK?”

At the closing plenary session there was, shall I say, an “interesting” exchange with Elliot Coleman and Gary Hirshberg (of Stoneyfield) Definitely raised some interesting questions though we saw both sides seemed we sided more with Coleman.

Did leave us with a lot to think about - the future of food and organic agriculture.

Now for some photos!

Ahhh, the majestic ocean

Jordanne, me and Sergio enjoy a walk in the beach

Pelicans

Justin and Sergio wonder if they should bring some of the kelp home for their gardens

Enjoying the sand, surf and blue skies

Boardwalk

Welcome!

No better place to have a conference in the world than Asilomar!

Jordanne, Justin and Sergio checking out the tables of information

Justin and Sergio intently listen to a lecture about beneficial plants and insects.

Three farmer’s hang out - Sergio, Chris & justin

Meeting up once again with Frances Moore Lappe

Jordanne & Sergio listen in on a talk in the lovely Chapel

Eating together

Hanging together

And now for the most anticipated event of the conference - seed exchange

Justin, Sergio and Jordanne check out tables full of all sorts of seeds

Justin and I fill up envelopes

Nothing makes a farmer happier more than seeds…. well, perhaps rain and a bumper harvest.

Man hands! Pen and little envelopes in hand, Justin fills up on seeds

Farmer D gives his presentation

Santa Cruz Jan 18

On the road again and the rain started coming down - pouring from the sky in torrents.  We aren’t used to rain like this!

It was certainly a wet and wild drive!  Our next stop before the EcoFarm Conference was Santa Cruz to meet John Robbins (author of Diet For A New America and Food Revolution). Fortunately for us, a lady (thanks Helena!) whom we met in Nevada City had friends there who had some extra sleeping space.  What a blessing!

Before our scheduled visit with John Robbins and his family, we popped over to the University of California Santa Cruz farm to check out their growing grounds and Alan Chadwicks garden that was the seed of the biointensive movement here in the States.

We were jealous of all the land - and the view– was worth a million (and more) dollars.  The farm land gently rolled off into the ocean on the horizon.   Just amazing vista — yeah, I’m jealous!

Then it was off to meet John, Deo, Ocean and Michele Robbins and family. I had read Robbins’ book Diet For A New America when I was a teenager. So it was a thrill for us to meet the Robbins family in person. Also, John Robbins kindly wrote a review for Robert McFall’s HomeGrown documentary.

Actually, McFalls had another newbie food activist in mind to give a review on the film, but we wanted the film to go to folks that had touched our lives and shaped our journey - folks from the old days that are continuing the food fight today. People like Francis Moore Lappe, John Robbins, Wendell Berry & Wes Jackson.

OK, back to our visit!

We chatted about all sorts of topics, from uncannily similar stories of difficult choices Jules Dervaes and John Robbins made on the basis of deeply held principles to the (grim) state of the world and the necessity of a radically different lifestyle to skepticism about “green washing” and the “light green” tint of some of the current environmental ‘movement’.

We felt a real connection with the Robbins family’s multi-generational way of living and working together. The Robbins’ son, Ocean, and his wife, Michele, and children, lived with them in the same house for many years; now, they live on the same property, although in a separate dwelling, and continue to work together.

John ended our visit by gathering us in a circle and saying a prayer - what a truly warm and touching moment that was!

Thank you, Richard and Dianne, for offering your place for the night.  We truly appreciated that.   And a huge thank you to the entire Robbins family whose work and passion continue to make a real difference around the world.

Now down to Monterey to the Eco Farm Conference!

But before we go, here’s some photos.

The farm of UCSC

Old fashion farm implements - sadly, not in use.

Like a bee to honey, Mr Beekeeper checks out the bees

And Jordanne the chicken coop of course!

Next to the John Robbins family “compound”

Group shot with John Robbins and daughter in law, Michelle.  We briefly met Ocean - he had to leave very shortly after we arrived.