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The Urban Homesteaders

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In Memory

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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DISPATCHES FROM THE URBAN HOMESTEAD pt 3

February 19, 2010



The weather changed over night - weather whiplash we call it!  After being spoiled with a week or so days of 80 degree temps, it’s dipped back into the 60’s with a chance of rain today and more next week.

Continuing with our pictorial posting blitz….

Playfulness! Jordanne and Fairlight make faces at each other

A week with no rain, no clouds so out comes the solar ovens

Jordanne takes a break from cleaning up the animal area, enjoying one of Farmer Sergio’s oranges

After a long winter, there’s lots of work to be done.  Like Jordanne said “gotta whip the urban homestead back into tip top shape!”  Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Juicy!

Can I have a wedge?

Folks like to know where we get our soil from,  we “grow” it.  Or actually these guys (above) do.

Took out 8 large trugs will with “dirt” (decomposed mulch, straw, shavings, greens and animal manure) from the animal enclosure.   The soil will be used the raised beds, pots and soil block making mixture.

We do this two times a year - so the manure is cold and ready to be put directly into the garden.

That reminds me, gotta get on the stick and start whipping out more soil blocks — and soon!

Chickens “help” move the soil and grab some juicy worms.

Estella always with her face in the camera.  Camera hogger you!

Last year’s mulch, compost is this years soil.

After hauling about a foot or two of new soil out of the animal enclosure, we let the soil sun dry for a few days (thanks to all the rains we been having this winter)  Then we will spray with EM mixture and then cover the soil with a fresh layer of mulch.

Being in the city, we have to consider the 10th element of the urban homestead - be a good neighbor.  Considerate of our surroundings, so we are very diligent in keeping the animal enclosure clean.  So clean in fact that folks don’t even know we have animals.

Ducks get in on the action too.

Rest time!  After devouring all those worms, need a nap!!!

Hope you are enjoying the pictorial post so far - comments have been strangely quiet!

Stay tuned for more.

:: Field Hand Appreciation :: SO $40 donation.  Thank you for your support. We truly appreciate it.

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NOMINATE

February 18, 2010



In TreeHugger’s second annual Best of Green Awards, they are looking to bestow top honors on the people, places, and things that are helping move sustainability into the mainstream.

Over these last ten years online, have you been inspired by this site to start your very own urban homestead - or at least try to do something different?

Think we (Path to Freedom Urban Homestead, DerVaes Gardens, Little Homestead in the City, Homegrown Revolution, Freedom Gardens and Freedom Seeds) deserve a nomination?

Go to TREEHUGGER and submit your nomination

Thanks!

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Little Homestead in the City Keep This Site Growing: Did you get some inspiration or glean an informative tip from this post? Please support this site by either making a tax deductible donation or a purchase from our online store. Thank you!


DISPATCHES FROM THE URBAN HOMESTEAD pt 2

February 18, 2010



Gearing up for spring, not only is there planting to do, new projects to tackle,  there’s lots of maintenance to be done too!

Justin give the citrus a hair cut

Hive maintenance.  Look at that frame - heavily loaded with dark “winter” honey!

Hive tool in hand, checking on the brood

Watching bees is mesmerizing

Everything looks good!

Last Saturday Farmer Sergio brought us some straw (cheaper out where he is).

Our critters love straw.  Cassidy takes full advantage of the sweet smelling bale.

Ahhh, that feels good…..

Frolicking on the straw bale,  It’s a cat’s life I tell you!

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DISPATCHES FROM THE URBAN HOMESTEAD pt 1

February 18, 2010



Heatwave!

From rain & snow (on our local mountains) last week to temperatures topping 80 degrees all this week - whew, talk about whiplash!

But we are enjoying the unseasonable warmth while we can because there’s another storm on the horizon (next week) and there’s lots of work to be done.

Growing Your Own Groceries?

Need to stock up on seeds?  Don’t forget that we are carrying seeds that are grown by the people for the people at FreedomSeeds.org

Jordanne getting interviewed for an upcoming piece about urban homesteading

After being covered most of the winter from rains, Justin cleans and checks out the cob oven

Late winter garden gearing up for Spring!

Clay pot irrigation at work.  Get your ollas from our online store - support this site!

:: Fact :: Ollas are 80% more efficient than drip irrigation!

Pretty peas

Cabbage looking good

Carpet of salad greens

A “dry” river runs thru the urban homestead.  New greywater “stream bed”

Incoming!

Big bee at work on the flowering veggies

Utility room here at the urban homestead.   Shelving storing tromboncino squash, canning rims, egg cartons, basketful of wine making supplies and stack of wooden soap molds.

Liked this photo montage?  There’s more….

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LAST CALL FOR CALENDARS!

February 17, 2010



I just wanted to let you know how much I love the calendar! It is exactly the inspiration I hoped it would be. Beautiful photographs and printed on that nice thick paper, really great quality. Thank you
-Elizabeth

LITTLE HOMESTEAD IN THE CITY 2010 CALENDAR

(11″ x 17″)

Looking for something to inspire you (and others) throughout 2010?

Buy a beautiful calendar of stunning nature and simple living photos–and be encouraged to grow more of your own food! Plus you’ll be supporting an important work of educating others how to be more self-sufficient.

The calendar is a wall calendar, and each month has a different picture. Some months have a group of pictures. The pictures are of nature and simple living topics and reflect the seasons of the year to a certain extent.

BUY NOW for $20.00 (plus $4.00 shipping)


THANK YOU

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