Po-ta-Toes! Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew?" -

Time to harvest our Po-ta-Toes!

Here in So Cal, where we have a "to be desired" growing season,  I started the potatoes back in December.   Sometimes I have a few little "seed potatoes" leftover; but, each year, I get a couple of pounds of  organic potatoes from the local health food store and sprout them.

I like to plant the potatoes in 15 gallon tubs with an olla (clay pot irrigation).  Seems to be successful.

Digging up the tubs filled with potatoes

Cutting down the potato greens to get to the tubers

Olla and purple potatoes

Pulling out a clump of fingerling taters

Colorful spuds

Potato au gratin

You can tell by the photo line up, it  pretty much sums up what our weather's been like.  Hot, for a couple of days, then cold.

This season, I grew purple, fingerlings, yukon gold and red ones  which all turned into a pretty decent harvest of nearly 100 lbs.

If you never had a homegrown potato before, you are missing a real treat.  We've been enjoying  potato salad with pickled squash and carrots from the pantry.

Back in the old days, seems folks would eat potatoes raw like apples.  Watching the Lark Rise to Candleford series, there's a scene  with Mr Timmins munching on a raw potato.  Hmmm,  I thought, eating raw potatoes are bad for you; well, that's what they tell you.

Not quite sure I'll try raw potatoes anytime soon.  When we roasted potatoes, I'm often reminded of Wilder family in Farmer Boy.

A step backwards, clay pot irrigation

We bought a couple dozen olla’s from you last year but only had two beds and few oak whiskey barrels at that time. This year we made a few more raised large beds and added a few more barrels (barrels perfect for the olla’s) installed drip lines to water all of the ollas at once by turning the handle on the hose. OH MY OH MY. We have a few whiskey barrels with just drip irrigation 360 sprayers and no olla’a and what a difference the olla makes, all of the whiskey barrels (holding tomato plants surrounded by herbs or strawberries and herbs combined are thriving, just thriving, taller than the no olla barrels. Plants love them, when removing them this past winter, they were hugged by roots of vegetables that had grown with them that past summer. They work and work well, we all have been utilizing the plant nanny a clay spike that holds a wine bottle. They have the same concept as the olla yet can not be filled with the drip lines. look very nice in the whiskey/wine barrels. very vineyard feel to our courtyard now.
We love it. - Patricia

Plant Pottery That Works

We can't sing the praises enough of clay pot irrigation, an ancient method of plant irrigation - considered the original drip irrigation system. And yes the ollas are 100% LEAD-FREE

Sure they are somewhat pricey but here on the urban homestead we've been slowing putting ollas [pronounced OH-ya] throughout the yard and over the last three years have cut our water usage in 1/2 while maintaining our annual poundage of close to 6,000 lbs. {our water bill for the entire year is $600}

It's great to hear of others who too have success with this ancient yet highly efficient watering method, thanks for sharing Patricia.

What about anyone else, care to share your olla experience? O yah!

Or better yet, share what water wise efforts you are doing to reduce your water use in the garden. Are you getting rid of the lawn to grow more food, mulching or planting crops closer together all in an effort to save water?

Here's our latest Water Saving Projects and list of Water Wise Ways

:: Resources ::

Buy Ollas from our Urban Homestead Shop

Using Ollas in Your Garden

Pictures of Ollas in Raised Beds

Ollas FAQ

Make Your Own SWC ("self watering container") Ollas in Containers (pics sent to us by another LA urban homesteader)

We do have some great post formulating that we are working as we hope to bring you more "homestead happenings."

But, right now, not in the mood much for writing, so here's another photo montage of sights from the urban homestead.   We'll let the photos speak for themselves.

Enjoy

Oh, and don't forget if you are wanting to know what kinds/types of vegetables we are sowing - they are available at our online seed store.

Old Clementine get's some loving

Cooking cookies in the solar ovens

Gorgeous spring greens

Packing up edible flowers for our clients

Loquats are ready for harvest

Growing on up: tomatoes take over the trellises

Clay pot irrigated tomato bed - saves water and contributes to healthier plants

Herbs! Lemon verbena, fennel and sorrel

Beet bed

Cukes and clay pot irrigated bed

Summer squash

There's (almost) green beans in the garden!

Strawberries!

Harvesting daikon radishes

On the homestead in New Zealand, there was a huge cistern that collected rainwater for the household. On the Florida homestead, we had a well; but, here on our city homestead, it's all about conservation and collection of potable water.

Our water journey started back in early 90's when So Cal was going through a servere drought and Farmer D took the first "radical" step by smothering our front lawn to grow food.   Mulching heavily and hauling buckets of greywater from the house, we started on the path towards cutting our water useage.

What about rainwater?

In 2006, we removed our old (slightly dilapidated) shingle roof and installed a metal one that's better equipped for rainwater harvest; however, our "official" rainwater harvesting project is still on hold tuntil we put gutters on this old house; but, in the meantime, we use buckets and 55 gallon drums to collect the water.  Every bit helps!

One of the most frequently asked questions is about water and awhile back I put together a list of some of the "Water Wise Ways" we've adopted here on the urban homestead.  Check out the list

Since this list, we've successfully cut our water useage in 1/2 while maintaining our high harvest yields.  Our water bill for the entire year (including personal use) is $600

This month, we are taking steps forward on the water front.   We are converting even more beds and garden space to the highly efficient clay pot irrigation method and almost completing one of our greywater projects that will divert the used bath water to water our trees and garden.

Not to mention the aquaponics project. We gals have our critters and Justin, well, he's just crazy over these fish.  We tell him you can't pet fish and our critters are cuter.  hehe

But he's really stoked about his new project - think it's because it reminds him of the time spent fishing on the bay (Tampa Bay) with Grandpa.  I dug up this "flash from the past" pic of Justin fishing with "Pop Pop"

Speaking of fish and water.

Back on our 10 acres in Florida, Farmer D made a huge pond and filled it with fish.  I remember plowing through the tall grasses with our bamboo fishing poles, hanging out at sunset (good fishing time), always on the look out for slimy water moccasins and the ever imaginary phantom gator that we hoped never stalked our pond, though there were signs of a visit from one!

What is 'Aquaponics'

Aquaponics by definition is the combination of aquaculture and hydroponics. Nutrient rich fish water is pumped from the fish tank into gravel beds, where plants growing in the gravel extract the nutrients from the water. The water then drains back into the fish tank cleaned of excess nutrients and freshly oxygenated.

With this system we can grow a supply of fresh herbs, vegetables and fresh fish growing right outside our back patio.m with no chemicals and no wastes, using about one tenth of the water required for normal vegetable growing.

More on that later.  But now for pictures!

Digging a trench

Bathwater diverted out into the yard

and out into the garden

to the raised beds

and under the raised beds

In goes our homegrown dirt - last year's compost!

More ollas in bed

A study by the University of Pretoria showed results of "water savings between 50% and 70% are achievable with the clay pot irrigation system.”

You can purchase ollas via our online store

Putting ollas into the established herb garden out front

Clay pot irrigated herb bed - done!

Hey,  fishy fishy

I will hopefully get to the travel  recap soon but, in the meantime, life moves forward - onward.

Guess what?  47 days till spring!

The garden, thanks to the deluge of liquid sunshine last week, has filled out.  Nothing better "growth hormone" for the garden than rain.

After more than a week on the road what a blessing it was to come home to fresh salads, dark green broccoli and navel oranges (from Farmer Sergio).  We hate to use the word snob but we are definitely spoiled being able to eat such nourishing, fresh food every day!   When one goes on the road, one starts to appreciate what a tremendous blessing it is to have a garden full of homegrown food.

The good news is the fish that Justin ordered arrived in the mail.  The bad news is that most of the fish were DOA. The rest died that night.  Closer inspection found the container package was damaged and leaking.  That's a bit of a setback, but we have our hands full as it is (right now). We will try, try again...

Coming back from the farming conference in Asilomar, we still are determined to improve our soil even more.   Why?  Because we really think we can do better and produce more (weather and God willing)

Before we left Justin left out 5 gallon buckets to capture extra rainwater to make a batch of nettle tea whenever Farmer Sergio comes up next and brings us a bunch of fresh nettles that I bartered for a handknit hat.

We also brought back (way, way too many) seeds from the seed exchange there at the eco farm conference - Jordanne & I made sure to pick up some extra grains like quiona and amaranth.  We hope to squeeze out a plot of grains for animal feed.   Where, I dunno yet, but I am sure Justin will make out a space (hint, hint)

There's another storm that's supposed to dump more rain here in So Cal, so we are trying to get some of the outdoor project done before another downpour.

Oh, and for those of you who would like to keep tabs on us and happenings on the urban homestead, you can find us on FACEBOOK & TWITTER

As I un-jumble my thoughts and reflections from the recent travels (lots of interesting folks and exchanges), enjoy a few photos of the good life here on the urban homestead.

Snow peas

Dwarf Grey Sugar pea flowers

"Dwarf"  Grey Sugar peas topping the 3' cages.

Kale & clay pot ("olla) bed

Pssst, guess what?  It's that time of year again.  What time of year you ask?  With spring just around the corner it's time to ger yer ollas!

We are taking pre-orders as we speak.  Get 'em now while they are hot!

Kumquats

Elephant Garlic

Maaaaaaa!  Finally, the sun is out... for awhile at least!

Before signing off, we like to thank a few kind folk whose letters and donations greeted us when we got home.

:: Field Hand Appreciation ::

CE $20 and who wrote: " to the Dervaes family, I so enjoy your site. It is very generous of you to put so much of yourselves and your home/farm on the net fo the rest of us to see.  I am enclosing $20 to help pay for the website hosting cost.  I wish you continued success in all you do - Sincerely CE

KD $20 donation and a note that said " I received a calendar - its beautiful.  What a surprise!"

and last but not least LE $150 and touching letter which said " Dear Dervaes family  First of all thank you for all the effort you put into education those of us who for whatever reason are currently unable to live a life like yours.  I look at the photos on your website whenever I feel a disconnection with the earth.  I'd like to donate to your outreach program because it makes a difference to me that 4 of you can manage to do what you are doing with a grace and confidence and tact.  Thanks again for all the great ideas, I look forward to keeping up with your activities. - LE

Thank you all for your warmth and generosity - your positive comments and continuing support are what makes this site possible.

Purple Top Turnips (via FreedomSeeds.org)

Clay pot irrigation/tomato bed

Lazy animals

Preening chickens

Snoozing chickens

Clusters of grapes  (means homemade WINE soon!)

I greet some of our young LHITC fans.

May's shaping up to be another busy month we'll be in Ojai one week and OC (Orange County the next)   Hope to see some of you there

Here's our out & about schedule

MAY 16-17 New World Fair, Pasadena Convention Center (Homegrown Revolution film showing on Saturday at 5:30 PM) We'll have a booth so come down and check it/us out  (DOWNLOAD $2.00 Coupon off admittance)

MAY 19 - Food For Thought hosts screening of Robert McFalls documentary HOMEGROWN ( 7 pm - 9 pm ) Matilija High School Auditorium in Ojai CA    Dervaes family will be there as special guests.  ADMISSION IS FREE

MAY 24 - PTF hosts another FILM & FOOD NIGHT (Movie: Are We Running Dry) Event will include clay pot irrigation demo, seed, crop swap and more!

MAY 26 (7:30 PM)  CA Rare Fruit Growers Orange County Jules Dervaes gives a presentation on growing food in the city (Open to the public and FREE)

MAY 28 - PTF's organization (supporters, staff and volunteers) are invited to private screening of FOOD INC

Spread the word!

As for June....

We'll be back to OC again -  stay tuned for details!

How's your summer garden shaping up?  Care to share?

The weather has been pleasant, even on the cool side.  The day starts off overcast with slight to partial clearing around lunch.    Looks like no more rain for the season.  This year's rainfall totals are definitely lower than normal.  2008-09 is the third dry year for our state and Pasadena is already proposing water rates increase.

A possible solution to LA's water crisis went down the drain Back in the 1990's I remember as a kid using the bucket greywater method - aka bucket brigade.  We'd haul our bath water out in 5 gallon buckets to water the vegetables (corn and squash) that we had growing in the front yard at the time.    Hmmm front yard farming, using greywater aren't subversive acts anymore!  So what we did as kids wasn't weird, we were just ahead of our time!

By going "backwards," you take steps forward!

Swiss chard lit by soft sunlight

Front yard farming - mixture of herbs, veggies and berries

Garden propaganda nestled among the chard, blueberries and apple trees

Tomato and clay pot irrigation beds- one planted and one (almost) ready to go

Turning under the spent green crops and "summerizing" the yard as Justin says

Gorgeous (and edible) nasturtiums add color throughout the yard

Soft salmon nasturtiums twine their way up the dwarf peach trees

Is it dinner time yet?

Pineapple guava blooms

Herbs and veggies in one of our many clay pot irrigation beds

Seeding swiss chard and lettuces

There's green beans in the garden.... almost!  French Provider seeds courtesy of FREEDOM SEEDS

Tomato trellis time

Our first tomato of the season

What: Film Screening of ARE WE RUNNING DRY & Local, Vegetarian Potluck

When: Sunday, May 24 (5:30 PM - 9:00 PM)

Where: 626 Cypress Ave, Pasadena CA (see map)

Cost: $10 (children under 12 are free) A small entrance fee is require as it helps pay for facility rental, dvd screening fee, sound system, and purchase of eco friendly, compostable dinnerware

Space is limited so please RSVP by calling 626.844.4586 or filling out online reservation form

Event Schedule

5:30 PM - event starts / Freedom Gardens Swap N Meet

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM - local food potluck

7:00 PM - clay pot irrigation demo followed by film screening ARE WE RUNNING DRY (80 minutes)

8:30 PM - discussion / pop quiz and win prizes!

9:00 PM - event ends

Film Details

“As in the rest of the world, significant water problems exist in the Southwestern states because of severe drought, urban development, agricultural uses and population growth. The overwhelming need to solve these issues in the United States and the world is crucial through education and planning. The severity of the American water crisis cannot be underestimated.”

Jane Seymour, Narrator, “Running Dry”

Nearly every state in the American Southwest is affected by a water crisis and is struggling with record dry conditions. On the heels of the American Southwest’s drought, and in an effort to raise awareness, The Chronicles Group with support from grants from the California Water Association, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the Southern Nevada Water Authority and other public and private entities, Vegas PBS will present “The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?” directed, written, and produced by Jim Thebaut, president of The Chronicles Group, a Los Angeles based non-profit public information/education film production company

Featuring narration from Emmy® Award-winning actress Jane Seymour, “The American Southwest:  Are We Running Dry?” is a definitive look at how the water crisis affects the American Southwest states and its escalating economic toll.
Potluck

Bring something (preferably vegetarian) to contribute to the potluck - bring enough food for yourself/family and a bit to share. The primary focus of the ‘Locavore’ potluck is to promote eating whole foods, in their nature-made state, focusing on fresh food from local sources (or as local as possible)

If not FROM BACKYARD then locally produced.
If not LOCALLY PRODUCED, then Organic.
If not ORGANIC, then Family farm.
If not FAMILY FARM, then Local business.
If not a LOCAL BUSINESS, then Fair Trade.

Freedom Garden Swap N Meet

Join local homegrown revolutionaries - swap crops, seeds, expertise and more.

Growing for 21st century food security, FreedomGardens.org is a free interactive, online social community of gardening enthusiasts who are fed up with foreign oil, frequent food miles and high food prices.

To reserve space for this event fill out this easy regisration form or contact 626.844.4586

I still can't get over the simple beauty of these clay pots, they just look so lovely all together with the shadows playing off their curvaceous sides.

We've been using this simple, yet effective clay pot irrigation system throughout the garden and even making "self watering pots" for the last three or so years.  I have written many a blog post and shared many photos of how we go about using ollas in the garden.    In our observation we have found that the plants are healthier, less stressed which means less disease and extended growing season.

With the looming water crisis here in So Cal we feel that a little investment now will pay off in the future.   Now if only we had room for a load of clay and a kiln and we'd be in business!

Care to share your ollas "growing" observations, blog posts etc?

The buried clay pot or pitcher method of irrigation is one of the most efficient systems known and is ideal for gardeners and small farmers. Buried clay pot irrigation uses a buried, unglazed clay pot filled with water to provide controlled irrigation to plants as the water seeps out through the clay wall at a rate that is influenced by the plant's water use.

This leads to very high efficiency--considerably better than drip irrigation and many times better than conventional surface irrigation.

When should you use clay pots?

Buried clay pot irrigation should be considered wherever water conservation is important. It will probably continue to prove most valuable for producing high value crops in dry lands. Buried clay pot irrigation is also valuable for food production and revegetation of areas affected by salinity or where only saline water is available for irrigation.

Buried clay pot irrigation is also valuable for gardening, landscaping, and growing plants in containers. It can be very effective for plants that are prone to diseases from over watering or wetting leaves by sprinkling. It could also be of commercial value for many situations encountered in landscaping, gardening, and plant propagation.

The Fan Sheng-chih Shu (the first agricultural science text book) describes the use of buried clay pot irrigation in China more than 2,000 years ago. It is likely buried clay pot irrigation had been used for many decades or centuries before this description was published. Current practices remain much the same.

----writings courtesy of David A. Bainbridge

:: RESOURCES ::

Pitcher irrigation: a water saving technique

Buried Clay Pot Irrigation