Looking back on our goals from last year Justin (Jethro) got his fish project underway,  the grey water project too.

Jordanne (Ellie Mae) revamped our two social networks, Freedom Gardens and launched Backyards & Barnyards and did get around to organizing a lot of mess.  Not to forget the launced her super amazing Natural Poultry Supplement Mix which is receiving rave reviews!

As for me (Granny),  the mountain of fabric and yarn still looms like a huge shadow but the craft-music room is coming along nicely.  Not sure if I am talking less and listening more – guess I’ll have to ask my family & friends that.

The 7K bonanza harvest wasn't the only highlight from 2010

We went back to Wild & Scenic located in the quaint mountain town of Nevada City and had a chance to meet our favorite author, John Robbins.  Had a workshop at the Eco Farm conference in lovely grounds Asilomar (didn't get to spend as much time on the beach as we'd like since it was soooo cold and rainy!).   Not to mention numerous articles and video pieces which all were featured here on the blog – our favorite being the recent So Cal Connect piece , I am Los Angeles , Private Chefs of Beverly Hills,  Sis and I were "Cover Girls" & with an article featured in this online magazine and I wrote about my home school experience for another

Our home made film "Homegrown Revolution" won  many awards including : Best Environment & Ecology Film North America - Swansea International Film Festival, U.K.; Prize of the Mayor of the Capitol City of Slovakia - Ekotop Film Festival of Sustainable Development, Slovakia; Best Short Documentary - Southern Appalachian International Film Festival, Tennessee; Honorable Mention: Westpac Award Best Short Film - Reel Earth Environmental Film Festival, New Zealand.  (You can purchase a DVD copy)

We traveled to back to the homestead in New Zealand where I was born (more pics and tales to come) and with our biggest turn out ever to a presentation on urban homesteading!

After the New Zealand trip: Other outreach opportunities included four university appearances by "Farmer D" and a presentation for a public school district's student gardens fundraiser.

On the urban  homestead

Keeping it real.  As with any journey, we had our ups and downs.

Passing of dear old Clementine (the poster chicken & darling of the UH movement) and our duck Amy after freak accident which never fully recovered from.

The cycle of life continued, Though there were sad deaths there was new life with four additions to our flock.  Our southern belles  - Annalee, Lulu Belle, Beulah and Opal.

Pushing the envelope in urban sustainability we added new projects:  hops for beer and 50 tilapia for aquaponics fish farming and wrote about the challenges that we face of growing food in the city.

Wrote about necessary Urban Homestead apparel and "Natural Beauty, "  "Homesteader Hygiene", & Living Without AC,  Washing Clothes by Hand & threw an amazing  "Girlie" Tea Party under $50!

Long time customer, Elements, who featured our many of our homegrown items on his menu unceremoniously dumped us (having money issues)   When one door closed, it opened up our produce to the public with the launch of the Front Porch Farm Stand featuring local foods and goods.

Weather continued to be a problem with a record heat wave in October & record rainfall in December

Though we had one of our best honey harvest in years, Varroa Mites (and early cold weather) wiped out all of our of beehives except one.

I dropped the ball on the Weekly Meal wrap ups (sorry readers) posts but I picked up guitar which I am enjoying relearning – well, except for the sore finger tips.   Ouch!

There you have it!  Some of the highlights of 2010,  I know I just touched the tip of the ice berg otherwise I’d be here all day.

So what our plans/goals for 2011?   That’s certainly a good question and a lot to digest ….  we do know are going to have sadly terminate some projects because of the lack of support.   It’s a bitter pill to swallow put sometimes you got to cut things that are weighing you down.  I’m talking to myself here… have to keep saying that!

Also like to thank all of you readers who have supported us via donations or purchases from our online store.    Not to mention all the wonderful letters, cards and emails.   THANK YOU!

While I try to shake off a awful case writers block, if you are new or a lurker to this blog, this is a good time to swap howdies or better yet TELL US what your FAVORITE post(s) of 2010 were!

So pull up a chair and give us a holler ya hear and hope 2011 is off to a good start for you!

Requests are pouring in - folks want us here, there.   Unfortunately we can't be everywhere.

Sadly the much anticipated Tennessee trip has been postponed.  Unfortunately the Appalachian film festival couldn't arrange for our accommodations nor assist in helping us put on an urban homesteading presentation afterwards so we could pay for our air fare and travel expenses.    We are pretty (extremely) bummed but are hoping that some of the kind TN folks who contacted us can arrange for something in the future.   We'd really love to come and swap howdies with ya'll.

Besides that HUGE disappointment, we did have some good news! The International Festival of Sustainable Development Films - ekotopfilm 2010 has chosen  film, Homegrown Revolution, to get the Prize of the Mayor of the Capitol City of Slovakia - Bratislava.

The work and inspiration of the Urban Homestead is constantly spreading!

While our little film sows inspiration, we've been busy building community - online and in person.  Some online highlights you that should take notice of:

1. At Barnyards and Backyards there's going to be a bunch of GIVEAWAYS.  How do I know this, well, there are FIVE HUGE boxes that arrived here the other day and are just waiting to find good homes.    So head on over, there's already another one going on right now, check it out, perhaps you'll win this nifty Avian Waterer

2. Freedom Gardens is highlighting it's Gardener of the Month and much much more! Check out the articles written by our new contributing writers.   So mosey on over to our social networks that are growing a sustainable community.

There's still more events planned (check the calendar) and some of what we've been apart of already....

Food Panelist, Downtown LA

Downtown LA Film Festival

Girl Scout Fair at Cal Tech

Kids crowd around our booth/table

and line up to take a spin on the bike blender

Answering questions

The kids loved the tromboncino squash (www.FreedomSeeds.org)

The future of food at UCLA

"Skyping" into Rutgers University

Food & Justice Dinner at Occidental College

Invite the Urban Homesteaders

If you would like to involve or invite the "first family of urban homesteading"  - we can, if possible make appearances in person or by Skype contact us

Thanks to generous support of our readers we are hoping to continue to do that for another year.  If you've gleaned information and inspiration haven't already supported our non profit outreach you can by either purchasing the Little Homestead in the City Calendar, donate or make a purchase from our Supply or Seed store.

Wow, it's that time already for another Weekly Round Up? This week we are focusing on our growing outreach as we put out a call for a few know-how and passionate writers to become part of the our social network team. Would that be you?

Here's some highlights from the week:

- Lea Ann has given LHITC The Versatile Blogger Award (thanks for the nod)

- If you are passionate about all creatures great and small BarnyardsandBackyards.org is still looking for some passionate and know how writers. Fill out the writer application form for the new the City Stock Collective!

- Jordanne's still plugging away at the B&B site working out all the kinks and bugs.  The other day she got the message board up and photo uploader plugged in so you can upload all cute critter photos to your hearts delight.

- Last few days of the Natural Poultry Supplement Giveaway - grab a FREE BAG!

- Freedom Gardens will be getting a makeover and too is looking for a few passionate folks who would like to share their gardening adventures and write about related food issues of the day. Fill out the writer application form for the new Growing Collective!

- It's not too early to send in your contributing writer application for Freedom Kitchens. This site will feature simple, in season recipes and how to's for harvesting, cooking and preserving the earth's bounty.

We're exited about all the new projects! If you like to write about your homegrown, homesteading experiences and food issues/policy news of the day we look forward to your writing contributions in this collective effort.

There's certainly a lot on our plates right now. What about you?

With all that's going on, figure it's high time I sit and collect all the newsbytes and articles that ya'll may have missed this week.

On Fridays, I am going to try to make it a weekly h, haaaaaa..... habit (whew, that's a hard word to write!) to post some highlights.

Git along, little dawgies!

Start off the "Round Up" with the news of our new social network - Barnyards and Backyards.

* This week' you'll find a GIVEAWAY  for a FREE bag of Natural Poultry Supplement and articles (like the Frugal Chicken or this one about Arsenic in Chicken Feed) by some wonderful contributing writers.  We had a bunch contributing writer applications so there are more writers on tap to join the network, so stay tuned - perhaps you are one of them!

* Next up will be the revamp of Freedom Gardens.  The site will get upgrades and include contributing writers (yeah) similar to that of B & B so we'll be looking for some passionate garden/farming folk to write about growing their own food.

* And that's not all!  Jordanne is working on a site called "Freedom Kitchen" where we can easily share and feature recipes.  Sorta like an online cookbook.   Sis and I also have conjured up another social network, but we'll keep that one under wraps for now.  Besides, we have enough on our plate for awhile. LOL

* Our online networks wouldn't/can't survive without community, so make sure you sign up at Barnyards and Backyards and Freedom Gardens.  Tell your friends, post around and help the sites get going and growing!

* With the recent summer growth spurt one needs to make sure that these sites are "cared for and watered."  So please remember there are many ways you can support our non profit outreach work. In fact, we just added two with these two affiliate programs at  iHerb.com (get $5.00 off your first order - enter code JUL275 ) and Mountain Rose Herbs

It's been  awhile, but we'd like to hear from you -how we are doing.  I know there are still issues with the site(s), etc., but what we've done so far - how's it working for ya?

Hope ya'll have enjoyed the entries this week, have a good weekend!

PS: we are getting close to naming our new four baby ducks.   In fact, I can hear Dixie playing now!

Growing Right Along

Though I know it really has nothing to do with the title of this post, there's so much news and projects in the works I don't even know where to start.

Some important things to mention so listen up and listen carefully!

Jordanne's working on a couple "top secret" projects. HINT: has to do with one of her favorite things.

I know ya'll have be clamoring for recipes so she's also working a a recipe sharing sort of thing that will feature recipes from LHITC.

Not only that but upgrades to our gardening social network, Freedom Gardens, is in order and so to with the popular photo gallery. The most hit page on our website is getting yet another face lift and even more photos!

Are you totally excited and impressed like I am?

Well then, here's where I am going to add a gentle reminder that LHITC is ad free. If you enjoy daily reads here, gleaning information and inspiration here's how you can go about supporting our growing outreach. Or send a big box chocolate to keep this girl going as she works into the wee hours of the night to tackle some of these projects.

After a cool start weather wise, the summer harvest is now just started to pour in and what a blessings. We are so thankful for the bounty that the earth provides.

Now for some incredibly yummy photos. Going to mix in a few shots of what we harvested (many of the seed varieties can be purchased from our seed store Freedom Seeds) along with what we have been eating.

Heirloom tomatoes

Basket of peaches

Apples

and more apples!

Part of the winter squash harvest Pumpkin, Baby Blue Hubbard and Burgess (www.FreedomSeeds.org)

Chantenay Red Core Carrots (www.FreedomSeeds.org)

Eggplant, tomato and basil bruschetta with tabouleh

Peacevine Cherry Tomatoes (www.FreedomSeeds.org)

Veggie patty with beans and carrots

Double Yield Cucumber (www.FreedomSeeds.org)

A whooper! Cherokee Purple Tomato (www.FreedomSeeds.org)

Tabbouleh with tomato and summer squash pasta

Homemade/handcranked peach ice cream

Homegrown toppings for pizza

Sun cooked pizza in sun oven (www.PeddlersWagon.com)

Provider Green Beans (www.FreedomSeeds.org)

Homemade/handcranked strawberry ice cream

Vegetable pot pie with cucumber and tomato salad

Tomato, cucumber soup with herb croutons

WEEK OF EATS AT THE URBAN HOMESTEAD

All food items are homemade/homegrown/home preserved unless otherwise specified

Our Food Pledge

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 local business, then fair trade.

SATURDAY

Breakfast - blueberry pancakes with strawberries
Dinner - flour tortillas with spanish rice, topped with sauteed green peppers and red onions

SUNDAY

Breakfast - apple crumble
Lunch - Saturday dinner leftovers
Dinner - avocado and tomato sandwich

MONDAY

Breakfast - apple crumble
Lunch - tomato and squash pasta with tabouleh
Dinner - tomato and squash pasta with green beans

TUESDAY

Breakfast - apple crumble
Lunch - veggie pot pie with cucumber and tomato salad
Dinner - leftovers

WEDNESDAY

Breakfast -apple crumble
Lunch - tomato and cucumber salad with herb croutons
Dinner - leftovers

THURSDAY

Breakfast - apple crumble
Lunch - vegetable patty with carrots and green beans
Dinner - herb pizza dough topped with tomatoes, basil, peppers, garlic with carrot, raisin citrus dressing salad

FRIDAY

Breakfast - french toast and honey
Lunch - roasted eggplant, tomato and basil bruschetta with tabouleh
Dinner - no knead bread, fresh tomato sauce (tomatoes, onions, peppers, parsley, basil) over spaghetti with salad

What summer time treats/feasts are you enjoying in your neck of the woods?

What: Film Screening of CONSUME THIS MOVIE! & Local, Vegetarian Potluck

When: Sunday, July 19  (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 required to help 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 the 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 - CONSUME THIS MOVIE! (80 minutes)

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

9:00 PM - event ends

Film Details

See this movie when you're happy to be alive. Check out this movie when you want to make a huge difference. Absorb this movie again and again for profound insights about all our lives. But - whatever you do - Consume This Movie!”
— Ed Begley, Jr., Actor

Are Americans too materialistic? Are we willfully trashing the planetary ecology in order to serve the desires and drives of the ego? And what, or who could be driving this powerful force of seduction? Consume This Movie takes a critical look at social injustice, peak oil, resource depletion and our deep need to feel connected to each other through what we choose to consume. This 80 minute documentary also examines the frenzied pace of fast-lane materialism that is beggining to burn us out. We Americans are just now beginning to yearn for a simpler life, but is it too late? Have we set in motion a runaway train that threatens to undermine the ecological, social and spiritual cornerstones that make the pursuit of happiness possible in the first place? Walk, don't drive to see this powerful documentary film, while supplies last!

Woven into this exploration are interviews with Dr. Peter Whybrow, American Mania, Juliet B. Schor, The Overspent American, simplicity guru’s Cecile Andrews and Duane Elgin, photographic artist Chris Jordan, advertising expert James. B. Twitchell and Post Carbon Institutes Julian Darley among others.

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

You asked for 'em now you got 'em - bumper stickers to show your support for FreedomGardens.org not to mention proudly state that "I grow my own."

FG is offering them for $6.00 (plus $1.00 S&H)   FYI from this offer $3.00 goes towards supporting FreedomGardens.org and our "CHANGE FOR CHANGE" fund raising campaign.

Thank you for supporting our continuing outreach efforts in helping our site grow. (which has reached almost 5,000 members!)

Freedom Gardeners: Homegrown Revolution  (ECOMII.com)
By Marie Oser

In March of this year, First Lady Michelle Obama planted the first White House vegetable garden since the ‘Victory Garden’ days of Eleanor Roosevelt.

Edible landscaping is as old as Babylonia and has been cultivated throughout history, often gaining prominence in times of social or economic instability. This type of urban agriculture sprouted up in the 16th and 17th centuries in Europe where the potager or kitchen garden supplied vegetables, herbs and fruit.

In WWI they were called Liberty Gardens and subsequently became the Relief Gardens of the Great Depression era.

Freedom Gardens, a sort of a Facebook meets Farmer’s Almanac, is a social networking site for homegrown food enthusiasts that launched in May of 2008. Here, novice and expert growers from all over the world gather to post success stories, ask questions and share techniques and ideas that support self-sustained living.

Read full article

Last week we enjoyed the garden's blessings of bountiful produce along with other locally grown treats that were gotten in a swap with a local Freedom Farmer

Also there's one day that we enjoyed breakfast for dinner.  It was one of those busy days - garden, hive and other work and one needing something filling and quick. Besides who can pass up a chance to enjoy piping hot pancakes topped with homegrown strawberries and your very own backyard honey.... yummy!

SATURDAY

Breakfast - homemade pancakes (backyard eggs) topped with homegrown honey and strawberries
Dinner -homemade flour tortillas, homemade spanish rice with organic black beans and cheese

SUNDAY

Breakfast - homemade skillet granola, organic yogurt with homegrown stawberries
Lunch - skipped
Dinner -homemade kimchi (locally grown cabbage gotten in a FF barter, homegrown daikons, carrots and green onions) on crackers with cream cheese, homegrown salad with homegrown radishes and homegrown strawberries

MONDAY

Breakfast - homemade, homegrown loquat crumble
Lunch - homegrown tromboncino squash with organic ca grown rice with homegrown broccoli and homemade cheese, herb sauce
Dinner - homemade curd cheese, chive spread, homegrown radish sandwich with homegrown salad, radishes and strawberries

TUESDAY

Breakfast - homemade, homegrown loquat crumble
Lunch - homegrown potatoes, homegrown broccoli, with homegrown herbs, locally grown meyer lemon (from a friend) butter with homegrown salad
Dinner - homegrown carrot salad (homegrown honey, locally grown citrus from FF barter) raisins,  backyard egg salad sandwich with homegrown chives and radishes

WEDNESDAY

Breakfast - homemade, homegrown loquat cobbler
Dinner - locally grown cabbage (FF barter) homegrown carrots, potatoes and broccoli with organic ca grown rice
Lunch - homemade pancakes (backyard eggs) topped with homegrown honey and strawberries

THURSDAY

Breakfast - homemade skillet granola
Lunch - homegrown peas and pasta (local lemons from a friend, homegrown herb butter sauce) with homegrown salad
Dinner - homemade pizza topped with homegrown, marinated peppers, organic cheese and homegrown salad

FRIDAY

Breakfast - homemade skillet granola
Lunch - homegrown broccoli and pasta with cheese sauce and homegrown salad with homegrown radishes
Dinner -french bread, spaghetti with homegrown salad

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

Upgrades are happening as we speak to our homegrown social network - Freedom Gardens.  FYI - the upgrades and database wrangling will be happening throughout the day so please be patient with us as we try to get the site back into ship shape.

However, lot of the bugs, glitches that were vexing and bothersome should be smoothed out with this latest upgrades. Not to mention there are going to be a few cool additions - like a live chat area and more!

A huge round of applause and many pats on the back for Jordanne who has tirelessly, selflessly worked (and worked and worked) long, tearful, red eye hours for your enjoyment at Freedom Gardens

And that's not all!  By summer we hope to have the PTF site upgraded and revamped - complete with new calendar (yeah!)  And then there's LHITC to fix up for better searching.

As you can see there's a lot of web work on our plates and we thank those who have supported our growing outreach efforts through donations, seed and or good purchased either from Freedom Seeds or Peddlers Wagon.

But if you haven't already done so, do drop Jordanne a line and give her some encouragement and appreciation as she battles through with the new upgrades.  She deserves a round of drinks... oh, but then she doesn't drink.