Now that fall is just around the corner I can honestly say this was the COOLEST summer (ever), well, that I can remember. From June-August there were only two or three “really hot” weeks. So Cal gardeners, how did the cool summer affect your garden? Did you find it an easier or harder growing season?
This week, Fairlight the foodie, gets up close and personal with a jar of peanut butter. Warning: the montage of photos are not yet rated and may not be suitable for folks who are drinking their morning coffee or tea while reading….
[the] Dervaes Gardens sits practically on top of a Pasadena, California, freeway and is only blocks away from the famous Rose Bowl. Outside are all the trappings of twenty-first-century life: automobiles, satellite dishes, supermarkets, car washes, and stores…
Oh, the personalities of the creatures here on the urban homestead – now we know what they did for entertainment in the “old days.” Forget cable, we got critters. Speaking of critters, like to send a BIG “Thank You” to Nor Cal homesteader Julia for passing along a dvd set of All Creatures Great & Small.
The evening couldn’t have been more perfect, not too hot, not too cold. It was to time leash up the goats, go to the Lower Arroyo Seco for our weekly goat walk and stock up on oak, pine and sycamore leaves for the goatsies to eat during the week.
You never know when friends drop by the urban homestead for a visit – even better they never know what to expect!
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 [...]
Ok, we aren’t done having fun! This is what happens when you don’t have cable – uh, life!
First we had Fairlight modeling hats trying to drum up support, now we have her wielding the trusted tool of the urban homestead movement – a trowel (you can buy the very one here or here) We’ll make sure Fairlight [...]
Now to the biggest, best farming conference in the West!
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 [...]
Meadow Vista Jan 17-18
Saying our goodbyes to all the wonderful folks at Nevada City Wild & Scenic Festival (read all about it in case you missed it!), it was time to mosey down the mountain to a little one stoplight town nestled amongst the pines, Meadow Vista, where we were to meet up with a [...]
“With Pomp, Power & Glory the world beckons vainly, In chase of such vanities why should I roam? While Peace & Content bless my little thatched cottage, And warm my own hearth with the Treasures of Home.” — Beatrix Potter
Not sure if you are getting tired of these pictorial posts since comments have been sorta [...]
Here at LHITC we’ve dedicated lots of entries to the crazy antics of our chickens and goats — even our cats. The ducks have quacked their objection, informing me they are just as cute and would like equal coverage.
They are right (sorry) and I’ve obliged them their request.
Because of the rain, we turned over the [...]
Looking to the right…..
To the left. The garden is all tucked in under covers
20, 26, 28 It’s not, um. shall we say “measurements” but what the thermometer’s read these past three nights. BRRRRR
Homesteading, urban homesteading for the matter, in the city – especially in Southern California– one really has it “easy” when it [...]
Along the stream bed Justin and Sergio play with rocks
Going for a stroll
Sunday morning was spent as usual here on the urban homestead – planting, cleaning, chores, etc.
Sunday afternoon, we spent a good part of the afternoon reconnecting with friends who dropped by.
One friend needed an “eco project” for school so we suggested making [...]
Anaïs and Jordanne Dervaes give a video tour of the Pasadena homestead where they keep chickens, ducks, and goats (VIEW ONLINE VIDEO FEATURE running time 4:00 minutes)
LOS ANGELES MAGAZINE ONLINE EXTRA
By Wendy Witherspoon LAmag.com, October 19, 2009
If you’ve ever looked at your pet dog (especially after “cleaning up” the lawn) and wondered when he was [...]
Fire burns right above the Rose Bowl
Massive fire raging over the San Gabriel Mountain range
This view is what the fire looked like last night from our garage roof
The Station fire continues to burn out of control scorching over 35 miles/20,000 acres. Yesterday we thought the smoke was bad but today – today is much worse. Everyone [...]
We are on a canning spree here on the urban homestead and it looks like it won’t let up anytime soon. Today we put up some tomato sauce and sweet pickle relish (pictures coming…. probably Sunday)
This week the peaches have ripen and peaches means jam and a few (er bunch) eaten raw. Covered in sticky [...]
It’s canning time here on the urban homestead.
Yesterday was a warm one so I decided once again to can a little later in the evening – about the time Jordanne let’s the goats out to hang out with the humans.
Water’s on the stove, glass jars heating in the stove and green beans from the garden [...]
One thing about raising goats is that you can watch their individual personalities take shape and it’s very entertaining (given that we rarely watch TV nor do we have cable)
Just when you think you have their quirks and habits down they surprise you with another one of their crazy antics.
Blackberry, being the smallest, is a [...]
Off with the wry winter coat!
Trading for a sleek, shiny summer one
Just about the time the goats were shedding their wry winter coats So Cal had an exceptionally cool/grey June. Normally the goats just shed down to a light summer coat but this year especially with Blackberry the shedding was more extreme. In fact it [...]
In ancient Rome, roses were often added to celebratory cuisine, and Middle Eastern fare still includes roses in numerous desserts. In America, candied rose petals were a favorite during the Victorian era.
It’s been a good year for roses. Not only are the fragrant flowers useful (we like to make rose petal syrup to flavor lemonade [...]
It’s been three years since we brought Lady Fairlight and Blackberry home with us on the bus (read New Kids on the Block). Yeah, you read right – baby goats on a bus!
They’ve certainly earned their stay here on the urban homestead offering us countless hours of entertainment, loyal companionship and are the best composting [...]
There are going to be a few posts (this one and a few after) that are going to catch you up on the happenings which are now a part of our lives. For me, this online journal is all about keeping records of the events in our lives and, sometimes, such goings on happen in bunches!
After [...]
Another busy weekend!
Later on going on a picnic with friends and our goats – yep another local “home holiday”!
I have a bit of catching up to do, not only here (like with the weekly meal wrap up post) but around the urban homestead. One friend commented to me yesterday when I was running around organizing [...]
It’s been awhile but I am finally getting back to all those good ol’ homesteading skills that were suspended.
Since we are awash in radishes, I am wanting to make another batch of kimchi but waiting on some cabbage from a local Freedom Farmer
In the meantime, there’s lots of other projects to do – building another [...]
Now that the flurry of earth celebratory activities have passed we had this weekend to ourselves. And boy did we take advantage of it – stepping away from all computer and public activity.
The goats were thrilled because that meant it was goat walking time on Saturday evening in the lower Arroyo Seco. Goats [...]
In the day. We have one more busy week to go with Earth Week and then everything should (hopefully) go back to normal.
I have two weeks of meals sitting here on my desk (um that didn’t come out right – the menu list NOT the actual food), loads of photos from this weekend’s events and [...]
“There is a myth that there are agricultural societies, and then there are industrial societies and service societies, as if when you become an industrial or service society you don’t need food,” she says. “As we hit climate chaos, as we hit peak oil, assuming that you can get your food from far away and [...]
Summertime garden
IN SEASON
By Deborah Geering
For the Journal-Constitution
Thursday, April 02, 2009
When I walked into the Urban Homesteading workshop at the Georgia Organics annual conference a couple of weeks ago, I was expecting a speaker who was —- well —- a little nutty. After all, what kind of person does it take to turn a 1/5-acre suburban [...]
Sorry for the lack of postings recently. Two weeks ago our family feel victim to a nasty flu bug that has been going around. Though we took considerable measures like herbs to combat the sickness the virus just had to take its natural course (though the symptoms were considerably less, thanks to mega [...]
Trying to catch up on what happened over these past few weekends. Here’s a brief overview in photos. Enjoy
The urban homestead’s resident bike enthusiasts bike down to the Rose Bowl for some local cycling activities
Cyclists bike through the streets of Pasadena. Lance Armstrong should be in this photo nestled in amongst the teal and yellow [...]
(please note post was written yesterday – Wednesday )
Amen and pass the pitchfork. It’s a clear and sunny day! Honestly, the rain was getting a little much – too wet all at once.
No more soggy clothes and mucking boots for awhile at least.
It’s been so dreary and wet that we had to rig up a [...]
Like I said, goats hate rain. They are sun- loving animals like most of our urban homestead critters. The other day, I twice caught Lady Fairlight napping in the sun and this is what transpired (hopefully this new photo sharing widget works for all those many browsers out there. Will be able to share photos [...]
Goats are social creatures. When we bought our kids the owners knowing this made it a major stipulation that we could not just buy one goat from them. By nature, goats are herd animals and the owners concern and “before you buy” requirement confirmed that we bought our goats from the right place.
Our two [...]
Not only have the usual January rains been a no-show, it’s been downright summery. But some showers and cooler conditions are expected Wednesday through Monday, meteorologists say.
By Hector Becerra
January 19 2009, 10:30 PM PST
Another toasty day in downtown Los Angeles on Monday marked nine straight days of temperatures above 80 degrees, a record for January. [...]
The goats don’t seem to mind the hot & dry temperature. In fact, they LOVE lounging in the sun during the day in what we like to call their “goat yoga” poises.
Since winter decided to up and dissappear on us, I was commenting to Jordanne the other day, while I was sitting there giving Fairlight [...]
This is one of those eclectic postings, lots of thoughts and stories all rolled into one.
Sorta like a jumbled post… you’ve been warned.
An easy up and salvaged canvas curtains protect the last two beds of tomatoes. Looks like a circus tent!
Protecting the crops with tarps and row covers
First Frost
The storm blew out late Wednesday night [...]
Since we can no longer host any public events here on the urban homestead because our community events now draw upwards of 120 people ( only have space for no more the 50, well, maybe not even that) we are making use of our very large garage. Which for awhile there, it started to become [...]
Jordanne gives Fairlight a tomato and what happens next…. we’ll just let the pictures tell the story
Every morning the goats love to visit the kitchen to see what’s all going on and perhaps get some tasty hand outs. They’ve figured out where all the tasty treats are stored. The urban homestead kitchen is a goat’s [...]
Rain is making everyone giddy and jumping for joy. Rain, rain come & stay is our ditty. Or we can sing the phrase that Jordanne likes to say when she’s thrilled about something — “happy, happy, joy, joy”
It was pouring last night and showers still lingered throughout the day and well into this evening with an [...]
Hey Fairlight going shopping? Or are you just showing off how hip you are that you bring your own bag.
“What me shopping?” “Why would I need to go shopping? I got people here to do everything for me.”
“What I really want is another bag with those tasty dried sycamore leaves”
Yum, another bag full of tasty [...]
It’s crazy! Everyone’s busier than a bee on a blue basil – well, our ’stead bees. Anyhow, we are just plum out busy.
Skuttlebut has it that the long overdue and anticipated upgrades to Freedom Gardens is close, really close! We’ve waited – and waited, biting our nails over delay after delay after delay. Hopefully this [...]
Enjoying good conversation
Sing-a-long time
Belting out a song
Lauren & Cory are”Heidi and Peter” for the day
Hanging out with the goats
Goatwalkers
In between work, meetings and projects this weekend we were able to take some time and spend some quality time with friends. On Saturday we hosted our monthly social. Thanks for providing great food and music everyone. [...]
The goats go to church! Curious dogs
And curious kids
Blessings
A longtime friend of ours who goes to Church of the Ascension in the quaint town of Sierra Madre invited us and the goats to come to her church on Sunday. Goats at church? Happens that the teenagers were raising funds for Heifer International and were going [...]
From sweaters to tank tops back to sweaters again. The seesaw weather pattern that was so prevalent this year continues to play havoc both plants and people.
One week the goats are growing their winter undercoats and the next they are wishing they hadn’t started! This week the heat was really intense – with the sun [...]
