On the food front… The figs are finally ripe so we devoured our first fig quesadilla of the season. I know, sounds odd but it’s soooo delicious!
June is the tipping point month were things can either go up hill or downhill … and fast! So far, we are holding steady. Some things are growing well, while others not so much.
Now that the first summer planting flush is over, it’s time to get started on the second round of planting. Folks often ask us why is our small garden so productive. One of the main reasons is we have successful succession plantings. When one crop goes out, another one comes in.
Front porch farm stand
Getting to know your farmer and where your food comes from.
Our urban farming foray’s started back in the early 1990’s when Farmer D smother the front lawn to grow food. After 15 plus years supplying local restaurants we are now expanding our homegrown produce sales to be csa-like.
These days, folks are dropping [...]
Justin is the earliest riser of us siblings. He’s got a lot of energy and wants to get out in the garden first thing in the morn. Yep, he’s a born farmer – got dirt in his veins.
While we gals are still rubbing the sleepiness from our eyes, Justin’s out checking if all’s well in [...]
As we say adios to many of the summer crop, she’s not through yet. The peppers, eggplant, bean, tomatoes and even the squash are still growing and we hope to they continue to produce until the first frost – which usually happens in November or December.
The second summer crop of tomatoes are doing well; the [...]
{note: this entry was written over ONE week ago, and delayed in publishing by the injured duck }
There’s some interesting goings on around the urban homestead The guys have been filling up the driveway with piles of sand, lumber is being brought in, coils of huge black hoses and more!
Yep, there’s some serious work going [...]
Though it doesn’t feel much like August (yeah, I know I said that before!) the summer veggies are still hanging in there; however, the cucumbers look a little raggedy but there’s plenty of new younguns to replace the worn our elders – plants I mean. So to keep a successful rotation going we planted [...]
A Homegrown Revolution Roots In Pasadena (PASADENA NOW)
By TRICIA AREND
Published: Monday, July 13, 2009 | 5:36 PM
Gardener and urban homesteader Jules Dervaes is growing a revolution in his Pasadena home. Dervaes’ little urban garden plot that could has led him to found the Path To Freedom and Little Homestead in the City, a sustainable resource [...]
Look at these beauties! Homegrown peppers
and colorful heirloom tomatoes (Cherokee Purple & Aunt Ruby Green)
There’s green (Provider) beans in the garden!
Local community gardener DS brought us a bag of citrus
& Freedom Farmer SG brought us a box of beautiful Ashworth Corn and Early Jesery Wakefield Cabbage from his organic farm
Wild fermentation is the opposite of homogenization and uniformity –Sandor Ellix Katz
On the preservation front
Now that I got some beautiful cabbage heads (thanks to a local Freedom Farmer) I made a batch of sauerkraut – using Sally Fallon’s recipe. I did just plan cabbage for one batch and for the other I mixed a bit [...]
If you have been following this site then you know that ‘Green Beans in the Garden” is one of our favorites songs! Heck, I’ve even caught the guys singing along!
Though we are experiencing an early case of gloomy weather (know to us SoCalites as June Gloom) summer is certainly here! So we will enjoy the [...]
Our summer Freedom Garden is taking shape complete with our collection of Freedom Seeds. We can proudly say that “Freedom Grows in Our Garden”
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 [...]
Another photo montage from the urban homestead. Enjoy!
Fuzzy peaches
Blackberry brambles
Blueberries are ripening. I can just taste it now. Blueberry pancakes with our raw, citrus lavender honey. Heaven!
Smiling violas
Cassidy rests on top of an olla. Forgot to mention one thing other than ollas being an efficient method of irrigation they are air conditioning for kitties.
She’s in [...]
It’s true that we spend a lot of time in the garden, but not like ALL day as some people believe. When people ask about about our lifestyle I describe it to them in very simple terms, “it is like a family farm – just small and in the city.”
But that doesn’t mean we spend [...]
Now that we back to overcast and cooler “sweater” weather, we are still having to deal with the aftermath of the triple digits temps ( hot weather smashes 90 + year records.) that caused much of the cooler weather greens bolt.
The dramatic spike in temps really played havoc with the greens knocking our rotation planting [...]
It’s been threatening rain all day but nothing has really fallen from the sky! Hopefully we’ll get something before the dark clouds blow away…
(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 [...]
What a wonderful start to February. This storm dumped lots of rain – probably even a record? So much rain that the rain gauge at the urban homestead reads 3 1/2 of rain. Forecasters say there’s more to come today, Monday , Thursday and even next weekend.
With so much rain all at once the ground [...]
Winter sunflowers. That’s right we have a huge patch of self sown sunflowers that are in full bloom in January no less!
Garden in winter – assorted greens, garlic, broccoli, peas and onions.
A gorgeous head of broccoli.
Kumquats almost ripe. Though semi ripe, I just can’t wait and have been nibbling on them already! Enjoying the [...]
Winter tomatoes ripening on the vine
Lovely lettuces
More tomatoes
Still growing – towering tomatoes and lima beans greet the morning sun
It amazes me to still see some of the summer crops still growing. Every section of the yard has some sort of microclimate – cold pockets and warm ones.
I wonder how long these summer vegs will hang [...]
Has it stopped raining yet?
Hmmm, a new project in the works. Wonder what it could be?
All wet. With the rainy season upon us out come the ollas till spring.
Soaked. The row covers sag under the heavy moisture.
Rain kissed tomatoes
Lovely snow peas
Under the row covers
Mystery solved. It’s a solar wax melter!
Rainy Days & Monday
Yesterday, the storm [...]
Beautiful carpet of colorful greens
Lovely red lettuces
Beans. Yes still beans!
Climbing lima beans
Forest of “fall” tomatoes
RAIN
The rainy season has started off with a good drenching. Last night the first major storm blew in dropping over 2 1/2 inches here at the urban homestead. What a blessing!
TALLY HO
Last month’s harvest weighed in over 400 lbs for a [...]
Greens and broccoli
Fall tomatoes
Potatoes growing among the submerged ollas or clay pots
Peas growing among the ollas or clay pots
Towering fall tomatoes
Garden in transition
Fall peppers
Tomatoes!
In the garden
Over the weekend, we experienced cooler weather and even some measurable showers. Definitely a blessing for the winter garden that’s shaping up.
The cooler weather has brought the peas and other [...]
Prunning fruit trees
Bed of young snow peas
The last of the summer crops, tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash and a few volunteer sunflowers
In what’s seems like overnight the gardens’ taken on a whole new feel. The towering bean vines and squashes are slowing coming down giving way to cooler weather crops like broccoli and peas.
Even the [...]
One pregnant Manti momma.
Another round of ‘maters
Lovely basil
Loads of ladybugs
Summer squash
Salad greens grow in the shade
Tromboncino squash hangs from a trellis
As we are nearing the end of summer, we are reflecting on what a summer it has been! Although we, being farmers, didn’t have the luxury to go on any vacations, it was a [...]
It’s been an abnormally, unseasonable cool week. Feels like late October or even June. I wonder if this could be the coolest August on record? We don’t really know how the cooler weather will affect the last of the summer crops or if this just just temporary and September and October will be scorchers.
Farmer [...]
Looks like we are not alone in our garden assessment. As one reader put it “we skipped a month somewhere.” Yep, it’s like we missed summer – weird.
Many of those who commented had some things growing well, while others not so well either due to weather or not enough bees.
Last week we made the tough [...]
Another round of homegrown preservation
Fairlight, “ms nose in everybody’s business”, checks to see if Jordanne cleaned properly. Does it pass your inspection missy?
Silly chickens and curious goat – wonder what she’s thinking? Anyone coming to pet me?
Smashing pumpkins
The summer harvest has gone to this resident Freedom Gardener’s head
Sunday, was a busy, busy day!
Lots of garden [...]
Eggplant loaded
Eggplant and tomatoes
Handful of lovely yard long beans
Basil bed
Weighing the harvest
How Does Our Garden Grow
…. so, so
The garden is growing, though not as well as normal summer gardens are for this time. Instead of the harvest peaking, it seems to be going up steadily. We have the harvest tally’s for the month of July. [...]
We have lots of self sowing volunteers in the garden this year – sunflowers, pumpkins, melons, greens and this graceful beauty.
One plant in the front that was a traffic stopper — even our patroling police got out of his car to take a look!
We first thought it either broom corn, sorghum or pompas grass - bonk, bonk [...]
Biodynamic agriculture was the first ecological farming system to arise in response to commercial fertilizers and specialized agriculture after the turn of the century, yet it remains largely unknown to the modern farmer and land-grant university system. The contribution of biodynamics to organic agriculture is significant, however, and warrants more attention. The following provides an [...]
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Stay tuned for our ever popular Weekly Meal Wrap Up and more….
This morning Farmer D and I were on a mission -head hunting mission. To kill and destroy all harlequin bug on the premises. These natsy little buggers have totally decimated our newly planted salad sowing. Until the shipment of natural organic killer, pyrethrum, arrives it’s hand to hand combat to save our crops.
This afternoon hope [...]
Go back to simple food, simple clothes, simple pleasures.
Pray hard, work hard, sleep hard and play hard.
Do it all courageously and cheerfully. – Herbert Hoover
So when one has too much to say, don’t say nothing at all (nod to Thumper). Sometimes pictures speak more than words… enjoy.
Part of the backyard intensive garden
Anna apple trees loaded [...]
Here on the urban homestead we encourage volunteers – volunteer plants that is.
Scattered throughout the 1/10 acre garden plot are plants that have unexpectedly popped up – not planted by human hands. Even though our garden seems to be tidy, we do encourage nature to do her own thing. If they aren’t [...]
Thankfully it’s finally cooler! Hopefully the temperatures will keep on the other side of 100 for awhile.
Here’s a few homegrown goodies that are coming out of the garden this week. Don’t you just love summer and the earth’s wonderful bounty?
What are you all harvesting? Care to Share?
This morning as we were in the garden picking our clients orders for the weekend (lots of our clients have weddings this weekend) we received a call from the local Spanish television channel who wanted to come out and do a story. Sure why not since there was lots going on today on [...]
Thanks to Linda for inviting PTF to speak at the Pasadena Smith & Hawken store. We appreciate her enthusiasm and encouraging support. Also thank you to all the S&H staff there for a warm welcome.
Power Point Highlights
The presentation lasted over an hour. Here’s an overview of what Farmer D had to share about some of [...]
Tea time here on the urban homestead. Using our and a friend’s Grandmother’s fine china and silver tea sets for an eclectic yet elegant table.
Grandmother’s linens and a freshly picked bouquet… now all we need are our guests
Our dear knitting mentor,Betty (center), expressively shares a story with the ladies. Betty is an incredibly talented knitter who’s [...]
It’s a busy time here on the urban homestead. Lots of produce orders to fill, constant planting and harvesting efforts. There’s also figuring out to best optimize both the productivity of the garden and use of the harvest in terms of preservation – perhaps into secondary “sellable” products which would generate a [...]
Here on the urban homestead we’ve had our fair share of success and failures in the growing department.
Fellow gardeners, you know that certain plant that you just can’t get to grow worth beans? I mean you tried and tried, gave it lots of TLC and it just doesn’t seem to want to grow.
Well, that [...]
Greenhouse is full of summer vegetables ready to be transplanted
Strawberry fields forever! Jordanne picks the ripe strawberries growing in the middle of the driveway.
Splash of color. The beneficial border along side of the street welcomes beneficials to the urban farm
Justin ties up tomatoes that are scaling the top of [...]
The goats enjoy play time and an evening snack of greens from the garden, hay and grain
Street side view of the front yard with line filled with wildflowers that act as a beneficial border attracting loads of butterflies, birds and insects (lady bugs, praying manti and bees!).
The sun finally peeked thru yesterday. It’s [...]
Smoky sunrise
The week started off with record breaking heat wave which really through people, plants and animals alike for a loop. We don’t expect it this hot so soon. As the hills above Pasadena burned ash descended on the urban homestead – covering everything with a grey powder. Not very good on the eyes and [...]
