By reducing our dependence on air-conditioning, we can not only save energy but also become more resilient human beings. And we'll need that resilience. The coming decades will test our ability to adapt and create, and we can't leave it to technology to bail us out this time. - Stan Cox

We were spoiled this summer!  While most of the nation sizzled, it was So Cal's second coolest summer ever recorded.   More sweater time than swim suits.

But Nature sure wasn't going to let us go into fall and winter without one hot blast and, boy, is it a good one.   Yesterday, it was the hottest day ever recorded in downtown LA. 113 degrees.  Yep, hottest day EVER!  Pasadena broke its very own record high temperature coming in at 111 degrees!

I've lived without AC all my life.   Even in the hot & humid south where just sitting still you'd drip buckets of sweat.  I sure miss the South but not the humidity.

Moving to the dry heat of California was rather nice.  Heat is one thing; humidity is another animal.   Thankfully, we live in a pre AC house that has high ceilings, lots of windows and wood floors.   Sure, some days are just unbearably hot but we deal with it.   Our bodies have become acclimated - naturally.  I rather hate going into AC stores or even cars blowing that ice cold artificial air even when it's not even hot out.

As [urban] homesteaders it's not just about what we do but what we don't do.  Of course,  some of the choices are sometimes rather unpleasant.

A Step Backwards is Progress

How can one ever survive without AC? I mean it's one of the greatest modern invention, right?    Or is it?

The case against AC

... this invention has changed how people live, determined the population patterns of entire continents, and affected everything from when we have babies to why we feel so tired in the morning. It’s gone from being a salvation, literally sparing lives, to a possible health risk to an environmental demon because it could alter the planet’s climate.

Waking up from the air-conditioned dream

AC: It's not as cool as you think Artificial cooling has had a profound effect on how, and where, we live and work.

No Air-Conditioning, and Happy

In the heat wave, the case against air conditioning

The big chill: how air conditioning changed the world

Now you've read the case against AC and are courageous enough to pull the plug - now what?

How to to Keep Your Cool

8 Ways To Keep Cool Without Air Conditioning

Keeping Cool Without AC

Cool Yourself Without AC

Care to share some natural (or fun) ways you have found to keep cool without AC?

On a cold, drizzly, gray day in February two chefs were dropped off at the Urban Homestead.

See what happens when they have to whip up a tasty meal with ingredients from the garden and pantry in this "foodie's" drama.

For "behind the scenes" photos check out our photo montage

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

As Seen On

So for those of you who are wondering where you can get supplies for your very own Urban Homestead most of the items featured on the Food Network segment can be purchase at our very own online stores either Peddlers Wagon or Freedom Seeds.

Don't forget what minimal profit we make from sales helps keep this site going and growing!

Few "featured" items....

Salad Mix, Produce & Preserves - local pick up from our front porch farm-stand

"Organic" Sign - handmade out of recycled materials

Bike Blender - pedal power!

Sun Ovens - low impact cooking

Tromboncino Squash - grow your own

Heirloom Vegetable Seeds - start your own garden!

Preserving Books

The Art of Canning DVD - from our friends the West Ladies of TN

Build Your Own Earth Oven - how to book

Stainless Steel Kitchen Composter - handy counter holder of scraps destined for the compost pile

Wire Egg Basket- nifty basket to collect eggs

Want to start your own intensive garden?  Check out HOW TO GROW MORE VEGETABLES

Wire Harvest Basket - great for harvesting and washing veggies

Scissors - we use these shears in the garden on a daily basis

Keeping Chickens & other Citified Farm Animals

New Blog

Note, we are (if all goes well) upgrading the blog this week so expect some down-time as we launch the new blog!

Chocolate, coffee and encouragement would be appreciated.

Well, what we try to over here at Little Homestead in the City is let you take a peek into our lives through musing and photos (lots of photos!)  By writing and showing first hand accounts we feel that we are "keeping it real" and not just filling up cyberspace talking about green or sustainable living.

You can determine a lot from people by what's not seen.  We can talk green but do we actually live green -each and every day?  Sure there are setbacks but when it comes down to it "what's in your closet, drawers, cabinet, refrigerator" says a lot about you as a person, where you but your values and money.

We are definitely far from perfect, heck, it's a daily, hourly struggle.   Besides, if we were perfect it would take all the fun out of being a human.   We are just striving to do what we can, with what we have, right now.

When we urban homesteaders say we make meals from scratch, try to eat local ( in season) and stay away from too much packaged and process foods we are doing just that.  Here's a look at our fridge, cabinets and pantry.

The pantry. Bulk supplies from the food cooperative.

Kitchen cabinets full of homegrown, home preservation

The fridge (energy star rated and energy efficient!). A few dairy products , eggs and produce (no store bought - from the urban homestead) and wine (leftover from a gathering)  Why is the fridge so empty?  Well, mostly it's used for business.  A cool place to store our produce, after we pick and pack it, until we deliver it to our clients.

Freezer full of homegrown produce.  Yes I know look at those Ziplocks.  Gasp - plastic.  Sheesh, didn't I say we aren't perfect.

We constantly strive for our "insides" to reflect our outsides.  Sure, the journey if full of setbacks, failures but it's the journey that counts not the destination.

Open up your life, care to say ahhhhhh?

Well, since Justin isn't here to explain the goings on in the photos (he's out visiting a local beekeeping supply company with a friend - more on that later)  I can share with you photos and all that I know is going on with his latest tinkerings.

He finally figured out the missing part that was missing in the plans and he's completed the last bit of the assembly.

These past two weeks he's been attaching all sorts of contraptions to a bike that will, though, pedaling generate electricity.   Yep, handy man Justin says we can power our TV, laptop, or anything with a plug here on the urban homestead (which, of course, is not very many!)  Nonetheless, we can use this nifty contraption at events - perhaps power the projector or stereo when we host film screenings or when we are out tabling charge our laptop.

Haven't yet tried it out, but I think he's going test everything this weekend.  Always something new and exciting happening here on the urban homestead as we continue to strive for self sufficiency.

P.S. Like to send a huge thank you to a longtime reader and supporter of PTF from across the pond.  LOVED the old "Self Sufficiency" magazines which contained timeless wisdom and practical advice.  They don't make magazines like the used to.   Thank you for sharing.

Hmmm, sounds to me like a popular 90's movie?

More planting, harvesting & preserving going on.

Stay tuned for details, photos and more.

Note: this post is not a complaint - just stating the facts.

Outdoor solar shower circa 2003

The weather's been very pleasant lately - very odd thing to say in July.    Saturday night we witness a lightning storm in the mountains just north of us as some tropical moisture moved up from Mexico.  We didn't get any rain though.

With the warmer temperatures, the indoor bathing facilities are no longer in use.  It'll stay that way until the temperatures dip in a couple months time.  Instead we use the outdoor solar shower which drains the used water into the surrounding edible landscape -- just look at these gorgeous bananas that seem to be thriving.  After the devastating freeze of '07 they seem to coming back! The fig tree (located on the right) is loaded with fruit which should be ready very soon.  Surrounding the shower are low growing mints and sugar cane.

The winds of change are blowing, there's an uncertainty and unstable future that's unfolding, we are all going to face many challenges as individuals and as a community.

With utlity rates across the country going up by nearly 18% in some parts of the country, not to mention water hikes here in the West, what sort of low impact measures are you instigating in your household?

As oil, food prices skyrocket and with talk of shortages how are you preparing for hard times?  Even Britian has urged their citizens to go back to the WWII mentality of 'waste not.'

It's been nearly 5 years since we self installed 12 solar panels  on top of the garage.  A worthwhile investment on our part, thanks to the City of Pasadena.  The City generously rebated 2/3rd of the cost of the system.  Hey locals!  The City's solar rebate program is still available with even better incentives.

On the City's website it is estimated that an average Pasadenian uses about 25 kwh a day. Before we installed an Energy Star refrigerator and washing machine, our household was using about 12 kwh a day. Now with what energy star appliances we have and the powering down methods we have implemented, we have successfully cut our daily energy usage in 1/2 to ~6 kwh (on "low energy days" our household clocks in at about 3 kwh).  

Our urban homestead's solar system produces on average 7.5 kwh a day (on a clear sunny day can goes as high as 10 or 12 kwh).    Even with such a "homegrown energy" system in our backyard, we are still "grid tied."  Why?  Well, it was the only way to have qualified for the City solar rebate program.   But we "beat the sytem" in a sense . How?   Simply, by reducing our energy.  The City solar program, if I remember correctly, covers a certain percentage of your energy use and this is determined by your energy bill/statements.     When the city had a look at our back statements it saw that we were a 12 kwh household and rebated us a 2 kw system.  But since then we've taken measure to cut our energy use!  And not only that, we've also taken steps to "go green."   We opted for their Green Power program, so if we and when we do pull power from the city, it's wind power.

Many other cities are following Pasadena's lead.  So, if you aren't able to get invest in a solar system, it may be that your electricity provider may have a green power program available.  For a couple of extra cents you can "go green."

HOW MUCH DID THE SOLAR SYSTEM COST?

Roughly $11,500.  PWP rebated us 2/3rds of the cost ( $5 per watt, which equals $8,125). By installing the system our selves we saved an estimated $4,000 on labor costs. So, basically, our 12 panel system ended up costing us about $4,000

AROUND THE HOUSEHOLD

Going through the house, here's what we have "plugged in."

Kitchen - 1 (energy efficient fridge)
Laundry - 1 (energy efficient and front loading washer)
Utility Bathroom - 0
Bathroom - 0
Dining Room - 0
Living Room - tv/dvd/vcr (energy star rated on power strip that's turned off when not in use)
Bedroom 1 - 0
Bedroom 2 - 2 small lights (with CFL light bulbs)
Bedroom 3 - 0
Office/Study - computers, fax-copy machine (energy star rated on power strip)

KILL A WATT

Our household intends to kill even more watts, by conserving more and using less.  Limiting our consumption is one more step towards be responsible energy savers.

What steps are your family taking on a daily basis to reducing energy use?

How low can you go?

I know from past comments, the unplugged kitchen holds a fascination with some our readers. Like I blabbed in the Video the urban homestead's kitchen has only one plug in appliance and that is our ENERGY STAR (efficient) fridge. Some of the plugless "appliances" featured on the NY TIMES Video can be purchased via our online store.

How do we go about food preparations without gizmos and gadget? Simple. We prepare wholesome food the old fashion way -- we earn it. Using hand powered gizmos and gadgets we are able to whip up tasty food in a matter of minutes.  Keeping meals simple yet delicious are essential for a busy urban homesteaders life.

Help us help others. Spread the word about PathtoFreedom.com urban sustainability mission and the urban homesteading lifestyle (unforunately, NY Times failed to mention the website). Share this video with your all friends, family and anyone interested in making the world a better place to live. Together we can make a difference. The future is now, the choice is ours. Small steps do indeed, have big impact.

Watch 5 min Video LIFE (MOSTLY OFF THE GRID) by David Clair NY TIMES

URBAN FARMING: Jules Dervaes and three of his adult children live on one-fifth of an acre in Pasadena, Calif., a block away from a multilane highway. On this tiny sliver of land, they manage to be mostly self-sufficient. “This is our form of protest,” says Dervaes, who is 60, “and this is our form of survival.”

The family harvests 6,000 pounds and more than 350 separate varieties of fruits, vegetables and edible flowers annually. They brew the biodiesel fuel that powers the family car. Solar panels on their roof reduce energy bills to as little as $12 a month. Goats, chickens, ducks and two rescued cats are in residence. Red wiggler worms turn the kitchen and garden waste into compost, which is then recycled back into the garden.

Dervaes’s father worked for Standard Oil, but his son took a markedly different path. Dervaes moved into his current Pasadena home in 1985 — temporarily, he thought. As the years passed and his hopes of relocating to the country were delayed, he “decided that he wanted to see how much we could grow here,” says his 33-year-old daughter, Anais.

The family generates cash for their limited expenses by selling produce to local restaurants. Though Dervaes and his children are accustomed to the neighbors’ strange looks at their crowded lot, the local chefs don’t seem to share the skepticism. “They’ll call me in the morning and pick the amount that I need for that night,” says Jim McCardy, who owns Marstons, a restaurant in Pasadena. “The flavor is just incredible.”

- CHARLES WILSON (NY Times)