On the homefront there’s a lot happening. Yeah, well guess it wouldn’t be normal if I didn’t say that everyone is busy. Sometimes I feel like a broken record, but tis a farm life. Fellow homesteaders would understand of even exhibit some of the symptoms! LOL
The little peepers are sure growing fast! They graduated from the kiddie pool to the big one last week and are eating greens.
“Momma duck” took the little peepers swimming today (under close supervision of course)! I know, you are saying, “but they are only 3-4 days all and that goes against all the stuff in books!” We are pretty radical in our approach to raising poultry
Khaki Campbell (a heritage breed) babies have arrived on the urban homestead. Khaki Campbell’s are an excellent duck breed for the urban homestead. Medium size, they are relatively quite, good layers (they don’t go broody) and are consider land ducks so all the need is a shallow tray of water to be happy.
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
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!
For centuries every culture has been on a question for beauty but these days our obsession with beauty is proving not only to be toxic and deadly. Every year millions of woman get sick or die because of what they are putting on their skin and hair.
Besides our aquaponics project another new experiment here at the urban homestead this year is growing hops. We purchased the rhizomes in Spring and the other day I spotted some teensy tiny flowers!
This week on the urban homestead, it’s Jane Austen meets Laura Ingalls. Apparently, the word’s out: the urban homestead is the place for tea! Jordanne and I hosted another tea party, this time for Jordanne’s friend who’s getting married this month.
Farmer of food now turned fish farmer, Justin, checking on his aquaponics experiment. He spent a good 5 minutes or so floating the net back an forth, “Here fishy, fishy!”
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.
Whew doggie! It’s been a busy week here at the urban homestead. Busy with bees (getting ready to harvest some honey!), battling bad bugs, moving the tender greens to cooler spot in the yard and getting things ready for a major can-a-thon.
The Urban Homesteaders and DIY tips to get you growing on the path to sustainable living … ” Dervaes hopes to encourage others to take up the spade and grow some of their own produce…
Taking stock of what we have here in the urban homestead’s pantry for our next co-op order, a recent comment from a friend got me thinking. Been doing a lot of that lately, especially when it comes to our food staples that we don’t grow. Now, I am all for choices but sometimes I think Ma Ingalls had it, well, “easier.”
The garden is growing into an edible jungle! And what a feast to be had – there’s fresh veggies and fruits to be savored and soon saved. As we head into summer our meals are changing along with the season. Here’s last week eats on the urban homestead for you to savor with your eyes!
It’s been awhile since we’ve done a pictorial dispatch from the urban homestead. So ya’ll ready for one? This one features a lot of the garden but that’s a focal point in our lives now – picking, packing, eating, selling surplus and pretty soon, putting up the harvests!
The FIVE winners, chosen by random.org, of our Homestead Blessings DVD giveaway are:
So how are you liking the new blog and boat load of new posts to boot (12 new entries in 18 days!)?
We took a bit of a break after the BIG revamp, but we are right back working on more improvements as we speak. There’s much more to come, but in the meantime, we’d [...]
Funny thing has happened here on the urban homestead! With the recent shacking up of two scrub jays to raised their brood in one of the pineapple guava trees the mocking bird, who last year stole many a flower (potential fruit), is no where to be seen.
You never know when friends drop by the urban homestead for a visit – even better they never know what to expect!
Gardening is not a solo job – you rely on a realm beyond your understanding and faith that hard work will bring forth results. But there’s more to that than dirty fingernails and sore backs. It’s about giving back and we implement that practice by “tithing” our first fruits, returning them to the soil from which they came.
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.
It’s spring! Well actually, this week it feels more like SUMMER!
And that means lots of fun culinary delights coming out of the urban homestead’s kitchen.
Combining edible flower, herbs and butter for a delightful treat to slather on biscuits or smother veggies.
Here’s a recipe for HERB BUTTER
Fresh From Our Garden to Your Table
Our front porch farm [...]
Here’s a sneak peek!
We are almost ready for re-launch of the spiffy new Little Homestead in the City “Blook” (aka blog book)
Jordanne could use a bit of encouragement as she’s on the homestretch and dealing with all the headaches that come with moving and coding. A couple of pieces of chocolate helped her thru today [...]
Winter, visited us briefly again last week. Thankfully for us it didn’t get too cold ( just windy and nippy)- but for others north of us the unseasonable cold snap along with hail, snow, freeze has devastated gardens and fruit crops.
The cold didn’t last very long temps are going to warm up yet again.
Are [...]
Another local write-up about the urban homestead that includes Jordanne’s Ginger Soda Recipe (note we use glass bottles but for the article recommend using recycled liter soda bottles for safety reasons)
Farming a 1/10 Acre Urban Homestead by Chris Bertrand / Mountain Views News
The Dervaes family live simply and richly, farming their Urban Homestead in Pasadena
On [...]
“Earth is crammed with heaven
And every bush aflame with God
But only those who see take off their shoes.”
— Elizabeth Barrett Browning, poet
April just on whooshed by and brrr is it ccccold.
Spring just up and left, it feels like December – we got over 5/8 of inch or rain and can you believe there’s snow on [...]
This first work order to humans was “to dress and keep the garden,” a command to do the work necessary to tend a garden , along with a compassionate care over animals that reside there.
Thank you all so very much for your care and concern over our lil Amy (named after a character in Louisa [...]
We wrap up another busy week with a pictorial dispatch – highlighting our new grey water project and more!
Goat Walk & Talk
Student working on an profiling some local eco heroes for a NPR radio piece comes along on one of our goat walks. Jordanne shows her some wild edibles that are popping up all over [...]
Who turned on the heat? It feels like summer out! Temps have topped 85 degrees. Guess winter is behind us as we sprung forward last weekend.
It’s certainly been a busy week of activity here on the urban homestead, so I am afraid I am behind in keeping ya’ll up to date.
So once again here’s a [...]
The iconic Saturday Evening Post does a feature on the Urban Homestead!
If Norman Rockwell were alive today, wonder what his artistic rendering of an urban homesteader would be? That would have been somethin’
Urban Homesteads and Hope
By Jen Stewart
The concept of “urban homesteads” are gaining popularity in recent years. To put it simply, modern-day pioneers who [...]
Organic matter is known as the “soul of a healthy soil.”
Adding compost to your yard or garden soil will help your plants grow bigger and healthier. The organic matter in compost helps soil hold on to nutrients and water.
Composting saves you money
Using compost as a soil conditioner or mulch reduces your need to purchase these [...]
Continuing our pictorial peek into life here on the urban homestead. As for the previous entry with the fish: FYI, we won’t be naming them anytime soon in case you are wondering!
Weekend Wanderings
Farmers Justin & Sergio visit the local nursery that’s right across the street from our urban homestead and check out the vegetable selection [...]
I long to accomplish great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty and joy to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. ~Helen Keller
Time’s A Wastin!
You know that Paul Simon ditty “Slip Sliding Away” where it says “You know the nearer your destination, the more you slip sliding away.“ That’s [...]
Path to Freedom’s urban homestead featured in LA Times BRAND X supplement (pg 12)
A Green Path by Jessica Hundley
First, there is the study in opposites; sprawl of concrete meeting a spread of fecund growth, white picket fence lining city street, the roar of freeway competing with the screech of a hen celebrating the laying of [...]
Yesterday it rained (at times torrential) buckets, we got over 2 inches! What a tremendous blessing – great for the garden!
Around the urban homestead we’ve been busy. There’s so much to do, I can’t even begin to start. Spring is so about “happenings” don’t you think? And we are ready to roll… are you?
Linked’em
Oh, and [...]
Sunday was a busy day here at the urban homestead. I can’t divulge details or any photos pertaining to the filming due to a disclosure agreement but it has something to do with chefs, homegrown food and local foodies The filming crew was here from 7 am and left just before 7 pm taking over [...]
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
~Thomas Edison~
After a long winter, one never tires of seeing the peaches pretty in pink
Another projects and element of the modern urban homestead – DIY. Here’s a utility bench that the guys just finished putting on the back porch.
Picking salad [...]
Snoozing on the straw bale
zzzzzzzzzzzz
Packing seeds and shipping them out. Thanks to those of you who are supporting FreedomSeeds.org
Saturday Social. Party at the urban homestead — table full of good food! That plate of homemade biscuits on the left were dangerous – dangerously good in that I could polish off the whole plate. Have [...]
Gearing up for spring, not only is there planting to do, new projects to tackle, there’s lots of maintenance to be done too!
Justin give the citrus a hair cut
Hive maintenance. Look at that frame – heavily loaded with dark “winter” honey!
Hive tool in hand, checking on the brood
Watching bees is mesmerizing
Everything looks good!
Last Saturday Farmer [...]
Heatwave!
From rain & snow (on our local mountains) last week to temperatures topping 80 degrees all this week – whew, talk about whiplash!
But we are enjoying the unseasonable warmth while we can because there’s another storm on the horizon (next week) and there’s lots of work to be done.
Growing Your Own Groceries?
Need to stock up [...]
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 [...]
“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien~
I know I could have separated this post into individual entries; but, just going to give you a “vegetable soup” of sorts post (little bit of everything) to savor.
Monsoon February
Well, they were right. El Nino [...]
Nothing says ‘I love you’ better than homegrown veggies
There’s a slew of photos from last weeks work and happenings here on the urban homestead (from cheese making to brewing a spring garden tonic with weeds) in queue but first I liked to take some time remind folks that spring is just around the corner and [...]
Here’s a two week worth rundown of meals we enjoyed here on the urban homestead
SATURDAY
Breakfast – homemade buttermilk pancakes with homepreserved strawberry sauce
Dinner – homemade flour tortillas, homemade spanish rice with organic black beans
SUNDAY
Breakfast – homemade skillet granola
Lunch – homemade vegetable soup (homegrown lima beans, broccoli, greens)
Dinner – homemade vegetable soup (homegrown lima beans, broccoli, [...]
