The little peepers are sure growing fast! They graduated from the kiddie pool to the big one last week and are eating greens.
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
My Halal’s Kitchen interview with Jules Dervaes, whom we can learn so much from about living a life free of the constraints of super-consumerism and significantly reduce our carbon imprint on the earth…
Urban Homesteading not just about bringing food, goods, services closer to home but making the home center your life. One of the steps backwards we have taken is bringing “socializing” home.
Now that the urban homestead movement is well, “trendy” So, what’s in a name? What is the movement of urbanites who are growing their own food, raising barnyard in their backyards and “putting up” in the kitchen.
Urban homesteading is about taking a step backwards and living a more simple, purposeful life but doing it in an inner city environment – surrounded by the modern world.
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 [...]
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 [...]
Our family’s been urban homesteading for the last 20 plus years, but when we started actually documenting our journey online 10 years ago, we knew it wasn’t about “just doing it” but keeping track of what was done.
Keeping records really helps you to see where you’ve been and where you want to go. “Keeping track” [...]
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 [...]
A major tv media outlet is looking to:
” profile someone who is in the LA area (from San Diego to Santa Barbara) that is in process of transforming his/her life as a combined result of the economic conditions and who is taking the Dervaes’ message as the inspiration for that transformation. The more radical the [...]
The new Urban Farm Magazine dropped by and did a brief interview with city farmgirl, Jordanne, and city farmer, “D.”
The Dervaes Family: Pioneering the Urban Farm
Take a tour of the Dervaes family’s urban homestead in Pasadena, Calif.
In the bustling city of Pasadena, Calif., lives a family of urban-farm pioneers. Jules Dervaes has spent more than [...]
Thanks to those who wrote and offered us accommodations – appreciate all your offers.
Once again, here’s our Northern California itinerary schedule from Jan 15-23.
We kick off the year,right back where we started last year at the best environmental film festival in the West Wild & Scenic Film Festival
Here’s a blurb from their latest e blast:
Our [...]
A reader commented recently that she was inspired by LHITC to purchase her first apron – that’s great!
An urban homesteaders wardrobe is not complete without aprons (ok, I am speaking for us females!)
There’s something about aprons that really evoke a true pioneer urban homesteading spirit.
Aprons are very “eco conscious” if you think about it. In [...]
Well, what you say we do another pictorial post? Huh?
If you tire of this photo tirade, not to worry this will be the second to last installment of “a day in the life of an urban homesteader.” Of course these photos only capture a fraction of what it’s like here on the urban homestead but [...]
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2009
10:30 A.M. TO 3:30 P.M.
WHITE PARK, 3901 MARKET STREET, RIVERSIDE, CA. 92501
THE GREATER RIVERSIDE CONFERENCE OF SENIORS GIVING THE GIFT OF GREEN TO OUR GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN
THE CRISIS: Scientists have determined that civilization is not sustainable if carbon dioxide remains above 350 parts per million. It’s now at 387 ppm and [...]
Check out BIG IDEAS FOR A SMALL PLANET Episode 303 promo which features the urban homesteaders
Airs on Tuesday, August 18 at 8:00pm e/p
Episode 3: Edibles. Industrial food production has nearly eliminated small family farms and access to fresh food. Can we imagine a healthy food revolution? Ideas include urban farming, immigrant farmers and healthy school [...]
Last summer a film crew from Sundance Channel came by the urban homestead for a couple days of filming and the episode will finally air this August. We don’t have cable so we’ll not be able to see how the episode turns out. Not sure if they will put it online so relying on a [...]
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 [...]
This summer the season is ripe for more and more folks joining the modern urban homesteading movement. We are seeing more and more articles/books flooding the print and airwaves on the subject from growing your own food, raising backyard chickens even bees not to mention the preservation efforts that come with an abundant harvest.
Certianly a dramatic [...]
VIDEO COURTESY John Gannon
Los Angeles County Natural History Museum’s Sustainable Sundays with Urban Homestead Pioneer Jules Dervaes 11/2008
NOTE: This lecture was videotaped at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History as part of their on going Sustainable Sundays series on November 9, 2008.
Lecture Description
The path to change the world begins at your door
Over [...]
• Homegrown Revolution
• Urban Farming Documentary – 15 minutes
• Directed by Jules Dervaes, USA
HOMEGROWN REVOLUTION (15 min) is a short informational introduction to a homegrown project that has been called a new revolution in urban sustainability. In the midst of a densely urban setting in downtown Pasadena, radical change is taking root. For over twenty [...]
I didn’t have a chance to post what we urban homesteaders ate last week before hauled off to Nevada City.
Last week we feasted on green tomatoes and I couldn’t resist and went to the “dark side” and made some absolutely delicious apple fritters with the leftover apple pomace from the cider pressing event. By the [...]
Don’t You Miss It!
C.I.C.L.E. + Path to Freedom = Harvest Bike Ride and Potluck Social : Live Music from Triple Chicken Foot
November is a perfect time for acorn soups, warm casseroles, pumpkin pies, bike riding over fallen crunchy leaves, kick ball in the park and an Urban Expedition’s Harvest Ride and Potluck Social. On Saturday, [...]
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 [...]
Poster courtesy of CICLE.org
PTF will be out & about the month of November spreading inspiration and hope.
There’s a flurry of activity before everyone goes into winter hiberanation so get out your calendar’s and mark these dates!
Nov 2 – Green Summit – Leap Frog Into a Sustainable Future, Pasadena City College (10 am – 1 pm) Path to [...]
We urban homesteaders always love to share with children, their curiosity and excitement are infectious. Unfortunately, though we like to do more, there are just too many tour requests from schools to fit them all (no kidding) our schedule.
Today the 7th Grade class of Westridge High School visited the urban homestead and discovered a whole [...]
The garden, though not as productive as years past (thanks to the wacky weather) still is yielding an delightful assortment of fresh veggies and fruit.
This week, we experimented making a fruit pizza with a homemade mint (homegrown) crust. Instead of veggie toppings and tomato sauce – fresh homegrown fruit and homegrown strawberry sauce. Everyone raved [...]
Another weekly meal wrap up of what we urban homesteaders ate last week.
With all the preservation that’s going on, meals have been simple. No matter the simpleness – this is homegrown gourmet! Nothing beats homegrown, sun ripe tomato or sweet fig sliced on top warm french bread, melted mozzarella cheese with a drizzle of olive [...]
Flashback
We’ve been brewing our own biodiesel (using free waste veggie oil) since Jan 2004 (also see out biodiesel photo gallery) and the book (and only book) that help us get started is the Biodiesel Homebrew Guide by backyard brewmeister Maria “Mark” Alovert. Maria’s been influential in the homebrew biodiesel movement. Her simple to read methods [...]
Nothing ventured, nothing gained
Here at the PTF urban homestead not only does one have to deal with everyday urban homestead life – there’s the ongoing outreach efforts.
I know many of our LHITC readers would like more postings of daily happenings here on the urban homestead. I ditto your sentiments exactly! However, this year [...]
Clay pot irrigation tomato bed. Cassidy, our cat, sleeps among the rows of tomatoes
Plants are heavy with sun ripen tomatoes. No salmonella worries on our farm!
Summer blooms.
It’s a jungle out there. Lady bug earth oven nestles amongst the garden greenery
Backyard garden growing up!
The garden giants take over! The four corners of the yard are [...]
Declare Your Independence
FIGHT FOR FOOD SECURITY
This July 4th PTF is excited to announce the relaunch of our new sister site for all you homegrown revolutionaries out there. Here’s your chance to connect with fellow food fighters from all over the world.
The site will features feeds for contributing bloggers, spot for highlighting ‘Freedom Gardener’ of the [...]
This morning, stumbled on a site which listed 25 things you can do to be the change. (btw thanks, POB, for the video nod!)
List are good – just like the list above. We urban homesteaders are avid listers. Lists keep you focused on the path that you wish to travel. Sometimes our list do get overwhelming… and long, [...]
For all those who wanted more looks like there is going to be more…..
View the site
View the trailer
A documentary about MODERN DAY URBAN HOMESTEADERS
HOMEGROWN follows the Dervaes family who run a small organic farm in the heart of urban Pasadena, California. While “living off the grid”, they harvest over 6,000 pounds of produce on less [...]
One thing and urban homesteader learns early one – it’s all about records. Keeping records helps motivated you to better yourself each year, outline successes and failures, not to mention, tally up all those baby steps taken along the way.
Although we’ve always had a pretty productive garden since I can remember our growing efforts turned [...]
Liberated Yard (since 1990): Growing food not grass. Providing not only beauty but food, medicine and income.
The other day we received a phone call from a young lady who was impressed over the front yard’s edible landscaping and wondered if we paid for any “professional help.” I informed her that “no, we [...]
Jim, the truck driver unloads the supplies.
Under a sweltering sun in a parking lot in front of the Rose Bowl, me (left – in the homemade crohet hippie hat ) and fellow co-opers wait for the rest of our orders
On the pick up list this month for us urban homesteaders are:
100 lbs [...]
The Saturday presentation at Smith & Hawkens was an opportunity for us urban homesteaders to meet readers, supporters, fellow gardeners and answer any and all questions they might have had. Sorry we couldn’t get around to talk with everyone afterwards.
One (of many) such enthusiastic PTF reader approached us afterwards with positive accolades – “it was [...]
On-growing Efforts
Over the weekend our companion site has topped 150 members and growing stronger every day (besides the FG site hasn’t been “officially launched” just yet!).
Jordanne tells me that pretty soon FG will feature more nifty profile features, community forum, community contributed blog, printed propaganda material and more. The site is a work in [...]
We started off the year by saying this was going to be a year of growth – in both our personal lives and the extent of our outreach.
So far, we’ve launched 100 Foot Diet, Freedom Gardens, Grow for 10k, Harvest Keeper , revamp and relaunched the journal more (and there is even more in [...]
Urban farmer and homesteader, Jules Dervaes, will be a guest this afternoon on Chicago’s RADIO ISLAM at 4:10 PDT.
LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW ONLINE
