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
As folks around the nation celebrate with friends and family, how about we all take this opportunity to share with one another what baby steps (or giant ones) that we have taken to become more independent from mass consuming culture and the corporate controls of our food, energy, fuel, water and our lives.
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.
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.
How much more can be squeezed here at our little plot in the city – you’d be surprised. There’s always improvement and maximizing/utilizing space better.
Every year we like to try out new projects, especially as part of our life-school training.
This is a new experiment of here on the urban homestead so there’s still lots of [...]
You don’t miss your water until your well runs day – country proverb
FACT: An average American family of four generates about 70 gallons of graywater a day! That is a lot of water going down the drain.
For comparison the average African family uses about 5 gallons of water each day.
What is Gray Water?
As its name [...]
Recipe will make eight 16oz bottles
INGREDIENTS:
3 ounces of fresh ginger root (You can add more if you like strong ginger taste.)
6 tablespoons of citrus juice (Lemon &/ or orange)
3/4 cup of sugar (Natural cane is best. Light brown sugar gives an extra richness to the flavor.)
4 1/2 quarts of water
Some yeast from the supermarket. Bread [...]
Giving her warm baths during the egg binding crisis
We’ve dealt with our fair share of problems & pain – having more animal increases the chance of one running into some illness, injury and even death. That’s a farm life – nature gives and nature takes away.
Dawn had a leg injury awhile back – with a [...]
Water! Water is vital to the all aspects of the urban homestead and, though we are dependent on the municipal water source for most of our water (digging a well is out of the question – looked into it), we do our best to conserve what water we do use.
On the homestead in New Zealand, there [...]
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 [...]
“Air Jordanne”
I know, I know enough of the supposedly dwarf pea pictures. But we just couldn’t resist just one last one because now I think they are done growing! Pretty soon these peas will succumb to mildew and become goat food.
Peas on Steroids?
Remember the 9 foot eggplant that we grew one summer! (here’s a [...]
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 [...]
“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 [...]
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead
The Year of the Urban Homestead
My sis and I were talking about “the good ol’ days.” And one thing she brought up that I had forgotten was how we were constantly asked, [...]
“…You should always cast your eyes toward tomorrow. Sharpen your vision. Never be guided by the principle “everybody’s doing it…” Jules Dervaes Sr, (1913-1996)
Grandpa was a wise one with these words. Thought his sentiments would be a fitting start to a new year.
While folks maybe writing down resolutions for a new year, we are going [...]
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 [...]
Amy walks to the drinking bowl after her daily water bath
For those of you who have been following the saga of Amy here’s an update.
If you are just new to the blog read about her story here, here and here
She molted well and is eating like horse and gaining weight – all good signs. Her [...]
Two blessings in one month!
In October, not only did we get an unprecedented early rain storm (over 2 inches!) but we also got our water bill from the city and guess what? We qualified for their water relief meaning we won’t have to be pushed into a bracket that would have us paying more for [...]
{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 [...]
With all the hard work goings on at the urban homestead these days (shed building, animal enclosure improvements, raising up the raised beds, etc, etc) – water just doesn’t cut it. I mean one needs a good thirst quencher and we don’t mean that colored stuff in the markets.
So in addition to the lemon verbena [...]
Just hot with scratchy throats and watery eyes that are coming from the fire.
Thank you for the emails, comments and even phone calls of concern.
Here’s the situation.
We are in NO danger from the La Canada ‘Station’ fire but unfortunately it’s spreading fast (jumped from 500 to 1,500 acres in just a few hours) and scorching [...]
“I believe we would be happier to
have a personal revolution in our
individual lives and go back to simpler
living and more direct thinking.”
Laura Ingalls Wilder
These are the posts I just don’t know where to start when there’s much of the nitty gritty goings on of a urban homestead.
First off who stole summer? It’s like we skipped [...]
image courtesy of Elements kitchen weekly enewsletter
Look what was in our email box today!
“We Love Freshly Picked Dervaes Greens… We make special salads featuring them, always lightly dressed so their fresh flavors are enhanced. The unique blend of mesclun greens (which might include anything from baby celery leaves to baby arugula or mizuna to kale) [...]
One of Farmer D’s “to do projects” has finally been implemented here on the urban homestead. A couple years ago he drew out plans to irrigate the raised beds by watering below ground.
There’s always ways to improve things here on the urban homestead and we’ve learned it’s all in the little steps that sometimes get [...]
Well, it’s to be expected being summer but I am going to complain anyway – it’s HOT! So Cal is experiencing our first real scorcher of a heat wave that leaves one finding sanctuary inside or in a cool spot in the yard for better part of the afternoon. Luckily we have a slightly [...]
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 [...]
What: Film Screening of CONSUME THIS MOVIE! & Local, Vegetarian Potluck
When: Sunday, July 19 (5:30 PM – 9:00 PM)
Where: 626 Cypress Ave, Pasadena CA (see map)
Cost: $10 (children under 12 are free) A small entrance fee is required to help pay for facility rental, dvd screening fee, sound system, and purchase of eco friendly compostable dinnerware
Space [...]
Well, I did it. Hell and high water didn’t come but a flurry of journal postings instead. Pull up a chair and cuppa….
Hope you enjoy the last five entries as I share with you our memorial day outing (complete with a cockatoo and goats!), upcoming events down San Diego way, our presentation at the OC [...]
With temperatures skyrocketing into the 90’s and strawberries ripening faster than we can eat ‘em. Guess what? It was jamming time.
My favorite foodie Alice Waters has this simple sun dried strawberry preserve recipe.
I modified her technique a bit. Instead of slicing I used my hand cranked food processor to chop the strawberries into small chunks. [...]
What: Film Screening of ARE WE RUNNING DRY & Local, Vegetarian Potluck
When: Sunday, May 24 (5:30 PM – 9:00 PM)
Where: 626 Cypress Ave, Pasadena CA (see map)
Cost: $10 (children under 12 are free) A small entrance fee is require as it helps pay for facility rental, dvd screening fee, sound system, and purchase of eco [...]
The National Gardening Association estimates that a well-maintained vegetable garden yields a $500 average return per year. A study by Burpee Seeds claims that $50 spent on gardening supplies can multiply into $1,250 worth of produce annually”
Our household loves facts & figures especially when it comes to keeping track of our progress here on the [...]
Like I wrote have a few news bytes to report. First
The “old” YouTube version has topped 150,000 views and the “newer, long and revamped” version is making its way to nearly 90 different cities.
Also HOMEGROWN REVOLUTION will be screening at the Green Lifestyle Film Festival here in LA (Mar 13-15)
Here’s the list of cities where HOMEGROWN REVOLUTION is [...]
Outdoor solar shower
Limiting Showers Can Save Water, Energy and Our Health
I didn’t shower this morning. And I don’t (think I) smell. You see, while I wrote a post about Navy Showers as a water saving technique a while back, the truth is I am not very good at them. I like showering, and when I [...]
Yard work
Winter tomatoes
Farmer J shows off his heads of broccoli
And another beauty
Dining room turned seed business
Justin packing seeds for Sunday
With the prospects of of a dryer than normal season, thanks to La Nina, (our normal is between 14″ & 19″ — see rainfall totals for the past 130 years) it’s not hard to gander that [...]
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. [...]
Justin, who likes catching peoples unawares, snapped this photo of me early in the morning (just before sun was coming up) doing the watering and feeding of the animals. I tried to fend him off with a scowl and a scolding, but of course, that didn’t work cuz he couldn’t see even my mouth yet [...]
There’s a full moon out tonight, whoa-oh-oh ooh… or something like that. We are experiencing the brillant glow of a full moon. And last night, while I was admiring the moonshadow’s and checking on the animals before heading off to bed I even saw a shooting star over the chicken coop. Yeah, so big deal? Well, [...]
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 [...]
Sustainable Sundays @ the Natural History Museum
Different Shades of Green
When: Sunday, November 9 (10:00 am – 4:00 pm)
Where: Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles
Cost: Tickets are $9.00 for adults and $2.00 for children (5-12) and can be purchased at the door.
In this new series, the Museum becomes a forum in which visitors [...]
Orlando Home & Leisure Magazine, October 2008
A Landscape Good Enough to Eat
Save your money, improve your cooking and help save the planet by transforming your lawn into an edible landscape.
By Cindy Heroux
No, we’re not suggesting you chow down on that boxwood hedge or dine on dracenas, but there’s a growing movement called “urban farming” that [...]
pink…
or should I say green and yellow. Pickling is in full swing here on the urban homestead. Putting up pickled dilly beans and peppers.
Without a pressure canner, pickling is a simple easy way to preserve the harvest using vinegar, spices, salt and into the hot water bath they go.
More on pickling vegetables.
Thanks for all your [...]
When we started growing full time, every summer it came down to too many vegetables and fruits and something needed to be done with the surplus.
So, learning practical food preservation has been something I’ve looked forward to every year and have come to enjoy. Looking at the colorful jars that are stocking the cabinet you [...]
Left to right: Jordanne, Blackberry (goat) & Jules, solar oven, backyard garden with earthen oven, outdoor solar shower
PROMISING RETURN TO THE PAST
A farm based in the middle of urban LA
August 9, 2008 La Opinion
Lourdes López
View Original Article
[English Translation]
The ordinary Dervaes house shines like any other one in the Pasadena area, located on the side of [...]
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 [...]
DIY car maintenance
It’s a jungle out there
On the preservation front
On the Homefront
Well, it was bound to happen sometime. Didn’t think we’d escape the summer with out it. The dog days of summer are upon us with a bit of humidity thrown in for good measure.
The harvest is slowly picking up, though some of our [...]
