For all those who wanted more looks like there is going to be more…..
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 than a quarter of an acre, make their own bio diesel, power their computers with the help of solar panels, and maintain a website that gets 4,000 hits a day. The film is an intimate human portrait of what it’s like to live like “Little House on the Prairie” in the 21st Century.
Director’s Statement
Many people are becoming aware of the environment. We may have gone to see “An Inconvenient Truth”, changed our light bulbs, or started to recycle more. But how many of us are really walking the walk? I know I’m not.When I heard about the Dervaes family, I sensed that there was a human story behind the headlines about global warming or buying organic produce. I wanted to find out what it takes to live the life of an environmental pioneer. I don’t wish to simply glorify or romanticize their way of life, however. I want to show that along with the positive benefits there are also sacrifices. Truly living by your ideals can have costs. I believe that recognizing the hardships the Dervaes have faced makes their work all the more inspiring.
HOMEGROWN is ultimately a family story. It’s about what lead them to where they are today, what changed them and what keeps them together. Perhaps by learning of their journey to a sustainable life style, we might be inspired to take our own first steps.
— Robert McFalls
About Robert McFalls
Early in his career he was an associate editor on “American Dream”, the Barbara Kopple documentary, which won the Academy Award in 1990. That experience helped him to see what a broad reach a well-crafted documentary could have. He recently edited a documentary feature on the Dalai Lama, which is now screening at festivals around the world.
HOMEGROWN MUSIC
The beautiful music for this documentary was performed by our great American homegrown musicians Jay Unger & Molly Mason
Jay Ungar and Molly Mason are best known for their haunting composition Ashokan Farewell in Ken Burns’ hit PBS series “The Civil War”. The soundtrack won a Grammy and Ashokan Farewell was nominated for an Emmy. They’ve garnered legions of fans through their appearances on “Great Performances”, “A Prairie Home Companion”, their own public radio specials, and work on film soundtracks such as “Brother’s Keeper”, “Legends of the Fall”, and a host of Ken Burns documentaries.
Spread the homegrown revolution documentary!
Comments(44)
Susan S. says:
June 27, 2008 at 10:34 amFabulous! Keep us all posted on the release date; I would like to see about getting a copy for viewing here in my area. This is the perfect vehicle for introducing my HOA to urban sustainable living, and maybe to get them to allow us to keep (small) numbers of chickens and other food producing animals.
Susan S. says:
June 27, 2008 at 10:34 amFabulous! Keep us all posted on the release date; I would like to see about getting a copy for viewing here in my area. This is the perfect vehicle for introducing my HOA to urban sustainable living, and maybe to get them to allow us to keep (small) numbers of chickens and other food producing animals.
Yvonne S from Sweden says:
June 27, 2008 at 11:57 amRealy nice!! This is what I have been wating for. Do you know wich will be the release date? I hope soon!
/Yvonne
Yvonne S from Sweden says:
June 27, 2008 at 11:57 amRealy nice!! This is what I have been wating for. Do you know wich will be the release date? I hope soon!
/Yvonne
Chicago Mike says:
June 27, 2008 at 12:07 pmWOW! Zip Bang!
When?
Chicago Mike says:
June 27, 2008 at 12:07 pmWOW! Zip Bang!
When?
Sue says:
June 27, 2008 at 12:35 pmExcellent!!! I CAN’T WAIT to see it. When, when, when? 🙂
Sue says:
June 27, 2008 at 12:35 pmExcellent!!! I CAN’T WAIT to see it. When, when, when? 🙂
lavonne says:
June 27, 2008 at 12:49 pmI had an epiphany a few weeks ago that your family will someday be in the history books as true pioneers of urban homesteading — which I believe will save millions of lives. This is just the beginning. Wonderful!
lavonne says:
June 27, 2008 at 12:49 pmI had an epiphany a few weeks ago that your family will someday be in the history books as true pioneers of urban homesteading — which I believe will save millions of lives. This is just the beginning. Wonderful!
~~Melissa says:
June 27, 2008 at 2:31 pmYee-haw!
~~Melissa says:
June 27, 2008 at 2:31 pmYee-haw!
~~Melissa says:
June 27, 2008 at 2:45 pmPS: I must say I love the way your wee homestead is getting more and more attention for all the right reasons. Only good can come of it. 🙂
~~Melissa says:
June 27, 2008 at 2:45 pmPS: I must say I love the way your wee homestead is getting more and more attention for all the right reasons. Only good can come of it. 🙂
KK says:
June 27, 2008 at 2:51 pmNice trailer, beautiful music and cinematography too. Jules hit it right on. Our priorities need to be in an obvious, yet overlooked place–the top 6 inches below our feet! Beautiful….
KK says:
June 27, 2008 at 2:51 pmNice trailer, beautiful music and cinematography too. Jules hit it right on. Our priorities need to be in an obvious, yet overlooked place–the top 6 inches below our feet! Beautiful….
plantainpatch says:
June 27, 2008 at 4:42 pmVery cool!
plantainpatch says:
June 27, 2008 at 4:42 pmVery cool!
Jan says:
June 27, 2008 at 5:40 pmOh man I can’t wait for the details of a release date!!! Wonderful!!
Jan says:
June 27, 2008 at 5:40 pmOh man I can’t wait for the details of a release date!!! Wonderful!!
gina says:
June 27, 2008 at 6:26 pmoh wow! this looks so great! i can’t wait until it comes out!
gina says:
June 27, 2008 at 6:26 pmoh wow! this looks so great! i can’t wait until it comes out!
Glynis says:
June 27, 2008 at 7:12 pmOh, boy. We show open air movies on the side of the hardware store/nursery where I work. I would LOVE to show this. I tell many of my fruit/vegetable/seed buying customers all about your project so they can follow along and learn to do more for themselves. Our urban communties are very much alike.
Glynis says:
June 27, 2008 at 7:12 pmOh, boy. We show open air movies on the side of the hardware store/nursery where I work. I would LOVE to show this. I tell many of my fruit/vegetable/seed buying customers all about your project so they can follow along and learn to do more for themselves. Our urban communties are very much alike.
Sinfonian says:
June 27, 2008 at 10:33 pmAmazing film. Very well produced, directed, filmed, etc. Not that the video clips are bad, but boy is this over the top! I’d love to see this movie in the Seattle area. We’re pretty green here, but we could do well to learn a thing or 6 from you all!
Thanks!
Sinfonian says:
June 27, 2008 at 10:33 pmAmazing film. Very well produced, directed, filmed, etc. Not that the video clips are bad, but boy is this over the top! I’d love to see this movie in the Seattle area. We’re pretty green here, but we could do well to learn a thing or 6 from you all!
Thanks!
Ellen says:
June 28, 2008 at 4:25 amPlease let us know when it’s due to be released. I’d love to get a copy to share with out sustainability group. I am always passing out links to your website as an example of what can truly be done in a little space. We don’t have your long growing season here in Vermont but we can still do so much more than we are right now.
Ellen says:
June 28, 2008 at 4:25 amPlease let us know when it’s due to be released. I’d love to get a copy to share with out sustainability group. I am always passing out links to your website as an example of what can truly be done in a little space. We don’t have your long growing season here in Vermont but we can still do so much more than we are right now.
MARY ANN WAGNER says:
June 28, 2008 at 9:12 amGOT SOME WAY TO SEND YOUR SITE TO MY FRIENDS?? THIS IS A VERY INFORMATIVE SITE. I LOVE IT. KEEP UP THE CREATIVE WORK.
MARY ANN WAGNER says:
June 28, 2008 at 9:12 amGOT SOME WAY TO SEND YOUR SITE TO MY FRIENDS?? THIS IS A VERY INFORMATIVE SITE. I LOVE IT. KEEP UP THE CREATIVE WORK.
Kris says:
June 28, 2008 at 10:39 amI’m really enjoying your blog and I look forward to the film being released. Very exciting.
Kris says:
June 28, 2008 at 10:39 amI’m really enjoying your blog and I look forward to the film being released. Very exciting.
Fiona P says:
June 28, 2008 at 1:39 pmOh I will for sure buy two copies!! One to donate to my local “local” organization and a copy for myself. I think the Activist community in my city would love to have a viewing of this!!
Yea!!!
Fiona
Fiona P says:
June 28, 2008 at 1:39 pmOh I will for sure buy two copies!! One to donate to my local “local” organization and a copy for myself. I think the Activist community in my city would love to have a viewing of this!!
Yea!!!
Fiona
rachel says:
June 29, 2008 at 5:10 amSo glad you guys are getting this kind of exposure. The footage is just beautiful in the trailer. I see very few movies these days, but I’ll be pounding on the theater doors the day it’s released! Can’t wait.
Your example has me growing in the garden, making my own bread, and joining our CSA. Next up–recycling clothes from SA. Thank you!
rachel says:
June 29, 2008 at 5:10 amSo glad you guys are getting this kind of exposure. The footage is just beautiful in the trailer. I see very few movies these days, but I’ll be pounding on the theater doors the day it’s released! Can’t wait.
Your example has me growing in the garden, making my own bread, and joining our CSA. Next up–recycling clothes from SA. Thank you!
Anais says:
June 29, 2008 at 6:26 amHello all
Thanks for all your positive comments and interest in this film.
A little back history how ‘HomeGrown’ came about.
We were approached last year to be ONE of THREE subjects for a documentary about eco conscious folks. Actually our part in the film was supposed to be about 10 minutes. Turns out that 10 minutes ended up being more like 50 minutes because during filming the director/editor decided to just focus primarily on our family and 20 year long urban homesteading project.
Also were just surpised as anyone to learn who he got to compose the music!
Actually we really had no part in this fillm besides showing up on camera. We were NOT paid for appearing in this film, nor do we have any controlling interest.
We have no ownership rights to this film so we have absolutely NO part in it’s release or distribution.
As for the film’s release and what happens next is not up to us nor is it in our hands. Further inquires must be made to the film maker at rmcfalls@homegrown-film.com
Let him know you are interested because we really can’t do much at this point.
Just llike with any film it’s up to the public to create the buzz… so tell everyone, post, blog, whatever.
Anais says:
June 29, 2008 at 6:26 amHello all
Thanks for all your positive comments and interest in this film.
A little back history how ‘HomeGrown’ came about.
We were approached last year to be ONE of THREE subjects for a documentary about eco conscious folks. Actually our part in the film was supposed to be about 10 minutes. Turns out that 10 minutes ended up being more like 50 minutes because during filming the director/editor decided to just focus primarily on our family and 20 year long urban homesteading project.
Also were just surpised as anyone to learn who he got to compose the music!
Actually we really had no part in this fillm besides showing up on camera. We were NOT paid for appearing in this film, nor do we have any controlling interest.
We have no ownership rights to this film so we have absolutely NO part in it’s release or distribution.
As for the film’s release and what happens next is not up to us nor is it in our hands. Further inquires must be made to the film maker at rmcfalls@homegrown-film.com
Let him know you are interested because we really can’t do much at this point.
Just llike with any film it’s up to the public to create the buzz… so tell everyone, post, blog, whatever.
Nuno says:
June 29, 2008 at 9:35 amWOW!
You have the largest veg-powered media empire on earth!
Much earned congrats from Portugal
Nuno says:
June 29, 2008 at 9:35 amWOW!
You have the largest veg-powered media empire on earth!
Much earned congrats from Portugal
Ariella says:
June 29, 2008 at 3:41 pmAnais,
love the trailer! I wrote my green supporting city here in the burbs of Montreal to see if they could have a screening of the movie.
Also, how did you guys get around city bylaws for chickens? It’s against our city bylaws here, but I would really like to raise some.
thanks!
Ariella says:
June 29, 2008 at 3:41 pmAnais,
love the trailer! I wrote my green supporting city here in the burbs of Montreal to see if they could have a screening of the movie.
Also, how did you guys get around city bylaws for chickens? It’s against our city bylaws here, but I would really like to raise some.
thanks!
Janice K says:
June 30, 2008 at 12:39 pmCongratulations! What a beautiful Trailer. Can’t wait for the release! Thank you for the goodies. You’re front Garden was as beautiful as your pictures, no Photoshop touch ups to fake anything! (wink)
Janice K says:
June 30, 2008 at 12:39 pmCongratulations! What a beautiful Trailer. Can’t wait for the release! Thank you for the goodies. You’re front Garden was as beautiful as your pictures, no Photoshop touch ups to fake anything! (wink)