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Urban Homestead Facts
LOCATION
Pasadena, CA
(Northwest Pasadena, one mile from downtown Pasadena)
PROPERTY SIZE
1/5 acre (66' x 132' / 8,712 sq.ft.)
GARDEN SIZE
~ 1/10 acre (3,900 sq.ft. / ~ 66' x 66')
GARDEN DIVERSITY
Over 350 different vegetables, herbs, fruits, berries
FOOD PRODUCED
6,000 lbs annually
challenging for 10,000 lbs in 2008 (read more)
URBAN HOMESTEAD SUPPORTS
4 full-time adults, volunteers, and many clients
ENERGY USAGE
6.5 kwh day (and going down!)
SOLAR POWER PRODUCED
9000 kwh ( as of 10/20/08)
GALLONS OF BIODIESEL MADE (since 2003)
1,500 gallons (as of 2/12/08)
"EARTH IMPACT FOOTPRINT" 5.2 acres per person
Tally Ho 2008
PRODUCE
4,340 lbs (9/31/08)
EGGS
Chicken 921 & Duck 1028 (10/22/08)
HONEY
25 lbs (10/20/08)
Steps Taken
Everyday Steps
Growing 99 % of produce
- 6,000lbs on 1/10 acre
Food Preservation/Storage:
- canning
- drying
- freezing
In the Kitchen:
- baking/cooking from
scratch
- yogurtmaking
- breadmaking
- cheesemaking
- sprouting
- cast iron cookware
- no dishwasher or
microwave
Food Choices:
- buying in bulk
- organic
- local
- eating seasonaly
- reducing "food miles"
- fair trade
- vegetarian(over 17 years)
Raising Small Farmstock:
- chickens (eggs/manure)
- ducks (eggs/manure)
- dwarf rabbits (manure)
- dwarf/pygmy goats
(milk/manure)
Composting Methods:
- making/using EM Bokashi
- vermicomposting
- composting food, garden
and green waste
Fuel:
- homebrewing biodiesel
- running diesel car on
biodiesel(~4,000 miles a yr)
Energy Conservation:
- "powering down"
- cut daily energy use in 1/2
12 kwh to 6 kwh a day
- 12 solar panels
- "green" power
- rechargeable batteries
- line drying clothes
Energy Efficient Appliances:
- washing machine
- refridgerator
- water heater(gas)
Energy Efficient Electronics:
- computer/printer/copier
- TV(no cable)/VCR/ DVD
Energy Efficient Lighting:
- compact fluorescent bulbs
- olive oil lamps
- oil lamps filled with
biodiesel
- homemade soy & beeswax
candles
- daylighting
- solar tube
Non-electrical Appliances /
Hand-powered
- blender
- toaster
- grinder(s)
- popcorn popper
- solar oven(s)
- hand washer/wringer
- pedal powered grain mill
- straight razor
- handcranked radio
- mortar & pestle
Natural beauty/no makeup
Homemade Non-toxic
Beauty Care Products
- toothpaste
- deoderant
Biodegrable/Non-toxic
Cleaning Products:
- vinegar
- baking soda
- lemon juice
Natural Health Practices:
- homeopathy
- herbal remedies
- prevention
Water Conservation Efforts:
- low flush toilets
- toilet lid sink
- reusing laundry water
- limit toilet flushings
- limit baths/showers
- mulching
- handwatering
- clay pot irrigation
- solar outdoor shower
- front load washer
- food not lawns
Hand powered garden tools:
- push mower
- broom, rake
- trowel, shovel
- hand clippers
Self-employed
Working at home:
- honey business
- produce/flower business
- craft business
Crafts & Skills:
- winemaking
- survival skills
- edible landscaping
- sewing
- leatherwork
- fiber arts
- animal husbandry
- holistic care
- tinctures
- carpentry
- plumbing
- building
- haircutting
- bicycle repairs
- soapmaking
- candlemaking
- herbs
- urban farming
- website design
- photography
- self publishing
- video & graphics
Living Simply:
- making use or do without
- bartering
- monthly shopping trips
- reduce, reuse & recycle
- second hand clothes
- salvage/thrift store
- consume less
Passive Cooling:
- no AC
- wood floors
- blinds
- windows
- screen doors
- edible forest
- "living" screens
- solar attic fan
Heating:
- no central heat
- woodstove that uses
scrap wood
- dress in layers
Walking the old paths:
- tithing
- day of rest
- stewardship
Saving seeds
Unschooling
Beekeeping
DIY Projects:
- solar oven
- cob oven
- solar outdoor shower
- depaved driveway/patio
- installed solar panels
- roofing
- sheds, etc
- animal enclosure, etc
- this website
- urban homesteading
Using canvas bags on
shopping trips / no plastic
Transportation:
- biodiesel "veggie" vehicle
- 4 "car free" days a week
- walk
- bike
- carpool
- mass transit
- cross country train trips
- 2 airplane trips in 25 years
"Green" Home Upgrades:
- metal roof
Outreach/helping others
along the path
CURRENT TRAILS
Growing 10k on 1/10
Rainwater
Waste water recovery
Support
We Support
« THIS & THAT | Main | SOCIALCRAFT IN LA »
October 20, 2006
Look what came in the mail!
Having received thisaward in 2004 for the “preserving natural resources” PTF is recognized once again, this time for “sustainable development practices.”
Thanks to JB for her help with reading over our application form and to all those at the City of Pasadena who have made it possible for us to live a sustainable life in what, we are proud to say, is the second greenest city in Southern California (Santa Monica being first)
October 16, 2006
Dear Mr Dervaes
Congratulations! The City of Pasadena is pleased to announce that Path to Freedom has been chosen as an Outstanding Recycler for 2006 in the category of Sustainable Development Practices. Your application was reviewed by an impartial panel comprised of representatives from Water and Power, Parks & Natural Resources, Building Systems and Fleet Maintenance, Planning and Development and a past Outstanding Recycler recipient.
Path to Freedom exemplifies sustainable living as demonstrated by the many sustainable development practices implement on the homestead including solar panels; a metal roof* to collect and store rainwater, energy star appliances, energy conservation practices such as harnessing human energy to pedal a bike which in turns transforms that energy to power a bike blender and grain mill; making biodiesel fuel, building a sun oven and earthen oven, incorporating recycled and salvaged materials, to reduce dependency on energy and installing innovative appliances such as the toilet-lid sink to conserve water. The judges agreed that Path to Freedom is an inspiring example of what can be achieved with commitment to sustainable development practices.
The Outstanding Recycler awards will be presented at the November 6, 2006 City Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Pasadena Senior Center [my note: City Hall under major construction and has been for over a year now, the building is being upgraded to become LEED certified!]
Sincerely,
Arlington Rodgers, Jr., Administrator
Department of Public Works
* Note: until this week, we were sure that we’d be installing a metal roof, instead we are leaning towards a more sustainable roofing material. Basically it’s same principle just a different sustainable roof material.
Topics: Events & Outreach, Homestead Life, Posts by Anais |
RELATED POSTS:
PATH TO FREEDOM
PEDDLER'S WAGON
FREEDOM GARDENS
"LITTLE HOMESTEAD"
DERVAES GARDENS
URBAN HOMESTEADING
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October 20th, 2006 at 9:43 am
congratulations! I think you really deserve this award. glad you are getting the recognition.
blessings
October 20th, 2006 at 10:42 am
You have me on the edge of my seat on the roofing material. I will take a guess….recycled plastic made into slate or cedar looking shakes??
http://www.premiumroofs.com/products.html
October 21st, 2006 at 10:36 am
Hi Guys and Gals!
So proud of you all,your innovations are a continuing inspiration for all of us to follow/apply
blessings
gerry
October 21st, 2006 at 2:46 pm
Congratulations! (I’m guessing a tile roof…)
October 22nd, 2006 at 7:43 am
Congratulations! You have certainly earned it!
October 24th, 2006 at 7:18 am
Congrats on the reward!
As for the roof, why did you decide against metal? From what I’ve seen they last for fifty years and then the metal can be recycled. It’s hard to get more sustainable than that -or so I thought!