Summary: In 1985 the Dervaes family bought a run-down circa 1917 craftsman-style house in Pasadena, just 15 minutes from downtown Los Angeles. They decided to bring the country homesteading lifestyle to their urban plot. The size of which is only 66' x 132'. Despite its size, the Urban Homestead project is a fully functioning urban farm in every way and it supplies our family with 6,000 pounds of organic produce annually. 90% of their vegetarian diet comes from the garden so they eat on almost $2.00 per day per person. They also power their home with alternative energies and fuel their car with home-brewed bio-diesel. The highly productive Urban Homestead project is now widely considered a successful one-of-a-kind model for sustainable agriculture and eco living in urban areas and has been featured in multiple news medias both nationally and internationally. With a revival of the modern homestead movement, millions worldwide are inspired to take small steps towards a more sustainable life. My conversation with Anais Dervaes was so delightful and I learned I have along way to go in being self-sustaining. That a life providing healthy food to your family and community provides not just satisfaction but true joy and happiness. Anais, runs the farmstand operations and numerous outreach programs – workshops, film screenings, knit togethers, socials, and school tours/sessions. Check out the Urban Homestead here and if you are ever in Pasadena drop by, I know I will! https://urbanhomestead.org
