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The Dervaes family has shown what a difference one family can make on the environment with their urban homestead.
Their path to sustainability and self sufficiency did not involve leaving the city and it has expanded to become an enormous organic garden in the middle of Pasadena California.
Jules Dervaes was turned off with genetically modified organisms in food and his father was a gardener so he already had the skills to grow his own produce.
Six Tons of Food on One Fifth of An Acre Homestead
The garden expanded to growing more than 400 different plants including fruit and vegetables on one fifth of an acre. They get 75% or more of their food from their own garden in the summer so they are able to live off their land.
The urban homestead has thrived and become such a successful business that in the last year, they have managed to produce 6 tons of food and the goal for this year is 8 tons. Customers include gourmet chefs, caterers and individuals.
Chickens provide the Dervaes family with fresh eggs and they also have ducks and a couple of pet goats that help supply fertilizer for the garden.
Off the Grid
Not content to simply grow organic food they decided to go off the grid and installed solar panels so they would not be dependent on mechanical electricity. Their Chevy was converted to run on biodiesel that they make from recycled vegetable oil. The fuel only costs them 70 cents a gallon.
It took some courage and a lot of work and faith to take on this unusual revolution for an urban homestead. The Path to Freedom website offers encouragement, inspiration and advice for others who are also striving for a self sufficient lifestyle.
The Dervaes family has shown what a difference one family can make on the environment with their urban homestead.
March 20th, 2008 at 8:44 am
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