Urban Homestead in Pasadena, California, has an ambitious mission: providing organic food and flowers to the family and surrounding community while teaching all-comers how to live a low-cost, eco-friendly homestead lifestyle even in an urban environment.
As the Los Angeles Times detailed, the story began back in 1984 when Jules Dervaes Jr. brought his family to the run-down property. The family had previously lived on a farm in Florida, and Dervaes originally intended to leave that life to study theology.
However, he changed his goals and started building his homestead. Although his wife left, his children stayed and learned from him, and three of them remained at the farm, now known as Urban Homestead.
"At first we were just gardening to grow food for our family, but then Dad took on organic gardening as a business," Anaïs Dervaes, the eldest sister, told the LA Times. "In 1989, we took out our front yard — even the concrete — to grow more food, and our neighbors thought we were crazy, but the business took off, so you can make a living by removing your lawn."
Over the years, the operation has grown, and Urban Homestead now provides organic produce and flowers to multiple local restaurants and caterers, as well as over 100 subscribing families.
Producing food this way is a win for your wallet and the environment. When you grow your own produce, you can eliminate the high cost of fresh fruits and vegetables at the grocery store while often enjoying higher-quality items.
Stay hydrated and refreshed this holiday season — without any sugar or harmful additives Nuun’s zero-sugar hydration tablets are a perfect, guilt-free way to enhance your water throughout the day. You’ll get five essential electrolytes for everyday hydration — with zero grams of sugar. Plus, Nuun tablets are certified vegan and gluten-free, and they’re the perfect size to keep in your car, purse, or anywhere you'll want a healthy, restorative drink. Learn more → |
Growing organic food means avoiding pollution from harsh chemicals, which is healthier for you and for the Earth. Plus, growing your own food or buying food that's locally grown means no long-distance shipping, which gets rid of the heat-trapping air pollution created by the vehicles carrying food to your table.
Urban Homestead doesn't just produce food; it also offers tours and classes to give other potential homesteaders the foundation they need for success. Despite some struggles surrounding January's wildfires, this homestead is still open for business, according to its newsletter.
"There was a sense of identity here, and family survival," Anaïs told the LA Times. "It gave us purpose and a passion. I would plant on the moon if I had to."
|
What is the biggest reason you don't grow food at home? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. |
Not enough time ⏳ 
Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
There's a reason dermatologists personally use this daily moisturizing sunscreen more than any other brand Dermatologists see and understand skin at a much deeper level than the rest of us, and they know that the perfect SPF both protects and corrects your skin. That's why they trust, recommend, and personally use EltaMD more than any other brand. EltaMD's clinically tested formulas are designed with dermatologists to meet the needs of any skin type or condition. They're also designed for consistent daily wear to build long-term resilience with a moisturizing, lightweight, non-comedogenic texture — plus hyaluronic acid to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Learn more → |
Cool Picks
