URBAN HOMESTEAD
― Single-Family Farm
↑ Urban Homestead ― Courtesy of Urban Homestead
Urban Homestead, based in Pasadena, California, is a family-run organisation growing food onsite since the 1980s. The Dervaes family has developed an intensive series of in-situ permaculture techniques, which they continue to tailor for quality and productivity. Their last recorded yield delivered 3200 kg (7030 lbs) of organic fruits, vegetables, edible flowers and herbs in a year, equating to around 10x the yield per ha. of industrial farming systems optimised for single commodity crops. Two people work full-time, and around four part-time volunteers work on this 400 m² garden plot.
GROWING CYCLE
01 Keyhole Herb Garden
02 Front Porch
03 Main House
04 Permeable Driveway
05 Edible Landscape
11 Chicken + Duck Coop
12 Container Garden
13 Cob Oven
14 Farmbox Packing
15 Clothesline
06 Raised Beds
07 Seed Starting Flat
08 Shed
09 Compost
10 Greenhouse
16 Garage
17 Community Space
18 Solar Panels
19 Tool Shed
20 Outdoor Shower
Los Angeles, California, climate zone is similar to the Mediterranean, characterised by mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The growing cycle in Los Angeles is year-long. Urban Homestead employs multiple permaculture techniques to maximise the density of food production on their plot. These methods focus on optimising space and maintaining ecosystem balance. They focus on building healthy soil and interspecies dependency to preserve water and combat diseases rather than relying on organic fertilisers or pesticides. This approach produces nutrient-rich crops and helps sustain the local ecosystem’s long-term health.
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Urban Homestead aims to utilise its suburban plot fully while minimising reliance on external resources. They conserve water using an ollas (clay pot irrigation), with hundreds of clay pots beneath the soil surface, collecting rainwater and recycling greywater, treated before irrigation. The soil’s humus, leaf cover, and biological activity mitigate evaporation and stabilise soil temperatures.
To address energy needs, solar panels generate electricity, while a cob oven, fueled by organic waste, produces nutrient-rich ash for soil enhancement. Through transesterification, they produce biodiesel and glycerin, serving as alternative fuel and cosmetic ingredients. This reduces their fossil fuel dependency and shrinks their carbon footprint.
Waste management includes composting all green waste, yielding natural fertiliser for their crops, enriching the soil and minimising waste. In their efforts to reduce packaging waste, customers are given a choice to customise their CSA boxes or receive a surprise box which balances excess production and reduces waste.
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