{"id":4243,"date":"2009-03-01T14:59:58","date_gmt":"2009-03-01T20:59:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress-367309-1145705.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=4243"},"modified":"2009-03-01T14:59:58","modified_gmt":"2009-03-01T20:59:58","slug":"dervaes-family-and-other-urban-homesteaders-remind-us-of-what-we-can-accomplish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/articles\/dervaes-family-and-other-urban-homesteaders-remind-us-of-what-we-can-accomplish\/","title":{"rendered":"Dervaes Family and Other Urban Homesteaders Remind Us of What We Can Accomplish"},"content":{"rendered":"

[youtube=http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/v\/mCPEBM5ol0Q&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1]<\/p>\n

Spring is coming. In the Midwest, as in the other currently cold areas of the United States, that makes a difference.<\/p>\n

As I think about expanding my own, as of yet, modest urban food and plant growing efforts, it’s a massive inspiration to review the work of the Dervaes family in Pasadena, Calif.<\/p>\n

The family has popped up here and there on sustainablog.org in the past several months. You can listen to GreenTalk Radio host Sean Daily’s conversation with them<\/a>, or read about the family’s 100-Foot Diet Challenge<\/a>, as posted by sustainablogger Brian Baughan last month.<\/p>\n

Kelli Best-Oliver included the Pasadena crew as part of a fantastic list of urban homesteaders who are blogging<\/a>, among other things, about how to turn our own tiny city lots into productive gardens — and beyond.<\/p>\n

The Dervaes describe their lifestyle venture on their Web site, pathtofreedom.com<\/a>:<\/p>\n

On this 1\/5 acre urban homestead we have set out to live by example and inspire others to do the same. We are striving to be a sustainable homestead complete with solar energy, waste water management, growing our own food, and more.<\/p>\n

Our family shares the homestead with a menagerie of chickens, ducks, goats and a crazy trio of rescued cats.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While solar power and waste water management are not in my household’s near future, the video above is a refresher about what we novices can achieve in such small spaces (my entire lot is a mere .07 acres, house and detached garage dominating the rectangle). The video is a fantastically quick 10 minutes that shows the Dervaes putting their words and ideas into action.<\/p>\n

Maybe one of the best soundbites, at least for me, comes from Jules Dervaes reminding us that everyone carries a degree of doubt in their minds. He says that even he and his family initially didn’t know they were capable of creating the thriving, well-rounded urban homestead that they have.<\/p>\n

Sounds about like where I feel I am right now — and I can’t wait for spring.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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