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Homestead Herbal: Toothache Plant
No homestead is complete without an herb garden. It’s like your very own homegrown pharmacy. Pick mints for tea if you have an upset tummy, dry some calendula flowers to use in soothing salve....
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Simple Steel Cut Oatmeal
In Southern California, we experience a gloomy weather pattern that results in cloudy, overcast skies with cool temperatures during the late spring and early summer. I love a warm breakfast on those ”...
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Natural Lighting: Solar Tube
Back in 2004 when we re-roofed the garage to put on 12 solar panels, one of the best things we did was to install a solar tube on the garage roof Solar tubes are cylinders lined with mirrors which...
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Micro Farm “Meme”
Someone sent us this (above) image via email. Apparently, some artful person worked up a nifty graphic meme about our urban farm. Nice! Unfortunately, the harvest and figures quoted are somewhat...
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Caring for Chickens in Hot Weather
Meet Parcha (means “passion flower or fruit”) a new addition to the homestead menagerie. We got a call from a distraught family wanting to place her in a good home asap! Parcha was part of a flock...
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DIY Solution: Fruit Fly Trap
Come summer, doors and windows are thrown wide open, fermented goodies sit on the kitchen counter, and baskets or bowls of homegrown fruit or veggies are everywhere. Although you counters maybe full...
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Peach Salsa
Summer time and the living is yummy. Gardens are overflowing and stomachs are full with sun-ripened goodies. Who doesn’t love a homemade salsa with sun-ripened tomatoes picked fresh from the vine?...
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Homestead Herbal: Calendula Oil
From beauty to to first aid, calendulas are a must for any homestead. Not only are they easy to grow but also calendulas are beneficial in attracting bees to the garden. Calendula flowers are not...
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Homestead Herbal: Calendula Salve
A simple, traditional healing balm or ointment with healing and anti-inflammatory powers. A must for your homestead first aid or beauty kit. Calendula Salve 1/2 cup calendula petal infused oil 1/8...
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Olla Sale!
Irrigation with ollas (unglazed clay pots) is simple and extremely efficient, but the system gave way to modern watering techniques decades ago. With this type of irrigation, gardeners fill unglazed...
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Summer Bounty
Farm Update Summer’s winding down, but the garden bounty is bumper. We’ve definitely noticed a huge difference in the garden since our neighbor removed the towering 80ft pecan tree. More sun =...
View ArticleWatermelon for Breakfast
It’s been a hot and dry summer and that means keeping the homestead critters cool and comfortable. One of the favorite ways our hens cool down is by enjoying watermelon. Watermelons are a tasty summer...
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Wind Egg
Our family has been keeping chickens in the city since 2002 and we are always on the lookout for the welfare of our hens. The first time I saw one of these “Wind” eggs , I worried that something...
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Aloe Vera Facial Mask
What you already know– there’s a plant that easy to grow and is beneficial for skin and hair – for practically pennies. Plant one and, in a few years, you’ll have a whole patch, more than what to do...
View ArticleIn Memory of Jules Dervaes (1947-2016)
It’s with deepest sadness that we announce that Jules C. Dervaes, Jr., age 69, passed away as a result of a pulmonary embolism. Dad has stood up his whole life for everything he believed in: never...
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From Our Family To Yours
Dear Friends, Family, Customers and Fans, Thank you all for the outpouring of support this past month since the death of our father, Jules Dervaes, Jr. The overwhelming number of comments, cards,...
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Celebrate Jules Dervaes Jr (1947-2016) Life & Legacy
“ I measure short-term success by how much I have improved at what I am doing to make my world a better place. However, I see long-term success as being measured by what others have accomplished...
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Memorial
Dear Family, Friends, Neighbors and Volunteers, Our family wishes to express our sincere gratitude to each of you who attended, helped out, donated their talent, time, food and more! There were so...
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Take A Gander
Can you guess what we are up to? Stay tuned for all the exciting details!
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We’re Growing Forward!
Coming June 13, 2017… The Urban Homestead Podcast/Radio show! Keep your eye out for details via this blog & social media platforms on how to attend live podcast recording sessions, and so much...
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