Family farming in the city
The Dervaes family, father Jules, daughters Anais and Jordanne, and son Justin, run a productive organic backyard farm in northeast suburban Pasadena, a stone’s throw from the 210 freeway. Despite their entire property being a fifth of an acre in a standard housing tract, they’ve dedicated about half their land to their garden, and grow over three tons of produce annually. The literal fruits (and vegetables) of their labor can be bought at the Front Porch Farmstand. The Front Porch also carries fresh baked breads, granola, local honey, canned preserves, and other goods made or harvested by the Dervaes and area artisans.
Paterfamilias Dervaes immigrated to New Zealand from the United States with his young family in 1973. There, he practiced homesteading and beekeeping. Just over a decade later, he came to Pasadena and bought the house that would become their city farm. Over a process of years, the Dervaes family continued to simplify their lives, ousting their dryer for a clothesline, reducing their water consumption, and eventually mulching over their entire front yard to transform it into a productive edible garden with the intent of nourishing their kin. What didn’t end up on the kitchen table, Dervaes loaded onto a bike and peddled to area restaurants like the Arroyo Parkway Grill. The demand for quality locally harvested organic produce grew, and so did their business, Urban Homestead.
Info
Address Urban Homestead, 631 Cypress Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103, +1 626.765.5704, www.urbanhomestead.org, info@urbanhomestead.org | Public Transport Gold Line to Memorial Park Station, then a 1-mile walk | Getting there Unmetered street parking | Hours By appointment only; check website for upcoming events and workshops at Urban Homestead.| Tip Gold Bug (22 E Union Street, Pasadena, CA 91103) is one of the most interesting stores in Los Angeles County, run by a father-mother-daughter team that curates a truly eclectic mix of artisan jewelry, art, select fashion, and taxidermy.
The farmstand offers fresh organic produce by appointment and a subscription CSA box in partnership with other nearby farms. Seeds are also available for purchase if you’d like to grow your own.
Call and place an order in advance, especially for greens, which can be picked fresh for the customer. Urban Homestead also hosts events ranging from Sunday-night potlucks with live music, aka Hootenannys ($10–$15 suggested donation), and workshops.
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