Sustainable LA is a celebration of Angelinos engaged in the green revolution. The one-hour program consists of short films on a variety of topics including urban gardening, environmental awareness and community activism. In keeping with the grassroots nature of many of these organizations, emphasis is on issues awareness, practical information exchange and hands-on participation.

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Path to Freedom: Urban Homestead
USA, 2006, 5 min.
Courtesy: Treehugger TV
A look at one family's radical homegrown revolution and their urban homestead model.


Little Homestead in the Big City - Changing the world in their own backyard


(Pasadena, CA) A grassroots, revolutionary urban homesteading model in Pasadena is having a deep impact in promoting urban sustainability. Eco pioneers, Jules Dervaes and his family, have taken upon themselves to be the change they wish to see by living the solution. Their sustainable homestead has demonstrated to others how to live a low impact lifestyle by reducing one’s carbon footprint.


Living off the land doesn’t mean moving to the country. The Dervaes family has taken it upon themselves to grow as much of their diet right on a typical urban lot. Over a decade ago, the family smothered their traditional lawn and transformed their city lot into an amazingly productive edible estate. The family’s 1/10 acre garden provides them with all the vegetables, herbs and fruit needed for their vegetarian diet, as well as a viable income. In the summer, their “100 foot diet” consists of nearly 80%-90% of homegrown produce. Even though their garden may be small, it’s hugely productive, yielding over 3 tons (6,000 lbs) of food.


Sharing the urban homestead is a menagerie of farm animals. Goats, chickens, ducks and thousands of worms provide the family with eggs, fertilizer and, in the near future, fresh milk.


In addition to producing most of their own food, the Dervaes clan has managed to decrease their homestead’s reliance on non-renewable resources by using solar panels, energy efficient appliances and a homemade biodiesel processor which turns waste vegetable oil into fuel for their diesel car for only 70 cents a gallon. Taking energy conservation a step further, the Dervaeses strive to “power down” and “unplug.” Instead, they rely on alternative, earth- friendly appliances, such solar ovens, a pedal powered blender, a hand cranked food processor and more.


Not only has this family taken steps to go off-the-grid, but also they are pushing the envelope in water conservation. Buried throughout their garden are unglazed clay pots—an ancient , yet efficient, irrigation system. Soon to be installed are a space saving module water storage system from Australia for rainwater harvesting and a greywater reclamation system that will help reduce their water usage.


This family is a remarkable example of how urbanites can live a green, more sustainable life even in the heart of the city. Their revolutionary journey is well-documented on their extensive and popular website www.PathtoFreedom.com . Their website has over 4 million unique visitors a year and inspires urbanites from over 100 countries to follow the path to freedom through urban self sufficiency.


Jules Dervaes and his family are urban eco pioneers--walking the talk, taking steps to bring about a homegrown revolution by doing what they can, with what they have, where they are – right now!


For more information visit
www.PathtoFreedom.com / www.UrbanHomestead.org /www.HomegrownRevolution.com