Radio Interview by Alex Smith. Click here for radio interview.

GROWING YOUR FOOD ON A CITY LOT

Jules Dervaes and his family started growing food on their standard city lot (1/10th of an acre) in Pasadena, California – because they needed the food. That was about 10 years ago.

Now they produce record “crops” from their home garden, over 7 tons of produce in 2010. They did it even with the usual asphalt driveway, and even a bunch of cement in the back yard.

You will hear how container gardening can be mixed with in-ground to find just the right conditions for each plant. How to save water and weeding by the way you plant. Some tips on keeping the garden alive during high heat waves. That is surely necessary knowledge as global warming develops.

In fact, this year of 2011 was a real challenge for Jules and his three adult children. There was a long period of heat and poor growing conditions in California, and even experienced gardeners are struggling. The Dervaes family will still feed itself handsomely, but they may not have the extra income they hoped for selling the extras to organic restaurants. Nature is always teaching us how to adapt.

Jules has a wealth of knowledge, which the family freely shares on their various web sites.

Start out with their main page at: urbanhomestead.org

Read the family daily blog at: littlehomesteadinthecity.org

The Dervaes family also runs a store at: urbanhomesteadsupply.com

Or find people in your area through the social network at:
freedomgardens.org

And finally, for those who want to talk about raising chickens, bees, or larger animals in the city, try: barnyardsandbackyards.org

Lots to chew on there! Everybody should hear this interview with Jules, to know your prospects for feeding yourself or family, should the need arise. Self-sufficiency is coming to the city.

From http://www.ecoshock.info/2011/09/growing-through-storm.html