Los Angeles Magazine (Web Extras) | Extended Family on the Urban Homestead

Anaïs and Jordanne Dervaes give a video tour of the Pasadena urban homestead where they keep chickens, ducks, and goats

By Wendy Witherspoon
LAmag.com, October 19, 2009
http://www.lamag.com/multimedia/vid/2009/farmanimals/

If you've ever looked at your pet dog (especially after "cleaning up" the lawn) and wondered when he was going to start pulling his own weight, perhaps it's time to introduce a new member to the household: a barnyard animal. Chickens and quail, for instance, provide delicious fresh eggs, while rabbits produce nutrient-rich droppings that can be dumped right into your garden's soil for fertilizer.

The Dervaes family's urban homestead in Pasadena is the gold standard for how to keep farm animals in an urban space, so we returned with our video camera to take one more peek. Just behind the bountiful vegetable beds there's a pen that holds 15 animals (with various coops and interior spaces for sleeping), but there's no smell and hardly a peep. (PRINT ARTICLE: http://www.lamag.com/article.aspx?id=20422)

The flock certainly seems to contribute more than most urban pets, but these particular birds may be a bit smarter than your average barnyard banties. Consider some of the names. For the ducks: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy (from Louisa May Alcott's Little Women). For the chickens: Estella, Sissy, Lucie, Bella, Dora, Lizzie, and Sairey (literary kudos to you if you guessed Charles Dickens).

If you're already measuring your backyard for a chicken coop, make sure to consult local codes online before demanding that Fido share his space with a fluffy new friend—most cities allow chickens and ducks, for example, but they vary on the number. And if you find you're up to code, you might get a pet that adds a little more to the household than just some sloppy kisses (but those are good, too).

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• City Chickens
• Urban Goats
• Farm Animals
• Urban Homestead
• Urban Homesteading
• Urban Homesteaders
• Dervaes

[wildmancd]

Since I have been reading and watching videos on the Dervaes family we now have 2 raised beds, Raspberries, Strawberries, Blueberries, Kiwi, Fig, Mulberries, Pecan, Peaches, and Grapes on our little 3/4 acre here. No animals yet, need a fence first. But well on our way.

[neven01]

Anaiis is so perfect!

She WANTS to live on a farm what man could ask for anything more?!

If I were 10 years younger I'd court that young lady FOR LIFE!

[patjames123]

this family reminds me of a modern day version of "Little House on the Prarie" for some reason. lol thats meant to be a compliment. Real cool.

[michaelpousti]

great clip .. keep it up thanks

[RangoDurango]

That is so cool!!

[vention4wh]

One of my goals is to get a house on a big lot with a south facing roof for solar panels and good potential to build a homestead using the principles of permaculture. I have to pay for it first though! I cut way back and I'm slamming 2500 to 3000 a month into my condo mortgage. Payoff will probably be between September and November of this year. Then I can save 30k a year. In 2 or 3 years I'll be able to sell my condo, dump in my savings and buy my dream home with no mortgage.

[JediPrincess79]

LOVE the literary duck names :)

[Hamish121212]

Jordanne is very cute!

[lifeseeker51]

Animals. Well, maybe next year. Six ues and a ram,perhaps. Eight more garden boxes 4 by 8. That'll make 12. Enough for us I think.

[jihadacadien]

Can't wait to be where you are right now =)