Gardening: A Declaration of Independence

Why did you start an urban homestead?

Since the late 60s I've been searching for a better way of life, believing that to be possible by living off the land. But I found myself in the early 1990s living in the city of Pasadena, California, yet I still desired to be self-sufficient in providing for my family's needs. Genetically Modified Organisms introduced into the food supply in 2000 led me to take action, as I realized I had lost access to real and wholesome food. I decided to do something radical - where I was and with what I had. I founded the original modern urban homestead in 2001. This was my way of providing a healthy future for my family.

What inspired you to be the change?

Part of my inspiration came from working alongside my dad when I was young, as well as people like John and Robert Kennedy, Rachel Carson, the Nearings, Wendell Berry, and Wes Jackson. More accurately, I would say I was "scared" into becoming the change in the face of the unknown threat of GMOs. More than inspiration, it was fear of what had happened and what could become an even worse situation that was the motivation for me to take the course of action I did. The consequences of inaction were unacceptable, so I took the first steps in blazing a new trail.

Why should anyone grow their own food?

I would ask, "Why shouldn't they grow at least some of their own food, if it is at all possible?" This activity would be a return to what is a normal and essential part of life. It is a matter of regaining control of your life, especially with the corporations working towards taking over all aspects of our existence. We have lost the capacity to stand on our own two feet, so growing food ourselves is a step up to freedom.

How did your vegetable garden turn into an urban homestead?

Growing vegetables for at least some of our diet was the ground work which enabled me to begin the process of achieving self-sufficiency. Success there led to a desire to take on other challenges and see what more I could do. Thus, over the last nine years, the garden - as the foundation - has supported the other aspects of my freedom quest: energy, fuel, water, waste reduction. After a good start with growing my family's food, we advanced to tackling our energy supply by installing solar panels and cooking with solar ovens. Next, we learned to brew our own fuel for our vehicle, making biodiesel out of used vegetable oil and are now experimenting further with water conservation schemes. One by one, all these factors combined to construct an urban homestead; and, along the way, these actions have lit a homegrown revolution movement that now inspires others worldwide.

What are some of the challenges faced by urban homesteaders?

The obvious, external challenge is to find ways to work with nature rather than against her. Today that is harder than ever because nature has been thrown out of balance. There are difficulties of finding enough space; abiding by city codes; and getting by with few resources for the novice homesteader. Additionally, because it will take time to build a skill set to become proficient in homesteading tasks, there is the personal, internal challenge of persevering through the inevitable failures and setbacks, while continually striving to improve.

What were the starting conditions like on your property?

On our one-fifth of an acre, we had a typical front lawn and a backyard that had extensive concrete areas. Underneath it was adobe-type soil that dried hard like a brick, which I joke could have been used to build a California mission. It was beige in color, worm-challenged and devoid of any other living microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi. The soil was really junk - it was basically the means to support a plant upright!

How long did it take until you started to see the soil improve?

Because this transformation was done on a budget, it was slow and time consuming. The soil was improved continuously over many years. Due to the volume of soil and its poor condition, no matter how much compost and other amendments I added, it all seemed to vanish at first without a trace. However, after a few years, I noticed a definite change in color, along with some worms, signifying the beginning of a restoration. The shocking difference became evident when I dug up our driveway and found the original soil. What a difference twenty years can make! It takes patience to see significant improvement when you are working to restore old soil, not just replace it with new.

What is the condition of American soil?

In general, I would say the soil across America is depleted. We have taken out more than we have put back. Some soils are now useless, for example, where salt from irrigation has built up. Other soil has become unavailable when good farmland gets taken over for development.

I believe we are at risk in America; there is not enough good soil left to produce the food we need. It is noteworthy that the most under-utilized land is found in residential backyards. In our current situation, this often overlooked piece of property is a valuable asset.

How did we get here?

We got here because we are always trying to get somewhere else! We are in pursuit, most often, of what is faster, bigger, and easier. Nature, by contrast, takes 500 years to form one inch of topsoil. America was a "blessed" land, and we took it for granted that the original fertility would always remain the same without our having to be good stewards. Belatedly, we are now finding out that there are consequences to neglect that need to be dealt with. Still, it is difficult for people to pay attention to something so low. Soil does not get much respect; we treat it like dirt! We have other, more important things to do, but, ironically, there is no more important matter than where our food comes from.

What are some strategies we can use to revitalize the topsoil on personal, community, national and global levels?

It all starts with personal responsibility as a priority, with everything beyond that built on the personal level. That is what Path to Freedom is all about. Without this solid foundation of individual change, greater programs cannot achieve long-lasting results. The strategy would be a stewardship strategy, as the earth definitely needs careful maintenance and dutiful upkeep. According to The Land Institute, 38% of global agricultural lands are currently designated as "degraded." Education is the key to informing and encouraging people to take responsibility, beginning when they are very young children. For instance, right now one strategy is to buy local, as advocated by the Slow Food movement .

Do you have any suggestions people can use on their land to get off chemical fertilizers and start rebuilding the soil?

The three most important suggestions are: compost today, compost tomorrow, and compost always! The chemical fertilizers are drugs for plants. In February of this 2009, Time Magazine highlighted a report claiming today's supermarket vegetables are up to 40% lower in minerals than those grown fifty years ago, due to soil depletion and harvest methods. To rehabilatate from these powerful but dangerous drugs you need patience and persistence, similar to AA.

Gardeners should look only for OMRI- or NOP-listed fertilizers, amendments, and pest solutions. Today, there are more alternatives available than ten years ago. They may cost more, but that is the price of getting out of the fix we are in - there has been an average 85% mineral depletion from soil during the past 100 years in the U.S. Also, a natural rebuilding always takes longer, which requires a change in our understanding.

We now replenish the garden twice a year with soil enriched by composted manure from our animal enclosure, which houses goats, ducks, and chickens. Our practices of feeding the soil, not the plants, are improving the land each year, believing that healthy plants come from healthy soil.

Your homestead is quite extensive. What kind of yields can the casual gardener expect?

All beginners must face the realization that nature calls the shots, so yields are predictably unpredictable. There can be beginner's luck, but most often harvests are variable from year to year. Even for full-time, seasoned workers of the soil, the yields are erratic due to factors beyond human control. But for the casual gardener who is doing this in his or her free time, any yield is better than no yield at all. The aim is to start somewhere, and then push for an improved yield the next year. There is no guarantee, but you should consider long term success measured by small increments. However, a part-time gardener should be able to harvest enough greens for salads, a variety of vegetables for side dishes, some fruit, and if all else fails, lots and lots of zucchini!

What opportunities exist for urban homesteaders?

Urban homesteading, like old-time farming, is not lucrative. Independent, small farmers are thrilled just to break even sometimes, staying afloat to the next year. The payoff is not in monetary riches. If you truly want to be self-sufficient, you shouldn't look at urban homesteading as a business, but as a passion. However, there are opportunities to engage in business as a sideline to support the urban homestead. The obvious commercial aspect is to grow a surplus to sell to customers. We are able to do this and sell organic produce to high-end local restaurants and caterers. Other commercial opportunities include selling at farmer's markets. In addition, working at home can provide you with an opportunity to make income from the homestead through sales of handcrafts, eggs, honey, etc. Once we got totally involved in this, we found there were many outlets for creativity resulting from living a self-sufficient lifestyle.

How do you enroll the future generation of urban gardeners?

I chose to do more than talk or write; I chose to build a model, a demonstration of an alternative for the next generation. I realized that for anything to be truly successful, it must be passed on to those who need to deal with tomorrow's challenges. Path to Freedom reaches out to them on the Internet via our blog, social networking site, videos and at local events. When we can, we open our doors to students for tours. Our community outreach is about living this new way, as an ongoing process - not a stunt - so that young people can see that this is a real life choice. They can take these tested solutions (not just on paper) and implement them in their own lives.

What would you say to someone interested in gardening but who has never planted a single seed?

Tell us about the Victory Gardens which sprouted across America WWII?

This was a historical happening where people saw the bigger picture and knew that they could support the cause of winning the war by growing their own food. It was a sensible matter of using resources wisely, and it was also promoted by the government and given national recognition, but the movement was a pointedly nationalistic one against an outside enemy. Today, with corporate control of our food sources, there can be no such program without wreaking havoc on the economy. Furthermore, we're facing a global crisis involving all nations, not one country against another. So, at Path to Freedom, we are going beyond that idea, making it a common cause for all people to garden for freedom through our online social network,

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To see what the Dervaes are currently up to, visit them at www.dervaesgardens.com, www. peddlerswagon.com and www.freedomseeds.org.

Vol 29 Issue 4 page 30