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Urban homesteaders: a family 's struggle to maintain a sustainable and green urban lifestyle in Pasadena
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Urban homesteaders: a family 's struggle to maintain a sustainable and green urban lifestyle in Pasadena
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Content
URBAN HOMESTEADERS:
A FAMILY’S STRUGGLE TO MAINTAIN A SUSTAINABLE AND GREEN URBAN
LIFESTYLE IN PASADENA
by
Syantani Chatterjee
A Thesis Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
MASTER OF ARTS
JOURNALISM
May 2008
Copyright 2008 Syantani Chatterjee
ii
EPIGRAPH
To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves.
- Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)
iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First and foremost, I would like to thank Professor Dan Birman for his guidance and
support, and for teaching me how and what to shoot. Without his motivation and
relentless attention to detail, this documentary would not have reached fruition.
Thanks are due to Professor Joe Saltzman, whose course on documentary pre-production
provided me with the tools to conduct independent research and write a coherent
documentary script. I am also grateful to Professor Fokion Egolfopoulos and Professor
Clara Irazabal, who helped me understand the scientific and sociological nuances of the
subject of my documentary. I thank the Dervaes family for their time and interest.
My thanks also go to Debbie Blake, whose help compensated for my lack of
administrative skills, and to Lee T. Warner and Timothy Miller for their technical
support.
Finally, I cannot begin to thank my husband, parents and sister for being mine when I
needed them, and for their boundless love.
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Epigraph ii
Acknowledgements iii
Abbreviations v
Abstract vi
Documentary Script 1
Bibliography 15
v
ABBREVIATIONS
CU – Close up shot
LS – Long Shot
MS – Medium shot
NATSOT – Natural sound on tape
SOT – Sound on tape
VO – Voice over
vi
ABSTRACT
Jules Dervaes, 62, began growing food, brewing bio-diesel, and generating solar
electricity on one-fifth of an acre in Pasadena, Calif. His children, Anais, 33, Justin, 29,
and Jordanne, 24, work full-time with him and help sustain what they call an “urban
homestead.” This lifestyle is a response to the need for sustainability in cities. A United
Nations report says cities in developed nations, like the United States, are not equipped to
handle the food and energy requirements of break-neck urbanization. So, the Dervaeses’
lifestyle may provide an example of how we might meet future urban demands for energy
and food.
1
DOCUMENTARY SCRIPT
NATSOT
Tape 3
03:15:12:09
Sequence showing Jules Dervaes
quietly cutting a tomato vine.
(Click of the vine cutter. Birds chirping.
Freeway gushing.)
VO Jules Dervaes
Tape 18
18:04:44:02
Sequence continued.
I decided to start a quite revolution here
at home. I decided to make a stand here. I
began right in my backyard.
TRACK 1
VO Narrator
Tape 18
18:04:44:02
Sequence continued.
Pan left to right: Front yard of the
Dervaes house.
JULES DERVAES’S REVOLUTION HAS
TO DO WITH SOMETHING RARE IN
THIS DAY AND AGE – HE DECIDED TO
CREATE HIS OWN URBAN
HOMESTEAD IN AN URBAN
ENVIRONMENT. DERVAES LIVES ON
ONE-FIFTH OF AN ACRE ON CYPRESS
AVENUE IN PASADENA, 13 MILES
FROM DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.
VO Jules Dervaes
Tape 18
18:04:44:02
Pan continued.
This is all about trying to have a better
life in the future. We are trying to survive
as a family.
TRACK 2
VO Narrator
Early homesteaders.
AND THIS STORY OF URBAN
SURVIVAL IN THE TWENTY FIRST
CENTURY IS ROOTED IN THE HISTORY
2
Urban homesteading bloggers all over
Los Angeles county.
Homestead Act.
Front yard of the Dervaes house
Jules working in his front yard
OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. THE
DERVAESES ARE PART OF A SMALL
BUT GROWING COMMUNITY OF
URBAN HOMESTEADERS WHO KEEP
THEIR TIES WITH NATURE INTACT
WHILE LIVING IN CITIES. THESE
TRENDSETTERS ARE INSPIRED BY
THE IDEA OF STEWARDSHIP
UNDERLYING THE HOMESTEAD ACT
OF 1862. THE ACT ALLOWED A
PERSON TO CLAIM OWNERSHIP OF 160
ACRES OF LAND AFTER WORKING ON
IT FOR 5 YEARS. THE ACT IS NO
LONGER IN USE, BUT JULES DERVAES
CHOOSES TO LIVE BY ITS PRINCIPLES
TODAY.
TRACK 3
VO Narrator
09:25: 17:17
Clara Irazabal typing on her computer
in her office.
CLARA IRAZABAL IS A PROFESSOR OF
URBAN DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA. SHE SAYS URBAN
HOMESTEADING HAS LESS TO DO
WITH THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE
HOMESTEAD ACT AND MORE TO DO
WITH HOW OWNERS TREAT THEIR
LAND.
SOT Clara Irazabal
Tape 9
09:04:07:20
It goes back to something that was very
essential to the ethos of this country.
3
VO Clara Irazabal
Tape 9
09:02:32:03
Sequence showing Jules working on his
tomato vines in his front yard.
People from the native population felt
very connected to the land. As we built
our cities, we did it in a manner that was
not very friendly to nature.
TRACK 4
VO Narrator
Tape 4
04: 17:03:01
Closeup of eggplants, different varieties
of salad leaves. Pan up gourd. Jules
Dervaes watering plants, picking leaves
for salad.
Sequence: Jules sticking an iron
support rod in his backyard.
Surrounded by greenery.
BUT THE DERVAESES INVITED
NATURE RIGHT INTO THEIR HOME,
BENEFITING FROM IT EVERYDAY.
THEIR URBAN HOMESTEAD
GENERATES 6000 POUNDS AND 300
VARIETIES OF PRODUCE. THAT TAKES
CARE OF 80 PERCENT OF THE
FAMILY’S FOOD IN THE SUMMER AND
50 PERCENT IN THE WINTER.
VO Jules Dervaes
Tape 1
01:01:32:07
Sequence continued
Every year we’re adding more ways to
grow food.
TRACK 5
VO Narrator
Photograph of the entire family.
DERVAES’ DAUGHTERS ANAIS AND
JORDANNE, AND SON JUSTIN WORK
FULL TIME ON THE HOMESTEAD TO
ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.
VO Jules Dervaes
01:24:22:25
Justin watering plants. MS to wide.
We are all involved in manual labor.
VO Jules Dervaes
07:22:35:18
Justin watering plants. MS to wide.
My kids were interested in the same thing
as I was. All of them are interested in
growing things.
4
TRACK 6
VO Narrator
Tape 2
02:07:25
Website “Peddler’s Wagon.”
Close up of edible flowers.
THE DERVAESES HAVE ALSO FOUND
A WAY OF SPREADING THE BENEFITS
OF THEIR VARIED INTERESTS. THEIR
ONLINE STORE, PEDDLER’S WAGON,
SELLS HANDCRAFTED GOODS. THEY
ALSO SELL THEIR EXCESS FRESH
GREENS AND EDIBLE FLOWERS TO
LOCAL RESTAURANTS.
VO Jules Dervaes
Tape 2
02:07:25
Close up of miniature edible flowers
and basil in a plastic box.
This is a miniature sunflower, and these
are miniature roses. This is some
carnation. We have some green sprigs out
here – blue basil for garnish. That’s our
mixed box of flowers.
TRACK 7
VO Narrator
Tape 13
13:09:08:06
Sequence with Justin cutting greens and
flowers from the back and side yards.
JUSTIN DERVAES WAKES UP AT FIVE
IN THE MORNING ON WEDNESDAYS
AND FRIDAYS TO PREPARE ORDERS
FOR RESTAURANTS.
VO Jules Dervaes
Tape 15
15:00:45:06
Jules driving in the car on the way to
Marston’s.
Anais gets out of the car and walks to
the kitchen in Marstons. She opens the
door and goes in.
We’re going to Marston’s Restaurant
located in Pasadena. We’re going to
make a delivery of fresh salad mix. We
love doing business with him. And we
get some income that way. He mostly
takes salad, but in the season he’ll take
tomatoes, and some of our flowers for
special occasions.
5
NATSOT
Tape 14
14:19:37:26
Annais Dervaes delivers fresh greens to
Marston’s owner and chef, Jim
McCardy.
Jim
Anais
Jim
Anais
Hey, how’re you doing?
Fine, How’re you?
Good. Alright. Looks good. Thanks. See
you later.
See you next week.
TRACK 8
VO Narrator
Tape 11
11:00:43:11
Sequence of Anais cooking up a
healthy meal – macaroni and cheese
with fresh vegetables from their
backyard.
ANAIS DERVAES CAN WHIP UP A
SIMPLE YET DELICIOUS MEAL WITH
FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
FROM HER BACKYARD IN LESS THAN
20 MINUTES. A 2007 STUDY FROM THE
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY IN
MISSOURI FOUND THAT CHILDREN
RAISED ON A STEADY DIET OF
HOMEGROWN FOOD PREFER FRUITS
AND VEGETABLES TO OTHER FOODS.
VO Anais Dervaes
Tape 16
16:03:26:18
Sequence continued.
It’s very nutritious and everybody likes it.
You get spoiled eating this way.
TRACK 9
VO Narrator
Tape 11
11:00:43:11
Sequence continued.
THERE IS LITTLE SCIENTIFIC
EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE NOTION
THAT LOCALLY GROWN FOOD IS
MORE NUTRITIOUS, THOUGH. BUT
THE DERVAESES SAY HOME GROWN
FOOD HAS OTHER BENEFITS.
6
VO Anais Dervaes
Tape 16
16:03:26:18
Sequence continued.
You’re tasting real food when it’s picked
within half an hour, a couple of minutes.
The flavor and the taste are amazing. Yet,
it’s very simple.
TRACK 10
VO Narrator
Tape 5
05:02:36:17
Sequence with Anais making smoothie
using a hand cranked blender.
AND SIMPLICITY IS THE MANTRA
THAT DRIVES THE ENTIRE DERVAES
HOUSEHOLD. LIKE MOST AMERICANS,
THE FAMILY SPENDS EIGHT CENTS
PER KILOWATT ON AN AVERAGE. BUT
THEY USE ONLY ABOUT 200
KILOWATT HOURS PER MONTH.
THAT’S 20 PERCENT OF WHAT AN
AVERAGE URBAN HOUSEHOLD
CONSUMES IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND THE SECRET OF THEIR LOW
CONSUMPTION LIES IN THEIR
UNUSUAL WAYS OF CONSERVING
ELECTRICITY.
VO Anais Dervaes
Tape 5
05:02:36:17
Sequence with Anais making smoothie.
As you can see we have a blender that’s
hand-cranked. We like to say it’s
unplugged. All the implements here don’t
require any plugs. So we are completely
off the grid on our kitchen appliances.
SOT Anais Dervaes
Tape 5
05:02:36:17
Anais showing her muscles.
That way our kitchen uses less energy
and relies on muscle power.
TRACK 11
VO Narrator
THE DERVAESES USED THEIR MUSCLE
POWER TO INSTALL 12 SOLAR PANELS
7
A photograph of the Jules, Justin and
Jordanne installing solar panels on the
roof of the garage.
Solar panels on the roof of the garage.
THAT GENERATE NEARLY 200
KILOWATT HOURS EVERY MONTH.
REBATES FROM THE CITY OF
PASADENA REDUCED THEIR INITIAL
FOUR THOUSAND DOLLAR
INVESTMENT BY 70 PERCENT.
TRACK 12
VO Narrator
Building of Aerospace and Mechanical
Engineering at USC.
FOKION EGOLFOPOULOS, PROFESSOR
OF AEROSPACE AND MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, SAYS
THERE’S A COST TO SAVE MONEY.
SOT Fokion Egolfopoulos
Tape 18
18:21:33:00
On an individual basis, you can have hot
water. But on a large scale it is a very
expensive proposition –
VO Fokion Egolfopoulos
Tape 18
18:23:45:00
solar panels
– because the materials we are using are
not very efficient.
TRACK 13
VO Narrator
Solar cooker: Anais cooking tomato
sauce continued.
BUT TECHNOLOGICAL HURDLES DO
NOT INTIMIDATE THE DERVAESES.
THEY SUMMON THE SUN'S ENERGY
FOR OTHER PURPOSES, LIKE
COOKING.
SOT Anais Dervaes
Tape 15
This afternoon, I am going to be cooking
some home-made tomato sauce for
8
15:10:40:09
Solar cooker: Anais cooking tomato
sauce.
tonight’s dinner. It’ll be using sun’s free
energy.
TRACK 14
VO Narrator
Solar cooker: Anais cooking tomato
sauce.
Different parts of the cooker.
The sun’s light filtering through the
trees. Shimmering.
A SOLAR OVEN WORKS BY TURNING
LIGHT ENERGY INTO HEAT ENERGY.
IT CONSISTS OF A REFLECTIVE
SURFACE THAT DIRECTS SUNLIGHT
AND HEAT INTO A BLACKENED
COOKING AREA. A CLEAR GLASS
COVER HELPS CONCENTRATE THE
HEAT IN THE OVEN. THIS WAY, A
SOLAR OVEN CAN REACH A
TEMPERATURE OF UPTO 400 DEGREES
FAHRENHEIT ON A COLD OR HOT
DAY. YET IT SEEMS WE ARE LIGHT
YEARS AWAY FROM USING THIS
TECHNOLOGY ON A LARGE SCALE.
VO Fokion Egolfopoulos
Tape 18
18:21:54: 06
The sun’s light filtering through the
trees. Shimmering.
The amount of energy the earth is
receiving every second is in the order of
magnitude greater than the need of
humanity. But we cannot collect it
effectively and economically.
TRACK 15
VO Narrator
The sun’s light filtering through the
trees. Shimmering.
ACCORDING TO THE ENERGY
INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION,
SOLAR ENERGY IS USED TO
GENERATE LESS THAN A TENTH OF
ONE PERCENT OF THE ELECTRICITY
THAT IS CONSUMED IN THE UNITED
STATES.
9
SOT Fokion Egolfopoulos
Tape 18
18:21:54: 06
In order to collect it now you will need
massive infrastructure that will totally
destroy the environment.
TRACK 16
VO Narrator
Jules’s car and cans of biodiesel.
EGOLFOPOULOS SAYS IT HASN’T
BEEN ECONOMICAL TO USE SOLAR
ENERGY FOR TRANSPORTATION. BUT
THAT HASN’T PREVENTED JULES
DERVAES FROM FINDING AN
ALTERNATIVE. HIS CAR IS POWERED
BY HOME-BREWED BIODIESEL.
NATSOT
Tape 13
13:22:46:14
Justin preparing bio diesel.
TRACK 17
VO Narrator
Tape 13
13:22:46:14
Justin preparing bio diesel.
USING A FEW POUNDS OF BIO MASS
EVERYDAY TO PRODUCE BIO FUELS
IS COST-EFFECTIVE ON A SMALL
SCALE.
VO Fokion Egolfopoulos
Tape 18
18:15:21:26
Justin preparing bio diesel.
But, again, on a large scale –
SOT Fokion Egolfopoulos
Tape 18
18:16:36:23
– it’s not clear to me what are the
environmental effects.
SOT Justin Dervaes
Tape 13
13:22:16:18
Basically what we have to do is take
waste cooking oil and pump it into this
contraption here. This electric water
10
Justin is making biodiesel.
heater. We’ll pump it in with this pump.
After we pump it in and fill it up, we turn
on the actual heating element and turn it
up to 180 degrees. We add sodium
methoxide. A reaction takes place: the
top part is biodiesel and the bottom part
is glycerin. Then we put it in here in the
wash tank which would take out all the
impurities and any left over unreacted
methanol.
SOT Fokion Egolfopoulos
Tape 18
18:07:09:11
Bio fuels reduce the amount of
particulars like smoke that are emitted;
however we have evidence that their use
can increase the amount of nitrogen oxide
that are emitted, which contribute to the
formation of photochemical smoke.
TRACK 18
VO Narrator
Justin is bringing out the contraption
that he uses to fill the family vehicle’s
gas tank.
EGOLFOPOULOS SAYS ADDING BIO
FUELS IN LARGE QUANTITIES CAN
DAMAGE CAR ENGINES AND FILTERS.
BIO FUELS ALSO PRODUCE
CARCINOGENIC CHEMICALS LIKE
ALDEHYDES.
VO Fokion Egolfopoulos
Tape 18
18:07:09:11
Justin is pumping gas into the gas tank.
There is excitement because we believe
we would be independent from oil, but it
comes with a price.
VO Clara Irazabal
Tape 9
09:06:42:00
Jules showing some of the ollas: water
conservation methods.
As we live more compactly in cities not
all of us will have access to our little
piece of garden. We have to become a lot
more creative in our architecture.
SOT Anais Dervaes
Tape 10
10:09:52:06
This is a toilet lid sink. After you use the
facility, you flush the toilet, the new
water that comes in, gets pumped through
11
Sequence with Anais showing how the
Japanese flush that conserves water
works.
the faucet first. With the new water
coming in, you can wash your hand.
After you wash your hand the water goes
and fill the bowl. No duh-technology I
would say. It’s great for compact places.
SOT Clara Irazabal
Tape 9
09:06:42:00
You can holistically incorporate
incremental changes in your lifestyle that
would accommodate for less
consumption of less fossil resources and
production of your own sustainable
resources.
TRACK 19
VO Narrator
Tape 11
11:28:50:23
Jules showing ollas.
JULES DERVAES FINDS CREATIVE
WAYS TO DO THAT. FOR EXAMPLE,
HE FILLS OLLAS WHICH ARE
UNGLAZED CLAY POTS WITH WATER
AND BURIES THEM IN THE GROUND.
THE OLLAS IRRIGATE THE
SURROUNDING SOIL BY
MAINTAINING THE APPROPRIATE
MOISTURE LEVEL.
SOT Jules Dervaes
Tape 11
11:28:50:23
It’s a drip irrigation system the old
fashioned way. That’s water
conservation.
TRACK 20
VO Narrator
Tape 11
11:18:36:17
Jules storage tanks
AND HE CONSERVES WATER IN
OTHER WAYS TOO.
SOT Jules Dervaes
Tape 11
11:18:36:17
Water hogs
We have a rectangular tank and then you
have the cylinder kind right here. Rain
water will be stored here, and not be
wasted and go out of your property. It can
12
be stored here for future use. And the
same thing for here. It’s called a water
hog. Water will be coming intake right
here and it’ll be catching 55 gallons of
water right here.
SOT Clara Irazabal
Tape 9
09:22:04:24
We certainly can appreciate the modern
advantages of technology. As human
beings we also need meaningful
connections with each other, and
meaningful connections with other
species.
NATSOT
Tape 17
17: 04:36:14
CU of a hen, closeup of a hand on eggs
in the hay. MS of Jordanne taking the
eggs out. Jordanne kissing her goat.
SOT Jordanne Dervaes
Tape 17
17: 04:36:14
I do miss the human touch that I wish
would be around simply because we live
in a city, and lot of people don’t
understand this concept or way of life.
VO Jordanne Dervaes
Tape 17
17: 04:36:14
Jordanne playing with her hen.
Even though I don’t have the community
I like, I fortunately have a family and our
animals. Which makes a lot of difference.
VO Anais Dervaes
Tape 5
05:30:48:13
Zoom out of photograph of Lady
Fairlight and Blackberry in arroyo Seco
with Jordanne and Anais.
We’re like urban Heidis. Our two goats
liked to be walked like dogs. So we take
them every week down to the Arroyo
Seco. That’s our favorite thing.
13
TRACK 21
VO Narrator
Tape 5
05:30:48:13
Lady Fairlight sitting on hay.
Hen in a pen.
CITIES HAVE STRICT REGULATIONS
CONCERNING FARM ANIMALS. THE
CITY OF PASADENA ALLOWS
RESIDENTS TO KEEP NO MORE THAN
TWO GOATS AND TEN CHICKENS. THE
CITY’S MUNICIPAL CODE REQUIRES
OWNERS TO SHELTER THEIR
ANIMALS AWAY FROM THEIR
NEIGHBOR’S HOMES.
VO Jordanne Dervaes
Tape 10
10:06:43:03
Sequence with Jordanne clipping
Blackberry’s hooves.
She’s an African Pygmy and her name is
Blackbury, and sometimes I call her
Pixie. I think she believes her name is
cute because when we go walking,
everybody goes, look how cute, and she
goes like, is that me?
NATSOT
Tape 17
17:13:55:14
Sequence with Jordanne clipping
Blackberry’s hooves
VO Jordanne Dervaes
Tape 17
17:13:55:14
Sequence with Jordanne clipping
Blackberry’s hooves
To live this lifestyle you have to believe
in something outside of yourself.
TRACK 22
VO Narrator
Tape 17
17:13:55:14
Sequence with Jordanne clipping
Blackberry’s hooves
THIS LIFESTYLE IS A RESPONSE TO
THE NEED FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN
CITIES. A UNITED NATIONS REPORT
SAYS CITIES IN DEVELOPED NATIONS,
14
Sequence showing Jules Dervaes
quietly cutting a tomato vine.
LIKE THE UNITED STATES, ARE NOT
EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THE FOOD
AND ENERGY REQUIREMENTS OF
BREAK-NECK URBANIZATION. SO,
THE DERVAESES’ LIFESTYLE MAY
PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE
MIGHT MEET FUTURE URBAN
DEMANDS FOR ENERGY AND FOOD.
NATSOT
Tape 8
08:09:06:11
Sequence showing Jules Dervaes
quietly cutting a tomato vine.
(Click of the vine cutter. Birds chirping.
Freeway gushing.)
SOT Jules Dervaes
Tape 8
08: 17:55:21
Gandhi’s secret of success. To have all of
what you need and some of what you
want.
VO Jules Dervaes
Tape 8
08:09:06:11
Sequence showing Jules Dervaes
quietly cutting a tomato vine. The
leaves from the vine are piled up next
to Jules Dervaes.
Fade out
Things are faster today. Is that good or
bad? Is speed the main quality of life? I
see people running around, and being so
busy that they didn’t know all life has
passed them by. So I am trying to turn
back the clock. Everybody thinks you
have to go forward for progress. I say a
step backwards is progress.
15
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News.
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30, 2008 from
http://ordlink.com/codes/pasadena/index.htm?Search_Code=Begin+Searching+Muni
cipal+Code
Cloud, J. (2007, March 2). Eating Better Than Organic. Time Magazine.
Dawson, Jonathan (2006) Ecovillages: New Frontiers for Sustainability. Green
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Dervaes, Anais. (October 19, 2007). Personal Interview.
Dervaes, Jordanne. (October 19, 2007). Personal Interview.
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Dervaes, Justin. (October 14, 2007). Personal Interview.
Egolfopoulos, Fokion. (October 22, 2007). Personal Interview.
Energy Information Administration (2001). Table CE1-8c: Total Energy
Consumption in U.S. Households by Urban/Rural Location, 2001. Retrieved May 30,
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Her People. Green Books.
16
Nanney, M.S., Johnson, S., Elliott, M. & Joshu, D. H. (2007). Frequency of Eating
Homegrown Produce is Associated with Higher Intake among Parents and Their
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Parker, E. (2004, May 11). Path to Self-Sufficiency: Simple Living Helps Family
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(1999). Using Home-Grwon Food is Associated with Higher Nutrient Intake in
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Raabe, E. (2003). Pioneers: Life as a Homesteader. PowerKids Press: New York.
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Money. The New York Times.
Robinson, J. (2007, January 25). O, Pioneers in Pasadena. The Los Angeles Times.
Stein, R. Conrad (1978). The Story of the Homestead Act. Children’s Press: Chicago.
Tuan, Yi-Fu (1974). Topophilia: A Study of Environmental Perception, Attitudes,
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Abstract (if available)
Abstract
Jules Dervaes, 62, began growing food, brewing bio-diesel, and generating solar electricity on one-fifth of an acre in Pasadena, Calif. His children, Anais, 33, Justin, 29, and Jordanne, 24, work full-time with him and help sustain what they call an "urban homestead." This lifestyle is a response to the need for sustainability in cities. A United Nations report says cities in developed nations, like the United States, are not equipped to handle the food and energy requirements of break-neck urbanization. So, the Dervaeses ' lifestyle may provide an example of how we might meet future urban demands for energy and food.
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Creator
Chatterjee, Syantani
(author)
Core Title
Urban homesteaders: a family 's struggle to maintain a sustainable and green urban lifestyle in Pasadena
School
Annenberg School for Communication
Degree
Master of Arts
Degree Program
Journalism (Broadcast Journalism)
Degree Conferral Date
2008-05
Publication Date
04/28/2010
Publisher
University of Southern California
(original),
University of Southern California. Libraries
(digital)
Tag
Environment,homesteading,OAI-PMH Harvest,sustainability
Place Name
California
(states),
Pasadena
(city or populated place)
Language
English
Advisor
Saltzman, Joseph (
committee chair
), Birman, Daniel H. (
committee member
), Egolfopoulos, Fokion N. (
committee member
)
Creator Email
syantanc@usc.edu
Permanent Link (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-m1206
Unique identifier
UC1416331
Identifier
etd-Chatterjee-20080428 (filename),usctheses-m40 (legacy collection record id),usctheses-c127-59895 (legacy record id),usctheses-m1206 (legacy record id)
Legacy Identifier
etd-Chatterjee-20080428.pdf
Dmrecord
59895
Document Type
Thesis
Rights
Chatterjee, Syantani
Type
texts
Source
University of Southern California
(contributing entity),
University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses
(collection)
Repository Name
Libraries, University of Southern California
Repository Location
Los Angeles, California
Repository Email
cisadmin@lib.usc.edu
Tags
homesteading
sustainability