About Me
"Anais was born to “greenhorn” homesteading parents. She immediately made a noticeable difference at the abandoned gold mining town of Stafford, located on New Zealand’s west coast of the south island, by raising the total human population to 4 and by making local history by becoming the youngest citizen of that town in 100 years.
Anais grew up on 10 rural acres when her parents returned to Florida. She enjoyed planting a garden with her father, jumping from haybales, eating oranges from nearby groves and drinking raw goat’s milk from Molly Jo, a pet. Weekdays were spent in homeschooling, exploring her world and cooking.
After the family’s move to Pasadena, Anais honed her cooking skills and continued her passion for gardening, especially flowers and herbs. For several years, after her father had ripped up the front yard to plant edibles, she eagerly sowed wildflower seeds, which ultimately “blossomed” into the family’s edible flower (and now produce) business. Being homeschooled, as were the rest of her siblings, she also devoured every herbal book at the local library to learn how to whip up herbal concoctions for any ailment that have afflicted the family.
Over the years, she has added many other homesteading skills: candle and soap-making; knitting; herbal remedies; sewing; crocheting; canning and food preservation; wine-making and much more.
She loves traipsing around the urban homestead in aprons and barefeet and taking pictures of all the homestead happenings!" ---------------------------------------------- I am a country girl at heart. These days I am striving to live a more sustainable life in the heart of the city with my family.
Since the mid 1980's, my family has through hard work and effort transformed our ordinary city lot into a viable urban homestead. Where not only grow over 90% of our produce, but have citified farm animal, brew our own fuel and incorporate many alternative energy, waste and water reclamation practices, and appropriate technologies.
Urban homesteaders are individuals who are striving to live an low impact, self sufficient life in the modern city environment.
As of 2001, my family and I have been sharing our urban homesteading adventures online at http://www.urbanhomestead.org/journal
This site have been at the forefront to the revival of the modern urban homesteading movement. Offering resources, first hand accounts and inspiration for a 21st century self sufficient life
Interests
Urban homesteading, urban agriculture, preservation, photography, back to basic skills, beekeeping, knitting, sewing, sustainable low-impact living
Favorite Quote
“It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.”
ajda
Thank you very much! Anais surprised me a lot with that! My best regards to all of you!
July 16, 2011
AnaisDervaesHey Freedom Gardeners I am looking for a few good writers and or co-editors for this site. I really could use help answering folks questions (have over 30 submitted questions in queue!) and writing articles about all aspects of growing your own food. ... moreHey Freedom Gardeners I am looking for a few good writers and or co-editors for this site. I really could use help answering folks questions (have over 30 submitted questions in queue!) and writing articles about all aspects of growing your own food. Email if interested. Thanks and happy growing!
RachelM
With all the spam I wondered if adding a few older, trusted members as moderators would be good. I've seen other sites do this and it really helps keep the spam from piling up. Just something to think about!
AnaisDervaes
Sounds Good. Would you be interested? If so, my sister will be contacting you. We certainly could use the help!
June 27, 2011
RachelM
Sure! It might be nice too that I am in a different time zone and so might be on here at different times then you. Actually, from that point of view Adja would be really good because she comes on here regularly and I believe is in a majorly different time zone.
Jeff15235: Anais, Technical issues...
I tried to follow the link in your message re signing up to write articles and I got good old error 404; page not found...
Is it the screen name that I should use to send messages? Never seems to work for me. It comes back li... moreAnais, Technical issues...
I tried to follow the link in your message re signing up to write articles and I got good old error 404; page not found...
Is it the screen name that I should use to send messages? Never seems to work for me. It comes back like I have not addressed the message.
A group for moderators, organizers and leaders of Freedom Gardens to discuss ideas and ways for this site to grow. Upload "Welcome Wagon" files and other info for new moderators here. By invitation only.
After winter solstice is the time to get out those seeds and start planting. Practically every variety of flower, herb and vegetable can be cold sown. Winter Sowing is done outdoors during Winter using mini-greenhouses made from recyclables; there are no heating devices, no energy wasting light set-ups or expensive seed starting devices.Share your ...
We're our own wonky area with 12 months of sun in some places and ice in snow in others, and "traditional" planting seasons often don't apply to us, it can get confusing! But what an awesome place to have a garden :) Lets talk about what grows in our area, the weather, co-ops, local gardening events, or just off topic chat ...
As we start or are deeply involved in growing our own food we want some way of keeping it longer so we can enjoy our bounty for days to come. In this group we will share tips, tricks, and new ways that you keep your harvest for winter months or until we need it. We can talk about freezing, canning, dehydrating, root cellars, any way you keep ...
Browsing about this community, it seems like a lot of you all are married and or with kids or have a significant other. So I decided to make homesteading / freedom garden singles! Those of us who are in the same boat - join and let's chat! How do you deal with finding others of like mind?
A group for moderators, organizers and leaders of Freedom Gardens to discuss ideas and ways for this site to grow. Upload "Welcome Wagon" files and other info for new moderators here. By invitation only.
After winter solstice is the time to get out those seeds and start planting. Practically every variety of flower, herb and vegetable can be cold sown. Winter Sowing is done outdoors during Winter using mini-greenhouses made from recyclables; there are no heating devices, no energy wasting light set-ups or expensive seed starting devices.Share your ...
We're our own wonky area with 12 months of sun in some places and ice in snow in others, and "traditional" planting seasons often don't apply to us, it can get confusing! But what an awesome place to have a garden :) Lets talk about what grows in our area, the weather, co-ops, local gardening events, or just off topic chat ...
As we start or are deeply involved in growing our own food we want some way of keeping it longer so we can enjoy our bounty for days to come. In this group we will share tips, tricks, and new ways that you keep your harvest for winter months or until we need it. We can talk about freezing, canning, dehydrating, root cellars, any way you keep ...
Browsing about this community, it seems like a lot of you all are married and or with kids or have a significant other. So I decided to make homesteading / freedom garden singles! Those of us who are in the same boat - join and let's chat! How do you deal with finding others of like mind?
Hey you So Cal urban aggies. How did our FG trading table work out this time around.
Any suggestions would be appreciated so we can improve and help others start their own successful swaps in their town/city.
