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The recent spike in oil and food prices, and extreme weather conditions due to climate change have led many Americans to consider changing their eating and shopping habits and even their lifestyles. In Pasadena, the Dervaes family has transformed their residential lot into an urban homestead on which they generate more than half of their own food by literally growing it themselves, and 70% of their own energy via solar panels on their garage roof. Additionally, by selling specialty salad greens and eggs to local restaurants, and earth friendly products on their online store, plus taking part-time jobs waiting tables, the Dervaes family earns the money they need to buy what they can’t grow. Their website Path to Freedom, showcases the urban homestead model for others across the world to emulate. And indeed tens of thousands have already been inspired by the food and energy independence such a life style offers. But, it’s not easy – as I found out yesterday when I spent the afternoon with Jules Dervaes and his family, creating an urban homestead means years of hard work, lots of trial and error, and a fierce determination to lighten one’s footprint on the earth.

GUESTS: Jules Dervaes, founder of Path to Freedom, and his daughters Anais and Jordanne. For more information, visit www.pathtofreedom.com, and www.peddlerswagon.com.