In 1984, Jules Dervaes Jr. made a pivotal decision to sell his 10-acre property in Florida and move to Pasadena, California, with his wife and children to pursue theological studies. However, he eventually found his true calling in urban farming, transforming a small plot of land—about the size of a quarter of a football field—into a self-sustaining homestead just a block from the 210 freeway exit.
Not long after their move, Jules’ wife left, finding urban farming was not her lifestyle of choice. But his four children chose to stay. Now in their 40s, three of them—Anäis, Justin, and Jordanne—continue to operate the Urban Homestead, a legacy that serves over a hundred families weekly with fresh produce and flowers, and even supplies some local restaurants and catering businesses.
Anäis recalls that initially, the family was just growing food for their own consumption. However, their dad soon turned organic farming into a business. In 1989, they removed the concrete from their front yard and restored it to soil, which initially seemed crazy to their neighbors, but the success of their venture proved otherwise.
After Jules passed away in 2016 from a pulmonary embolism, Anäis and her siblings took charge of the Urban Homestead Institute, a nonprofit they founded in 2001. Their mission expanded to include providing fresh produce to families in need, hosting interns and volunteers, and regularly inviting students to learn about food cultivation.
During the early 2000s, the rise of the anti-GMO movement sparked Anäis’ interest in activism. She initially thought about protesting but her dad suggested, “Why not document what we do and how we live simply?” Anäis admits she questioned the interest in her daily activities, thinking, “Who wants to know about me planting corn?” But she became an unexpected blogger, as people indeed wanted to follow their journey. The family’s story attracted attention, including interest from a teacher at Compton High School who asked to bring students for a tour. “From then on, student visits became part of our daily routine,” Anäis explained.
The Urban Homestead has become a bustling hub for sustainability, with limited space leading to small group tours. Their original garage was converted into a small store and produce distribution center. A covered patio serves as a classroom for demonstrations, while the driveway hosts trays of seedlings. Chickens and ducks roam in an L-shaped coop in the backyard, surrounded by fruit trees and rows of vegetables and flowers.
The abundance of plants like lettuce, spinach, arugula, and Italian dandelion, interspersed with sunflowers, fills their garden. A handheld seeder simplifies the process of filling soil and planting seeds, which are later transplanted into the fields. Butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects thrive among the flowers in the yard, including poppies and edible roses.
The Dervaes children may not be wealthy, but they live comfortably due to their low expenses and their father’s cultivated curiosity. They installed solar panels back in 2003 and have a greywater recycling system, ensuring their annual water bill never exceeds $1,000. They even recycled restaurant grease to make biodiesel for their truck. In 2009, they released a short film, “Homegrown Revolution,” which received several accolades.
Years later, they rented-to-own a neighboring house and transformed its front yard into another farm. Now, Anäis and Jordanne reside in one home while Justin and his tenant occupy the other.
Anäis describes herself as a “chef and teacher,” making jams and teaching weaving and other home economics skills. Jordanne manages a nearby beehive and takes care of the family’s chickens, while all three siblings work as consultants for home gardens, farms, and chicken coops. Recently, Jordanne was hired by Occidental College to teach a popular course on regenerative gardening and sustainable agriculture and has recently obtained a real estate license to focus on historic home preservation.
However, their family farm remains their primary commitment, and Anäis admits that the demanding pace of their work complicates romantic relationships. For city dwellers, it can be hard to grasp why she dashes home at the slightest frost advisory—it’s about protecting the plants from damage.
All three siblings, currently single, hope to find lasting partners who understand their unique lifestyle. “Dating is a profession we’re not well-practiced in,” Jordanne chuckles. “I’m open to any challenge, but not dating.”
Anäis reflects on their life of urban farming, noting that their perspective differs significantly from others in the city. “But this is our life, our existence,” she affirms.
Their journey hasn’t always been easy. Growing up as a vegetarian family led them to face ridicule from neighborhood kids who would tease them for wearing non-branded shoes and not indulging in burgers or soda. “Growing up, we ate oatmeal and ran around barefoot, feeling completely out of touch with ordinary life,” Anäis shares. She recalls questioning her dad about why they sourced their belongings from thrift stores or why their diets consisted solely of homegrown items.
It wasn’t until she read “Diet for a New America” by John Robbins, which details the detrimental impacts of industrial farming on health, animal welfare, and environmental issues, that she felt a sudden awakening—veganism became a part of her identity.
Jordanne emphasizes that their father never pressured them into anything they didn’t want to do. “We encountered our share of struggles, but he always encouraged us to reflect on every aspect of life, instilling a sense of responsibility and pride in our contribution to agriculture.” Jules often advised, “If you want to do something, first read about it, then take action.”
Of course, there were limits—Jordanne dreams of raising horses or cows, but that’s simply not feasible. However, whenever they diverge onto tangents, the freedom of exploration always seems to lead them back home. Anäis describes their childhood residence as an identity, attributing it with purpose and passion: “If needed, I would grow food on the moon.”
Every second Sunday of the month, they host “Learning Tours” at the farm for a $75 admission fee. Justin shares five essential tips for those looking to start their own urban farms:
1. Choose the right soil: Healthy plants require quality soil. Unfortunately, most store-bought potting mixes are inadequate. Urban Homestead nourishes their soil with compost, but if that’s not available, mixing potting soil with perlite or minerals will work—but avoid buying pre-packaged potting mixes, which often lead to failure.
2. Don’t eliminate all pests: Nature tends to find its balance. If you erase all pests, beneficial insects won’t arrive. It’s essential to observe and let nature take its course.
3. Plant densely: Large-scale farms often leave spaces for machinery, but in home gardens, dense planting is beneficial. This method maximizes output and shade for the soil, and adding organic mulch helps retain moisture.
4. Opt for continuous harvest plants: Kids may adore carrots or beets, but home gardens are limited in space. Choose plants that can regrow after harvesting. Lettuce is an excellent candidate, as are tomatoes, which produce in abundance.
5. Take your time: Many newcomers expect their gardens to flourish overnight. Justin urges patience, stating that even after four decades, there are days when he feels unmotivated to work. Each day brings new challenges: shifting weather, new pests, droughts, floods, or even snow—farming requires ongoing attention and effort.
This family is not only sustaining their homestead; they’re cultivating a legacy of self-sufficiency and education rooted in their father’s dreams.
