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Blogiversary Blogger Guest- Path to Freedom and Giveaway

Day two of year three
I am so excited to share this next blogger with you, that I put them first! This was a really hard post to put together because this next guest is really hard to put on one post.

About 6 years ago I stumbled across this blog: Path To Freedom. This would be a defining moment for me because I did things which I thought no one else did and cared about things I was not too sure were important to others back then.  Before most people ever coined the phrase “going green” this family was happily and quietly working the little land they had and making strides toward self sufficiency that has inspired millions around the world to try to do something themselves.  If I only shared one thing about them it would be this video 

But….it’s not the only thing I am going to share.

The Dervaes family, Dad Jules, Daughters Anais and Jordan and son Justin, grow most of their food, make their own honey, bio-deisel, raise a flock of chickens, ducks and goats, are all solar powered, use solar cookers and self made cob oven, and so much, much more all on their little urban homestead the size of 1/5th of an acre which they have turned into a homestead right in the city of Pasadena.   This is a journey which they started in 1985 and continue to perfect and reinvent daily.

photo coutesy of Urban Homestead.org.  
This is the back yard garden, every inch is planted and every space utliized yet so pretty and organized.  The front yard is so beautiful but so full of food.

They are the real deal and I am very fortunate to have them representing our dedication to getting back to basics here and they are giving one of you a Path to Freedom t-shirt. 

all photos used courtesy of Urban Homestead.org


 If you visit their blog, make sure to have already fed your family and pets because you could spend alot more time there than you meant to.


So without further adieu, meet Anais Dervaes with a little Q&A from me.


My favorite blogs are: http://aspiring-homemaker.blogspot.com/http://raisinghomemakers.com/ http://down—to—earth.blogspot.com/

My favorite color is: Blue


My first job was: Doing chores on homestead


My favorite guilty pleasure is: Donuts & french fries


The best advice I ever received is: If we are afraid to be different from the world, how can we make a difference in the world? ~Rev. John I. Jenkins

I am inspired by: Ruth
If I have an afternoon off I like to: Practice guitar
Think quick, if there was a fire and you could only grab three things (not people) what would they be: Sewing machine, knitting needles, camera


and finally here’s an encouraging quote from Farmer D (Jules Dervaes)

“Start by taking small steps, but start! People today may be prone to consider start-ups in terms of a Grand Opening, but in regards to changing your life within an all-encompassing system, the only way to do so is to have an unheralded, non-spectacular opening. It is a matter of following one step with another repeatedly until a great thing can be achieved.

“The most important step we have taken has been to grow some of our own food. Paraphrasing Theodore Roosevelt, I encourage people to do what they can, where they are, with what they have—right now.”

Jules Dervaes, Founder of the URBAN HOMESTEAD® 




Winner will be announced on Wednesday night, April 6th!
This Crunchy Catholic Momma’s giveaway can be entered by any ONE of three ways.  You get an entry for every one that you do.
1) By linking about this giveaway (to your blog, facebook, or any other site), you have to let me know you did and where you did.
2) By leaving a comment

3) By becoming a follower of my blog. There is a FOLLOW button at the upper right hand bar on this blog.  If you win and are not a follower, the prize will go to the next person : ( sorry!
Just remember to please leave me a comment telling me what you did so that I can go back and look for your entry. Either give me the link that you posted for the giveaway to or tell me that you began to follow me. 

Good luck to all my bloggy friends and thank you for joining me for my blogiversary giveaway week.

Comments { 15 }

Happy 2nd Blogiversary to CCM and a giveaway

Day one of year three.

I am starting the week with a giveaway from myself to you.  I have thought long and hard about what I wanted to offer and who I wanted to feature for my blogiversary celebration to represent all the different sides of my life.

As I have mentioned before, I love all things handmade.  To celebrate I am giving away a pair of my 100% wool Mary Jane slippers from my Crunchy Crochet shop at Etsy.  These are super soft and comfy.  They will keep your toes warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  Isn’t wool so cool.

If you win you can choose from women, girls or baby slippers in your choice of 17 colors.
so cute for little feet
The other thing I really love and it pops up everywhere in my life is toadstools.  They are in my art, garden, baked creations, crafts and crochet projects.  So for everyone of my blog viewers who sends me their email this week only (that means until Saturday)  I will send a copy of my toadstool pendant crochet pattern for you to make.  You can find my contact info at the upper right hand corner.
I have thought long and hard about what I wanted to offer and who I wanted to feature for my blogiversary celebration to represent all the different sides of my life.  Don’t miss a day this week.  Here is the line up starting tomorrow.  I am so excited to share these bloggers with all of you.

Tuesday: Representing my families commitment to living a simpler life and our journey towards self sufficiency.
Anais and the gang from Path to Freedom will be here and giving away a Path to Freedom t-shirt to one lucky winner straight from their urban homestead to yours. 

Wednesday:  Representing my love of crochet and design.

The most amazing Lisa from Holland Designs will be hanging at CCM and offering a blogiversary winner one of her amazing crochet patterns.

Thursday: Representing my love of the Catholic Faith.

Have a cup of tea with Tracy from a Slice of Smith life who will share a tutorial with us.

Friday: Representing my love of wool crafts and Waldorf.

The best source of wool felt on Etsy, Janet from Felt on the Fly will be giving away a set of 3 100% wool felt sheets. Plus….I hoping and working on a very special Waldorf mom blogger whom I promise you will love (but at this point I am not sure wether she will be taking part yet).

Saturday: Representing my love of refashioning, reusing and upcycling:
A super talented momma- Kris of ReSweater will be giving away a winners choice of one sweater from her shop for you to use in a new project.

Sunday:  Representing my love of design and just because she is a very talented girl and amazing daughter, my very own Alex from The Clover Dilly will be offering one lucky winner a pair of the cutest rose earrings you’ve ever put on your ears.

Winner will be announced on Wednesday night, April 6th!
This Crunchy Catholic Momma’s giveaway can be entered by any ONE of three ways.  You get an entry for every one that you do.
1) By linking about this giveaway (to your blog, facebook, or any other site), you have to let me know you did and where you did.
2) By leaving a comment

3) By becoming a follower of my blog. There is a FOLLOW button at the upper right hand bar on this blog.  If you win and are not a follower, the prize will go to the next person : ( sorry!
Just remember to please leave me a comment telling me what you did so that I can go back and look for your entry. Either give me the link that you posted for the giveaway to or tell me that you began to follow me. 

Good luck to all my bloggy friends and thank you for joining me for my blogiversary giveaway week.
Comments { 34 }