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.

15 Responses to Blogiversary Blogger Guest- Path to Freedom and Giveaway

  1. Eva_Turcotte March 30, 2019 at 10:26 am #

    You always write awesome stuff for various topic. I always follow you.

  2. jrile1 January 20, 2019 at 1:39 pm #

    nice post, thanks! great inspiration

  3. Maggie September 8, 2012 at 12:30 am #

    what if you have a black thumb…or don't have the patience? what are some easy grow veggies?

  4. Tricia April 6, 2011 at 10:54 pm #

    Congratulations to: The Adventurer. You are the winner of the Path to Freedom t-shirt. Please contact me at crunchymommashop@gmail.com

  5. Violarissa April 4, 2011 at 9:00 pm #

    Became a follower.

  6. Violarissa April 4, 2011 at 9:00 pm #

    Great approach! Helped to found an intercultural garden in Berlin, Germany and now miss it. Hope to have a little garden soon again.

  7. scody April 3, 2011 at 11:46 pm #

    Inspirational! My husband and I want our own little homestead so it's amazing to hear it can be done on such little land!radharas at yahoo dot com

  8. scody April 3, 2011 at 11:45 pm #

    Following you via GFCradharas at yahoo dot com

  9. Kimberly R. April 3, 2011 at 6:37 pm #

    I am following, Thanks!kimberlybreid at hotmail dot com

  10. Kimberly R. April 3, 2011 at 6:36 pm #

    I would love to start a garden and grow vegetables – fresh from our backyard :)Thanks!kimberlybreid at hotmail dot com

  11. Hallie April 2, 2011 at 10:24 pm #

    I am so inspired by this family! We are in a new house and will be starting a garden for the first time… I'm happy to follow your blog and would LOVE to win this shirt! 🙂

  12. Resweater April 2, 2011 at 12:26 pm #

    I follow your blog! 🙂

  13. Resweater April 2, 2011 at 12:26 pm #

    I'll be slowly replacing my front lawn into garden, so this is very encouraging for me!

  14. The Adventurer March 30, 2011 at 12:06 pm #

    Stopping over from Tracy A slice of Smith life. You have a great blog and I am now following. I love that felt cake:) Will be stopping by again.

  15. Josée March 30, 2011 at 3:12 am #

    I given serious thought to making my front yard into vegetable garden. It seems like such a waste to water and fertilize lawn. The Urban Homestead is inspirational!

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