Urban Homestead - Pasadena, California

Jackie C.

We’ve been getting a produce box every other week for a few months and it’s so great! The variety of seasonal stuff is incredible and it’s so much fun to be surprised by new delights each week! I’m so happy to have found Urban Homestead - it’s the best kept secret in town!

Paulina V.

Just picked up my first box today. Wow.

The people there are so insanely sweet. They walked me through every single thing in my box and explained to me how the boxes work and the trading. They even offered to bring the box to my car.

We had the following in the surprise box ($35):

Eggs (dozen)
Kale
Green Garlic
Leek
Avocado
Tangerines? Some citrus
Lime
Onion
Mixed Greens
Spinach
Snap Peas
Rainbow Carrots
Regular Carrots
Broccoli
Black Raddish
Cabbage

I’ve done CSAs before where they just put like 50 lbs of potatoes in the box but this is a well balanced box with things I don’t normally cook with but could easily find recipes for.

The actual produce is INCREDIBLE. Specially during Covid I’ve been struggling to get good produce when I have curbside pick up or try instacart. Every bite of our dinner (leek and green garlic pasta) and side salad (mixed greens) and dessert (tangerine) was flavorful. I feel like I’ve been ruined and no produce will every match up to this one. I’m so happy I found this place!

Cecily F.

I have to admit that there is a part of me that doesn't want other people to know how incredibly awesome this place, and the gang that hangs out here, is! It just blows me away that not too many people know what's going on here .... right under their nose..... It's called THE BEST TIME!!! The Food! The Talent! The friends you make! I realize how selfish I am, but I finally found The COOLEST PLACE EVER and .... you'll have to find it yourself.

Maggie H.

When I first heard of them about 9 years ago, I though they were doing an awesome thing....

Then I learned better. All they are is super shady people trying to make a buck.

We interacted with the Dervaes monthly for years at the Rose Bowl Drop. They were always rude, even when you tried to be friendly. They never even said "hi", or "thank you" for the times I would help unload their items from the truck, or load their items to their car. They carried themselves with an air of arrogance - they are "different" and "better" than the rest of us.

They tried to Trademark "Urban Homestead"...a phrase that had been around for decades, a phrase they no way invented. They then strong armed and sent cease-and-desist letters to individuals and organizations with similar self-sufficient philosophies. Its a shame really, as our circle should be celebrating and supporting our shared vision to help it grow stronger, not trying to stomp people out in a competitive/capitalist grab for 'power'. Its so sad. Thankfully, they lost their Trademark because it was complete nonsense.

Finally - they run themselves as a business, and they make profit - BUT they have classified themselves as a religious organization. So, you know what, they are tax exempt. They pay no tax on their profits. Can they get any shadier?

Shame on these folks. Please don't put these people on a pedestal, there are other more inspiring people out there with similar visions.

Jessica K.

I wish I could do a tour, but I am in Idaho and must admire from afar. From the time I was a teenager I wanted to have lots of kand to grow food on. I thought living in the city meant I could only have a few herbs in pots. Then I learned about this amazing family and have been so inspired by them! 🙂 My family and I have a small city lot of 7,875 square feet (total, with house plus garage on that lot) and have 10 fruit trees, 9 berry vines, 2 grape vines, our front yard no longer grows grass, but kale, lettuce, tomatoes, 3 types of squash, carrots, beets, chard, and potatoes, and we have a little flock of chickens for eggs. Thank you, Dervaes family for sharing your lives and spreading the message that even tiny lots can produce a lot of food! 🙂 I never would have thought to do this in the middle of a big city!

Toni S.

Love this place! I highly recommend you take all the events scheduled monthly. I have learned about gardening, making jams and breads!💝

heidi P.

magical school field trip! gorgeous property, incredible information, and the family run business is smooth kind and receptive! looking forward to going again on own with family!

Ann L.

It is an absolutely unethical family. They use their volunteers to send requests to Facebook to shut down accounts of other homesteaders over the USA making false claim that their trademark registration for several common phrases like "urban homesteading", "urban homestead" allows this family to have an exclusive rights of use for those common words and phrases. Trademark law doesn't give such exclusivity to the type of trademark they own. This family caused damages to many groups when facebook and blogs were disabled because of their claims. They don't want Urban homesteading movement to grow - they want to get royaly and benefits from trademark registration. They lie, lie and lie.