by
Urban Homestead
May 13, 2011

from YouTube Website

 


 

 

Award winning short-film 2009

This film features:

Jules Dervaes, Justin Dervaes,

Anais Dervaes and Jordanne Dervaes
 

 

 


Homegrown Revolution is a short introduction to the homegrown project that has been called a new revolution in urban sustainability.

In the midst of a dense city setting in downtown Pasadena, radical change is taking root. For over twenty years, the Dervaes family have transformed their home into an urban homestead and model for sustainable agriculture and city living.

Through the creation of the "Urban Homestead" the Dervaes family shows that change is possible - one step at a time. They harvest 3 tons of organic food annually from their 1/10 acre garden while incorporating many back-to-basics practices, solar energy and biodiesel in order to reduce their footprint on the earth's resources.

Through the creation of the "Urban Homestead" the Dervaes family shows that change is possible,

Homegrown Revolution is a short film that was never created for a film festival circuit but has a true homegrown, homemade story behind its creation.

The original version of Homegrown Revolution was made in three days for a lecture Jules Dervaes gave at the University of California Los Angeles in October 2007 on the topic of Slow Food (see original version). It received a wildly enthusiastic response from the students and, subsequently, attracted an avid following on YouTube, with over 500,000 views to date.

This new version of Homegrown Revolution was created in 2009 and went on to screen at many film festivals throughout the world.

It is a collaborative project done by Jules, Anais, Justin and Jordanne with each member taking part in the filming, editing and structure of the film. No one had any previous film editing / filming experience but they hope the passion and enthusiasm of their lifestyle and project show through any technical flaws.

Made in-house on computers powered by solar/green sources. All transportation was done in a biodiesel-fuled car and All camera/mic batteries were rechargeable and charged with solar energy. Waste was kept to a minimum -- paper composted or recycled and all publicizing materials printed on post consumer paper.

Some of the honors Homegrown Revolution (2009) won are:
 

WINNER

Best Environment & Ecology Film - North America, Swansea International Film Festival, UNITED KINGDOM

Prize of the Mayor of the Capitol City of Slovakia - Ekotop Film Festival of Sustainable Development, SLOVAKIA

Best Short Documentary - Southern Appalachian International Film Festival, TENNESSEE

El Capitan Film Award - Yosemite International Film Festival, CALIFORNIA

Best Sustainability Film - Green Screen Environmental Film Festival, CALIFORNIA

Robert T. Nanninga Award for Excellence - Cottonwood Creek Film Festival, CALIFORNIA


HONORABLE MENTION - Westpac Award Best Short Film - Reel Earth Environmental Film Festival, NEW ZEALAND

NOMINATED - Best Film, Climate Change & Sustainable Technology - CMS Vatavaran Environmental & Wildlife Film Fest, INDIA

FINALIST - European Spiritual Film Fest, FRANCE