Skyfarm: Just outside downtown L.A., a family brings country living to the city (think chicken coop, veggie garden, bee boxes)
Ilse Ackerman, Meeno Peluce and their daughters get cozy in the nest the couple built from repurposed eucalyptus in the yard of their Lincoln Heights home. From left, Ackerman, Mette, Peluce and India. The nest, inspired by the Spirit Garden in Big Sur, “challenges the kids to climb and balance,” Ackerman says. The two crafted the nest from discarded eucalyptus they found on a neighboring hillside. “We rented a chain saw,” Peluce says. “Someone cleared the hillside and just left the wood.”
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• A country escape in urban L.A.
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• Centuries later, the hammock is still swinging (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Chard, lettuce, squash, tomatoes, basil and sunflowers grow out of bales of hay and compost. The couple has dubbed their Lincoln Heights home Skyfarm.
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• A country escape in urban L.A.
Also in Home & Garden
• Design Dispatch: International Contemporary Furniture Fair
• Photos: Furniture Fair picks
• Reality Check: Infrared barbecues
• Centuries later, the hammock is still swinging (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
One of the vegetable gardens at Skyfarm includes lettuce, beets, tomatoes and beans. The gate is made from found wood and repurposed wagon doors from Vermont.
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• A country escape in urban L.A.
Also in Home & Garden
• Design Dispatch: International Contemporary Furniture Fair
• Photos: Furniture Fair picks
• Reality Check: Infrared barbecues
• Centuries later, the hammock is still swinging (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
An outdoor dining area features a wrought- iron dining table a family heirloom the couple had powder-coated a bright raspberry at Pyramid Powder Coating in Sun Valley.
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• A country escape in urban L.A.
Also in Home & Garden
• Design Dispatch: International Contemporary Furniture Fair
• Photos: Furniture Fair picks
• Reality Check: Infrared barbecues
• Centuries later, the hammock is still swinging (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
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Under a colorful Indonesian temple umbrella from Sweet Smiling Home in Los Angeles, Ackerman checks on her beehives in her backyard. She had two swarms last month. Ackerman launched into beekeeping by studying Beekeeping for Dummies.
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• A country escape in urban L.A.
Also in Home & Garden
• Design Dispatch: International Contemporary Furniture Fair
• Photos: Furniture Fair picks
• Reality Check: Infrared barbecues
• Centuries later, the hammock is still swinging (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Jars of Ackermans mustard flower honey rest on the kitchen windowsill. One of her three bee boxes can be seen from the kitchen window.
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• A country escape in urban L.A.
Also in Home & Garden
• Design Dispatch: International Contemporary Furniture Fair
• Photos: Furniture Fair picks
• Reality Check: Infrared barbecues
• Centuries later, the hammock is still swinging (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Peluce gives daughter Mette, 3, a boost inside the familys salmon-colored kitchen while he and India, 7, make smoothies. Peluce found the antique red Chambers stove at a salvage shop.
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• A country escape in urban L.A.
Also in Home & Garden
• Design Dispatch: International Contemporary Furniture Fair
• Photos: Furniture Fair picks
• Reality Check: Infrared barbecues
• Centuries later, the hammock is still swinging (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
India Peluce peeks out of the guest house in her familys Lincoln Heights back yard. The former potting shed was once filled with snakes and black widow spiders.
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• A country escape in urban L.A.
Also in Home & Garden
• Design Dispatch: International Contemporary Furniture Fair
• Photos: Furniture Fair picks
• Reality Check: Infrared barbecues
• Centuries later, the hammock is still swinging (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
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The lush garden at the back of the house.
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• A country escape in urban L.A.
Also in Home & Garden
• Design Dispatch: International Contemporary Furniture Fair
• Photos: Furniture Fair picks
• Reality Check: Infrared barbecues
• Centuries later, the hammock is still swinging (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
