Urban homesteading has taken off in Altadena. A view from the home of Kazi Pitelka shows her garden, nearly an acre long and featuring Red Baron and Donut Peach trees, large grapefruit tree and herbs. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
Pitelka, a viola player with the Los Angeles Opera, harvests fruit such as mangoes, bananas, apples, guavas, cherries, apricots and 30 kinds of citrus. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
Zorthian Ranch caretaker Gary Dawson greets a horse on the sprawling “bohemian” property in Altadena. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
The Zorthian Ranch has goats, chickens, horses and llamas on the sprawling property. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Gloria Putnam holds a basket of chicken eggs at Zane Grey Estate in Altadena. (Urban farming in Altadena Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Romaine lettuce grows on a raised bed at Zane Grey Estate in Altadena. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Gloria Putnam in the Grey estate’s vegetable garden; foreground, mixed lettuces on a raised bed. (Urban farming in Altadena Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Nubian goats feed on hay at Zane Grey Estate. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Steve Rudicel and partner Gloria Putnam are surrounded by some of their goats at Zane Grey Estate. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Red mustard lettuce in a raised bed at Zane Grey. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
