Northwest Edible Life

urban homesteading in the pacific northwest

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Giveaway: 6 Of My Favorite Homesteading Books

Earlier this week the Facebook page for this blog hit 20,000 followers. I remember when my Facebook page hit 1,000 followers and I was blown away. We had a giveaway to celebrate!

Now, at 20,000, I have to admit the feeling is a bit different. I’m thrilled and humbled and flattered by the milestone, but it’s not just my page anymore. This group that’s grown up – of gardeners, cooks, homesteaders, thoughtful spenders, green-living advocates – it’s a critical mass of people who give and take with each other and with me. It’s community.

I’m honored to step back and see how this community has grown in the just-under-three years since I started this blog. Back then I thought maybe people in my hometown would like to know when to plant their fall cabbages (hint: July). Now, people on my Facebook page answer other people’s gardening questions. Everyone is just happy to pitch in with what knowledge they have. It’s kinda amazing to be a part of, honestly.

I try not to let this blog become a shrine to self indulgent navel-gazing, but regular readers may have gathered that 2012 was a rough damn year for me personally and 2013 has mostly been about recovering from 2012. Through up moments and down, writing here – about my garden and my homekeeping and the constant exuberant cycles of life and growth and rest – has been a comfort and a challenge and a joy.

Periodically, readers email me, or comment that my posts have inspired them or motivated them or taught them a new skill. But I know that sharing what little I’ve learned in the many years I’ve gardened inspires me, and teaches me, and encourages my own habit of continued (some might say compulsive) learning. And as often as I teach, I am the student, learning from our community and being inspired by it. So it is a two way street, and I thank you so much for being part of it.

Thank you for reading, for taking the time to like and share, and for commenting. Thank you for being a member of this community.

The Giveaway!

Just over two years ago, I hosted a giveaway for hitting those first 1,000 Facebook likes. Now I think it’s time to do it again.

So, here’s the deal: I’m feeling mellow, I’m feeling contemplative, I’m feeling winter coming on. I would love to give someone a suite of my favorite kitchen, home and garden books to get them through the off season. Just add coffee, and you’ll have my favorite way to spend a quiet afternoon.

And so I’m giving away a collection of a few of my favorite books. These are reads I simply adore, books that cycle onto my bedside table frequently:

  1. An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace by Tamar Adler. A beautiful ode to simple and frugal cooking as a way of life.
  2. Art of Fermentation by Sandor Katz. Last time I had a Facebook page celebration I gave away Sandor Katz’s first book, Wild Fermentation. Giving away his follow-up work, an even more comprehensive look at fermentation of all kinds, just seems appropriate for this follow-up Facebook milestone giveaway.
  3. Vegetable Gardener’s Bible by Ed Smith. This is my favorite beginner’s gardening book. It has all the basics of vegetable gardening explained in an accessible way and is useful to gardeners in nearly every climate.
  4. All About Braising by Molly Stevens. This is possibly (probably) the best cookbook in the entire world. Stevens is a gifted cookbook author, and inspires and educates through her writing. Every recipe can be counted on to turn out deliciously.
  5. Free-Range Chicken Gardens by Jessi Bloom. This book is the best source for know-how for people who want both happy hens and thriving gardens.
  6. The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery. This book is a tome, a legend, a doorstop sized work that manages to be as engaging and funny as it is comprehensive. No small feat. A deserved classic.

In celebration of the 20,000 Facebook Like milestone, one lucky winner will receive one shiny new copy of each of these books – essentially a productive homekeeping mini-library delivered right to your door. I’m self-sponsoring this giveaway just to say thank you, so this is just between me and y’all.

To enter to win this collection of books:

If you haven’t already, like the NWEdible Facebook page and leave a comment here on this blog post letting me know you’ve done so. If you already follow NWEdible on Facebook, just tell me that. If you have a conscientious objection to Facebook, let me know what it is and we’ll call that good enough. I hate giveaways that exclude people because they aren’t into whatever social media thing is being pushed.

It’s not a condition of entry or anything, but I would sure love it if you guys would remember that my bread and butter is the sharing you do of my blog posts and Facebook page. Please – like, share, comment and let your friends know about about my blog and my Facebook page.

So, one comment and you’re entered. One entry per person, US residents only please. Any funny business with multiple entries and I disqualify ya. Sorry to my international readers; it’s not you, it’s shipping rates. Contest open until Thursday, October 3rd, 8 PM PDT. Winner will be drawn randomly and contacted via email to coordinate delivery of prize. Good luck and thank you all for reading!

This contest is now closed. Thank you so much to everyone who entered!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. ACK! I checked “notify me of follow-up comment by email” and my inbox is flooded and I don’t know how to stop it! I’m going to try unchecking it and hope it works! Erica — I still love you!

  6. I already like you on Facebook. I’m a big fan of your posts — Elizabeth, a gardener in North Carolina

  7. Okay, I’ve liked you on Facebook. Should have done this some time ago. I’ve been reading this blog throughout the summer and LOVE it. You must have a remarkable number of fans. Had to scroll forever to make this comment. Your writing is pitch perfect. I will continue watching for blog updates with eager anticipation. By the way, how do you get the energy to do all you do?

  8. I’ve been following you for awhile now, and I heard you speak at Sky Nursery this year! Thank you for the giveaway.

  10. I didn’t know about your Facebook page, but now I do, and I see some of my friends had already liked you too!

    This is a fine collection of books that I would be sharing with my younger family members, should I win the luck of the draw! Thanks for the offering and congrats on 20k+ likes.

  14. Can’t believe I wasn’t already following you on Facebook but I am now! Thanks for the helpful site.

  15. Liked! I just found you the other day and immediately added you to my feed reader because I liked what I read so much.

  16. I have really been enjoying your blog, and your book suggestions cement it. I have read An Everlasting Meal at least four times, and Molly Stevens is one of my favorites. Will have to put the gardening book on hold at the library. Thanks

  17. I “liked” your facebook page a while ago, but I’ve loved everything you write about since I read the “Why the hell do I put myself through this” post. Never mind the fact that your writing is very informative and well researched, you’re really fucking funny. It’s reassuring and frankly inspiring to see such a sense of humor shine through all of the hard work and hardships you’ve dealt with. Thanks for being awesome!

  18. As a new gardener I surely do appreciate your blog and everything about it. I also appreciate you not making us jump through hoops to enter the drawing. I agree with you about the disqualification of some because of their non-membership to places. I don’t even bother with those.
    Thank you for t his generous drawing, I have liked you on FB and I am a follower of your blog.

  20. Congrats on the numbers! This is a great community. I follow you on facebook. Thanks for the space and this giveaway 🙂

  22. I’ve been reading your blog for a while because I live in Seattle and am new to gardening and chicken keeping, so all the local-based advice is really interesting and useful. Anyway, I don’t use facebook because it’s just one big ad/data-mining center, but I’ll continue to follow your blog (with Newsblur).

  24. I’ve loved your blog and I just LIKED your facebook page. So–would I love to win these books? Absolutely!

  25. My teething grandson just ‘helped’ me while I was telling you thay I love your blog and just LIKED your facebook page, so I’m not sure if it posted or not. I’m not really trying to double my chances of winning those lovely books, honest!

  26. I already follow NWEdible on Facebook. 😀 I have also shared your page with my FB friends. Thank you for hosting an awesome give-a-way.

  28. I really like you in real life, and I suppose I can ‘like’ you on ‘the facebook’ as well. What a fabulous mini-library!! I will have to check the books out even if I don’t win. Thanks.

  29. I liked you on FB! I really need the fermenting book after my 2 attempts have failed…ruined cabbage and peppers…ahh!

  31. Ha! You made me sign in to FB for the first time since my nephew was born! (I think. It’s not often anyways.).

  34. I have liked you on facebook since being at your cooking class at the Northwest Garden Show.

    Thanks for all the great, inspiring info.

  36. I have somewhat of a conscientious objection to Facebook, but I liked your Facebook page anyway, because you are worth it! 🙂

  37. I was so excited to find your website (found about it through a friend on facebook who lives in Rochester, NY, and it just happens that I live in Seattle like you!), and have been reading it ever since. I moved to Seattle to be a woman like you, and I hope I live up to it one day! Thanks for sharing your wisdom 🙂

  40. Thank you so much for the time and effort you put into this blog. I’ve learned so much, and my (pectin-free) jam making experiences are the most leisurely canning I do all summer, thanks to you. I’ve followed you on FB for a while as do some of my friends. Cheers!

  41. I’m already a Facebook fan.

    I love your sense of humor and the vast amount of gardening and homesteading knowledge you’ve shared so eagerly on this blog. It is just great, and I have, indeed, shared your blog posts many times.

    Take care! And happy 20,000!

  43. I’ve liked you on facebook for awhile under my name Kaitlin Jenkins and my blog JustAWhimsicalWorld- Love your page even more now that we’ve moved to Oregon and the advice is even for my region 😉

  44. I signed up for your Facebook page… glad to know you are there, and glad I found you last month!

  45. I’ve been a happy blog follower for ages and ‘liked’ your FB page a few months ago…that being said, those books look fantastic! I am excited about the cookbook recommendations. I haven’t bought a cookbook in ages because they are so darned expensive and I want to make sure it is worth the investment. I’ll have to check them out. Thanks!