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

  1. I liked your fb page a while back, that’s how I learned about the giveaway. The books are mainly for my sweetie, she’s the brains behind our operation, I mostly supply the requisite brute force.

  2. I ‘liked’ your page a while ago, and have never looked back. You give good info, that is down to earth and truthful and I appreciate that amidst all the ‘well, I heard’ that is out there. Thank you!

  3. just got your latest report, sign me up, we love reading books and cook books and gardening books are my books of choice, THANK YOU

  4. Big fan of your posts. I follow you on Facebook. Moving to my mountaintop in North Carolina and ready to spread out my country living. Your books would be a huge asset. But I’ll still follow you for your gems of knowledge and positive reinforcement. Keep up the good work!

  5. Congratulations on hitting a major FB milestone: 20,000 fans! Keep up the great work. If I win your book giveaway I will share the books with my garden clubs and the new Camarillo Seed Library opening next month. Thanks for the exciting offer!

  8. I like you, both in the Facebook way and the actual way. Thanks for sharing with your honest intelligence and centered wisdom. Also, I love these kinds of drawings. Especially when they are actually inclusive. Good on ya.

  9. I’ve been following you on Facebook for a few months now, and I find myself constantly Pinning your posts on Pinterest, right up there with Nourished Kitchen and even more focused on the food growing end of things.

    Thanks so much for what you do!

  10. just joined the website, have been part of the fb page for a while. this past weekend we had the common ground organic fair (http://www.mofga.org/theFair) here in maine and i saw several of these books during different presentations. i would love to be able to read these books as knowledge like this needs to be shared and not lost in the craziness of todays world. thanks for being such a great resource for all of us 🙂

  11. “Liked” you on FB for a looooong time now. Still like you. Will always like you. :)))) Keep up the great work!

  12. I like you! 🙂 And I’d love these books even though I am on a physical book moritorium until after my move. 🙂

  13. I totally already follow you on Facebook (and here). And I LOVE your blog. Thanks for being part of this awesome community, and CONGRATS on your big milestone!

  14. Hi Erica
    We just liked you on facebook. The giveaway looks amazing and the chance of winning will be 1: 20192 (current facebook likes).
    But still thanks for the book advice. I will try to find them in the library meantime.
    Your posts are funny, full of life and very natural.
    We like your blog and you too 🙂
    Eljona and the kids

  15. I’ve been following you on facebook for a little while and enjoy reading about your northwest gardening and cooking experiences. Thanks for this generous giveaway!

  19. Been following you on FB for awhile! I tend to ‘like’ all kinds of blogs and then hate it when the posts tie up my newsfeed, but yours is one of the few I haven’t blocked, simply because it’s such good stuff!!!

  20. Kudos from another empassioned gardener trying to live more simply and more productively. I think it’s been a rough year for a great many of us, which is why it’s good to have each other to learn from and lean on! ONWARD!!

  23. Liked your FB page early on, like it even more now that we’ve relocated to the NW – our longtime dream! (Crossing fingers that I might win these volumes…)

  25. I don’t just like your site on FB, I love it! It’s continually resourceful and informative and one of the best of it’s kind on social networking. Keep up the good work! I liked the NWEdible FB site some time ago and will continue to support you! Thank you for supporting your readers! Happy Fall!

  26. I liked your Facebook page some time ago but only because there was no LOVE button! While I am crossing my fingers about the book giveaway, I am a loyal reader either way. Good luck to everyone 🙂
    btw: How is your vision/eyes doing?

  27. Love your blog and Facebook page! You inspire not only myself but lots of others to continue in the world of learning self sufficiency. Thank you. I too would share what books received.

  29. I’ve been a fan of your Facebook page for nearly a year now and having your input on my feed is a great part of my day. It helps to remind to relax, take it easy and when the weight of the world is on my shoulders… go out and weed!

  30. Wow..what a great collection of books; I so want them all, especially the fermentation book. Fingers crossed. I have followed you on FB and regularly share posts with my friends. Keep up the good work….Winter is Coming!

  31. Thanks so much for your wonderful blog. I’m one of those hometown people who rely on you to tell me when to plant my cabbage.

  32. Your entries always brighten my day, often teach me something, and let me be connected with a great back-to-the-basics-that-matter community. Thanks for being on FB and sharing!

  34. Been a FAN, gardener, homesteady wannabee for some time now. Your my top 2 go to for all info gardening and fabulous writing! Hugs!

  36. I follow NW Edible Life here and on Facebook. Love the blog ! Congratulations !

    (I am currently located in Canada, but I still have an US address these can be delivered too if I were to win).

  37. I’ve liked you on fb (actually, did this awhile ago). Your canning directions are some of the best I’ve read; they helped significantly this summer (particularly the pectin-free jam with the hints about unique additions … never would have thought to add tequila to peaches, but now it is one of my favorites!). Thanks!

  40. I’ve been loving having you in my FB feed all year! Your posts on no-pectin jams, and making tomato sauce from peels/scraps that would otherwise be wasted were especially useful to me this year!

  47. Liked your fb page quite a while ago; love, love, love your blog, even though I am in the exact opposite corner of the country and gardening is very different here. But I always enjoy your posts and have learned a LOT from you.

  49. I already liked on facebook, and have enjoyed your blog for sometime.
    Congrats on the milestone, and thanks for the inspiration!