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

  2. I just have to say thanks. I know you’re a lot busier now that the blog is bigger, but I really appreciate every time you answered a personal gardening question in the past. It has been a [delicious] blessing to my family to have been able to learn from someone who has nearly the exact same microclimate as myself. It has helped my learning curve tremendously. Thank you so much!
    I am especially excited about the books from Katz, Smith, and the Encyclopedia. 🙂
    I am already a longtime facebook and blog follower, and I post you to Pinterest AND Clipix. And I am very picky about what I post. Keep up the good work!

  3. Your site has been one of the biggest inspirations to me to feed my family healthier and to feel the peace of getting my fingers in the dirt.

  5. Love your writing. I used your Gardening Journal is year…….first time I have actually kept a journal up. Keep up the good work!

  6. Congratulations on hitting such a large milestone. I have enjoyed your blog for many years. I do not, however, “like” anything on Facebook, as I am not interested in having another company tracking my tastes. Thanks again for a great informative blog!

  7. I follow you on Facebook. I love your posts and blog especially because you write about life in Washington, my home state! I needed to move away, to Arizona, about 5 years ago and I enjoy reading about your experiences. 🙂 I have read the Encyclopedia of Country Living (my parents own it) and really enjoyed it, just wish I had a copy in my hands! The other books look amazing as well!

  11. I’ve liked you on FB for a while now. Thanks for all the inspiration and motivation over the past couple years.

  14. I follow you facebook page already, thanks a million for an inspiration …and for a chance to win these great books! All the best!

  15. So awesome! I have loved following along with a local gardener! I was so happy to find someone else to help me better understand our pnw climate and gardening needs and potentials. Thank you!

  16. I’ve liked you on Facebook for a while! I’ve got some great uses in mind for the book collection you’re offering. Thanks for all you do!

  17. I follow you on facebook, and I’ve been rifling through your blog more and more. I would love to win these books and take my transformation in the kitchen and my life further! Even if i don’t win them, I’ll probably buy them!

  19. I’ve followed and “liked” your page for quite some time. I love your relatable posts and realness. Keep doing it Erica, you’re amazing.

  21. I’m entirely new to gardening, growing, making snything, really. I rely only blogs and groups like yours to teach me. Keep up the good work. Naturally, I liked your facebook page.

  22. I just liked you on FB!! I love your stuff. And really want to read these books, so hope I win. I am stocking up for my winter reading. 😉

  23. I follow you on facebook. Thank you for all of the info and great links. Thank you for sifting through and creating quality content.

  24. I don’t just like you on Facebook. I love you on Facebook! A book giveaway is soooo awesome! Congrats on 20,000!

  26. These books look great. If I was on Facebook, I would certainly “like” you. For some privacy reasons I don’t do facebook, but my husband does and I will have him like you. Thanks for the blog and the fun giveaway.

  27. I have been a fan of your blog for 2-3 years now, and a fb fan for quite some time as well.. (I was around for the 1,000 fan giveaway..that I did not win, lol)

  28. I have been following you on FB for awhile now and find so much inspiration in your posts. Thanks so much for offering this giveaway – so generous and what a great collection!

  29. I just liked you on Facebook. I want to thank you for all the inspiration. I live in town but am a country girl at heart. Grew up in the midwest with corn, hogs, cattle and chickens:) I do garden here even though it is small. Last year I changed into the square foot gardening method so I could get more produce in a smaller spot. Thanks again for the canning ideas and everything else:)

  36. Would love to win your books…especially Wild Fermentation…been wanting a copy for a while. I share your posts all the time and I have been a FB fan since you started the FB site. Sandor Katz will be in Portland in mid Oct. for the Fermentation Fest at EcoTrust….maybe he will be in Seattle around the same time as well… thanks for all you do!

  37. Thanks for writing your blog. As I was reading your comments today, I could have been reading my own story. 2013 sucked. 2012 is recovery mode and we are still trying to take steps forward instead of back. I don’t need life to be easy, but it certainly get discouraging when it rarely is. Having said that, we are lucky compared to most and blessed compared to some.

    Keep writing. Your style is inspiring and engaging.

  39. I like NEL on FB. And u really do, it’s great! Please enter me in this awesome book giveaway contest. Cheers, Matt

  41. I love your site and your updates on Facebook and would love to be entered to win the books. keep on keeping on.

  42. I’ve liked you on FB for a while now, and always enjoy reading your info and thoughts. Congrats on your 20,000!

  43. With 20K followers, I can’t even hope to win you contest but it seems like a good time to let you know how much I have enjoyed your blog. It is one of my 3 “FB Likes”. Because of you..
    -I now save my egg shells in a mortar & pestle, rather than mix them in with the rest of the compost heap…so many possibilities.
    -I ordered a body brush through Amazon that is due TODAY!
    -I shared your “Raising Chickens” post with every one who would watch because it is hysterical!!!
    etc, etc, etc.
    Thank you

  44. Thanks for the chance to win these books but more importantly thanks for such a fanfreakintastic website and FB page!

  46. Hi. I already follow on facebook. 2012 kicked my but too and I am still trying to recover. I can relate. I love when you talk about gardening with children. Its not as romantic as I thought it would be but its getting there.

  49. I am one of your 20,000 facebook followers. I love your blog. It’s my inspiration for all things homesteading. Thank you for. Doing what you do!