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:
- An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace by Tamar Adler. A beautiful ode to simple and frugal cooking as a way of life.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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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WOW! I’m truly happy for you. I have followed you for a long time, and feel oddly proud of that myself. Kinda like ” I knew her before she was all famous” LOL!
I too had an ass kicker of a year and following you travels, did help me feel hopeful that things ( in the garden at least) will be ok, and that I held on to. Well and you taught me how to grow Cantaloup in containers, and for that I will follow you always! 🙂
I “like” your facebook page and love your blog 🙂
Of course I ‘like’ and follow you on facebook!
Already following and loved, not liked. 🙂
I have been following you through my “like” on Facebook for quite some time now. Thank you for the wealth of information and humor you share.
All the best,
Rachel
As many have said before me, your blog is a favorite of mine. I have followed/liked you on Facebook for a while now. Congratulations on reaching that number, and thanks for your blog and a great giveaway.
Love your site and will like on facebook.
Shoot! Now I have a whole new list of books to buy, since I never win things like this, and they all sound fabulous. I have already got shelves full of books, many of them at your, or Homebrew Husband’s recommendation, and am unashamedly addicted to gardening and cookbooks in particular. Of course, I follow you on FB and your blog. Where else would I have gotten the know-how and gumption to start peas in gutter sections, or acquire the necessary ruthlessness for thinning my pepper plants? You rock, and when I don’t win, I will be sure to make my book purchases by clicking through your page to get to Amazon. 🙂
Thank you for all your sharing! I love following your posts & I’m excited for you for the milestone! Keep it up! :0)
I have already liked this page on facebook. Please enter me in the drawing for the books.
I have been a follower of your blog and on fb, I wish there was a “love” button
for all that you have shared.
Sounds good to me. Follow on Facebook. Liked, commented, and shared. Thank you.
I’ve liked your facebook page for a while now, and have told loads of friends about it! I love your way of living and sharing how you grow and cook food!
I’ve followed you over the summer due to some post I saw shared that I love. As a fellow north westerner, its been nice to see gardening tips etc that really apply to me 🙂
Thanks for the page
Hi,
I’ve been following your blog for quite a while now. I truly enjoy all of the information and wonderful recipes! Thanks!
Caitlin Burwell
I’ve liked on facebook. I love to read gardening and cook books during the winter. I am always amused because I find myself lamenting having to wait for summer’s delicious treats (hello tomatoes and peppers!) and making these grand plans to use them when they are at their peak. Then summer actually comes and it all I can do to drag myself out of the sunshine long enough to simply chop them to throw on a salad. Squash, I should just focus on squash to amuse myself during the rainy Bellingham fall!
I have been following your blog for a few months now (and on FB) and have gotten so many great ideas! I LOVED your canning posts! I have just recently started canning with the veggies from my garden and I am officially OBSESSED!! I am actually canning round 2 of piccalilli this weekend! My next feat is fermentation…can’t wait! Thanks for all of the great info!
I’ve liked your facebook page and have subscribed to your blog. Love your posts!
Already a FB follower! *fingers crossed*!!!
I am a fan on FB. love your posts! thanks 🙂
I couldn’t like your blog more. In all ways possible, I like it. Thank you for your work, Erica! It is a serious gift to us all. Whenever a friend asks a gardening question, and many cooking questions, too, I lead them your way. Whoever is lucky enough to get those books will be holding tangible expressions of your awesomeness. 🙂
Already a follower! This library looks great!
I am following you on Facebook…I love all of your gardening tips! So far, I have only attempted container gardens, am hoping to expand that. Thanks for all the great info you share!
I love you blog because of all the wonderful and timely info you and others share. I’ve lived in the PNW all but a couple years of my life, and am an avid gardener. I also love your sense of humor, thanks for including it. What a great comunity! I appreciate you!
I have been a fan on facebook for quite a while!! Thank you for the opportunity to win those wonderful books! More importantly, THANK YOU for sharing all that you do!!
I’ve been following you on Fb and pinterest for awhile. I love your blog and we frequently ask ourselves, “What would Erica do?”, whenever we have a canning or gardening issue. Thanks so much for all of your insights!
Despite Facebook’s evil desire to make you pay-per-viewer, I still somehow get all of your posts. Probably because I always click them and send them to friends. Your beautiful example and that of the community has really kept me from being an Urban Homesteader Asshole (I could have gone that way! thank you!!). I just joined a women’s group in which one woman expressed terrible fear of canning… while eating my canned tomato chutney… and I can’t wait to share your explanation of botulism with her and teach her how to put things in jars. Thank you for being the hub of this large and snowballing fiesta! I think the personal (hard times, happy times) are what make your blog more popular than a strict homesteading blog- it makes it real.
Love your blog…so happy to have found it 🙂 you are liked!
I already follow you on FB, but now I am following your blog as well…..looking forward to
reading back thru your blog.
I already am a follower! Go cucumbers!
I liked you on facebook!
i like you on Facebook! and i don’t LIVE in the USA but i do have a USA address for you to send it to so i hope that works since shipping seems to be your only caveat to enter. thanks!
Good morning Erica!
I already have you liked on Facebook and often times share your wonderful posts on my wall. Congratulations on so many fans- it’s entirely well deserved and I think of your blog ad an inspiration to get out in my garden, and to work on my reviving my own neglected blog. Thank you for offering such a great collection of books and I hope you have a beautiful fall and winter season.
Liked you on FB.
I’ve liked you on fb for a while. You had me at lacto-fermented virgin tears…
Love following your blog! Also love the look of those books, too 😀 BTW I used your idea/advice for turning my tomato peels and cores into sauce ~ http://nwedible.com/2012/08/stop-throwing-away-free-tomato-sauce-making-sauce-from-tomato-skin.html ~ and was amazed at how many jars of sauce it produced 🙂 Lots for me to learn here, thank you!
I “like” your page on facebook and I follow your blog on my Feedly! Love it. So inspiring.
hey I have followed your facebook page for a couple months now and I love it! my husband is on the Army and we just moved to Hawaii, your page is so nice to read none of my friends here are interested in gardening or any kind of homestead activity. I always look forward to your posts! tiffandbran2005@gmail.com
How exciting! Im happy to read your words and am a new fan to the fb page. Im sure i will be sharing alot!! The collection of books is right up my alley. I am a horticulturist looking to enhance my knowledge and take my self and family back to nature by growing our own, everything!
Thank you in advance for all your shared knowledge!!!!
Hi, I’ve been following you on FB for a long time now. I really enjoy your writing and the useful, practical information you post. Keep up the great work.
I’ve followed you on Facebook (and subscribed to your email) for some time now. I love reading your latest posts, as they’re entertaining and I always learn something new or get a new perspective on something. Congratulations on your popularity and keep it coming!
Ooops! I got so excited I commented on FB instead of here. Here goes again: Thank you for such an inspiring blog! We are just finishing our first year of raised bed gardening and still have a lot to learn … woweee. But what fun, too!
Thanks again 🙂 Amanda
I have been following your Facebook and Blog for a few months. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve been enjoying your posts for over a year now. Looks like a great collection of foodie books to add to the library. Thanks!
I’ve liked you on FB for a long time now, very informative and interesting things you post, 99.5% of the time I read what you post. Thanks for all your effort in keeping us informed and healthy. It’s my dream one day to have a small self sustained property where i grow all my food but first we have to adopt us a child.
Heather
Dearheart,
I just discovered your blog. I’m so happy for your insights, so grateful to read along. Sorry it has been such a hard year, and glad you are recovering. I am new to integrating all these concepts. I am a nerd for canning and want to make a bean shaped lawn in my back yard, too. I have always been physical and introverted, so this type of economy makes sense to me. I like that all these choices of labor are matched by natural growth, so much of the work is done by the system we are just helping along. Still, I am surprised by how much work it is… I was surprised recently to find that a whole crock pot of Roma tomatoes only yielded four jars of sauce! Ok, yea, that is the size of the pot…but my brains wanted such a grandiose result. (Ah, well, that is four meals I won’t have to worry about this winter, right? And it was fairly painless, since it just cooked itself on the counter for a couple of days.) I love books, and appreciate this gift of knowledge. I will put these books on my wish list. I have small children as well, so I would merely be hoarding these books and sneaking them out after the kids are in bed. Recommend the trip to Cedar River Watershed interpretive center with wee ones–I just saw some great books by botanists, ethno-botanists, and Urban Farmers up at Rattlesnake lake yesterday. I could have easily spent $200 on books about local flora and fauna. Alas, I spent those dollars on the kiddos. I hope you will come over to Newport Hills and give a talk about how to do all this great economy! (At Bill Pace?) OX Anne
I have been following your Facebook & Blog for about a year now. Thanks for the opportunity to win a great set of books.
I “like” you on Facebook and I love your blog! I’m a newbie gardener and it’s very inspiring!
I LOVE the NWEdible Facebook posts. xoxoxo
I’ve been following your blog now for just over 2 years and also on FB for about the same mount of time. You have been entertaining, informative and encouraging! Thank you for sharing your journey into urban homesteading, you have been an inspiration 🙂