The Urban Farm Handbook Giveaway
When my friend Annette Cottrell from Sustainable Eats asked me to read through her new book Urban Farm Handbook: City Slicker Resources for Growing, Raising, Sourcing, Trading, and Preparing What You Eat I gladly accepted. There’s nothing I love more than giving my friends a hand, especially when it means that I get a free copy of the book to give away to one of you!
I expected this book to be like most of the other homesteading books that abound these days. It seems everyone wants to relearn some of the skills that have been lost throughout the last couple generations, so homesteading books are flooding the market. Thankfully, this book is different. Anette’s personal style brings the information to life, unlike many other books of this genre that I’ve read. She’s passionate about why she does what she does and it comes through. Her directions/explanations are in depth enough but still simple. You won’t be overwhelmed with information and feel like it’s unattainable for you to incorporate these changes into your current lifestyle.
The book covers everything from keeping chickens and grinding grain, to growing your own vegetables and making cheese. She makes these tasks seem achievable by anyone who sets their mind to it and takes away some of the mystique that surrounds them. If you’ve ever considered dabbling in keeping goats, chickens, making your own cheese, grinding grains, growing your own vegetables and all other kinds of self-sufficient things, this will be a fabulous reference guide to keep on your bookshelf.
Annette’s book is a great resource for the newbie, especially those of you that live in the Pacific Northwest. She lives in that area provides many resources that she knows about first hand. Reading about all the wonderful groups she’s a part of made me wish I had something similar here in NE Ohio.
If you’d like to win a copy of this book for your library, comment below. I’ll choose a winner next week.
What is one area of homesteading that you’d like to learn a bit more about and possibly incorporate into your life this year?
We have a winner – Congrats to Andres from Stell Homestead.
Anette is having a year long Urban Farm Handbook Challenge on her blog if you’re interested in joining. Each month a different area is featured, it’s the perfect way to work on incorporating changes into your life slowly without feeling overwhelmed.
In case you missed it, the winner for the Victory Garden Poster winner is Chicago Mike.
Filed under Books | Comments (129)
I’m not familiar with that book ~ it looks wonderful! I would like to learn more about chickens and raising them, and need to connect with someone in the area that does that. I hear “fresh” eggs are incomparable.
to Liz J's comment
Raising chickens! I’ve got 4 pullets coming in April!
to Mark S's comment
I would love to learn more about raising chickens and making cheese. I am so excited about this book!
to Virginia's comment
Thanks for such a great giveaway! Always looking for new ideas for the garden. I need to figure out how to tackle the strawberries this year. Fruit trees too. Need to learn about bee-safe treatments for the orchard. Pruning too..!!
to Beegirl's comment
Cheesemaking and raising chickens. The book looks great. These “how-to” gardening, self-sufficiency books are my new favorite genre (that and cook books).
to Kathi Cook's comment
I’m hoping for figuring out how to do all this in a small space!
to nuri's comment
I dug up 2 more garden areas this past fall and would like to grow strawberries and raspberries.Thanks for another opportunity to possibly expand the library.
to B ryan N.'s comment
Looks like a great book! I am always on the hunt for geographically specific gardening tips for the NW. Thanks!
to Hailey in MT's comment
I would like to learn more about dairy and making cheeses at home. And I can always use more info on gardening since this will be the first year we have a full garden.
to Nicole's comment
Cheesemaking is on my list of things to learn. It’s so intimidating to me for some reason.
to Miranda's comment
I want to learn how to make cheese. I’m also hoping to over my fear of pressure canning. This book sounds fantastic.
to Heather's comment
All of the above! Raising chickens and goats especially along with how grinding grains and making cheese works would be very interesting to me as a beginner. This looks like it would be a great book!
to Heather's comment
Cheesemaking and possibly goats!
I already grow veggies and raise chickens but I would love tips on how to improve in those areas too!
to Fawn's comment
I agree that Annete’s community looks appealing, we don’t have as much of that here either–or maybe it’s a case of the grass is greener in the PNW! Anyway, this year I’m mostly looking at refinement: simplifying what I do and tweaking things such as support structures etc. But also have considered some bartering this season, and that part of the book (and the pressure canning recipes) looks really interesting.
to S's comment
I’d like to read more about raising chickens. And as a Pacific NW transplant to NE Ohio I’d love to read about home! :)
to Cheryl's comment
I need to get more into fermenting. And I’d like to start participating in a community kitchen!
to Kate @ Snowflake Kitchen's comment
I think that this book would be just my style! Can’t wait to read it.
to Krista's comment
I’m really looking into chickens and bee keeping. I live in a village and have a small yard with a small lot behind off the next street. I’m constantly looking for new ways to use every bit of land. This is my first year of trying to grow a real stock of food in our small yard.
to Martha's comment
I’d love to learn more about grinding my own grains — I get so frustrated with being able to locally source everything but grains and flours!
to Molly's comment
I am interested in grinding my own grains and baking bread. I also would love to make cheese other than cottage cheese. Just not comfortable with the process yet.
Thanks for the opportunity to win and the info that you share daily!
to Sonya's comment
I’d like to learn more about making my own cheese!
to Melissa's comment
Well, since we are getting our first set of chicks this Spring, I probably need to learn most about them!
to Allison's comment
I want to learn more about bees this year.
to Yart's comment
Depending on where we move, I really want to add chickens. There are so many reasons to have them, but I just don’t know how to care for them. Thanks for offering the giveaway!
to Songbirdtiff's comment
We have always maintained a garden in our yard, but now we in are in the process of buying 5 acres and I see a lot of canning, chickens, candle-making and other homemade products in our future.
Thanks for the opportunity to win the book!
to Stacey R.'s comment
i’d really like to learn more about cheese making. It looks… complicated, but I want to try, still.
to Kelly's comment
I want/need to learn more about preserving my harvest – be that meat from our animals, herbs from the pots, or produce from the garden. Get me over my fear of canning!! :) I hope to win your friend’s book because a new viewpoint is always very welcome in re-learning the older ways.
to Barbara's comment
We are new to gardening and built 4 raised garden beds last year, I would love to learn more about growing vegetables and herbs!
to Diana's comment
Annette is fabulous and I’d love to have a copy of this book! This year we’re taking our next step by adding beekeeping to our repertoire. Thanks for the giveaway!
to andrea's comment
Since we’re forced to live in Louisiana next year, and I only just barely know how to garden in the climes of Central NY state and of MN, I would love to know how I can encourage tomatoes to actually survive the heat down here. I need tomato sauce! I learned last year that these past two summers have been literally too hot for the tomatoes to fruit! *sigh*
Thanks for the give away opportunity. I have some friends who are harvesting the most wonderful carrots (right now) from their backyard which is downtown! The carrots are dee-licious, the friends: inspiring.
to Rip Van Winkle's comment
This year I plan to try my hand at raising some grains – enough for us to make bread and feed to the chickens. And we always struggle with controlling squash bugs… Any help and/or tips in that department are ALWAYS needed. =)
to Annette's comment
I have some big goals of keeping chickens or maybe a goat, however, I should probably start with the little things – keeping a bigger garden and learning to grow and eat with the seasons!
to Kat's comment
I’d love to learn more about cheesemaking. Good artisian cheese is one of my favorite things in the whole world and being able to make my own would be a great accomplishment. Learning to raise chickens would be nice, but my husband would never allow it – he’s afraid of them! LOL. Looks like I’m going to have to find another source for really fresh eggs.
to Lori's comment
Container gardening and not having whatever I plant get eaten by the local squirrels and feral ducks (I’m stuck in an apartment another year)…gonna require some kind of mini-greenhouse. Thanks for the opportunity!
to Melanie J.'s comment
Making cheese from sheep milk!
to Tamar's comment
Cheesemaking! I’m planning on making a lasagna soon, with home-made sausage, sauce, noodles – and maybe cheese!
to K.B.'s comment
This year we bought our first home after traveling all of our adult life with Air Force. I am (Finally) starting my first garden. I have little seedlings all over the place. I am having a great time learning about compainion planting and intensive practices since my yard is just a typical .20 acre. I feel your pain with the Northwest Suzy, my brother in law lives in Portland, I do love to visit but it is just too wet for me most of the time. They do however have amazing things going on with homesteading and food there. I curious to learn more about what varieties of vegetables and fruits I am going to be able to have success with in our garden.
to Josie's comment
I would LOVE to win a copy of this book. I’m a definite “city slicker”, but our dream to move to Montana includes having a potager garden and a few chickens.
to DebbieB's comment
I am actually reading this book right now and enjoying it. I agree it’s a very good, clear read. I was inspired by her section on grinding grains. I have been trying to make all of our own bread, crackers etc,, and I also follow the Nourishing Traditions method of soaking grains and nuts. But I still buy my flour, so the next step for me is to invest in a grain mill and start grinding away.
The whole family loved her power pancake recipe.
Since I was raised a city girl and have no knowledge passed down to me I am teaching myself ( some serious trial and error) “homesteading” skills. My interest was sparked 20 years ago when we bought our first small home outside the city that came with an established herb garden. Luckily, there was a biodynamic herb farm nearby offering courses and we learned about biodynamic gardening practices, and we not only kept the garden alive but helped it thrive. From there I began a 20 year passion with herbs and herbal medicine. I try to grow and make as much of our own herbal preparations as possible.
So, this year I am on to learning about sourdough bread, grinding my own grains, and we just got our first bee hive so we will be exploring that as well. I will most likely follow the advice in this book regarding choosing the right mill.
Anyway, I look forward to finishing the book and know that one of your lucky readers will be very happy!
to Traci's comment
I would love a copy of this book. I would really like to learn to make cheese.
to Kristin's comment
Setting up a backyard farm is a challenge, and we have only just started. I’ve never kept rabbits before, and now we’re becoming fast friends. Well, sorta – I’m sure they find me intimidating even when my hands smell like carrots. :)
to Sofie Dittmann's comment
This book looks awesome! I would like to learn more about fermenting and master sourdough bread!
to holly's comment
Food storage is something I would like to know more about. I can and freeze; but would like to know more.
Thanks for the linkt to her blog.
to MAYBELLINE's comment
Food storage is something I would like to know more about. I can and freeze; but would like to know more.
Thanks for the link to her blog.
to MAYBELLINE's comment
I am interested in keeping chickens, we are not allowed where we currently live but plan to move soon. I love fresh eggs and we eat loads of them ;)
to Amber J's comment
We are still learning and need to learn more about the year round garden. We managed to harvest from our garden all year long but I know we should be able to harvest more.
to Jennie-Team Dean's comment
My tries at cheese making have been complete failures. That is something I’d really like to get better at. But I love reading about chickens any time! Thanks for giving me yet another book to add to my to-read goodreads list!
to Christine's comment
I wish we could have chickens…it’s the one thing I’d really love to do at this point by our city by-law forbids it. We are fighting them on it…so we’ll see. I’d also like to do more winter gardening. Right now we do very little…herbs and that’s about it. Next year I want to incorporate greens as well. Thanks for this opportunity, Susy.
to Debbie Jamieson's comment
I’d love to learn more about vegetables and chickens!
to caroline's comment
This sounds like a wonderful book! I have a couple of things on my homesteading “learn list” for this year – first off is plan for a true 12-month harvest from my garden, instead of just kale in the winter I’d love to have some other greens going – this will mean coldframes and rowcovers I think. I would also like to do more cheesemaking.
to Meighan's comment