May 1, 2020

Book GIVEAWAY! Building a Better World in Your Backyard

I'm pleased to announce a book giveaway!


I've been in contact with Shawn Klaussen-Koop, co-author of


and he has graciously offered to give away a free paperback copy of his and Paul Wheaton's book.

If you missed my review on the book, you can read it here → Book Review: Building a Better World in Your Backyard. You'll understand why I'm enthusiastic about this book, especially now. It's difficult to read how so many people are uncertain and afraid because of the pandemic. Not only about getting sick, but about their jobs, their homes, and where their lives are headed. This book will help you take back some control in a positive, productive way. For example: you might be interested in cutting your electric bill without sacrificing comfort. You might be interested in cutting your water bill by learning how to water your lawn less, or simple, safe uses for graywater. You might be interested in free ways to increase your garden's productivity. These are the kinds of ideas you'll find in this book.

Interested? Here are the particulars for the giveaway:
  • It runs from today, May 1st through Thursday, May 7th
  • It's open to anyone (whole world) with the caveat that some places have delayed mail service because of lockdowns.
  • You can enter to win a copy for yourself, a friend or family member, or to donate to your public library.
  • The winner will be announced on Friday, May 8th.
  • The winner will have two days to respond to claim their prize. I'll need an email address to pass on to Shawn, and he'll need a mailing address for you to receive the book (no strings attached).
To enter:
  • Leave a comment and tell us one way you'd like to build a better world in your backyard. 
  • You can score extra entries by sharing this giveaway on your favorite social media, then comment here to let me know.
UPDATE: Congratulations to the winner!

28 comments:

Bootzey said...

My yard is an unkempt jungle

Unknown said...

I'd love to have a greenhouse in my backyard.

Michael Vuke said...

My wife and I are in the process of adopting a child. We have one little man already (who is biologically ours), and we are in a smallish townhome with a very small yard (a little less than 0.1 acres) that gets bad sunlight. But we are doing what we can with what we have, and we’ve got a decent little herb container garden going and a small salad garden in the back. (BTW, trying to do it organically, and having a very hard time with slugs from all the pine straw in other peoples surrounding space—any tips??)

We Day dream about moving where we have some more land and could live a little more down to earth, but we chose to adopt with that money rather than to buy a bigger place at this time.

All of that to say, in my idealized vision, I would have a little piece of heaven on earth where my family could play and work together, growing food, caring for the ground and animals, and most importantly, caring for each other, as we try to do our part in “making all things new”. I don’t know when/how long the day dream vision will take to come about, but I do know that we can do what we can now, and if we all do what we can now, with what we can, we will be in a much better place.

wyomingheart said...

Great of you to promote a terrific book, Leigh! We are really busy with some big projects here on the ridge, and time waits for no one! Lol! Have a terrific week, and I hope your book finds a great home, with so many folks in the struggle.

Kelly M said...

I am collecting materials to build a small greenhouse in my backyard. Being able to start seeds and extend the season here in Ontario will be so great. Was looking forward to yard sale season to finish collecting building materials ..... might have to wait until next year.
Thanks for the giveaway.

Toirdhealbheach Beucail said...

What a great looking book Leigh! I am pretty sure there a lot more creative people than I can come up with good and real reasons - that said, I have added the book to my cart on Amazon. Thank you!

Unknown said...

I want to reduce waste in my own home and backyard.

Thank you for a chance to win a copy of this book. I missed your review and didn't know about it!

Cockeyed Jo said...

Well, my backyard is the beginnings of our 600 ft drop ravine, so it wouldn't be my backyard. LOL But there are many areas that are have 11 years of wild that need tending to.

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Goatldi said...

Very nicely done Leigh and I will toss my pitch fork in the proverbial haystack !

New homestead , oh the possibilities 😊

Just finished the raised garden beds (blog post in the making) laying the ground work (pun intended) for next years in ground garden with fledgling orchard this summer with soil preparation.

Chickens are pretty much done except for fencing off more areas for flock free ranging with safety during daylight.

And the beat goes on but won’t take up all your space. Thanks for this golden opportunity!

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

I've always tried to live off the land, and I do not use chemicals on our grass, so I harvest from their as well, and rely on our "backyard goods." We plan to build a new coop, a greenhouse and garden shed, but we'll see what gets down with the garden work out there too.

Cdngardengirl said...

I'd like to build a better world in my backyard to benefit both my own family and that of my neighbors. Many neighbors aren't into gardening at all, and if they can learn things from my garden and teaching, then they can provide for themselves rather than steal from one another and me. We've built more raised beds, set up lots of grow pots and cages, are planning to net in our soft berry patch, currently tilling a chunk of sloped land to raised clover and buckwheat for our honeybees, have set out another mason bee house in our small orchard, and currently building a bigger compost area and enclosed woodshed. Something somewhere will help other people to learn and by learning a community can thrive rather than perish.

Nancy In Boise said...

Looks like a great book! I'm sure you'll find someone great for the giveaway!!! We've got plenty of ongoing projects, maybe a grape arbor next!

Lady Locust said...

I grow what I can in a small-ish space, but would also like to help folks learn pantry building which to me starts in the yard:-) Regardless of who wins, thank you for the generosity and have a beautiful week.

Unknown said...

There are lots of things I'd like to do in my backyard... but the landlord won't let me, so I'm limited there. But I'm working on getting my own property so I can have a greenhouse (or even a cold frame since I have the materials & old windows to make a nice one!), fruit, berries, grapes, and a big garden. I'd like to learn how to use gray water correctly and rain collection (and how to avoid gathering heavy metals in the process). Reducing household waste is an ongoing project, along with decluttering so I can move to this awesome new place when I'm ready to buy!
Thanks, Leigh, for doing the giveaway and for asking! =D

Unknown said...

To Michael Vuke's comment about slugs...
Someone gave me this tip many years ago and it's a bit costly to invest, but it works FABULOUSLY. If your planter beds or pots have a flat side or rim near the top, find yourself strips of copper flashing AT LEAST 3" wide and attach to the planter. Slugs and snails cannot cross copper if it's at least 3" wide. That won't stop them from dropping in from above if anything is leaning over the pot, so keep it clear of other avenues. There's a metallergic reaction with their slime and they can't make it past the 3" mark. I found my copper at a HVAC place. They cut 3-1/4" strips for me just barely long enough to tack onto my raised planter boxes (2x4 feet) with small picture nails. The wood has rotted but I'm saving those copper strips for the next box!! The patina from being outside has made the copper strips almost unnoticeable.
Slugs and snails also like beer. So you can use an old aluminum or tin pie plate (dig a depression in the soil by your pots so it sits level with the rim touching the earth) and put a small amount of cheap beer in the pie tin along with a few drops of cheap dish soap. They crawl in voluntarily and die.
Good luck with the slugs!

Gramma Connie said...

We just bought a new house with a decent size but totally bare backyard. I want gardens and chickens! What else can I do?

Goatldi said...

Michael

Bravo well said and good luck!

Tiny Toadstool Cottage said...

How wonderful! I would like to increase my planting area to grow more food. I am very keen to reduce my reliance on the monetised system.

Stephanie said...

We jumped in with both feet from FL to TN to start our homestead full time back in October and semi primitive camping. We are in the process of building our house & now since Spring has sprung we are trying to plant a small garden and we are raising some chicks & a baby pig will be coming soon. Sorry I don't have one thing to make my homestead better. I have a lot.

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Always looking for ways to produce more in my little courtyard and use to help me be healthy. Nancy

MattB said...

My goal this year is to get a backyard garden going with a deer proof fence around it and a drip irrigation system!!

Jean said...

Not sure it qualifies, but I am looking to plant a container garden on the balcony of my apartment.

Thanks for the giveaway!

Helen said...

I have a 'city' lot and decided a long time ago to plant it to perennials. I still have to pull a few weeds, but something is always blooming and I have a healthy stand of milkweed for Monarchs. :)

Michael said...

We're closing this week on a house on 5 acres--that in itself is a better world for my family, at least! I'm also investigating renewable energy alternatives and net metering options to sell some power back to the local utility. It seems like a good starting point, plus I'm reading lots of good stuff on 5acresandadream.com for more ideas!

Unknown said...

To leave this planet in better state than I found it in. Cannot be part of the all-consuming lifestyle anymore.
We live off-grid and are growing food, raising chickens, unschooling etc etc. Best decision we've ever made. Always looking to learn more about saving energy/money/natural resources....and not get so pissed off at people who don't.

Nina said...

Hey Leigh, We spend a lot of time in our garden, working sustainability and simplifying. It would be nice for new ideas to work on making our home a bit more of an oasis surrounded by the commercial farms as we are. I think that book would be an interesting read.

Mrs B33 said...

I’m really looking forward to livestock and a greenhouse!