‘Free-Range Chicken Gardens’ Book & Black Chicken GIVEAWAY!!
Just like you, I love a good giveaway. To help celebrate Jessi Bloom’s new book, Free-Range Chicken Gardens, we had a virtual book launch and giveaway.
The best part is that you had EIGHT chances to win and got to visit some great new blogs!! Plus, you not only had the chance to win Jessi’s book but also The Fresh Egg Cookbook. And because I wanted my giveaway to be better than the seven other bloggers, I threw in a Black Chicken!
That’s right, a Black Chicken! This past weekend I tasted a fantastic Zinfandel by Robert Biale Vineyards called ‘Black Chicken’ — a tasty wine with a fascinating history. You can only guess why I picked it. And because I love my black chicken, Licorice, I decided it was a great addition to my giveaway (the wine, not Licorice).
I mean anyone who stashes a bottle of wine in a basket full of eggs and veggies and gives it a code name ‘Black Chicken’ is my kind of wine maker and worth sharing…
To make a few extra dollars in the hard times Depression era 1940’s, an enterprising teenager Aldo Biale began discreetly selling Zinfandel, aside from eggs and produce. Because his home phone was a party line frequented by nosy eavesdroppers, Aldo instituted a code name whereby his customers could order his secret wine without risk of revealing young Aldo’s stealthy wine operation. Thus, “Black Chicken” was born – the nickname for a jug of homemade wine from Aldo’s barrels hidden out in the barn. — Robert Biale Vineyards
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- My Black Chicken
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- Robert Biale’s Black Chicken
Back to business. You can read my glowing review of Free-Range Chicken Gardens and my disclaimer on how I got a copy of the book to review here.
You could’ve entered to win the two books and Robert Biale’s Black Chicken by commenting on this post. I used a randomizer to select the winner on Thursday April 12.
To increase your chances of winning, you could’ve visited each of the fabulous blogs below and entered to win. Their giveaways may be formatted a little different (not as awesome) but still worth checking out — we all know you didn’t win the mega millions jackpot or you wouldn’t be here trying to win a free chicken book…
- Jessi at http://gardenfowl.com/
- Gen at http://www.northcoastgardening.com
- Erica at http://www.nwedible.com/
- Theresa at http://www.LivingHomegrown.com
- Annette at http://www.sustainableeats.com/
- Kylee at http://www.ourlittleacre.com
- Willi at http://www.digginfood.com/
If you’re my winner, I will need to confirm you’re over the age of 21 and living in a location I can legally ship wine before shipping the wine. Timberpress will be shipping the books and I’ll order the 2010 Black Chicken Zinfandel from Robert Biale Vineyards. If you don’t win – you should check out both the wine and the book.
Oh, and for the local folks I hear Jessi is speaking at Molbaks this Saturday, April 7 at 12 pm! Her talk is on “Creating a Beautiful, Chicken-Friendly Yard.” Not to mention her talk is around lunch time and the cafe at Molbaks is my favorite…
WINNER UPDATE: And the Winner is comment #27!! Please note, I only counted the 95 contest entries and did not count my 14 comments or the one duplicate comment. Congratulations Lesa W.!!
Gardening in My Rubber Boots 
Looks like an interesting book. I’ve been keen to learn about free range chicken farming for a while now. It’s becoming very popular in Australia to raise chooks.
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Both books seems great! I would love to read both
vickie
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Oh, a Silkie! I love Silkies. I have 2 small flocks of them right now, 1 in lavenders, the other in buffs. I have a trio of blacks, but they’re too young to breed so they run with the lavenders for now.
I would love to win this package. I’m not a big wine drinker, something about my taste buds don’t deal well with the tannins. It all tastes like vinegar to me, LOL. But I’d be happy to try Black Chicken.
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I bet this wine would change your bad luck with wine… ;)
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Sign me up please! We’re hoping to get chickens soon & as a newbie, I’ll need every ounce of help I can get.
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I really need help with having chickens AND a garden…as they don’t seem to mix to well, so would LOVE to win! :)
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Please enter me for the books, love to read either one. Now as far as the wine goes I do not know if you can send it to Oklahoma because of some interstate liquor law so I probably should pass on that. Sounds like a good wine thou.
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Sounds like you need to move to another state – j/k. If you’re my winner, we’ll try our best to get the wine to you. Fingers crossed.
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Wonderful Contest I’ve just added your blogs to my @Pinterest board of Blogs I Follow and they are getting repined and I post this Always fun to share
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Sounds great! Count me in please and thank you.
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These look like super books! Sign me up please! Thanks!
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Only you could find a bottle of wine in honor of Licorice.
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Mom, you must think I’m crazy.
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Neat post and neat book! I’m a new blog reader, thanks so much for sharing your gardening with us!
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Woohoo, this would make a great addition to my library and my wine collection! :)
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Sign me up please, both books seems great!
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Wow! Who can resist a challenge like this! All fun and interesting stuff!
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Love your blog! The hubby and I are thinking about building a chicken coop. The book looks great and I’ll never turn down a bottle of red!
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What a lovely giveaway! I’ve been thinking to order that book — read great reviews online of it!
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I would love to win these books! Valuable resources and interesting reads!
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Great job Angela! Funny how a wonderful getaway, gives you an idea for a creative giveaway. I love it!!! Is this the book you’re in (again). You shinning start of ours. Please enter me in your drawing – I’d love to win.
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Good luck Cathy!
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My kind of giveaway! I would love to be entered. Thanks!
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What a fabulous giveaway!!! To have and keep chickens would be a dream for me! I know it will happen one day, but until then I need all the advice and tips I can get to be a wonderful chicken mama. Angela, the Black Chicken wine is so cool! <3
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I was super excited when Travis found it on the wine list. That’s right – it was Travis and not me that initially found the Black Chicken wine.
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I’ve had this book on my amazon wishlist and would love to win. Cute blog, thanks for the giveaway!
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I love the story behind the Black Chicken Wine. Makes you feel like your part of a big secret by drinking it.
And the book would be a great place to start my research on chickens since my plan is to install chickens this spring.
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I know! The sommelier at the restaurant told the story to us – I loved it instantly. I already loved the fact that it was called Black Chicken but then you throw in a great story and I won’t shut up about it. Good luck getting chickens!
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Chicken gardens, a cookbook AND wine! You just got yourself a new reader! Pick me! I’ve turned 21 nine times already!
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Ha ha ha. Sounds like we’ve got a lot in common! Welcome!
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Looks like a great book…and a great bottle of wine.
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Ahahaha On one of the blogs that is doing the book giveaway, it asked for a funny story about chickens. My story involved Papa’s black chicken! Still my favorite colored chicken ever! So, I absolutely love this post and you definitely have a new follower!!
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Em, I have a special bond with my black silkie. She’s like a dog and I love her. It’s nice to hear other people’s special black chicken memories. I’ll have to check out your story!
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Count me in! It looks like a great win.
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I would love to win this. Also, thanks for sharing the story about the wine. It was fun.
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Your black chicken is fantastic!
I can’t wait to check out this book. And the wine!
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Fingers crossed because I have been dying to check out this book!
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I would love to figure out how my 5 chooks and my vegies can co-esist!
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Pick me! I love drinking and reading about chickens at the same time.
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ditto
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I’ve been thinking about getting chickens, this would be a great book to have.
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Looks like a great combo pack. My family is planning for Chickens next year!
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Mmmmmm…. Wine. I mean, why yes! I’d love a copy of this book.
Really I would.
But everything is more awesome with wine.
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Totally agree. Wine makes everything better.
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This should be good, black chicken and wine.
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Love that Black Chicken story! Goes nicely with my new black Australorp chicks :) Thanks for the contest!
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Awww. I need some new chicks soon. I bet they’re adorable!
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Sign Me up as well!
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I have chickens but have never succeeded in making them free range without them destroying my garden. I would love to win! Thanks for the opportunity.
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Love your blog, sign me up for the contest giveaway of the books and or the wine. Would love to win. Thanks
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Chickens and wine! I remember the party line.
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Love the book, love your blog, and the pics of your and your chickens in the book are pretty cool!
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This is great!! I just got my husband to work his way around to having chickens. It’s the only thing he’s ever said “no” to! Discussions on where our food comes from, ethics and being part of the process in some way, prompted him to say, “You know, I think I can do chickens.”
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I would love to be entered into the contest! I’m thinking after the bottle of wine asking my spouse if we want more “Black Chicken” would facilitate the arrival of some black Silkies! Of course it’s the city and not my souse holding me back from having them :(
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I want a ‘black chicken’!
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I would love to win this book! I grew up with chickens and hope to get a flock of my own soon!
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I love this idea and I need a few Chicken books to add to my extensive garden book Library. You won’t have to mail the wine if I win :-) we are both Snohomish county MGs.
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I have to say, the Black Chicken put me over the edge. But the books look great as well!
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I’ve already got the garden book and it’s great, but I’d love to win it & gift it……
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I’ve been wanting this book! Have chickens and would love some ideas on how to create a garden they can roam through happily without destroying it!
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We are so excited about this book! My kids have been begging for chickens in our new, big yard. We’re starting from scratch, digging up the yard and getting the garden plots in. We’re ready to build our coop too!
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Love chickens, Love wine!
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Would love to read this book’s tips. I keep guineas in my garden b/c chickens eat everything—-veggies first and bugs last! Stevie@ruffledfeathersandspilledmilk.com
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Who ever said that chickens will weed the garden never met my chickens—they eat the garden and leave the weeds for me! I need some help, so thanks for offering this book as a prize (and the egg cookbook and the wine!)
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Loving reading these blogs. Excited about the book giveaway.. count me in
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You’re fired chicken lady!!!
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What the hen said when she saw the scrambled eggs?
……my children are all mixed up!
What do you get from a drunk chicken?
Scotch eggs!
Good Blog :)
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Ha ha. My next giveaway is a going to be garden/chicken jokes!
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Great blog! Pick me Pick me! :)
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I would love to have these books!
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These look like wonderful books!
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I’m just starting my journey in chicken ownership (picking out future breeds from catalogs) and I’m so in love with the beauty of these birds! Fresh eggs PLUS a cute “pet”? Thanks for the giveaway!
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I’m planning for my future chickens and garden, and have had this book on my wish list. What a terrific giveaway!
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I entered to win these books on a couple of the other blogs but I must say that if I win from any of them I hope its from yours. Black Chicken Vino? Count me in. That has my name written alll over it.
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I love your black chicken!
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Me too! Thank you!
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Just found you through another blog. I went and checked out your facebook and loved your page so I liked it! I’ve never heard of Black Chicken before and would love to try it! I just got chickens, built a coop from reclaimed items and am putting in a bunch of garden space so the books would come in extremely handy for me.
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I LOVE all my 16 chickens, my kids and I can’t stop picking out new baby chicks every time we go to FHA. We started with 4, and now they have taken over the yard! We have a summer and winter home (the green house) for them and the only place they are not allowed is the deck (I have to have a poop free zone). I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my yard to beautiful and chicken friendly. A CHICKEN WONDERLAND of Happiness.
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Sweet! I would love to read that book while sippin’ some chicken.
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Yea! i love historical stories. I’m from the Seattle area and a wanna-be farmer so I’m excited to have found your blog!
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Welcome!
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I would absolutely love a copy of this book! Thank you for the giveaway!
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I’m jealous that you live in such a cool place… this book could help me start my backyard flock and help me feel a bit better about living in a way-less-cool (in many ways) place, if only for a little bit of each day :).
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You’ve inspired me to get out in my yard… and crack open a bottle of deliciousness.
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Licorice is so cute. I wonder what type of chicken she is? What color are her eggs?
I can only have 5 hens where I live, so I need to choose carefully. I always have room for a bottle of wine, though!
All kidding aside, I’d look these books in order to evolve my entire garden into I sustainable environment for my little flock. More egg recipes would help, too!
Thanks for the opportunity!
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I would love to win the book!
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thanks for the cool giveaway. books and chickens and gardens – three of my favorite things!! ten.
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I just saw this book in my Suset Magazine! I so want chickens (and had one when I was growing up) but I can’t remember if they make too much noise and would disturb us and/or the neighbors if they have a coop by the bedrooms– we live in tract homes that have the bedrooms on the sides of the houses, about the only space we have for chickens. If not in this house, I need chickens in my next house!
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I want that black chicken! So cute! I want to get some chickens but don’t know where to start…this book sounds like it would be a great help!
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I would love to win. I need all the help I can get! My daughters and I
are looking forward to moving in the next month so we can get those chickens we have always wanted! We already have names picked out. Thanks for the opportunity!
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What a wonderful book. I have four new chicks and could use any advice on saving my garden.
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I have to have this book!
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This looks like such a cool book to read and learn from. Our family is really interested in having our own chickens and having free roaming chickens in our garden would work great. Good luck to all!
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I recently bought the Garden Chicken book and it’s wonderful! Would love to have another to gift! Black Chicken sounds great, and I just happen to be over 21 (waaaay over).
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A Bottle of wine and a book? I’m in! My chickens are currently giving my poor yard some trouble. I could use some advice and a drink. I’m over 21 but just reached the age where I don’t get carded anymore.
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Chickens? Wine? What could be awesomer? Also, a being carded story…. I was carded buying wine a while back, and the man in line behind me, trying to be chatty (as I am clearly, clearly over 21), said: “I bet that doesn’t happen to you too often…” To which I whipped around and said: “Um, are you saying I look OLD?” Poor man. He meant well.
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I am sure Black Chicken is delicious, and I would LOVE to read the Free Range Chicken book!
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the reason I should have this book
is because I really need to look
into the why’s and hows
of animals smaller than cows
with my girlfriend I’ll be off the hook
this book would be a great boon for me, and the wine is a nice touch.
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Delightful piece of history and addition to the giveaway. I’m interested, count me in!
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I have 3 chicks (my first) I could use all the help I can get.I started eating free range eggs 2 years ago and can’t go back so I though I would do my own. I have a 2 ac. organic garden and 6 grandbabies to help.I’m hope to teach them good eating habits.These books would help me do it right the first time! If I win I will let you know how it is going! I love Wine!
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Signed up to follow your blog! Most of the blogs I have checked out are people that are in the NW, but not down South as I am – but still we can all have our chickens and figure out with the help of this book how to let them free range in the garden! :)
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We just got 4 chickens this spring and we are planning a part-time free range chicken backyard. I would LOVE to have these books as references! AND the wine to sip on while enjoying it all after the work is done!!!
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We’re getting chickens soon, hopefully the goats will like them. That wine looks awesome!
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I am ready to add chickens to my life – this book would really help
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Love my chickens but hate what they do to the garden!
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Chickens would make wonderful companions! I would want a few to live in my garden and help provide chicken manure and control the pest population.
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Your aunt is a wino and really needs some of that chicken wine. Also, the books would be great
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You are my inspiration….for every load of laundry I’ve done I have spent 10 minutes working in the yard!!!!!
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I adore chickens – when I was a toddler they clucked around me thigh-high ha ha. So one day, I desperately want a yard where I can walk with chickens again. I’d love to win a copy of the books, but I read somewhere you have to be a US citizen – couldn’t living in Vancouver, BC count????
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I may be in to late to win…but a chicken book and wine? What a perfect combo!!
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