For something a little different this month, I thought we'd do a book giveaway! I will warn you, though, that before I read this book, I had a pretty normal-looking backyard containing things like a swingset and miscellaneous toys. Now, of course, our yard is home to 36 animals and an organic garden. :)

Here's the book description, straight from Amazon:

Put your backyard to work! Enjoy fresher, organic, better-tasting food all the time. The solution is as close as your own backyard. Grow the vegetables and fruits your family loves; keep bees; raise chickens, goats, or even a cow. The Backyard Homestead shows you how it's done. And when the harvest is in, you'll learn how to cook, preserve, cure, brew, or pickle the fruits of your labor.

From a quarter of an acre, you can harvest 1,400 eggs, 50 pounds of wheat, 60 pounds of fruit, 2,000 pounds of vegetables, 280 pounds of pork, 75 pounds of nuts.

Even if you don't intend to turn your backyard into a barnyard, this book still makes very interesting reading or, at the very least, a great Christmas gift for that slightly crunchy relative on your list. So, ready to get entered into the drawing?

As you know, I use these contests as a way to get info from you, my dear readers. :) Right now, I'm trying to get geared up for school lunches (it'll be back-to-school time before we know it). Last year, I let the kids eat the cafeteria lunch way too often. This year, I'd like to limit it to just once per week, so that I can monitor the foods they're eating most days and be sure that they're as healthy as I'd like. The only problem is that I need a pretty good arsenal of ideas built up so that I can keep things exciting for the girls. So, to be entered into this month's drawing, please comment on this post and give me a good, easy, healthy lunch idea that I can add to my list of lunch choices. Easy, right? You have until Friday to post a comment and be entered into the drawing!