Regardless of whether you had a large harvest of food from the garden this year, or simply found a lot of cucumbers on sale at the grocery store, preserving food is an excellent way to provide yourself with a little more self-sufficiency in the winter months. While canning and dehydrating are common methods of food preservation, another method to consider is fermentation! Fermented foods add a unique flavor to your meals and provide you with beneficial probiotics.
For this month’s contest, we’re giving away a fermentation starter kit including a 1.3-gallon fermenting crock and the book Fermented Vegetables.
Want to learn more about preserving food at home? Check out our articles about fermentation recipes, dehydrator recipes, and our guide to canning at home.
Insteading December Contest GiveawayReady to sign up? To enter, submit your email below and share this contest with your friends via Email, Facebook, or Pinterest for an extra entry.
Past Competitions:
- 2019-11: Homesteading Starter Library: Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens, The Beekeeper’s Bible, Practical Permaculture, and Homesteading: A Backyard Guide. Winner: TBA from TBA
- 2019-10: Cast Iron Cooking Set: a 5-quart cast iron dutch oven, a 12-inch cast-iron skillet, and The Dutch Oven Cookbook Winner: Jackie G. from California
- 2019-09: 3-Tray Worm Composter. Winner: Nina E. from Massachusetts
- 2019-08: Sourdough Bread Making Kit: Bread Proofing Basket, a Sourdough Starter Jar, a Dough Scraper, a Cast Iron Dutch Oven Bread Pan, and Artisan Sourdough Made Simple. Winner: Karrie L. from Florida
- 2019-07: Canning Starter Kit: Granite Ware canning set, the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving, a set of 12 Ball canning jars, and Ball canning labels. Winner: Connie B. from New York
- 2019-06: 5-Tray Excalibur Dehydrator. Winner: Kari P. from New York
- 2019-05: Summer Garden Maintenance Tools: a soaker hose, a 4-claw weeder, pruning shears, and a hori-hori knife. Winner: Kayla from Pennsylvania
- 2019-04: Compost Tumbler. Winner: Deidre H. from Lethbridge, AB
- 2019-03: Seed Starting Kit: Heirloom seed bank and Seed growing heat mat and germination station. Winner: Amanda F. from Nevada
- 2019-02: Wild Edibles Foraging Kit: The Forager’s Harvest Handbook, a foraging basket, a foraging knife, bamboo work gloves, and pruning shears. Winner: Paula C. from North Carolina
- 2019-01: 50-Gallon Rain Barrel. Winner: Daryl S. from Illinois
- 2018-12: Spring Garden Prep Kit: Backyard Homesteader Seasonal Planner, a metal raised garden bed, and a hori-hori knife. Winner: Jarib B. from Oregon.
- 2018-11: Bird Feeder Kit: Handmade Cedar Bird Feeder, 16-Pound Bag of Bird Seed, and a bird feeder hook pole. Winner: June G. from Pennsylvania.
- 2018-10: Backyard Shiitake Mushroom Growing Kits: Shiitake Mushroom Farm, and The Book Mushroom Cultivation: An Illustrated Guide to Growing Your Own Mushrooms at Home Winner: Jim C. from California.
- 2018-09: Urban Homesteading Library: The Backyard Homestead, Practical Permaculture, Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens, and The Beekeeper’s Bible. Winner: Al W. from Minnesota and Susan A. from Victoria, BC.
- 2018-08: Gardening Weeding and Maintenance Set: Hori Hori Knife, Root Assassin Rake, Step and Twist Weeder. Winner: Kathy R. from Washington.
- 2018-07: Canning Starter Kit: Granite Ware canning kit with a blancher, a Put ‘Em Up Canning Book, 12 Ball jars, reusable lids, and canning jar labels. Winner: Nancy H. from Oregon.
- 2018-06: Summer Garden And Planter Set: Hori Hori gardening knife, a Fiskars lopper, a heavy-duty soaker hose, and two 15-inch galvanized hanging planters. Winner: Owen from Toronto, ON
- 2018-05: Tomato Growing Kit: 4 Lifetime tomato cages, an 8 pack heirloom tomato seeds, a Fiskars garden trowel, and the book Growing Tomatoes. Winner: Jacob G. from Texas.
- 2018-04: Gardening With Kids Kit: Giantex raised garden bed, a kids toolset, kids gardening gloves, two gardening books from Pantry Paratus, and an 8 pack of heirloom seeds. Winner: Dirk M. from California.
- 2018-03: Cooking With Cast Iron Set: Lodge cast iron dutch oven, a Lodge cast iron skillet, a set of 2 pan scrapers, and the book Dutch Oven Obsession. Winner: Carol M. from North Carolina.
- 2018-02: Algren Soil Saver Compost Bin. Winner: Laura L. from Oklahoma.
- 2018-01: Spring Garden Prep Kit: Groundbreaking Food Gardens: 73 Plans That Will Change the Way You Grow Your Garden, Certified Organic, Heirloom, Non-GMO Garden Seeds, a Fiskars Big Grip Trowel, and a Gorilla Cart. Winner: Sherry L. from Missouri.
- 2017-12: Fermentation Starter Kit: 1.3-gallon fermenting crock and the book Fermented Vegetables: Creative Recipes for Fermenting 64 Vegetables & Herbs. Winner: Nathan M. from North Dakota.
- 2017-11: Scratch And Peck Chick Starter Kit. Winner: Barbara M. from Arizona & Sandra K. from Arkansas.
- 2017-10: A Set Of Two Giantex Portable Cold Frames. Winner: Melissa S. from Kansas.
- 2017-09: Fall Garden Cleanup Kit: A Fiskars Stand-Up Weeder, a Hori Hori Knife, Pine Tree Tools Bamboo Working Gloves and a Fiskars Kangaroo Gardening Bag. Winner: Barbara S. from Alabama.
- 2017-08: Dehydrator Starter Kit: A 5 Tray Stackable Food Dehydrator by Excalibur, a 400 Recipe Dehydrator Bible, and a 3-Piece Set of Airtight Hinge-Lock Jars. Winner: Anthony G. from New York.
- 2017-07: Ball Canning’s Home Canning Starter Kit: A Ball Canning Starter Kit, Dill Pickle Mix, a 4-Piece Set of Ball Sharing Mason Jars, and the 500+ Precipe Guide to Preserving. Winner: Dave C. from Ohio.
- 2017-06: The Ultimate Drought Fighting Kit: A Heavy Duty Metal Hose Nozzle, a 2.5-Gallon Steel Watering Can, a 50-Foot Rubber Garden Hose by Craftsman, & a 50-Foot Soaker Hose. Winner: Jennifer C. from Massachusetts.
- 2017-05: The Epic Tomato Growing Starter Pack: Set of 4 Heavy Gage Tomato Cages, Assortment of 8 Heirloom Tomato Seed Varieties, & a Copy of Epic Tomatoes Book. Winner: Eileen B. from West Virginia.
- 2017-04: Crown Bee’s BeeWorks™ Cottage Kit: A Cedar Wood Cottage, Trays for Mason & Leafcutter Bees, a “How to” Booklet, & the actual bees themselves. Winner: Katie J. from Washington.
- 2017-03: Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company’s 25-pack Heirloom Seed Collection & Clyde’s Garden Planner. Winner: Nicole B. from Arkansas.
- 2017-02: Two of our favorite gardening time-savers: A Hori Hori Knife Gift Box and a Steel Frame Dump Cart. Winner: Jean C. from Oregon.
- 2017-01: Two sets of books on permaculture: Gaia’s Garden and The Permaculture City. Winners: Maureen L. from Oregon & Michael S. from Washington.
- 2016-12: New Country Organics 50 lb bag of Organic Layer Chicken Feed: Supplemented with Kelp, Alfalfa, & Poultry Nutri-Balancer, formulated with additional Calcium & Flaxseed, Soy-free, 7 Certified Organic. Winner: Michael B. from Indiana.
- 2016-11: Bramble Berry’s Natural Soap Making Kit: Soap Making Tools, Reusable Mold, Essential Oils & Natural Botanicals, Lye, Lather & all other soap ingredients. Winner: Rachel B. from Washington.
- 2016-09/10: Home Canning Starter Kit: A Ball Canning starter kit, a copy of Ball Jar’s Complete Book of Home Preserving, a 12-piece set of Ball Mason Jars with Lids and Bands, and a 60-piece set of Dissolvable Jar Labels. Winner: Dora M. from Michigan.
- 2016-07/08: Dehydrator Starter Kit: A Hamilton Beach 32100A Food Dehydrator, The Dehydrator Bible recipe book, and a 3-piece set of Bormioli Rocco Fido Airtight Hinge-Lock Jars. Winner: Carlin S. from Washington.
- 2016-06: Urban Homesteading Starter Library: The Beekeeper’s Bible, Urban Homestead, and The Chicken Whisperer’s Guide to Keeping Chickens. Winner: Marlene B. from Ohio.
- 2016-05: Felco Pruners, Oyster Mushroom Grow Kit, and Practical Permaculture Book. Winner: Nancy W. from Texas.
Thanks Kane for the giveaway fun! I don’t have a way to post a photo but we have tomatoes, pumpkins, and a lot of herbs!!! I would totally dry that, especially since we have not had a working oven in over 3 years. You have a terrific blog site.
Thanks Donna! Good luck on the contest. I think one tomato plant is enough to keep your dehydrator busy for a week so I’m sure it will come in handy.
Just like Donna I don’t have a way to post photos, however, I have A LOT of herbs & veggies in our gardens. We have 2 types of tomatoes, onion, 2 types of lettuce, watermelons, pumpkins, garlic, cucumber, sweet potato, spearmint, hibiscus, sage, lavender, German thyme, Chocolate mint, and rosemary just to name a few. I LOVE cooking with fresh herbs!
I was just saying the other day that I wanted to learn how to can. This would be a perfect prize. Thank you for your generosity. Good luck to everyone.
Great giveaway! I would love to learn canning.
Amy, canning is a great way to preserve your harvest. Some of us are very lucky that we come from old stock and learned our canning skills at our mother’s or even grandmother’s knee. I still use equipment both of mine. Pressure canning was a new skill, but by following the instructions that came with our canner we had great success. Check your area’s USDA extension office, they may have classes or be able to recommend some.
Thank you Kane for the awesome give away!
Sure would love to learn more about permaculture and convert more of my one acre over to more sustainable practices. I expand my vegetable gardens every year and compost like crazy, but I know there’s more I could be doing. Love being outdoors tending to natural processes. Your website is a great help! Thanks.
Thanks for the chance !
nice prizes
If only I lived on the right continent 🙁
Hi Menno – most of our contests can be shipped internationally within a certain fee schedule (see the contest details for more info).
Good luck!
My goal this year more bees.
I want to save bees!
I have a wonderful wild front yard in a city neighbourhood that bees will love, I am sure of it!.
I’m so excited about this giveaway as it has motivated me to add tomatoes to my newly planted vegetable garden. I remember as a child my Grandmother’s tomato garden. She would always ask me to help her pick the tomatoes when they were “just right”. She grew many different varieties but most of all I remember the delicious recipes she whipped up with those tomatoes; salads, sauces, soups and even juices!
it’s that time !
When I win the lottery and move to STL, my present home needs solar!
I have filled out the enter form twice but it doesn’t show that I’ve entered? Not too sure what I’ve done incorrectly?
I’m happy to have found your site, although I don’t have the time immediately to have a deep examination of it, but will soon. I’ve been an organic farmer for 30 years but still want suggestions. Thanks, Amandah
Hmm – sometimes if you have participated in past contests with us or sites using the same software, and then try to log in with a Facebook or Twitter account, you will need to “finish” logging in. Generally you just have to click another button and it will complete the signup process. Please feel free to email us at hello -at- niftyhomestead -dot- com.
awesome
Lots of produce ready to preserve at my farm!
Thank you for the chance to win
I would love to learn more about canning! We have plum trees, a pear tree, and blackberries, but I’ve never learned how to can them!
Hi; firstly thank you for bringing us such an amazing site, I feel very lucky to have found it. A great giveaway and good luck to everyone who enters!
I have just “discovered” dehydrated orange slices, and these are to die for. However, I’d like to buy organic oranges and dry my own…thanks for this giveaway!
Thanks!
Awesome giveaway.
Awesome contest .Thanks for a chance to win tbis lovey prize.Its amazing.
Growing mostly hot peppers this year so been busy canning Candied Jalapeno’s (Cowboy Candy) along with pepper mustard not counting the jams and jellies I have been canning as well.
Thank you for this wonderful giveaway opportunity./ I would love to dry different fruits and veggies, etc.
Thanks so much Kane for the chance to win a dehydrator by Excalider, and the dehydrator bible and jars.That would be awesome for this gal who loves canning and preserving food.I will keep all my fingers crossed tight! 🙂
Thank you for this opportunity to win this exciting prize! I would love this because I am an avid gardener and I love preserving fruit and veggies! It would be amazing to win the dehydrator by Excaliber and the dehydreator book and jars. I will be keeping all my fingers crossed tight! 🙂
Hi, thanks for an opportunity to win a fall garden cleanup kit; marvellous giveaway and good luck everyone.
My first dehydrator was an Excaliber and it is used on a regular basis. We dehydrate and then powder a lot of stuff so no one really knows what they are eating and yes, it tastes delicious.
I have entered the contest for a few months now, I can’t get people interested in your contests. I shared every day, but no bites. Is there another contest running ?
Thanks for an opportunity to win a Set Of Two Portable Cold Frames; it is a pleasure to be part of such a great site filled with wonderful inspiration, tips and advice.
Wow, great contest.
Awesome website.!
Great contest. Thank you for the chance.
I appreciate the opportunities to learn from the newsletter and from others – thank you.
Ooh, this is a good giveaway!!! You’re the best!
I just entered your giveaway – wish me luck! 🙂 – it’s about 17 degrees where we are and am looking forward to Spring, warmer temps, and gardening!
Thanks for the amazing contest.I thrive on gardening and would love to do more canning.This would be so perfect! 🙂
Thanks for the opportunity to win this!! I’m a first-time home buyer and settlement is next week. I’d love to use this!
Thanks! Cast iron is great!
Thanks for the chance!
Thanks for the opportunity! I shared it to my blog!
Thank you so much for this contest & this opportunity. I’f I’d win this, I would cook with so much love from my outdoors & bushcraft skills for my wife, son, Mom & Mom-in-law for stress-free & occasional outdoors excursions…
Thanks for a chance to win. We have one cast iron skillet and love it. Would love to add to our collection.
I would absolutely love to win a cast iron skillet! Used to have one when I was married and I used it all the time!
I would love to win. Love cooking with my cast iron skillet.
Would love this set!