Two years ago, during the book tour for Preserving by the Pint, I spent just over a day in Asheville, NC (I so wish it could have been longer!). While there, I had the good fortune to do a canning demo and book signing at a urban homestead supply shop called Villagers.
This wonderful business, founded by former Philadelphian Natalie Pollard, is a terrific resource for anyone looking to get both tools and knowledge necessary to can, ferment, garden, keep chickens, and more. I knew immediately that if I lived in Asheville, I’d be a regular customer.
Recently, a member of Natalie’s staff got in touch, asking if I might like to feature one or two tools from the shop on the blog as part of a giveaway. I said yes immediately, because I believe that more people should know about the goodness that is Villagers (truly, I meant to write a post two years ago to tell you about this magical space).
Soon after, I received a carefully wrapped package that contained a pair of sturdy Opinel paring knives and the best canning ladle I’ve ever held (it fills a half pint jar perfectly). These little knives have already gone into heavy rotation and the ladle is now the favorite tool in my kitchen for scooping soups and filling jars.
One lucky winner will get the same pairing of knives and ladle. Enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter form below!
I love that ladle!
Frankly, I want that ladle! It sounds amazing, and we are in need of one 🙂
I would love the pairing knife. Good small knives are hard to find.
I would love the Bristol crock
I already have an opinel knife which I use constantly. Would love the ladle too
The paring knife would be really handy to kick off canning season!
The canning ladle sounds perfect – its so hard to find a good one.
that ladle! definitely something missing from my repertoire!
I love a good paring knife. Especially with smaller hands a knife is important for peeling!
Paring knives and ladles: two of the most-used items in my kitchen. Love the pour-spout on the ladle.
That ladle is amazing!!! I love that it fills the jars perfectly and you can pour from either side!
I would love the canning ladle, it looks like it would come in handy a lot! The egg skelter is lovely too.
You can never have too many small knives!
I love good knives, I have a few that are my faves – would love to try another brand though. I have an all clad ladle but I love the pour spouts in this one!
Ashville isn’t that far from me – I’m seeing a weekend drive in my future!
The ladle would be fantastic – not only the size, but the pour spouts as well.
I would love all of the tools. I am new to gardening and canning so I basically have nothing!
Opinel products make smile…we gave picnic knives as gifts to our wedding party.
Oh I would love to get my hands on a set of the Apothecary Jars. So classic
http://forvillagers.com/collections/kitchen/products/8oz-apothecary-w-glass-top
It looks like I could spend days in that shop.
i love the egg skelter. so cute.
I am only an hour and 15 minutes form Asheville. I think I need to get myself up the mountain and check them out!
Definitely love that ladel! Their pot brush looks awesome too!
I could seriously use that ladle! It looks perfect.
The Egg Skelter is beautiful and a great concept for us backyard bird owners!
My dog destroyed one of my ladles… So that would be useful.
I would like a good small knife
Those paring knifes are looking pretty sweet and I’m in desperate need of a good paring knife, especially before strawberry season rolls around!
Love the ladle!
I love that ladle!
I’d love to have that ladle
I would love a new ladle!
That ladle looks amazing!
The ladle looks awesome!
That beautiful crock!
That ladle looks so easy to use.
oh my goodness! a perfect ladle is exactly what my canning adventures need.
Great ladle!
This would be an awesome addition to my canning supplies!
The ladle!!!
Wow. Loving the ladle and I could get lost in their store for a long time.
I’ve been contemplating kefir. I may have to order the grains from them.
I love the Hands+Knees Spade! I would use it all the time!
That honey dispenser looks amazing
That ladle is beautiful. May purchase one for a friend’s birthday. She just gifted me some delicious sauerkraut.
I have a small plastic ladle that I use for canning that I feel bad about using because it is plastic. That stainless steel ladle would be an excellent replacement and help me get the plastic out of my house.
Opinel pruning saw.
I would love a crock
I would love to win this. I never seem to have enough small knives in my kitchen
Ooh, they have a lot of nice stuff but that ladle! Sweet!
Those are some gorgeous tools! Nice knives are always so great to work with. I think I have to choose the compost fork as my favorite item from Villagers–if only because my compost really needs a turn. 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
I have been searching for a really good ladle. I bought a couple from the kitchen drawers of estate sales looking for something that would be the right size and feel right in my hand, but I simply have yet to find what I need there. I’m left handed, and most single-side ladles fail me for that reason. I’m also really short, and so standing at the stove I seem to need more cant to a ladle than most of them provide — it’s hard to explain. But I am, essentially, on the 20 year search for the right ladle.
Oh, I *LOVE* that ladle. That is exactly the ladle I have been looking for provided it is stainless steel.
I use a vintage ladle from a group of stainless steel utensils made in Sweden. Or maybe Norway. I don’t remember. They each have a hook on the end so I can hang them on my stove (I have a vintage O’Keefe and Merritt that has a rod on both sides) and are stainless so I can put them through the dishwasher. I love them. But the sideways ladle is small so I must make multiple passes to fill even the small jars and inevitably I spill.
That ladle not only looks perfect but would match the set I have.
I must have it whether I win or not.
But I would really like to win it.
I bought Key Limes and Meyer Lemons and will be making marmalade this weekend. Lime clove hibiscus and Meyer Lemon Lavendar.
That looks like a great store! Too bad I’m not going to NC soon.
Everything! I’d love to visit their store and spend hours just browsing.
I would love just about anything, but I definitely have my eye on those cast iron skillets!
Those opinel paring knives are pretty perfect!
I’ve been wanting to visit Asheville for a while now!
These are nice knives.
The ladle. I definitely need something like that for my canning projects.
Oh my !!!! There is more than one item I want ! What a beautiful store !
My fiance have been an inch away from moving to Asheville, NC for a couple years now. It’s good to know that when we make the jump there’ll be a lovely place like this waiting for us.
That ladle looks awesome!
So many lovely and useful things at The Villager! Stepping outside the kitchen, one thing in particular I like is the Haws Outdoor Metal Slimcan watering can. So pretty.
It is hard to choose just one thing that I would like from Villagers – – – I didn’t see anything that I would not like to have! But if I have to choose just one, I would like the canning ladle.
I’d choose the apothecary jars with pour spout–pretty + functional!
The ladle would make jam making a bit easier.
Love that ladle!
Thanks for the great giveaways and all the wonderful advice.
weck jars! But I’m also looking into backyard chicken-farming and beekeeping, so resources and materials for both of those would be mighty useful.
Would love to try these knives and ladle in my next jam sesh!
I just love the ladle. I have one similar to that from my mother-in-law and use it constantly.