Ten years ago a friend told me she thought I might like to have a blog. To keep track of my garden triumphs and woes. I didn’t really know what a blog was or who might have one (or who would read one?!) but liked to write and take photos and it seemed like she might be right. So I opened my free blogger account and started. I named it dig this chick because that was the name of my former gardening business and it felt like a natural extension of that.
I was aware it was on the internet but, still, it felt like a private journal. That my mom and mother-in-law had access to. I still remember my shock when I logged in one day to see that I’d have seven visitors, two from other countries. Who? How?
Ah those days! No smart phones or social media. Blogging the old fashioned way (heh): snapping photos with a hurky digital camera – batteries held in with duct tape – and uploading it to the blog no bigger than the size of a baseball card. Formatting all wonky, always. No spam, no trolls. For hours, I googled and studied how to do things like widen my columns or change the way the date looked or delete the code that made that weird orange line across the top of my homepage. Like a virtual hammer and chisel.
Shortly after I started dig, we were pregnant. I wrote about it on my own and tried to sort though if it felt right to write about it on the gardening blog? I started another blog called ‘Bug’ for the baby and, after a while, I’d sit at my (beige, giant, boxy) desktop computer and have a hard time deciding if my words should be on dig or bug. So I combined the two because life – in soil and sandwiches, in beets and babies, in hoeing and home – was all interconnected for me.
Truly, I never ever imagined dig would lead to opportunities and become my job. I remember the giddiness and amazement Andy and I felt over my first few sponsorships: the soda water maker and the rain barrels. My content has moved around a bit and I’ve slowed my pace here to make room for other aspects to my business. I can still wear my kids but their legs dangle past my knees. I still co-sleep but our spoons are nearly the same length. I still adventure with my babies but they now set the pace. My daughters’ stories are their own and they are now creative collaborators on dig, weighing in on what we share here. Ten years from now? That’s wild to imagine.
At the river.
At the campsite.
In the garden.
In the kitchen.
In the studio.
photo by Linda Thompson, Missoulian
On the ski hill.
Anyway! It’s been 10 years and I want to giveaway 10 things (which has actually turned into 28 things!). Thank you to the fabulous, generous and conscientious businesses that support this space. Thank you, readers, for being here and for supporting the businesses that support this space! ♥
1. WINNER: LAURA // Free beer and a pint glass from Wildwood Brewery in Stevensville, Montana. You’ll get a stack of coupons for free beers in the tasting room. I am thrilled to be working on some fun partnership things with this fabulous business whose owner (Jim Lueders) has developed a model for an integrated, sustainable, zero-emissions production system which will transform waste streams from the brewing process into inputs for a network of industries. How inspiring is that? Very. Obviously this item can only be won by a person who is 21 years or older and local so they can take advantage of the free pints! Cheers.
2. WINNER: SUZANNA NEUFELD // A custom wooly trucker featuring the state/country/province/continent of your choice! Made right here at Dig World Headquarters.
3. WINNER: HELJAZ // Hygge Coffee extravaganza. My dear friends roast delicious coffee and have the best hearts. They give back and love big and roast some pretty damn delicious coffee! (I really love the Burundi for espresso) Their giveaway: 2 Handmade Ceramic Mugs, 5 Pounds of Whole Bean Coffee, and (4) 12oz. bags to use or give to your pals.
4. WINNER: ALIE // Fox Quilt Kit from The Confident Stitch. All the luxurious flannel fabric is included so you can whip up your own foxy quilt in no time! Do you know The Confident Stitch yet? A newish fabric shop in Missoula, we purchase many of our fabrics there. It’s full of beautiful things and nice people.
5. WINNER: BETH // Pie Box from DIG + CO. New to our shop, we are love love loving the Pie Box! Made in Illinois, this puppy keeps pie safe from jumpy dogs and bumpy car rides.
Two spots left in my Make Pie workshop this weekend! Join us?
6. WINNERS:
- SAM-C
- MADONNA
- EMILY H.
- CATHERINE
- DANA
- JEANNE
- KATE
- JAYME CASEY
- KERRY
- ANGELA
Pit Stick by Coming Up Rainbows. 10 sticks / 10 winners! My favorite favorite. It works and is made with safe ingredients you’ll find in your kitchen (beeswax, coconut oil, baking soda, arrowroot powder, lavender and peppermint essential oils).
7. WINNERS: LISA LEE and JOLENE // Mini Cutting Board Serving Set by Earlywood. 2 sets / 2 winners. Our friend Brad makes these dudes and they are perfect for cutting/serving cheese, garlic, lemons and limes…two of you will win a set of 5 boards made from jatoba, ebony and maple woods.
8. WINNER: AMANDA // Custom art by Andy Smetanka. I am thrilled to have this wonderful Missoula artist and filmmaker’s work for sale on DIG + CO. (hello perfect Mother’s Day and Father’s Day gifts!). Andy is giving away a custom silhouette of a person or pet. This isn’t even close to a poster or print; It’s all hand-cut out of paper which creates a beautiful, textured piece of art to cherish forevermore. 
9. WINNERS:
- MEREDITH
- CHRISTINE
- STEPHANIE V
- BETH WOODWARD
- REBECCA
- KATIE S.
- JESS Y.
- CATHERINE
- SHERRY
- CHRISTINA GROSS
Noso Patches. 10 packets / 10 winners! We are hard on our puffy coats and sleeping bags and we love these things! Invented by a Wyoming mama, Noso Patches are made of thin, lightweight nylon rip stop fabric and a strong, press on, machine washable and dryable adhesive.
10. WINNER: JESSICA // Camp Director’s Herb + Spice Blend. My mom makes this stuff and it’s the best! And I’m not just saying that because she’s my mom — check out the reviews! Pretty much the only spice you’ll ever need. 
*COMMENTS CLOSED*
For a chance to win: leave a comment! It can be any ol’ comment but if you’d like: tell us something about 10 years ago in your life. We will randomly select the winners next Tuesday, April 11 and announce winners here.
With love,
Nici
