First Free The Animal Giveaway – $120 Value
Let me get this out of the way: not a big fan of all the contests & giveaways I see out there. Typically they involve some sort of hoop jumping and a prize. Fine, not a big deal, just that I always wonder what motivates people to do the hoops. Y’know what I mean?
So let’s call this an "organic giveaway." What happened is that very late to the party, I posted about Ann Marie Michaels’ cooking class the other day and much to my surprise, Ann Marie informs me yesterday that my post sold six classes. That’s $720 revenue (I get a piece, but I don’t recall how much) for what I consider to be an excellent cause. Her blog, while not fully paleo, is tops. She cares about food and is out there getting others to care.
So, she gave me a class for free. I logged in and lesson number one is so chock full (with 11 more to come) that I knew I was not going to be able to get the value out of it that such immense effort deserves. I have a LOT going on, including regulatory compliance issues with my company, a startup I’m working on, selling my house & moving, and more.
So I asked Ann Marie if I could give the class away. Of course, she agreed, and so here we are.
To enter, just post a comment. I’ll cut it off either, when I get 50 comments or, tomorrow (Monday) noon, PDT (so worst case if you get in is a 1:50 shot). Say whatever you like, but any comment is an entry. I’ll use a random number generator to pick the winner.
I’d only ask that entrants be enthusiastic about making full use of the course and have the cycles to do so. Those who enter but don’t win will be provided a code for a $20 discount.
Update a few hours later: We’re at our fill of 50 comments. And a deal is a deal. I want everyone who signed to have a 1:50 shot at the win. Still, 49 of you aren’t going to win, so you might consider that next time you plop down grassfed beef money on a lottery ticket where 50 million of you aren’t going to win. :) I’ll announce the winner tomorrow AM and give instructions as to how you losers can get a $20 discount.
Hard to believe, but random.org picked ‘1’ out of a range from 1-53 (the number of comments minus the two replies at the top). I should have made a screen clip, but at first I wondered if perhaps something was wrong as that seems an unlikely result so I clicked it again and it chose 30, then 36, so it’s working properly. And I have to go with the first go-round and so, #1 is the winner: JP at Primal Journal. I’ll email the details. Also, anyone who fully intends to purchase the course and wants the $20 discount, please email me so I can verify you entered the contest and I’ll get you the discount code. But please don’t email unless you fully intend to purchase, i.e., have already made your decision. Thanks all for playing along. And congrats to JP.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT AND HOW IT WORKS
Free The Animal is an eclectic writing project about everything since November 2003. 23 years, 5,500 posts, 5 million words.
It's a paid membership blog. Most posts are free and public, but only paid members can comment. What determines whether it's free or paid is when I publish. Monday through Friday, free and public. Saturday and Sunday, for paid members. That's it. Membership info here.
Cool idea! Let’s see if I win!
Well, I hope the number generated is #1! I love cooking, have an entire album on my Facebook page and think knowledge and skills in the kitchen would help me tremendously. So I’m commenting because I truly want the opportunity to learn more.
Jeromie
Jeromie:
How very sporting of you to root for JP. :)
ahah! nice one!
Might as well take a shot.
I could use a few more skills around the kitchen. :)
I discovered your site while surfing for a prime rib recipe. Since then, I’ve bought The Paleo Diet and turned my wife into a convert. This is a very important step as she does the lions share of shopping and cooking. She’s away so tonight’s huge piece of salmon tasted great after 24 hrs of fasting!
Mike
Neat idea!
Good luck with the moving, that can be such a stressful PITA. You staying in the bay area?
Why the hell not? I’m a recovering picky eater, even though I really like to cook, so the more I can learn the better.
Paleo cooking – one of my favourite past-times. Thankyou!
I find I really need a cooking class. Thanks for the offer.
Oh, I just started following her on Facebook, and just looked up those very classes!
Can’t justify the $$ right now, but I know I would learn a lot. So we’ll see. If it’s as good as I heard I might take another look. Been cooking Paleo since Jan, and it’s been great, but I could use some tips and a little variety.
I want to win!
My wife actually can’t cook, and when it comes to her I’m a horrible teacher. I’d love to see her gain some confidence in the kitchen. She’d like to get into eating more real food, but she doesn’t really know what she likes from that genre. My trial and error with her tends to result in error more often than not. Hopefully by learning more about real food in general she can better express her tastes for things that aren’t bread, rice, and potatoes.
Here’s hoping I win!
I would love to win!
I love cooking, but my cooking was always loaded with bad carbs, starches and sugar. Trying to change my life by learning to cook healthier, but I feel lost and over whelmed by this new lifestyle.
awesome blog, would love to win!!
Thanks for the chance to win!!
Looks like a great class. Thanks for the chance to win.
Bachelor here, VERY interested in learning how to cook food more effectively!
I enjoy your blog. These classes sound interesting.
Would love to see the lessons on organ meats.
I’m in.
I really wanted to sign up for that class, but didn’t have the funds to do so. This is just what I needed.
would love to work on my cooking skills with this course count me in:)
Looks like a great course. Hope I win.
Great idea!
Super! I like how you’re running your contest.
I’d like to win this class series; so consider this comment my entry.
Thanks.
I’m an artisan cook. IMHO, learning cooking is about the basics; you build skills by discovering and using various spices, herbs, ingredients and preparation methods, and of course training and trusting your senses and instincts; a prime example is Richard.
Good luck everyone, and thank you Richard for letting others have the class.
I stumbled upon Mark Sisson’s blog and The Primal Blueprint while researching info. on celiac and gluten-free diets, growing increasingly sure I have developed or always had a gluten intolerance. His site then led me to your site, and I have been enjoying reading both. I have been working the 80% rule of the primal/paleo diet and exercise principles for a few weeks, and I feel great. My wife is gradually buying in as well. One of our challenges, we realized recently, is that we need to research and adopt new patterns in gathering, catching, and preparing our food. This course could be a great start to that process. Either way, best wishes to whoever wins!
free cooking…..hurrah!
Wow. That is a very cool giveaway. Who ever wins will love it I am sure. Maybe me?
Hoping to win!
Hope I win. saw the class and wanted to sign up but didn’t have the necessary funds.
Sweeeeeeeeet. Fingers crossed.
Thought about taking the class, but just wasn’t ready to commit. Getting it free would push me to do it, though. Hope whoever wins really enjoys it.
I would KILL to take this class…in the manner of killing most respectful of individual rights, of course.
This is a Great Idea!
Love the blog and can’t wait to win the cooking class (I hope)!
I saw this on Primal Toad’s blog today. I wish I had known about it because I probably would have signed up. Hope I win!
Knowledge is power… I’d like to know about something.
I love to cook, and I love to learn. I’m in.
Nice of you to share. Tonight I have scallops thawing in the fridge because tomorrow I’m making the ceviche recipe you (and she) let us peek at the other day. My husband and I have been eating paleo for several years and have never felt better in our looooong lives. (But not so long that we don’t want them longer!)
I enjoy the blog and I’m starting to enjoy cooking. This could be great for my motivation
I am very interested in the course, but it’s a little expensive for me as a student :(
Could definitely use a helping hand
Great idea–I’m switching jobs so can’t pay but would definitely benefit.
Sounds awesome! I’d love to give it a try.
Especially since my cooking skills are pretty mediocre.
Thanks for all the inspiration you provide Richard!
I love Anne Marie’s stuff too – this would be a great opportunity to learn!
Sign me up!
Pick me!
I want it! I want it!
I’d love to get in on this, too. Mostly as a way to help introduce my wife to better eating, since I’m not a good enough cook to rely solely on my cooking! Thanks for your generosity…
Awesome! Very cool of you, man. This would be great.
Love your blog! & I would also love to attend those cooking classes!
Pick me ! :)
would love to check out the class – keep up the good work richard!
I’m really fat and I want to win.
I just posted the following update to the post:
Hard to believe, but random.org picked ‘1’ out of a range from 1-53 (the number of comments minus the two replies at the top). I should have made a screen clip, but at first I wondered if perhaps something was wrong as that seems an unlikely result so I clicked it again and it chose 30, then 36, so it’s working properly. And I have to go with the first go-round and so, #1 is the winner: JP at Primal Journal. I’ll email the details. Also, anyone who fully intends to purchase the course and wants the $20 discount, please email me so I can verify you entered the contest and I’ll get you the discount code. But please don’t email unless you fully intend to purchase, i.e., have already made your decision. Thanks all for playing along. And congrats to JP.
It was my second post (thinking I was first) that gave JP the good luck charm! :) Okay, I just want to think that it was…
thanks a lot richard! And thanks for your comment Jeromie, I really did win only because of you!