I don’t think I look like a Grandmother, but looks can be deceiving I suppose…

Seriously, the preservation of foods, especially canning, is a valuable, but long lost skill that we all need if we want to get serious about “living locally.” I have been canning for four years (since I was married in 2014…what are the odds??), but I attended two of Janice Field’s, my Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent Mentor, canning classes to pick up some extra tips. I was surprised at some of the food safety guidelines that I did not know. I’m a “self-taught canner” so I found quite a few things that I didn’t teach myself!

Canning is a great way to preserve fruits, vegetables, and even meats. It helps retain nutrients and is cheap! The surprising thing is that ANYONE CAN DO IT! Just take my advice and GIVE IT A TRY! Even if you don’t have a garden, go to your local farmer’s market and purchase something.  Most grocery stores (even Walmart if you shop there) have canning supplies. You don’t need a ton of fancy gadgets- just a large, solid-bottom pot for a hot water bath (best for jams, jellies, and pickled items) and a nifty “jar grabber” like this one…

The United States Department of Agriculture, USDA, has a Complete Guide to Home Canning that is fantastic! You can find it here: http://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/publications_usda.html

I am in the process of developing a canning lab for my “Local Foods Production Curriculum” and I hope my students will enjoy learning some “Grandma skills.”

My fellowship experience has provided two things for my students in the classroom: resources and passion.

The Cooperative Extension service is one of the best kept secrets in any state in our nation. Extension agents are problem solvers, advisers, coaches, supporters, teachers, listeners, field experts, and so much more. They are available to the public and especially to teachers and students. I have made valuable connections that I can use in my classroom and that I can encourage my students and their families to use in the future.

As I posted in my “Aha” blog post. Passion is necessary for a local foods movement to begin in our nation. This fellowship has reignited my passion for agriculture and supporting our local farmer. Passion is contagious. My students will witness this in my classroom and I hope it will inspire them to find their own way to support our nation’s farmers.

Choices versus Lifestyle Changes

My journey towards this fellowship started two years ago when I began teaching Advanced Agriculture Studies at Gray’s Creek High School. This course, comprised of seniors that have taken all other agriculture courses, does not have a state mandated curriculum. I decided to divide the course into three main units:

• Career Preparation
• Leadership Skills in Promoting Agriculture Awareness
• Real Life Agriculture

I have spent the last two years teaching my seniors about the realities of agriculture production. We have read, observed, and viewed the opinions of “both sides- left and right” of the agriculture field. We have discussed CAFOs, organic methods, subsidies, the world food system, and local food production. Together, we read a book called “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” by Barbara Kingsolver about living and eating “locally” for one year. It is this activity that helped me develop a passion for understanding local food systems, their benefits, and the realities of “making it happen.”

Even though my students have had four years of agriculture education, they still do not fully understand the challenges in agriculture or why they should be passionate about it. By the end of each Spring semester, most of them are eager to learn more and that they are compelled to live “locally”….. when it is convenient to them. I wish that I could spend more time changing their heart so that they could make better decisions with their mind.

This summer, I have seen this same thought process among the public. They don’t understand the importance of local agriculture and therefore, they do not have a passion to support it.  Yes, there are people that buy vegetables at the farmer’s market on the weekend, but they still stock up on canned green beans every Monday at the grocery store. We live in a society of CONVENIENCE.  This is a LIFESTYLE that does not change with one simple CHOICE to visit the farmer’s market and buy a few tomatoes.

A local foods lifestyle change involves asking yourself the following questions EACH AND EVERY DAY:

•  Is the food I buy or consume today good for my health?
• Is the food I buy or consume today good for my local economy?
• Is the food I buy or consume today good for the environment?

Unfortunately, the public will not ask these questions until they are taught the importance of local agriculture and develop a passion for its sustainability.