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.”