I have talked a lot here about gardening and composting, but haven't really touched on what to do with all the wonderful fruits and veggies you will be growing in your garden this summer. So it is time to discuss canning. You heard right. Canning. You may have heard your grandmother talk about this 2 centuries old technique of preserving food. Perhaps you helped her can or have eaten something canned, but do you can yourself? If not, it is time to start.
Canning is making a comeback in a big way. Mainstream publications like The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times have published articles about canning. Canning classes are springing up all across the country. Everyone, young and old wants to learn how to can. Since canning has pretty much gone by the wayside and was looked at as only something our grandmothers did, why the sudden interest in it?
Well, there are several reasons. Canning has found new appeal for those who want a healthier alternative to the chemical, preservative, salt and sugar laiden foods found in the grocery stores. By preserving their own fruits and vegetables, people can control and customize the amount of sugar or salt used as well as the quality of the foods preserved. If they are canning from their garden, they also have control over how the food they are canning is grown. Many people use organic gardening methods and by canning what they have grown, they know they are eating healthy, organicly grown produce.
Others may be turning to canning due to the weak economy, hoping it will save them money in food costs. A few seeds planted in the spring can yield enough canned produce to last a year. Initially, canning may not be cheaper than purchasing the same amount of these foods, but the quality is almost always better. Plus, once you get set up with the intial supplies, the cost then goes down each year as you are able to reuse jars, rings, pots and racks. Eventually you only have to purchase new lids for the jars and if you had a prolific garden, I personally think it is well worth the effort to can and you do indeed save money.
But what if you don't have a garden? Are you left out of the canning revolution? Not at all. There are many u-pick places, farmers markets or CSA's where you can purchase the fruits or vegetables you wish to can. Being an apartment dweller or a non-gardener in no way excludes you from joining the canning revolution. You can even watch the supermarkets for sales on your favorite items, buy in bulk and bring it home and can it.
If there isn't a class near you to learn about canning, there are many books available as well as websites which will give you details instructions on how to can many different foods. Once you have the first batch under your belt, you will see how incredibly easy it really is. It is also a great activity to bridge the gap between generations. Preserving traditional skills, such as canning, is a very important step in becoming self sufficient. It would do you no good to grow tons of wonderful fruits and vegetables and then not be able to preserve them for use through out the winter. In this day and age of genetically modified foods, factory farming, animal cruelty and tainted foods, it is becomeing vitally important that we learn some of the old ways and be ready and able to provide for ourselves and our families.
Canning nourishes your soul as well as your body. To me, there is nothing more satisfiying than looking at cupboard full of delicious, preserved food and knowing that I was able to provide for myself and my family in such a wonderful, nutritious and loving way.
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