June 30, 2010

Why Should I Can?

Why Should I Can?! We're all modern women living in an age of supermarkets and modern convenience- why go backwards and do things the hard way?
It’s been said that good things do come back around, and home canning is also seeing a revival- but not for the same reasons folks canned products years ago. Preserving fresh foods at home has many benefits which are relevant to our lifestyles today. Some of these are:

Reason #1 - Gardening and home canning can lower your grocery bill! Yep- a little elbow grease can add up to extra cash to spend on things more fun and exciting than food! One report says that for every $50 spent on seeds and fertilizer, a yield of $1250 worth of produce is possible! There's no way to enjoy all that food at one time, so home canning is the answer; you preserve the fruits of your labor to use all year and save on your grocery bill.

Reason #2 - Fresh preserving can be healthier!
When you can your own food you have more versatility and control with your recipes and ingredients. You can choose to avoid additives and preservatives found in many commercial products, and you may even choose to use organic ingredients.

Reason #3 - Pride in Your Products! Personal style can also be expressed through unique and creative recipes. Impress your friends and family by creating unique jams, jellies and other culinary creations.

Reason #4 - Canning Supports Sustainable Lifestyles. (for those that feel motivated to reduce their 'carbon footprint'!) Canning local-grown produce reduces greenhouse gas emissions created by shipping vegetables around the world in off-season. Reduce these by growing your own produce or purchasing it locally, and then preserving it; re-using your canning jars year after year.

Whatever your reason for home canning, or even considering home canning, get prepared now! Start gathering canning jars; pints for most products, quarts for larger amounts, and jelly jars for jams, flat lids and rings.
Pick them up at grocery stores, thrift shops, yard sales, friends, and even craigslist. Have your supplies on hand, so when the produce is prime, you are ready to go!

Come to the October canning classes -
Watch the "Check This Out" section for date, time, and place.
The rewards of home canning await you!

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