When they think about learning to live in a more environmentally friendly way, most people think first of transportation, heating and cooling, and similar direct energy uses. But one of the most significant uses of energy and resources today is food. You might know that it’s better for the environment if you eat local food […]
Tag Archives: Home Canning
16
Mar
Mar
This month, my little apple tree bears about 30 pounds of organic apples. This is much more than my family of four will eat fresh before spoiling. Since I am out of freezer space, I have experimented with home canning and some old fashioned recipes. Not many can eat apples – peaches seem to be […]
Cindy Morgan of Percy, Illinois, uses her grandmother’s secrets when she puts up fruits, vegetables and condiments for the winter, but she doesn’t mind sharing them. “My grandmother told me what her mother told her,” Morgan said, while packing cucumbers into quart jars to make kosher dills. “Cold-packing will always mean soggy pickles” So, she […]
28
Jan
Jan
There are two main methods available for home canning. The boiling water canner method and the pressure canner method are the two most commonly used methods of caning. Both have their pros and con’s and many people who can extensively use a mix of the two methods to obtain the best products. I’ve canned using […]
19
Dec
Dec
My elderly uncle lives in a fertile farming community where he spent his adult life as a welder working for various produce growers. There aren’t too many left of his old gang, but they still manage to provide each other with all kinds of fresh fruit and vegetables. Every time we visit we come home […]
Back in olden times, “open kettle” canning was a simple method of canning home grown goods. Open kettle canning meant that you filled a hot jar with hot contents, and screwed on the lid without further processing. As the jar cooled, the lid would self seal. Some old timers still swear by this method of […]
Don’t you just love hot peppers? I’m an avid gardener, and every year I plant 3 or 4 cayenne pepper plants so that I can eat them all year. I pick all the plants bare in late August and divide the peppers up into 2 piles. The green, red and yellow ones that are firm […]
11
Apr
Apr
Many people hesitate to learn how to can and preserve their own foods because they’re afraid that the buying the right equipment for home canning is going to cost them an arm and a leg. When I first started canning pickles and jams, I managed to beg and borrow the equipment I needed, but now, […]