[jason]

Anyone do any canning?

[Taggart]

My mother did canning when I was a kid, but she really did less as time went by.

She'd can pickles, relish and sausages. I wouldn't mind trying to do some now, but I'd have to make sure I had the technique down.

Does anyone here have tips?

[katharina]

Originally Posted by jason

Anyone do any canning?

I've *wanted* to do it forever but never really got around to doing it or trying to learn how. One of my best childhood memories is of the shelves lined with all those colorful jars in my grandparents' basement and I've wanted to learn how to do it so badly.

My mom didn't can as much as my grandmother but she did do tomatoes for chili and soups, etc. and she did some fabulous relish. Peaches and pears once in a while.

I think what turned me away from actually doing it was the fact that it would have ended up costing a lot more buying all those peaches, pears, tomatoes, peppers for relish, etc. In my grandmother's day, it was much more economical to do the canning but with food prices now and with me not growing those things, I think the whole dynamic changed. That's unfortunate.

[HereToday]

About a million years ago I belonged to 4H. We went to a girl's house whose mom taught us about canning. We did tomatoes and mint jelly. I really enjoyed it, working as a group, but can't really remember anything about it, and I don't know if I'd enjoy it on my own.

[tater03]

I have always wanted to do some canning but just have never gotten around to it. My Grandmother used to can all the time so I pretty much know how you do it. Maybe this year I will give it a try.

[HereToday]

I think there's an interesting thread going on here, where most everyone's grandma canned (my grandma canned when I was a really young kid, so the 4H lady wasn't my first experience). Makes me wonder what other things our grandmas did that we don't really carry on with (horrible sentence contruction, sorry). It would be interesting to call these things to mind.

[jason]

Well it wasn't my Grandmother who canned, it was my mom. I kind of miss it. Sadly when we moved down to Florida from New York my father got rid of all the canning stuff. I just picked up Canning For Dummies though. Now I just need to find time to read it.

[katharina]

Originally Posted by jason

I just picked up Canning For Dummies though. Now I just need to find time to read it.

That sounds like it would be a very educational book! (Or software?) I used to see these displays at some fairs, etc. and I was always amazed at things people canned. Even chunks of meat!

Hey, we're talking about stocking up for a "rainy day" in this thread... wouldn't it be great to have jars of home canned meat to add to the stash?

Anyone know how easy it is? Is that explained in your book, Jason?

[jason]

I haven't had a chance to read it yet. I went a little crazy on Amazons For Dummies sale. I'm hoping soon to pick it up. I've got some herbs that need drying and it talks about the proper way to do that. I've just been picking them and then hanging them. But I'm sure there is a better way.

[katharina]

Originally Posted by jason

I haven't had a chance to read it yet. I went a little crazy on Amazons For Dummies sale.

Drat, I wish I'd known about that sale! I've had fun lately looking in their (Amazon's) used sections, though... I've been getting books and movies for under a dollar and sometimes as low as a penny so that's been great. Shipping is either $2.99 or $3.99 depending on what the item is.