Satisfaction in a Jar

The first light frost has come and gone, so I am officially done canning for the season. It was a good year and there are jars and jars and jars lined up in the pantry, and even more packed into boxes waiting for their chance to sit on the pantry shelves. I have survived the long days, the stirring, the heat, and the tired feet once again. What satisfaction to see the rows of jewel toned delicacies filling the pantry shelves. The taste of sunshine in every jar.

I look forward to the canning season each year. When the produce starts coming on I set up the “canning center”. All the equipment necessary get set up on a table and it remains at the ready until the season is over. That way I am ready to get down to business whenever a basket full of goodness from the garden comes through the door. The garden is largely planned and planted according to what is left in the pantry come spring. And it is a disappointment when a crop doesn’t yield enough to put up. But there is always something to process. Carrots, cabbage, beets, pickles, relish, jalapenos, new potatoes, and beans to name a few. And tomatoes . All manner of tomatoes! Salsa, chili sauce, spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, whole tomatoes, and tomato juice. Our biggest day this year was 105 jars. Now that’s a lot of steam!

Many people tell me they will NEVER can because they had to help do it when they were kids and they hated. What kid didn’t have chores as a kid that they hated. Most kids undoubtedly prefer playing over helping load the canner. Canning as an adult, because you want to, is much different. And it doesn’t hurt to have an air conditioned kitchen to do it in.

Others tell me they are glad they don’t have to can anymore now that their kids are all grown up. While I totally understand the necessity of canning to feed a family, I still like eating the food I can whether the kids are grown up or not! The food in those jars just tastes better!

Past generations grew and canned their own food to save money and have a variety of foods through the winter. It has been debated whether canning our own food is indeed cheaper nowadays when taking into consideration the cost of seeds, water, canning supplies and energy. I suppose there will come a day when I feel that my canning days must come to an end. In the meantime I am always glad to see young people getting into the process. Many have not grown up in a home where canning was done and they are so excited about learning and doing it on their own.

In a world where we are seeing a need for healthier, safer food we may find that preserving food we grow ourselves is once again a necessity.