Over the past year, I’ve gotten into canning (as in fruit and vegetable preserves). It’s been a fun, surprisingly simple, and super yummy experiment. A jar of homemade jam is a fantastic gift, whether it’s for your Thanksgiving dinner host, or in a holiday basket tucked in with some homemade muffins.
 |
| Yummy homemade pear vanilla jam (recipe at the bottom of page) |
My interest in canning started about a year ago when my friend invited me to a “homesteading party”. We were half a dozen ladies that got together on a Sunday afternoon and learned how to make jam.
I thought this concept of modern homesteading was a good topic for “Open Air Life”. It’s a concept that’s about adopting a sustainable, self sufficient lifestyle, and is about being more connected to nature. The reality is, there is a broad spectrum of choices we can make on the sustainability front, and while certain choices (like having a chicken coop) may only be possible if you have a yard, canning is one of those back-to-basics task that you can do no matter where you live.
All you need is fresh produce (if you don’t grow your own, check out local farmer’s markets), and some kitchen equipment. There are lots of tools available, but here are the basic you’ll need to get started.
