Top 10 Reasons to CAN and PRESERVE

I am getting ready to host my first canning party and although most of my friends are really into gardening and canning there are a few that could use a little persuasion.  In order to attend my party you must CAN or preserve at least one food item for this year.  My goal is to get more people excited about canning and preserving their own food.  This party is for beginners as well as the more experienced canner.  It is time to EAT UP what we’ve PUT UP!

Top 10 Reasons to CAN:

1. Know what you are eating.  When you CAN your own food you are in control of what goes into each jar.  And, although you may need to source the produce from your local farmers’ market, veggie shop, garden co-op, a friend or the grocery store you are the one responsible for cleaning, preparing and jarring your food.  It’s empowering!
2. Eliminate the preservatives.  Too many of us eat too much fast food, over prepared food, frozen junk and food that is more filler than anything.  I’m not saying I don’t like a good cheeseburger but we’ve got to find a healthy balance.  Do away with additional preservatives so that you can enjoy that burger as a treat…guilt-free.
3. Better than TV.  I’m an artist by profession and used to spend my evenings painting my wood carvings in front of the TV.  I calculated that in an average day I had the TV on for about 5-6 hours.  Now, that does seems excessive and maybe impossible to believe but it’s true.  This left very little time to enjoy the evening communicating with my husband.  Now, Matt and I spend most of our free time growing veggies in our garden, forging the back roads, and canning everything we can get our hands on.  Time well spent. 
4. Cut down on your CARBON FOOT PRINT.  Growing your own food to can or canning locally produced fruits and veggies cuts down on the fuel emissions spent moving fresh produce around.  Has anyone seen that new show 100 miles?  It’s an experiment with several British Columbia families taking part in a challenge to only eat food that is grown within 100 miles of their home.  Although, this would be impossible for most of us because of our endless need for sugar and vinegar the concept is great.  Why not incorporate as much of this idea as we can and try to be more conscious of where our food is coming from and try sourcing more local produce.
5. Eating GREAT food is GOOD.  When you are at the helm you can create the food that you enjoy most.  Take the time to season it perfectly or experiment with a new recipe.  Lots of times you will be pleasantly surprised with how good it turns out.  This year I’ve tried lots of new foods and recipes with both successes and failures but it is finding that one great recipe and those favorite ingredients that can turn something in a jar into something you can’t live without.  Like the Tomato Jam…mmmmMMMdelicious!
6. Reuseable Jars and Lids.  Part of the reason I first started canning was to cut back on our household waste.  Buying food in plastic and tin cans is not only harmful to your health but the by-products and waste just don’t make good sense.  We’ve all got to do our part to cut back on adding to the landfills.  Canning jars are reuseable help to eliminate a great amount of waste.  And I just found out about these cool reuseable lids from Tattler.  Now, that makes canning even better.
7. Great gifts.  There is nothing in the world like getting a great home-made gift.  Something that a friend or family member took the time to make is better than anything money can buy.  And, although not all of us can paint a master piece or sew an amazing quilt…all of us can read.  So there is no excuse not to follow a recipe to create a unique jar of preserves to give to that special person in your life.
8. Rewarding.  There is nothing more satisfying that opening a jar of your own home-made preserves.  The time spent putting up countless bushels of tomatoes and cucumbers, fresh fruits and veggies will satisfy you for many months to come.  It’s like having a grocery store with stocked shelves right at your finger tips.
9. Support Local Agriculture.  These days nothing seems more important that supporting the hard-working men and women that grow the food we put in our mouths.  Why not go to them directly?  You get food that is freshly picked and bred for its’ flavour while preserving agricultural green space.
10. Because it is just plain fun!