With the economy troubles and the rising costs of just about everything in the grocery store, do you think that old-fashioned processes like canning and preserving are making a comeback? Well, they are in my neighborhood!

Earlier this summer, as a good friend and I were discussing the vegetable gardens we were putting in, we decided that once the harvest was ready, we would get together about once a week and can as much as we could. My main goal was to use EVERYTHING that I grew on my own, and stock my pantry FULL for the winter. What I didn’t expect was how the experience of doing this process, that I used to watch my Mother and Grandmother do, would leave me feeling SO satisfied!

With bowls full of bright green and yellow beans, prickly cucumbers, and plump, red tomatoes, all fresh from our own gardens, we began to meet weekly in her kitchen. We’d spend a few hours there each time, snapping beans, preparing jars, and best of all, laughing and talking about life and memories.

There was something really special and comforting about doing this task that my Grandmother and Mother did when I was a child. Not to mention, the good feeling you get when you open your pantry to see rows and rows of jars full of goodness that you spent the summer growing and preparing. Jars full of natural, organic food that you can feed to your family with pride all winter long!

The best part about preserving and canning is that once you buy a few main things to get started, it costs virtually nothing.

These will usually include:

• A pressure canner with a pressure gauge. You can buy these in most discount or kitchen stores. The pressure canners required if you are canning certain vegetables, such as snap beans, and meats.

• A Water bath canner can be used for certain vegetables, such as pickles, and also jams and jellies. I use a large stockpot.

• Canning jars and lids- You can usually find these, on sale, at the end of the harvest season. They come in pints, half-pints, and quarts. The best part is that you can reuse the jars the following year (if you don’t give it all away!). New lids will have to be bought as they can only be used once, but they are inexpensive.

These items, along with some other basic tools you probably already have in your kitchen (funnel, blender, processor, jar lifter, etc.) are just about all you need, along with some spices and other add-ins,  and Grandma’s favorite recipes! There are also many resources and recipes available on the internet.

So, imagine your pantry stocked to the brim with canned spaghetti sauce, salsa, pickles, applesauce, and jam. It may seem like a dying art, but I think it’s making a comeback. I’ve talked to more and more women who are interested, yet intimidated. Honestly, once you’ve done it a time or two, it’s VERY easy. If you don’t have your own garden, head out to your local farmer’s market and buy fresh…It’s worth it! Find an interested friend or two and do it together. Oh, and don’t forget to wear your cutest apron (they are making a comeback too!) Who needs Botox parties when you can have CANNING parties?!!