Orange County Register

Today, Oct. 23, is National Canning Day.

Creating home preserves is not only an affordable and efficient method of making food last longer, but it also reclaims a piece of our food tradition almost lost amid our mass-produced food culture.

Fortunately, food preservation is making a huge comeback. Not only because of our current economic situation, but also because many people are realizing that preserving food eliminates waste, teaches proper and safe food preparation, and places a high value on seasonal, fresh goods. 

 Many preserved foods highlight peak-of-flavor produce, many of which are local. And that means fewer miles for food to travel, and, hence, a lower carbon footprint … in essence preserving a “green” food commodity.

Now, don’t just put something into a jar and call it a night.  Without proper education of the techniques of food preservation, you could be creating some dangerous outcomes.  It is important that you have proper training by someone who knows what they are doing. 

There are several books out on the market that are great aids in building a safe foundation in home canning.  Ball, which makes canning jars, has a great primer on basic food preservation. There are also a number of classes popping up around the area devoted to teaching safe canning methods.

And I am partial to Canning Day. Yours truly is a Certified Master Food Preserver. I teach and lecture around Southern California. You can check back here for classes or view our blog to see when events are happening.  The National Center for Home Food Preservation is also a good place to start.

(Image from Ball Web site. Click to see canning advice and product guide.)

Delilah Snell lectures on green living and food preservation throughout Southern California. To learn more about green products, you can visit Delilah at the The Road Less Traveled in Santa Ana or check out her blog, Project Small.

Click here for more green tips.

Got a green tip? Have a green question? E-mail green guru Pat Brennan or William Diepenbrock at the Orange County Register. We’ll review your tip or get an answer to your question, and get the details published in our new Green Tip of the Day feature.

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