You have worked hard all year growing vegetables and fruit. And you’ve enjoyed the incredible reward of consuming ultra fresh food grown organically with your own two hands (and the help of a friend or two if you’re lucky). Want to make those rewards stretch even longer?
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Take a lesson from your grandmother (or maybe your great grandmother), for whom canning was simply a way of life.
Home canning may be old school, but this process is organic at its best – capturing the goodness and delicious flavor of your homegrown produce perfectly. Imagine having a supply of canned peas, carrots, corn or tomatoes to enjoy all winter long. How about canning those organic pumpkins and looking forward to pumpkin pie any time you want?
If your taste buds aren’t tingling yet, think about all the money you’ll save as well. (Read: Organic Living on a Budget)
When you need a quick gift for those hard-to-buy-for people, grab a jar of canned hot peppers. Or, for those with a sweet tooth, package canned peaches with a recipe for homemade ice cream and give your loved one a luscious summer treat – any time of year.
Best of all, the organic produce your garden produces will provide healthy food year round for your family and friends. Share your love of all things organic in a practical, tasty way.
What You’ll Need for Canning Organic Produce
The equipment used in canning is dependent on the food being preserved. Those with low acid levels (peppers, asparagus, corn, peas, pumpkin) will need to be done with a pressure caner. You can pick up a decent sized system for around $100 – which is an excellent gift idea for your favorite organic gardener.
Some pressure cookers also come with canning kits that are ideal for smaller batches.
Acidic foods (most fruits, tomatoes, cucumbers) can be preserved with a water bath system. Basically a large pot with a rack to hold the jars steady, the water bath method 
is quick and easy. You can also use a pressure caner for acidic foods, if that’s your preferred method.
All of the mason jars in canning can be reused after a run through the dishwasher. The lid frames are reusable as well, although the seal tops need to be thrown out after one use. All in all, canning is as good for the environment as it is for your body.
Keep the love of your organic garden alive long past the season with canning. Everybody is doing it – again.
