Why Should I Can My Own Food ?

Sonya Marie Harper
Published: October 18, 2012

Home Canning or bottling is the process of preserving foods, in particular fruits, vegetables and meats by packing them into glass jars and then heating the jars to kill the organisms that would create spoilage.

Canning your own food protects you against rising food costs. Preserving is a great way to take advantage of fresh food when it’s abundant. Abundant food is usually cheaper.

Cooking with your own canned foods will save you time in the kitchen when preparing your favorite recipes. Canning also allows you to personalize your preserved food to fit your and your family's tastes.

Some who find joy in canning may even turn their delicious canned creations into holiday gifts for friends and family or a home-based business.

Canning is no longer just something for your granny or great-grandma, it has made a hip return in a new population of young people who want to protect themselves from rising food costs and treat themselves to higher quality food.

If you are interested in learning more about canning, having your questions answered and seeing step-by-step how to can at home, there is a free class being offered at Growing Home Wood Street Urban Farm at 5814 S. Wood Street on Saturday, October 27, 2012 at 12pm.

For more information about the Canning Class or to RSVP contact: (773) 434-7144 or outreach@growinghomeinc.org

Helpful Home-Canning Links and Books

1. USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning (2009)

www.uga.edu/nchfp/publications/publications_usda.html

2. http://www.home-canning.com/

3. http://www.simplycanning.com

4. Complete Guide to Home Canning and Preserving (Second Revised Edition) Courier Dover, 1999

5. Canning for a New Generation: Bold, Fresh Flavors for the Modern Pantry by Liana Krissof

6. Canning and Preserving for Dummies, John Wiley & Sons, 2009