Preserving food cannot be considered new and trendy, but the recent revival fits the modern renaissance of handcrafted food, heirloom agriculture, and using foods in its season. Like baking bread or making a slow-cooked tomato sauce, preserving offers primal satisfactions and practical results.

Stacks of locally grown, peak-ripe produce are about to appear at farmers markets, roadside stand and backyards all over the county. This is the window of opportunity to preserve all of nature’s bounty.

“The thoughts of home canning whether you are a pro or a novice, can be overwhelming, said Jimmi Buell, “but with the help of the Extension Office, we can make the process manageable.”

The Extension Office is offering a Canning and Preserving Made Easy workshop, an overview of canning fruits and vegetables, and will be held at the Polk County Extension Center on Monday, June 17. This two hour workshop will be at 2 p.m. and another at 6 p.m. Both classes cover the same materials. The cost for the workshop is $15.00 .

Call the Polk County Center of NC Cooperative Extension Service at 828-894-8218 to reserve your space for these workshops or if you have any questions.

– article submitted by Jimmi Buell