Cascadian Farm Organic Goodness

Now that we’ve talked about why to can and preserve food, let’s look at the process of how you can. If you haven’t canned food before, the process can be pretty overwhelming, but it doesn’t need to be. Here are the basics, broken down step by step for you.

What you need to get started:

Canning Jars and Seals – mason-style jars with sealed lids and rings work best and can be found at most grocery stores

Wide-Mouth Funnel – to fill jars with sauces or jams without making a mess and having to constantly wipe down the jars (optional)

Lid Wand – makes removing lids and rings from boiling water easier (optional)

Ladle – to fill jars

Large Pot – for boiling preserves and jams, fruits, tomatoes and pickled vegetables

Pressure Canner – used for canning vegetables and meats for its ability to reach a higher temperature

Tongs of Jar Lifters – rubberized lifters make removing cans from their water bath less slippery, but a good pair of tongs can work just as well

Clean Towels – used to wipe down jars, lids and rims of jars

• Sterilize your jars.   Start by washing your lids and jars in hot soapy water. From there, move them to a large pot with boiling water for ten minutes to sterilize. Remove the jars from the water, but leave lids in until you’re ready to use. This will ensure they don’t become contaminated prior to sealing.

• Canning fruits and vegetables immediately after you harvest them gives you the highest nutrient concentration. The longer a fresh piece of produce sits the more vitamins it loses. Fruits and vegetables can be sliced and diced; prepare your jams and preserves using your favorite recipes, and pickle vegetables before placing in the jars. You can also stew tomatoes and precook depending on the variety you’re making.

• Tomatoes often have lemon juice or another citric acid added to them prior to canning to ensure their pH level is above 4.6. Ascorbic acid solutions can also be added to fruits to prevent browning prior to placing in jars. Not all tomatoes need an acid added, but be sure to check for the variety you’re using.

• Iron, aluminum and copper should not be used when preparing your fruits and vegetables to can. So, leave those gorgeous copper pots and pans on the pan rack and the shelves for this one. These metals can cause discoloration of the produce.

• Now it’s time to fill your jars. Be sure not to fill them completely. Produce expands during the boiling process, so leaving adequate space at the top prevents the jar from leaking and making a mess. Usually about a half inch of space is recommended.

• When filling your jar with produce and not liquids like jams, jellies and preserves, pour liquid over the top to submerge the fruit or vegetables. Pickling solution or juice should cover to the top of your produce.

• Make sure there are no air bubbles along the sides of the jar. Run a knife along the side to remove any bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars down with a clean cloth and cap with the flat sealing lids and rims.

• Preheat water in your pot or pressure cooker for processing your jars.  For hot food like jams and jellies, water should be preheated to 180º F, and for cold produce like canning whole tomatoes, it should be around 140º F.  This prevents cracking of the jars as you introduce hot liquid to them.

• The water in your pot should be an inch or two above the top of the canning jar. A pressure canner should be used according to the manufacturer’s directions to determine the amount of water needed for the type of food you’re making.

• Add the jars using your tongs or jar lifter into the pot or pressure cooker so they are not touching. Add the lid. For hot water canning, bring the water to a slow boil. This is where you start your timer and process. How long you process is determined by the vegetable or fruit you’re canning and the altitude where you live. The same is true of pressure cooking.

• Let your jars cool.  Place them on a flat wood or cloth-covered surface to let them cool. They will start to pop while cooling, creating the vacuum seal. Once they have cooled, (usually leave a full 24 hours), press down on the center of your jars to check for proper sealing. Any lids that spring back have not sealed and can be placed in the refrigerator and eaten first.

Now it’s time to store the fruits of your labor until later. Canned food is perfect for those long winter months to break up the winter squash and root vegetable monotony. Do you can food?

Photos by Shaina Olmanson

As summer wanes it’s time to start thinking of what we’re going to do with all the produce that comes from the garden, but not only the garden. While I’ve explained why I choose to garden and expose my kids to it, you may not have the time, space or the ability to tend your own garden. Food preservation – canning, freezing and drying food – is for you as well. The farmers market is a wonderful place to stock up on fresh and local produce while it’s in season.

Why Preserve the Harvest?

*Preserving saves you money. Buying produce in season is always cheaper than buying produce that’s been shipped in from somewhere else. You can take advantage of low prices now by stocking up, canning and preserving fresh produce for use in sauces, casseroles and stews during the winter months.

*It is environmentally friendly. Much less energy is expended growing fruits and vegetables during the local season. Trucks can carry produce to local markets, rather than shipping them from different hemispheres.

*Preserving cuts down on waste. I grew up with a very frugal family, and we were always taught not to waste. In a day and age where so many people are hungry and looking for food, I feel that it is a social responsibility to make sure I’m using all the food I have available to me.  Letting my tomatoes rot because I couldn’t eat them fast enough just isn’t an option for my family.

*It’s fresher and tastes better.  Using produce that’s at the peak of freshness always tastes better than produce that’s been picked before it is ripe and then ripened using ethylene gas. Canning and freezing your food preserves it at the freshest point.

*No BPA.  So many companies still line their canned products with BPA. Canning in jars at home ensures you know exactly what you put in the jar, not only the salt content and extra ingredients, but also the lack of chemicals and byproducts.

Do you preserve food in the summer and fall for the winter?  What are your favorite canning recipes?

Photos by Shaina Olmanson

Can you believe that it is already Back to School time? Between clothing, school supplies and other school related gear, there are a lot of items that your child will need to get ready for another school year. Getting your children ready for back to school doesn't have to hurt the environment or break the bank. Here are my top 10 tips to making your back to school shopping Eco friendly and fun.

School Supplies 101: School supplies can be a huge part of your back to school budget and choosing Eco friendly supplies can be tricky. First, I suggest going through your child's supplies from last year and reusing as many of those supplies as possible. If your child's school wants the supplies kept in a plastic container, consider using last years container - after a good scrubbing, it should be as good as new. If you need to purchase new supplies, consider supplies that are sustainable made and/or recycled. My favorite Eco friendly place to purchase green school supplies that are fun is Stubby Pencil Studio.

Let's Get Trendy: Back to school clothing and shoes most likely uses the largest part of your budget. With that said, you want to get the most bang for your buck. A great way to get your school clothing shopping done without breaking the bank or harming the environment is to get creative. Your local thrift and consignment stores will have a large selection of clothing that are in great condition. If you are crafty, you can find something used and with a few snips and stitches, you can have a new designer piece of your own - think Project Runway. If your neighbors, friends or extended family has children around the same ages as your own, you can arrange a clothing swap party. Or, you can check out an online clothing swap site. If 2nd hand isn't your thing, consider purchasing clothing from sustainably minded companies that use organic and all natural fibers.

Choose Quality over Quantity: When doing any of your child's back to school shopping, consider quality over quantity. Choosing items that are high quality and will last longer is a much better option than purchasing a use once and it breaks item. Choose quality items that your child can use over and over again each school year, items such as; backpacks, supply boxes, refillable pens and pencils and hardcover refillable notebooks. Also, purchasing high quality clothing and shoes that will last the entire school year and could even be passed onto younger siblings is a huge plus.

Lunch Break: Does your child's school doesn't have a healthy, well balanced lunch program with an actual kitchen that prepares and cooks their own meals? How about a kitchen that washes and reuses trays and silverware? If not, consider sending a homemade lunch for your children everyday. A nutritious and delicious homemade meal sent to school in a reusable BPA free lunchbox is the perfect way to reduce lunchtime waste. Plus, packing your own child's lunch gives them the ability to provide feedback as to which energy fueling foods they will enjoy.

You Have to Get There: How your child gets to school can have a huge impact on the environment. Whether that impact is positive or negative is up to you? If you live close to the school, consider having your child walk or bike each day. If walking or biking isn't an option, consider carpooling with other children that live in your neighborhood or have your children ride the local school bus. If you absolutely must drive your child to school, remember not to idle in the pick up/drop off line - turn your car off while you wait.

Books, Books, Books: If your child goes to a school where you need to purchase their textbooks or if your child is starting college, consider purchasing your books through a used textbook reseller. Many online resellers and campus bookstores sell used books and you can also find them online at eBay, Craig's List or my favorite BigWords. Once your child is finished using a textbook, you can usually sell them back to these vendors as well.

Get the Gear: If your child is signing up for extra-curricular activities or sports and will need the gear to go with it, consider purchasing used gear. You can purchase used sports gear at stores such as Play It Again Sports or through online classified sites such as Used Sports. Most of the gear that you will find at these establishments are in like new condition and still have plenty of playtime left in them.

Go Digital: If your child's school will allow it, consider going digital. It can be much more Eco friendly to store your child's agenda, homework and other important documents on a PDA or Netbook. Also, taking notes on a laptop is much easier than filling up notebooks and using ink pens - which are hard to recycle.

Encourage Change: Get involved with your child's school, help them to become more Earth friendly. Suggest that each classroom have it's own recycling and composting area. Encourage your child's school to plant and harvest an on campus garden that the children can help maintain and enjoy. Suggest that the school schedule Eco field trips that immerse children in the environment. Also, meeting with your child's principal to discuss the importance of making the school as sustainable as possible is very important, if changes are going to be made.

Live Green at Home: As with most things in life, children will learn by how you as a parent live. Lead by and be an excellent example for your child to follow. If you pick up litter, speak out about sustainability, eat organics and love the environment - changes are, so will your child. If we all make small green choices everyday, that our children grow up modeling, we all benefit in the long run.

What ways will you green your children's back to school?

Leave your comments below!

Photo Credits:

Lockers, Crayons, Clothing, lunch, bus, books,change

Mediterranean Bean Salad and Greek Chicken Gyros- With an assortment of beans, barley & other fresh ingredients, this salad will be sure to please. Round off the meal with Chicken Gyros and you'll have a meal that will leave your family begging for more. Thanks, Shaina, for these tasty recipes! -foodformyfamily.com

Digging a Community Garden and More: Mississippi Market's Eco Stamp Program- Information on a program that a Minnesota co-op created to give back to the environment, their shoppers and the community. -simplegoodandtasty.com

Easy Apple Raisin Crisp- A sinfully delicious looking treat that is simple to make! Try using ourstrawberry spread if you don't already have your own! -makeitfromscratch.blogspot.com

Soapbox: USDA Organic Certification Standards for Personal Care Products Explained in Plain English- Fig+Sage break down the terminology behind the USDA organic certification process so anyone can understand. -figandsage.blogspot.com

Fennel, Avocado and Mint Salad with Pistachio Caper Dressing- Another recipe from Make it from Scratch gives us a zesty salad to spice up the summer. (As if it hasn't been hot enough!) -makeitfromscratch.blogspot.com

Happy blueberry harvest! Let us know what you think about the links this week. We'd love to hear your comments.

Photo by Shaina Olmanson