With the right tools and instruction, home food preservation can help you safely enjoy the fruits of your labor all year long. WVU Extension Service’s food preservation experts are ready to deliver right to you at home the knowledge and skills you need to start canning, freezing and drying your own foods.
Beginning on Tuesday, May 4, food preservationists of all experience levels are invited to participate in an eight-part webinar series that will cover everything from the equipment needed to the various methods that can be used to preserve your garden’s bounty and more.
Each Tuesday through June 22, a WVU Extension Service expert will cover a new topic during that webinar session. All sessions will take place from noon to 1 p.m. Our experts will cover the following topics on these dates:
- May 4: Introduction to Canning
- May 11: Using a Water Bath Canner and Jam Maker: Jams and Jellies
- May 18: Using a Water Bath Canner: Tomatoes
- May 25: Using a Pressure Canner: Vegetables
- June 1: Using a Pressure Canner: Meats
- June 8: Using a Water Bath Canner: Fermenting
- June 15: Freezing and Drying Fruits and Vegetables
- June 22: Freezing and Drying Meats
The webinar series will be both interactive and educational, allowing participants to ask questions and engage with the presenter even though they’re joining remotely.
All sessions will be recorded, which gives registered participants the flexibility to participate live or watch the sessions at a later time.
“Past generations relied on food preservation to ensure their families had food during the winter months. While that’s not as necessary today, food preservation is still a great way to get the most use out of our fresh produce, meats and more,” Hannah Fincham, WVU Extension Service agent in Randolph County and webinar presenter, said. “Food preservation methods have been updated many times since our grandparents’ days though. So, it’s important for those who want to preserve their foods to participate in opportunities like this series to learn how to do so safely.”
Those who are interested in participating can register online for the food preservation webinar series.
Participants will be provided with information about how to join the webinar after registering. No previous food preservation experience is required; however, participants who have not completed the first session – Introduction to Canning – will be asked to do so before joining any of the webinar sessions related to canning.
The webinar series is free and open to the public. Participants of all ages are welcome.
-WVU-
hb/04/26/21
CONTACT: Hannah Booth
Communications Specialist
WVU Extension Service
304-293-8701; hannah.booth@mail.wvu.edu