Food Preservation Class participants prepare roasted peppers and tomatoes to learn how to hot water bath can salsa.

Food Preservation Class participants prepare roasted peppers and tomatoes to learn how to hot water bath can salsa.

Here in Floyd & Montgomery Counties (VA) we are finally getting some much needed “spring” rain (on June 18th no less!) and local gardeners are just starting to harvest garlic scapes, lettuces, rhubarb, greens, and peas.

Garlic Scapes

Spices are perfect for harvesting right now as well and dehydrating or freezing them for use all year long.  As you can see from the picture below, potatoes are just starting to set flowers around here and tomatoes and peppers are about 6″ above the ground.  Our seedling transplants are all in the ground, and our gardens are growing and getting ready to produce a bounty for us in about 4-6 weeks.

The author's garden in Floyd, VA. (The toy poodle "Mini" is an excellent vole, mole, and mouse deterrent.)

The author’s garden in Floyd, VA. (Toy Poodle “Mini” is an excellent and all-natural vole, mole, and mouse deterrent.)

In anticipation of this year’s bountiful harvest, ’tis the season to prepare for upcoming canning and food preservation of locally grown/locally sourced produce.  The Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Food Volunteers of Floyd and Montgomery County (VA) along with our gardening partners Plenty! and Micah’s Garden, have been hard at work preparing our gardens and planning for a battery of wonderful food preservation classes!

Most recently, the Master Food Volunteers hosted two hot water bath canning classes in both Floyd and Montgomery County where participants learned how to make their own salsa with roasted peppers.

Participants also learned the difference between canning low acid foods (pressure canner needed) vs. canning high acid foods (boiling water bath canner needed) and how to adjust the Ph in certain low-acid foods (like cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes) with lemon juice or vinegar to ensure a safe product.

 

 

 

Upcoming classes include Pressure Canning 101 where participants will learn how to safely pressure can green beans at home.  These classes fill up quickly and a fun time is most definitely had by all. (However, the truly best part is being able to eat your own home-canned green beans in the middle of winter!!!)