Kitchen

Canning Classes

Seventh Generation Kitchen
April 22, 2009
Mary Lynn

It's still cold outside but it is spring and I know we are all eager to start planting our gardens. Planning is a very important part of this process so we can enjoy our vegetables through out the Summer and ling Winter months. We can accomplish this by canning and freezing our harvest to be enjoyed in the winter. When canning you can make lovely gifts of relishes, jams, jellies, butters and pickles for friends and family. What better way to show someone love, with gifts you have harvested and prepared just for them.

Now is the time to check what you'll need for canning because when the time comes the stores are often out of supplies that you may need. You may find yourself running around looking for these things only to find its too late in the season for the store to place an order. This is also a good time to find canning jars at yard sales. Just be sure to check the rims to see that there are no chips in or around the rims of the jars. Most major stores in our area carry all the supplies you'll need.

Here a Seventh Generation we will be offering canning classes starting at harvest time. We will be canning a variety of vegetables, sauces, jams, jellies and butters. hopefully you'll find time to join us for one or more of our classes. We will post time and dates on Seventh Generation web page and post fliers.

Mary Lynn (center above) has worked with the Seventh Generation Program for several years now. She started as a volunteer: When the program needed someone to prepare food with a little TLC they called on Mary Lynn. Mary is an Odawa from the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa.

Her knowledge of food preparation is complimented with her knowledge of Traditions concerning feasting and special meals.

She welcomes this community to come in and learn more about how to prepare foods from basic kitchen stocks.

Her skills in preserving fresh foods have greatly contributed to Seventh Generations’ success while preparing huge feasts for the community. Mary welcomes anyone who would like to learn more and practice those skills she has to offer. She calls the kitchen area of Seventh Generation the community’s kitchen, and she welcomes visitors.

Mary Lynn believes that the attitude while creating the foods the people will enjoy during a feast will be consumed, therefore there is much laughter and well wishes that shows her TLC for the people.