photo credit: ellievanhoutte

A few weeks ago I picked up a box of jars for canning at a garage sale for only $1. I would have grabbed two boxes, but a feisty old woman snatched the second box up before I could reach for it. I thought about following her and asking for tips, but something told me she would have taken my box from me and ran off cackling. I only hope to be half as scary when I’m her age.

Sadly the jars have been sitting on a shelf in my garage. I have a ton of good reasons for that. One being that it’s absolutely freezing outside and just the thought of walking to my garage makes me put on another sweater. Second is that I don’t yet have all the supplies I need. In trying to be both frugal and small I am avoiding buying new lids and rings and other such supplies at the big box store. Instead I keep putting feelers out on Freecycle and Craig’s List, hoping someone will take a bite.

Thirdly, and probably most important, is that I do not have anything to can just yet. I have not yet begun to really garden, outside of composting and hammering together raised bed boxes. I am trying to plan out indoor container gardening for the winter, if I can find a spot safe from curious cats and kids. Something tells me I’ll be scooping a lot of soil up off the carpet. I need to buy a cheap thermometer to hang out in the garage and see just how cold it gets out there. If it isn’t too bad I will try to grow some cold hardy plants on there.

I hope that soon I will have shelves that look close to Amber’s. Jar upon jar of goodness ready to be eaten.

My plan is to start with salsa. It’s something that we eat quite a bit of, is easy to make, and we don’t eat enough tomatoes to really take care of a plant any other way. After that I am looking at making some jams and jellies. After reading how easily Amy made homemade strawberry jam I can’t get the thought out of my mind. Plus it will be a great way to get out of the grape jelly rut Michael insists on sticking to.

So, now my question is this: any tips for a would-be canner? What books, recipes, products do you recommend for beginners? Fill me with your canning knowledge!