I grew up enjoying the bounty of my grandmother’s kitchen. From bowls of gravenstein applesauce to blackberry jam. Whatever delicious form it took, it always felt like pure love. The process of canning always seemed so magical but complicated and out of reach for me to learn. As a tribute to my grandmother, I undertook teaching myself to can and was surprised with how easy the process actually is.

My first batches of jam were actually canned in my grandmother's jars. I felt joy and pride as my pantry filled up with rows of different preserves. As I gifted jars to family and friends, much like my grandmother, I felt like I was extending my love to them.  Canning has provided me with an essential strategy for destressing from work and connecting with my creative side. I would love to demystify the process for others and have more of us utilizing the amazing harvest of fruits and vegetables throughout Sonoma County. We will be making two types of jam, one sweet and one savory, using a low sugar organic pectin. I hope you all can join me in making some jars of love!