This post is by Bernie Carr, apartmentprepper.com
Today we are featuring The Organic Canner by Daisy Luther. For anyone who is not familiar with Daisy Luther, she runs The Organic Prepper and her articles are widely publicized in alternative media.
I was excited to read The Organic Canner. Canning is a great skill to learn for self-sufficiency, and it’s a way to add to your food storage supplies at a low cost. Learning how to can has been in my to-do list for some time, but I have not undertaken the challenge due to lack of space and a degree of uncertainty. Let’s face it, a lot of dedicated DIY folks are intimidated by canning. “What if my home canned food turns bad?” is a common objection. Well, The Organic Canner is exactly the type of book for newbies like us.
Written in a conversational tone, Daisy makes you immediately comfortable you picked up the book. She walks you through the most basic steps, in easy to understand directions – you will feel she is right there with you. You can tell she speaks from a wealth of experience, which gives you confidence that she knows what she is talking about.
The recipes are simple with easy to find ingredients. I enjoyed reading The Organic Canner, and contacted Daisy with a few questions of my own.
Here is the interview:
1. Many apartment dwellers feel reluctant to try canning due to the equipment involved and space required. How might a person who lacks space get started?
As much as we’d all love a Better Homes and Gardens kitchen, it’s not necessary for preserving your food. Canning doesn’t take up as much room as you would expect. You need a small amount of counter space – enough for a canner load full of jars, and a stove.
2. The book gives great instructions for water bath canning and pressure canning. If you had to choose between the two, just to get started, what minimum equipment would you recommend?
If you’re just getting started, the easiest way is with water bath canning. The equipment is far less intimidating, and you’ll find that jams, jellies, pickles, and salsa are difficult to mess up.
3. I already own a pressure cooker, how is this different from a pressure canner? Can a pressure cooker do the same thing?
It isn’t advised to pressure can in a pressure cooker. Canners have a valve and gauge, and it’s vital that you be able to accurately monitor the pressure. Underprocessed food can be source of deadly food poisoning.
4. Another issue people worry about are the risks of contamination. There is always some story in the news about people getting sick from home canned food – what are your thoughts about this?
There are definitely risks involved if you don’t do things properly. It’s important to follow the instructions very carefully. If you err, err on the side of adding more time. Your pressure must be held consistently in order to be assured of safety. Botulism is a type of food poisoning that can cause symptoms as extreme as permanent paralysis or death. Now that I’ve sounded really scary, I want to reassure you that if you follow the instructions, your product will be safe and nutritious.
5. What are some tips that you personally use to save money on organics?
I buy a lot of our food from people I know. Many local farmers raise their crops and livestock organically, but they can’t afford to jump through all of the hoops the government requires of them to become “certified organic”. If you can get to know people well enough to learn about their practices, you can save a substantial amount of money over “Whole Foods” prices. You can supplement your groceries with things that can be grown in a small yard, on a balcony, or even in a sunny windowsill. Pick your battles – not everything has to be organic. Every year, the Environmental Working Group comes out with lists of the foods that are most important to buy organic and those which aren’t as bad when purchased conventionally-grown. Finally, shop in-season. Even organic produce is much more reasonable when you buy it at the right time of year.
*Winners will be notified via email.
*Winner must reply to email notification within 48 hours or another winner will be drawn.
This giveaway has ended.
I have done fruits, tomatoes, jams and jellies but I have never done pressure canning, its something I do want to get into, I just haven’t done it yet.
I haven’t tried canning yet. I admit I’m petrified to even try it, although I know it’s a skill I need to learn and master. I just got a water bath canner but do not have a pressure canner. Obviously, I need assistance!
I have been water bath canning for about fifteen years. I received a pressure canner for Christmas. So far I have canned dried beans and chicken broth. Tomorrow I will be doing beef broth. I like it, but it still makes me nervous.
I have been wanting to start canning for awhile but it feels so overwhelming. This book would be a great intro!
No, I have not but have been looking forward to doing so.
Pressure canning is something my husband and I have yet to venture into. We like to do salsas, jams, and pumpkin butter in the fall. Sugar free options are one thing we try to do more of but I am never sure how that will impact each recipe. As we live in an apartment it is hard to do large batches of anything but that is something I would like to do more of. With all the work that goes into it I want to reap the rewards of the process.
I have done some canning, after checking out a book from the library and “teaching” myself. I think my biggest challenge so far was canning dried beans after watching a YouTube video. Things didn’t go as well for me as they did for the person in the video! :^{