Fearless Canning: A HANDS-ON WORKSHOP - Canning Fruit and Vegetables 2014

Read about our 2015 Canning Workshops - Click here!

$75 per person
Lunch is included
Places are limited; we encourage you to register as soon as possible.

 A Mercantile Canning Workshop - gorgeous heirloom tomatoes and homegrown garlic becoming salsa!

Maybe you got a great deal on a lug of peaches or a flat of juicy ripe strawberries at your farmer's market, or perhaps your first garden is producing TONS of tomatoes and peppers - now what? Join us for a food preservation intensive where you’ll get hands-on experience in an atmosphere where questions are encouraged and confidence gained. With a focus on both safety and flavor, we’ll go step by step from beginning to delicious end.

Alline sent each seminar attendee home with basic canning supplies, a canning book, and freshly canned goodies! The whole experience greatly exceeded my expectations. We had such fun canning and staying at the EcoInn! The canning seminar gave me the knowledge and confidence I needed to can on my own at home.  

~Bobbie, seminar participant

We are offering five different Saturday sessions - which one works best for you?

• May 17
• July 19
• August 16
• August 30
• October 18 cancelled
  

All seminars run from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m, and include coffee, tea and lunch.

What we start with...

What we finish with!

In our day together we’ll put up something sweet (jam or preserves), savory (salsa and tomato sauce) and tart (pickles) PLUS take time to understand the science behind preserving food safely and flavorfully. Depending upon what is in season, we may make some zucchini relish (surprisingly wonderful!), applesauce or pear sauce, chow chow (fabulous for the name alone) or chutney.

We’ll discuss and demonstrate:

• Harvesting and procuring the best produce
• Organic or not – what’s the difference?
• Alternative sweeteners – are they possible?
• All about pectin
• Great recipes for a variety of fruits and vegetables
• Knife handling
• Choosing the right jar for the job
• Sterilizing jars for safety
• Hot water bath tips (we’ve learned the hard way so that you won’t have to!)
• The right tools, which make all the difference

We’ll share our favorite recipes and techniques, and everyone will go home with samples, recipes and loads of ideas and inspiration PLUS a few key tools of the trade. You’ll never go back to “store-bought” jam, salsa, tomato sauce and pickles once you’ve made your own!

Summer in a jar!

The workshop will be held in the certified commercial kitchen at the Milkweed Mercantile, a solar-and-wind-powered business at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, and taught by Alline Anderson, Proprietor and Ambassador of Jam at the Milkweed Mercantile.


ALL materials and supplies are provided.


Each seminar participant will receive:

• Five full hours of instruction (with an hour for lunch)
• A delicious lunch
• Supplies to take home: Canning Handbook and your own jar lifters  ($24 value, included in class fee)
• Recipes and ideas
• Samples of canned food made during the class to take home and share

TO REGISTER: Please send an email to alline@milkweedmercantile.com and let us know which class you'd like to attend. You may then give us a call (660-883-5522) with a credit card number, or mail a check to:
 
Milkweed Mercantile
3 Dancing Rabbit Lane
Rutledge,  MO 63563 

If you mail a check, please be sure to indicate which class you'll be attending.

A place in a class is not guaranteed until we receive payment.


The Fine Print:
Payment for the seminar and your accommodations is due upon registration. We accept VISA, MasterCard, cash and personal checks. Read our Deposit/Cancellation/Refund Policy here. For questions, please call 660-883-5522. If we don't answer, please leave a message. We'll call you right back!

Please leave your pets at home 
Pets (except for seeing-eye dogs and other service dogs) are not allowed at any Milkweed Mercantile Seminars. While we do have a pet-friendly guest room, pets are not allowed to be unattended in any of our rooms, and while attending a seminar you will be unable to care for your pet. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Travel to the Milkweed Mercantile 
Our seminar prices do not include travel to and from the Milkweed Mercantile.  For directions, train, airport and rental car information, click here.


Seminars Canceled or Changed by the Milkweed Mercantile 
On very rare occasions, we must cancel or change seminars. If this occurs, our responsibility is limited to a refund of any trip fees you've already paid. The Milkweed Mercantile is not responsible for airline tickets, other tickets or payments, or any similar fee penalties that you may incur as a result of any trip cancellations or changes.