As I develop my domestic side, I have found I actually kinda like canning all my homegrown produce. It's fun, and I feel productive. Even better, I get to show off later!
The really cool thing about being close to not only my family, but Sweetie's family too, is that I was gifted a (now) fourth generation pressure canner, complete with the original manual containing many handwritten recipes stapled and tucked inside. It is so old there is no model number on the canner, only "Maid of Honor" and "Our Best Quality". The manual doesn't even have a print date. I was able to find advertisments for the manuals online, but virtually no information about the canner itseslf.
Today, I hulked the canner and all the associated implements to the OSU Extension office to find out if it was safe to use. The short answer is, no. The guage is miles off the mark, and the emergency valve is incomplete. After discussing what it would take to repair it, I was told I would be better off to just get a newer canner. :( Sweetie doesn't know his Mom gave "us" a small pet project to get it running again!
By some stroke of luck, I had arranged to visit Grandma this morning, and she mentioned she would like to have her canner's rubber gasket checked. Turns out, her gasket is fine, but her guage is also off. It is safe to use, and we got instructions on what the guage will read at 5, 10 and 15lbs but it was recommended that she replace the guage.
The Master Food Preserver at the Hillsboro office was fantastic. She was in awe of my ancient canner, and really helped Grandma make sure she was doing things safely, without damaging her final product. Turns out they even knew some of the same people from way back when, and a mountain range away.
After lugging both canners through Hillsboro (really only a few blocks, but they're big and heavy and it was 90 degrees out!), we load up and drive home. At that point, Grandma had already decided that she has no interest in canning alone any more, I am going to take her canner off her hands. Suprise!
Inheriting not one, but two pressure canners in one week... I am proud that our families have entrusted these sorts of items to us. While they are bulky, and I don't know what I'm going do with the true antique, I am honored to have them both.
Many women now don't have a way to learn canning, even though they may have an interest. In my mind, there is nothing stopping anyone from growing their own food and preserving it. I have tasted the difference between tomato sauce in a can at the grocery store, and tomato sauce canned at home with homegrown produce. No comparison! The cool thing is, absolutely anyone can do it if they're willing to sacrifice a bit of outdoor space, a window, or even install grow lights in a back bedroom.
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