How to Have a Canning Party

Fall brings an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables and canning these can feed your family throughout the winter months.

Canning or bottling fruit and vegetables is a big job. Having other helping hands can make it much easier and actually a lot of fun! Invite your friends over for a canning party and everyone wins!

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Get your kitchen ready. You will need plenty of cupboard and table space so make sure you have everything cleared and ready. You might need to set up a couple of extra "work stations" in the dining area or other nearby areas. You will need an area for washing and preparing the produce. Another area for washing and sterilizing jars. Make sure you have plenty of room available near your sink and stove.

2. Assemble your canning equipment. If you don't have everything you need, check with the people you are inviting to see what they have before purchasing anything.

3. If everyone is planning on taking canned food home with them, make a list of everything that will be needed for the final product. This can include the fresh produce, sugar, spices, etc. Make assignments so that everyone has a fair share. Make sure you include jars, lids, etc.

4. Get organized so that everyone involved has a task to do. Work together in teams so that you have a continual process taking place. You might have two people picking beans, a couple snapping and washing, another filling jars, etc. Trade off so everyone stays happy!

5. It's a party so make sure you plan on having snacks and meals! Consider something simple such as hoagies. Make food assignments as well.

6. Consider making this a "service" project. As a personal note: I taught a group of teenage girls in Church and I had them all come over one day. We picked the green beans from my garden, I taught them how to prepare and bottle the beans and when we were finished we delivered all of the jars to families in our area that needed a little helping hand. We had a great day and everyone felt good when we were finished.

Tips & Warnings

• Follow good canning practices for safe canning.
• Read all recipes ahead of time just in case you need some advanced preparation.
• Clean as you go to save a huge mess at the end.
• Hire a babysitter at another home for the little ones if you have them!

[lighthouse1958]

on 9/21/2009 I also do canning. It takes a long time just to prepare the food before it is canned. Once it is started and have 2 canners going at once. Alot of fun can be canned if everyone pulls together. 5*

[botticelli728]

on 9/7/2009 This sounds like a lot of fun! Great way to avoid the hard work of canning becoming a chore. 5*

[cherylphillips]

on 9/6/2009 what fun. My parents and grandparents always got together to do canning! 5*

[bailey4]

on 9/4/2009 This is a great way to teach those who don't know how but are willing to work to learn. Great article. 5*

[dorigillman]

on 9/3/2009 what a nice charitable idea