Canning - Why Do I Put Myself Through All This?

If you have ever canned produce you have more than likely asked yourself this question, "Is this worth it?" Before answering this question there are several things you should first take into consideration. Basically you will be weighing the pros and cons of canning food. Will you be raising your own produce or purchasing from another source? Do you have a commitment of time and energy? Is providing food for your family that you know exactly what has been added to or done to it important to you?

To Raise Produce or Purchase

Raising your own produce can be therapeutic in itself but can also be very time consuming. The process of: digging in the dirt, planting a small seed, tending the plant as it grows, and harvesting your garden crop in the end can be either relaxing or nerve wracking. Depending on what you want to can this could mean several months of labor and waiting.

Seeing that first seedling pop its head out of the ground though can provide great joy. Discovering your first bud or bloom is another positive milestone. When that first tomato, pepper or other fruit or vegetable ripens is the 'great reward'. A pat on the back saying job well done and you know you have succeeded.

On the con side however you will need to consider will you go all out and have a huge garden space or simply a few potted plants? Keep in mind that the larger the garden space the larger the work and time involved to plant, maintain, and harvest. There are things like too much rain or not enough rain, bugs and diseases may attach, one good hail or wind storm can wipe out months of work.

If you have access to a farmer's market this may be a better choice for obtaining your produce. Many farmers' markets offer a wide selection of produce at very reasonable prices and the fruits and vegetables are normally grown locally. Another possibility is contacting a local farmer or gardener who may have extra produce they would be willing to sell directly to you.

Time, Energy, and Money Involved

Let's start with time. When canning foods there is a certain amount of time commitment involved and there is no way at all to avoid some of these. The process of most food means once you start there is no stopping until it's finished and that can mean several hours to an entire day. If you have the time to spend a day in the kitchen and would enjoy doing that then canning is certainly a good fit for you.

Next is energy. Canning does involve some physical involvement in the project. Carrying boxes of canning jars, lifting bushels of produce, and moving a canning pot or pressure cooker loaded with full canning jars and water can take some muscle. There are some ways around this such as enlisting the help of someone stronger or moving things in smaller increments such as moving a few jars at a time rather than the whole box at once.

Lastly but certainly not the least is money. Some people believe that it's cheaper to can your own produce rather than purchasing it in the stores. This is not necessarily true. If growing your own produce yes there is a decrease in the cost of canning but if not you will need to include the cost of produce. Canning jars, water bath pots or pressure cookers, and the fuel used for cooking processes are all other costs that factor into the expense of canning produce.

Comfort in Knowing

Contamination warnings and recall notices are common news these days and has caused a mass movement towards people who do not normally can their foods doing so. All it takes is one disgruntled employee at a processing plant to evoke major concern about what is in those cans in your pantry. Even contamination of the fresh produce itself has caused thousands of illnesses around the world. During the canning process you know every step of the way what is cleaned properly and what isn't, what is added to the produce during the process, and where those jars have been from the day it's filled until it's served to your family.

My Response

Personally I do believe that canning or preserving my own produce is very much worth the effort. I love gardening from start to finish, getting my hands dirty, checking my babies daily, and showing off to friends and family what nature and I grew. There are times that I am exhausted and the canning process itself is a daunting task but once I hear that first POP as the jars start to seal I feel a reward. I am concerned about what myself and my family is eating and know that many processed foods contain not only extra chemicals and preservatives that aren't needed but also the quality of produce put into the jars or cans. I do however understand why canning food is not for everyone.