Home food preservation resources offered

Home canners are encouraged to join Purdue Extension for the Mastering Home Food Preservation training this summer at the Johnson County Fairgrounds in Franklin.

Instructors will teach USDA home food preservation-recommended procedures and provide valuable resources and take-home products for participants. Topics covered throughout the training include food safety, freezing food, boiling water canning, pressure canning, pickling and drying foods and jams and jellies.

The training will be held daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Monday, June 12 and ending Thursday, June 15. The course fee is $275 and includes a Mastering Home Food Preservation notebook. Register online at https://cvent.me/Wnn7mG by June 6. Contact Abbi Smith at asmith22@purdue.edu for more information and accommodations.

There are two other local offerings this summer as well. First, there will be a Home Food Preservation (canning) workshop in Greene County on June 8. The cost for this workshop is $10. If anyone is interested in attending, this class from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Please call the Greene County Extension office at 812-659-2122.

The second offering will be the same class in Putnam County on July 12 at the Putnam County Fairgrounds. The cost of this workshop is covered thanks to a sponsorship from the Putnam County Public Library. To register for this class, please call the Putnam County Extension office at 653-8411.

In each of these workshops, participants will practice boiling-water bath and pressure canning techniques. There are limited spots available for each class, and registration is required.

If you are not interested in a workshop or class, there may be other things the Extension office can offer you. We provide dial gauge testing for just $5. It is recommended by the USDA to get your dial gauge tested for accuracy each year. A great time to do this is before you are ready to load your canner. Please call the Extension office to schedule an appointment.

Lastly, always make sure that you are using tested and researched-based recipes. If you are finding recipes on the internet, the best website is the National Center for Home Food Preservation. Another option is the USDA Guide to Home Canning book. This book can be purchased online, as well as in-person at the Putnam County Extension office for $25.

Visit www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or contact the local office at 653-8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Evening and lunch appointments are available, upon request. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs.

Upcoming Events

May 15 – All 4-H livestock/animal registrations must be entered in 4honline (firm deadline)

May 15 – Deadline for 4-H Academy and state Junior Leader conference

May 15 – Last day to sign up for 4-H Camp via 4honline

June 1 – Last day to sign up for 4-H Round-Up

June 5 – ServSafe food managers course and exam, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., register at https://purdue.edu/servsafe/workshops