Eat what you can, can what you can’t

Prize winning preserver Dan Wingerton gives tips on how to can the perfect vegetable. Sherry’s Shots On June 19, 2009 the Lone Rangers Master Gardeners of Leon County sponsored a Home Canning Seminar at the Centerville Municipal Building. There was a standing room only crowd on hand to learn the secrets that were shared.

The presentation began with president Mary Sue Watson introducing speakers Dan Wingerson, Charlene Manning and Cynthia Torno. Elaine Trefry was scheduled to speak but was unable to attend because of illness.

Torno described the three basic preservation methods which would be presented: canning, freezing and drying. She also gave an overview on how preservation works, discussing methods of canning, pickling, freezing and drying.

Dan Wingerson, who has won ribbons at the State Fair of Texas, gave a presentation on canning safety. He discussed the best tactics while using the various types of equipment.

After the preliminaries were out of the way the presenters demonstrated the various techniques using the pressure canner and boiling water bath methods.

Making, salsas, pickling, jams and jellies were the next few topics followed by freezing, drying and storage.