This is an viewpoint piece.
One of the sweetest seems of summer months is the “pop” songs from jars of canned greens allowing you know they are sealed. I grew up listening to those people tunes and seeing the smile on Momma’s confront each time a single chimed in.
Daddy normally planted a huge yard each individual year and our desk was loaded with bowls of freshness through the months of May well, June and July. Besides excellent eating throughout the summertime, he created guaranteed to plant sufficient for Momma to can and freeze so we could proceed to try to eat excellent all wintertime extended. By August just about every year, our deep freeze was full and the cabinets in the pantry have been straining with the bodyweight of all the Mason jars.
When I turned a Momma myself, I ongoing in the strategies I was lifted on. Every single spring, we tilled a place powering the residence and planted seeds and tender vegetation though Daddy gave us rigorous guidelines how to increase matters appropriately. With his assistance, we experienced a significant harvest just about every season. Loads of fresh vegetables in the summer season and lots still left to can and freeze for the winter season.
My mother served me can vegetables for quite a few several years before she thought I was able of dealing with it myself. I savored her help, her years of working experience and her firm.
She was an early riser…she liked to appear more than around 4:00 am…“before the kitchen got too hot” she’d say. She brought her previous Presto canner with her and we’d crank up the warmth on the stove and get commenced. Following the glass jars were being stuffed up with Rattlesnake beans or Better Boy tomatoes and placed into the canner, we sipped Maxwell Residence coffee and talked about lifestyle.
While the minimal “jiggler” hissed and danced, Momma sat on a stool close to the stove so she could enjoy the stress gauge and make positive it stayed on the correct temperature. Just about every canning period, I read the tale about the time her sister out in Grant permit the force establish up as well superior and the complete canner exploded. It despatched scalding water and broken glass all above the kitchen, but luckily no 1 was hurt.
Previous summertime, it did my heart excellent when my daughter named and questioned if I could provide in excess of the canner. She and her partner had planted a backyard and she was all set to put up her initially canner of environmentally friendly beans. I took Momma’s outdated Presto to a local hardware keep in which they place in a new seal and gauge.
I did not make it to her property that adhering to day by 4:00 am, but we did get an early start off. With terrific pride, I showed Katie how to pack the greens into the jars and then start off the canning approach. We drank coffee and listened to the “jiggler” while I sat on a stool close by, seeing the gauge and telling her the story about Aunt Lucille’s canner blowing up.
I am getting the Presto to my son’s dwelling this weekend… they have a garden and his spouse desires to discover the art of preserving greens. I’m certain Jeannie will have the coffee brewing and a stool ready….I can not wait around to notify her the exploding canner tale whilst we pay attention to the hiss of the “jiggler” and look at the steam increase.
There is no telling how many quarts and pints this previous canner has held … it has fed our loved ones properly for over 50 many years. I have considered about acquiring a new a single, but there is no require. This 1 however has a minor shine still left on it and performs just wonderful. It can nevertheless make people lids pop and perform a sweet tune. I would like Momma was nevertheless in this article to listen to the songs with me.
Sandy Holsonback is a guest columnist for The Reporter.
