> I've filled them all and bought many more. Canning used to be a way of
> life in the American South but as farms got smaller and grocery stores got
> larger, many people quit canning. It's coming back in favor now for
> economic and health reasons. There's nothing better than going to my
> basement to shop for dinner! I know exactly what is in those jars and how
> it was raised.
I've run the economics on it quite a few times through the years. It
works ONLY if you raise your own crop or are able to buy direct from
the farmer, in bulk, at a wholesale price. Nearly impossible to make
the numbers work otherwise.
My mom canned tons of stuff every year. We raised a lot in our gardens
(oh how I hate pulling weeds), but ate all that directly. Everything
she canned, she purchased in bulk. Growing up in one of the highest
density fruits and vegitables regions of the country did help. It was
not unusual for a farmer to miss his scheduled delivery date at the
canning factory (everything is contracted) and end up with 20 acres of
string beens that can't be sold. A few calls would go out and you'd
have a couple dozen families show up and strip it clean.
--
Ken Norton
ken@xxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.zone-10.com
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