Sanders County Ledger - Your Best Source For Sanders County News

According to the calendar, it is time to start planting that garden. Mother Nature is sure to grace us with warmer weather and with any luck, a plentiful growing season. After a summer of weeding, watering and encouraging those crops to grow, harvest season will be here before we know it.

Preserving the harvest is the number one way to reward yourself throughout the year for a job well done. Enjoying summer’s bounty throughout the winter months is as nourishing as it gets. Unfortunately, sometimes the job of canning can be an intimidating one.

That’s why MSU’s Sanders County Extension Office is offering a “You Can!” course aimed toward passing along basic instruction on the principles and practices of safe canning and food preservation. The three-class course will cover food safety, canning basics, canning acidic foods, jams and jellies preservation, cleanliness, and pressure and water-bath canning.

“The information from each class will be built upon in each subsequent class, starting with a strong emphasis on food safety in the first class,” the course syllabus states. “Due to the limited time to present material, it is important for students to attend all classes.”

Those interested in attending the canning classes are required to reserve their spot as space is limited. Contact the Sanders County Extension Office at 827-6934 to enroll and receive further information. Classes will be held Friday, May 4, 11 and 18 from 5:30 – 8:30 at Thompson Falls Community Congressional Church, 704 Preston St. The cost is $20 for all three classes and includes text materials.