Ponder your goals for the 2017 canning season and enter to win new storage and canning jars from Ball Canning!
Already today, we’ve talked a little bit about some of the canning and preserving we’re going to be doing together in the coming year (have you signed up for the Food in Jars Mastery Challenge yet?). Now, let’s talk in more detail about how we’re going to do it.
It takes thought and preparation to expand skill set and I find that there’s no better time to do a little planning for learning and growth than at the very start of fresh new year. Whether you’re a goal setter or a resolution maker, now is the time to start lining up our intentions.
Here are a few questions to start with as you dream up what you want to get out of your food preservation practice this year and how you want to shape the Mastery Challenge to work for you.
How does my family currently eat? Try starting with some small changes that will allow you to incorporate more homemade foods into your current habits and patterns.
What’s something I buy regularly from the store? If you find yourself picking up barbecue sauce or strawberry jam, consider setting a goal of making enough to get you through the year!
Is there something that scares me about food preservation? What can you do to release those fears?
What brings me joy in the kitchen? Not every goal has to be about pushing forward. Sometimes it’s enough to make time and space simply to do the things you already love.
How can I make my food preservation habit flow better? Sometimes all you need to do it put your gear in a more accessible part of your kitchen. Or perhaps you need to keep an eye out for a different canning pot. Knowing what you need is so much of the battle!
What do I want my kitchen life to look like this time next year? Sometimes the best way to set a goal is to look at where you want to end up and then plot a course that gets you there (or at least, that gets you closer).
Now, most food preservation goals will, at some point, arrive at the topic of jars. And it just happens that our friends at Ball Canning have recently added some new jars to their product line. In the spirit of helping a few Food in Jars readers further their food preservation goals, I’m giving away some of these new, lovely jars.
Three winners will each get a set of the new Ball Mini Storage Jars (these sweet little jars hold 4 ounces and sport 1-piece lids), a case of the new Ball Smooth-Sided Regular Mouth Pints, and a case of the Ball Smooth-Sided Regular Mouth Quarts.
Use the widget to enter!
Our goal is to grow more, so we can CAN more. Easy-peasy!
I’m hoping to start preserving more than jams and jellies. Hoping for some pickles and sauerkraut.
Love the new spring colors!
We’re hoping to move in the spring, so I’m looking forward to learning what produce will be available at our “new local” for canning and preserving. It will be a whole new world of ingredients for me to learn about!
Can’t wait to learn some new preserving techniques,this year. Maybe use my pressure canner.
I am looking forward to completing the FIJ Mastery Challenge this year. I also want to preserve a food item each season in a method I have not used before. But most importantly, I want to grow and preserve food for my family. Lastly, I love jars!!!
I am learning about canning as a newbie + joining the zero waste and minimalist living.
I’m a mason jar junkie; would love to win so I can add more to my out-of-control collection.
I am new to food preservation, but I can’t wait to get started!
I am hoping to have a good garden this year and have enough to preserve. I want to save money by growing and preserving the harvest.
My goal for 2017 is to try preserving more things I grow. More chutneys, marmalade, etc.
I want to have more canned meat on hand for quick meals.
I’d like to try more fermentation recipes this year! I started making your sauerkraut last year and now it’s become a staple in our house, so it’s time to add a few more things to my fermentation list.
I’d like to be more adventurous with herbs and flowers in flavoring my jams and preserves.
I love making jams and jellies, but I don’t eat them very much. I’d like to start doing more savory canning- pickles, tomatoes, stuff like that.
More savory, less sweet!
One of my goals for 2017 is to can something other than jam or preserves. Your marmalade looks delicious
What’s your hope, goal, intention, or resolution for the 2017 canning season?
Mine is to can as much as I possibly can store. I get big monthly deliveries of produce and meat and we can’t eat all of it before it goes bad.
Trying to make some healthy changes and this would help with more control of my food.
I would like to use more home grown apples and raspberries in my canning. I’m hoping this is my year!
I got one of these smooth-sided jars from the Oregon Fermentation Festival a few months ago and really like it!
What a way to start a new year – learning(or practicing to be better) new skills and getting cool jars to preserve our abundance! Thanks for providing!
My goal is to use up what I put up! I’m great at canning things… not so good at using them up. They taste delicious, don’t get me wrong, it is just I forget what is in our canning supply and don’t meal plan around it. My 2017 resolution is to use up what we have. Also, I want to make barbecue sauce this year. That’s one thing I haven’t tried yet!
Side note – I’m really excited Ball is now making smooth-sided jars!! These will be great for gifts!
I would like to start including my neighbors to Can with me, I could encourage them with an invitation and this gift!!!
I’d love to win! I can year round so I always need more jars!
To make myself the biggest garden yet, and can even more things! Last year the deer ate my beans, so I’m determined to keep my beans too!
My goal is to become better with jams and preserves and also with pressure canning. I’ve joined the challenge and I am so looking forward to it!
My goal for the upcoming year is to add more new recipes to my tried and true favorites. We love having home canned goods to get us through the fall and winter.
Excited about this! Just bought That’s My Jam, and hoping to try out some of those recipes.
I can’t wait to learn more canning skills!
I have always loved canning. I fed my children on home canned garden produce. I still can special items for my grandchildren.
To make more of things I use regularly (especially tomato based products), so I don’t rely on store bought items as much.
My intention is to try something new … as I always do. This year included a pickled garlic kolarabi relish from your site and a fabulous fail at strawberry jam that is the best strawberry sauce ever.
I want to actually can some this year, that’s my goal! 2015 I did lots. 2016 I did none. Maybe I can do some this year.
Since I’m having a baby this summer, I just want to do a little bit of canning – let’s say 3 types of jam!
My goal is to have it feel more natural and less of a chore
We are hoping to start growing some of our own food. Canning would help us save money.
One of my goals for 2017 canning is to try marmalade, so I’m super excited for this month’s challenge!