By: Jonathan Evans
On June 3rd, 2024, the Winston County Self Help Cooperative hosted an engaging canning workshop where Ms. Rosie Harris demonstrated how to make blackberry jam. This hands-on session was not just about making jam, but about equipping each of us with a new skill, a step towards self-sufficiency and sustainability in rural America.
She prepared the 6 1/2 cups of blackberries by blending them into juice and mixing them with 1 pack of powdered pectin. The mixture was placed on the stove and brought to a rolling boil for 1 minute. Ms. Harris then removed the pot from the stove to add the 8 1/2 cups of sugar. She then returned the pot to the stove for another rolling boil, which should only be for 1 minute once the rolling boil starts.
Once the jam was ready, Ms. Clara Cooper and Ms. Ann Kelly assisted Ms. Harris. They carefully poured the jam into the sterilized jars, sealed them, and gave them a final boil for 5 minutes to ensure proper sealing and further prevent spoilage.
“When you fix it yourself, you know how you fix it, but when you buy it in the store, you don’t know what is in it,” mentioned Ms. Harris. The WCSHC community is not just about creating sustainability, but about fostering a sense of shared knowledge and experience. The knowledge shared by Ms. Rosie is a testament to these values. We extend our gratitude to Ms. Rosie for teaching us how to make and preserve blackberry jam through shared experience.
Please make sure to check out photos and Facebook Live from the event.
