by: Mayla Odom
Canning and preserving food are crucial to food security, providing a reliable and long-lasting food supply. Canning is a process that involves sealing food in airtight containers and sterilizing it with heat. The heat kills microorganisms that cause spoilage, extending the shelf life and making food last for years. Teaching the youth this survival skill can help them appreciate fresh food and preserving skills.
On Saturday, April 19, 2025, the Winston County Self-Help Youth Group met again for a Strawberry Jam workshop. Mayla Odom introduced herself and emphasized the importance of being able to feed yourself, which encourages self-sufficiency and resilience. The children were super excited to learn. On this day, they built muscle, learned patience, and learned safety tips in the kitchen.
First, we sterilized the jars and lids in the quart bath for 15 minutes. Then, the youth took turns crushing the strawberries with a potato masher. Once the youth had all the strawberries crushed, six kids took turns measuring out 5 ½ cups of crushed strawberries, and then the kids incorporated the pectin slowly while another child stirred. Then, Mayla added the combination to the stove until the mixture started to boil and boiled for 1 minute. Next, Ms. Pamela OBryant (WCSHC) assisted the kids with measuring 8 cups of sugar. Then, the sugar is added and stirred slowly, then placed back on the stove for an additional 1 minute, rolling boil. While we waited for the jam to boil, we took the hot sterilized jars out of the hot water bath and placed them on a kitchen towel. Once the kids took the jam from the stove, they filled a hot jar, placed the lids on it, and returned it to the boiler. All 10 jars boiled again for 5 minutes to remove any bacteria and seal them properly.
All participants enjoyed the jam with biscuits and were amazed at its quality.
Check out the photos from the event.
