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Next is energy. Canning does involve some physical involvement in the project. Carrying boxes of canning jars, lifting bushels of produce, and moving a canning pot or pressure cooker loaded with full canning jars and water can take some muscle. There are some ways around this such as enlisting the help of someone stronger or moving things in smaller increments such as moving a few jars at a time rather than the whole box at once.

Lastly but certainly not the least is money. Some people believe that it's cheaper to can your own produce rather than purchasing it in the stores. This is not necessarily true. If growing your own produce yes there is a decrease in the cost of canning but if not you will need to include the cost of produce. Canning jars, water bath pots or pressure cookers, and the fuel used for cooking processes are all other costs that factor into the expense of canning produce.

Comfort in Knowing

Contamination warnings and recall notices are common news these days and has caused a mass movement towards people who do not normally can their foods doing so. All it takes is one disgruntled employee at a processing plant to evoke major concern about what is in those cans in your pantry. Even contamination of the fresh produce itself has caused thousands of illnesses around the world. During the canning process you know every step of the way what is cleaned properly and what isn't, what is added to the produce during the process, and where those jars have been from the day it's filled until it's served to your family.

My Response

Personally I do believe that canning or preserving my own produce is very much worth the effort. I love gardening from start to finish, getting my hands dirty, checking my babies daily, and showing off to friends and family what nature and I grew. There are times that I am exhausted and the canning process itself is a daunting task but once I hear that first POP as the jars start to seal I feel a reward. I am concerned about what myself and my family is eating and know that many processed foods contain not only extra chemicals and preservatives that aren't needed but also the quality of produce put into the jars or cans. I do however understand why canning food is not for everyone.

Learn more about this author, Faith Draper.
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