Is canning and preserving foods worth it?
That will depend on how much value you put into having homegrown and home-preserved foodstuffs, with out preservatives added salts, and all the other additives that one can't even pronounce much less spell.

It will also depend on.... do you enjoy gardening, some has to grow the foodstuffs before they can be preserved. Do you enjoy cooking or are you a kitchen person, if not, then you most definitely would not enjoy canning or freezing foods, therefore would possibly not think preserving food is worth it.

As for me, gardening, canning and freezing, is a way of life. From as early as I can remember, my mother has been the worlds best gardener (in my humble opinion) and canned, pickled, froze veggies, made jellies jams, if it grew out of the ground or on a tree or vine and could be preserved in a jar, or a bag in the freezer, then we did it.

We didn't just preserve food to look pretty on a shelf, which it does, but it was a necessity for us. Many times our entire meal except for the staples used to complete the meal, would come from the can shelf or the freezer. Thus I was taught, it was a way of life to have good, healthy foods as well as economical.

Yes it is labor intense to preserve the garden bounty, and do I think it is worth it, you better believe it. It saves much on the grocery bill, and I enjoy besides eating the delicious bounty, sharing them as gifts. There is no finer gift, than to put together a lovely little basket (which I usually will weave myself) of pickles,salsa, green-beans and tomato juice jellies,etc. Many people whom aren't gardeners, think that is the greatest of gifts. I give them for all occasions, from wedding , birthdays, to Christmas gifts, and they are highly appreciated. The convenience of having home canned goodies at your disposal, for a quick meal or a quick gift, is just one of the reasons I think canning and preserving foodstuffs is worth it, not to discount the delicious flavor, which is preservative free.

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