Book tour: segment 7!
Oregon is where it’s at.
;)
Mountains (and volcanoes) galore, the Columbia River gorge, the Willamette Valley, the Pacific coast. Ah! Descending upon Portland OR always takes my breath away.
Oregon is where Linda Ziedrich lives, too. Earlier this year, Linda took the time to review my manuscript (and blurb my book!) before we went to print. A few weeks ago I was writing out a mailing label to send her a copy of the finished product and realized we’d be driving near her home en route from Portland to San Francisco during the first portion of my west coast book tour. (I’ll recap Portland events next week, since I’m returning to Portland for the PDXSwappers event this Friday.)
She invited us to stop in for tea…;)
which turned into a garden tour…;)
;)
(Yes, she is that awesome, solar panels. They sell energy back to the grid during the sunny months.)
;)
;)
;)
And, of course, I asked for a peek at her larder!;)
Ah-maaazing…;)
Wandering around her fruit- and vegetable-filled estate then turned into a homegrown lunch. Lucky us!
It was such a delightful afternoon, and, what’s more, it was an honor to meet in real life such an inspiring author and all-around resourceful woman. Her years of research and testing have made such an impression on so many people, myself included.
As a thank you for keeping track of my travels, and for trying new things (having a go at those beginner-friendly, home food-preservation projects in Chapter 9 of my book), I’m pleased to announce a giveaway made possible by Linda’s publisher, Harvard Common Press. Linda’s Joy of Jams, Jellies and Other Sweet Preserves and Joy of Pickling books are the first books I consult when I have any amount of local produce. I gave away her books last spring; and now, on the second day of summer, HCP has allowed me to offer up the set of both books to two lucky readers. Yes, you get the Pickles and Jams book together!
To enter: Post a comment below describing who or what has inspired you to try preserving food at home. Books, people and/or other reasons all accepted and welcome! Be sure to leave your email address in the specified box on the comment form (so I can contact you if you win). Random.org will select my two winners after entries close at midnight on July 5, 2011.
To close this up, four hours after eating a delicious lunch with Linda and her lovely daughter, Rebecca, we were back on our way, heading west to the coast and then south to eventually stay the night in Crescent City, CA. Stay tuned for Redwoods detouring and California book party adventures in the next tour post.
(Disclosure: I’m doing this giveaway purely because I think Linda’s books are the bees knees, and a great addition to any experience-level preserver’s library. I actually purchased my own copies of the Joy’s with my own money.)
Book Tour
Reader Comments (151)
My inspiration for preserving food at home has come about because of sheer necessity. With a growing family and a downward economy, I felt pressured to put more on the table and in a practical manner. I'm a city girl, I never knew anyone who canned before I met my husbands grandmother. In fact, I didn't even know that you could do that type of thing and the food would be safe to eat. I'm fortunate to have been able to start canning and excited to take my first class soon. While the initial cost is going to be burdensome, our family will be greatly rewarded. :)
I inherited my grandmother's canning equipment in 2007 when she passed away. I started doing a few jams and slowly added more over the years as I really got into cooking more. Marisa from Food in Jars inspired me alot last year too!
Stunning pictures!
Who inspired me? My step-grandmother, and her pantry full with delights in jars. My favorite was the sweet-sour mini watermelons.
My grandmother and aunts put up beans, tomatoes, salsa, and pickles every year. They have done it every year for as long as I can remember. I guess I should also credit my Mormon ex MIL who was all about having extra food storage.
My grandmother canned tons when I was a child. I remember her green beans tasting so much better than store-bought ones! My mom also canned, but not a whole lot. I have recently become an addict to canning. Things like jam, apple butter, and salsa make such good gifts. And I love the fact that I control all the ingredients that are going in to what we are eating.
My grandmother started the preserving bug in me, which was fertilized later by my mom's best friend Wanda. My grandmother used to can pickles and peach halves ever since I can remember. I used to look forward to her peaches every year - perfectly round, smooth, succulent and sweet! I ate them plain, with cottage cheese, with ice cream. Her dill pickles were amazing as well. My grandmother is now 95 and hasn't canned in several years (heartbreaking for my tummy), but my mom's friend Wanda, an experienced canner and county-fair-ribbon-winner, started supplying me with pickles, peaches, and pie filling a few years ago, watering the seeds my grandmother planted since childhood. When she got the fire burning for canning, I googled and came upon Marissa's site at foodinjars.com. I took a few classes in Philly from her and haven't looked back :)
My grandmother did lots of canning. I remember her jams were always sealed with paraffin wax. And my mom does a lot of canning. She does lots of jams and relishes and when I get them from her, I have to make them last for as long as I can and use them sparingly. I've wanted to try canning for a long time and I finally went ahead and bought the supplies. Now I can enjoy my jams and relishes and whatever else I make as much as I want.
I'm also inspired by being able to make things where I know EXACTLY what the ingredients are and be able to feel good about feeding them to my friends and family.
My friend Jenn. She cans a ton of stuff every year and gives her jams, salsas and sauces away to her friends...purely to see them smile and squeal in delight.
My grandmother did lots of canning. I remember her jams were always sealed with paraffin wax. And my mom does a lot of canning. She does lots of jams and relishes and when I get them from her, I have to make them last for as long as I can and use them sparingly. I've wanted to try canning for a long time and I finally went ahead and bought the supplies. Now I can enjoy my jams and relishes and whatever else I make as much as I want.
I'm also inspired by being able to make things where I know EXACTLY what the ingredients are and be able to feel good about feeding them to my friends and family.
I started canning when I worked on a small organic veggie farm in Tacoma WA. At that time I had no clue what I was doing and a book would have really helped. Actually, a book would still really help. Thanks for the giveaway!
Well, several people really ... my grandmother, by impressing the deliciousness of homemade, slow cooked apple butter on my memory, so deeply that every time I taste the stuff, I'm back in her kitchen again. My mom, for dragging me and my siblings to the berry fields for hours and hours of picking every summer. And my dear friend Bethany, who inspired me to start filling jars after I saw her rows and rows of beautiful, can-lined shelves, all produced in her tiny, attic apartment kitchen.
No one in my family cans or pickles, but I always wanted to try it. This past winter I started reading the Sabjimata blog and she made it look so easy - so I tried a strawberry jam and a fridge pickle. I think I'm going to become a crazy canning lady!
My mother-in-law got me started. My mother was a wonderful cook, and taught me lots, but she wasn't a preserver. After I made my first batch of raspberry jam with my mother-in-law, I was up and running!
The wedding photographer at my wedding has since become a good friend of mine. She cans the goodies from her garden each year. She has inspired me not only to learn the art of canning but also gardening.
Yesterday I brought her some pickled red onions I had made and she actually is eating them and says they are good. It is SO exciting! :-)
I would love to learn more about canning. I began a year ago when blueberries came into season. We have a small "orchard" of 13 large bushes. They had so many berries I just had to do something so I made jam. This year I would love to learn more and branch out!
My grandmother used to preserve and I remember many happy and HOT summer days helping her prepare the food for canning! Never understood the whole process though and am excited to learn. I am chronically ill and made the decision in February to go vegetarian and as organic as possible. I am planning on canning and freezing as much fresh produce as possible so I can enjoy nutrition through the long michigan winters!
Before I tell you about my inspirations, I love Linda Ziedrich and also think she is the bees knees. I have both of her books and have worn them to pieces. Sooo don't include me in the giveaway,just know that all the cool kids love Linda!
My grandmother and my husband's grandfather both inspired me to take on canning and preserving. Mr sweet grandmother Sue makes the sweetest pickles ever and until just recently ( she's 91) slowed down on the sweet pickle making. Those pickles are a part of my history and I only ever got the recipe when I got married,priceless.
My husband's grandfather had a garden and canned like a mad man for years. He passed away years ago,but luckily the stories are still told and I know he would love every bit of my canning stuff. My father-in-law this spring started a garden for us to enjoy and you better believe that a lot of that stuff will be put up,HOORAY!
Starting canning over 20 years ago, and strawberry jam was my first attempt. This past week, was my yearly project of stocking up for the year ahead as the Michigan strawberries are here. Love giving my jars away filled, and love getting them back empty to re-fill for next year. My mother HATED canning, as she said it was WORK to her as a young girl in Kentucky, shelling bushels of beans etc. My good friends Eileen and Denise gave me the canning "bug." And now I am passing the "bug" to my daughter Kate.
My husband was the main bread winner in our family and was laid off without notice in February of 2010. We assumed that he would quickly find work but as weeks stretched into months we were also stretched thin. We always enjoyed having a "hobby garden" but that year we planted out of necessity. Planting with canning and preserving in mind gave my depressed hubby a purpose through those long summer months. Canning the products of his labor together replaced our typical date night. But those late night canning sessions led to more conversations than a pricey dinner ever would have. Our canned goods got us through a very tight winter, but the act of canning together got my marriage through our rockiest period to date.
I remember my grandmother making strawberry jam that she covered in paraffin and the best thing as a child was breaking that cover to get into the fresh jam.. But as far as a canning goes, I taught myself. Inspired by my cousin who grows organic veggies in her city yard. Her determination to have the best for her family made me look at what I could do , I love food and cooking so why not take some of the freshest ingredients and make them into amazing things that I feel comfortable feeding my family. No preservatives no additives and the pride and joy of creating beautiful jars of veggies, jam or jelly is enough to makes me feel like I am making healthier happier children. (who absolutely LOVE to help cutting the fruits and adding sugar and licking the spoon! :)
Thanks so much for the chance to win! My friends in my knitting group are talented canners and have inspired me to try my hand at preserving food :)
I started canning a few years ago thanks to a couple of fellow graduate students. Coincidentally, that was also the first summer that I joined a CSA. And so with my friends' guidance and a constant supply of fresh produce I became hooked almost immediately!
Really I wanted to try canning for a while then I stumbled across the Tigress can jam then found Local Kitchen, Food in Jars, Punkdomestic, Hitchhiking to Heaven, you and so many many more wonderful food bloggers that have helped me on my canning journey! :)
I grew up with jelly bags hanging from every available hook and cabinet knob.
I always remember what a fun time that was.
I was inspired to begin canning because I moved to a new state many years ago and was surrounded by so much fruit, wild and tame, that I just felt I had to do something to preserve it--didn't want to see anything go to waste!