| Frugal | | | | look at their spending and daily habits. I think we |
| Now I know this is a debatable point...Someone is | | | | could use a bit of self-evaluation when it comes |
| sure to say " I shop warehouse stores and sales." | | | | to our lifestyles. That will healthier for ALL. |
| "My time is worth something". | | | | Convenient |
| Yes it is time and labor intensive... Up front. But it | | | | Convenience food consumes a huge portion of |
| is time well spent. Imagine the savings (in both | | | | most family's food budgets. |
| time and money) throughout the year. You don't | | | | With a pressure canner you are able to prepare |
| have to purchase fruits, veggies, or canned | | | | whole meals like chicken soup, stew, or ham 'n |
| meats. You preserve it yourself. It is all in your | | | | beans. These make great quick meals with a |
| pantry. | | | | much friendlier price tag. |
| Energy Saving - How much does it cost to run a | | | | Combine your jars of home canned food with a |
| freezer? How much does it cost to store things | | | | slow cooker. Put a roast in the crock pot, add |
| on a shelf? With canned foods whether it be | | | | some chopped onion, potatoes and carrots. Top |
| meat, vegetables, fruits, jams or whatever. There | | | | with some onion soup mix or some beef bullion. |
| is no energy usage in storage. Ones it is | | | | Toss in a jar of stewed tomatoes. Let it simmer |
| preserved, you are good to go. A little shelf | | | | all day. Easy! |
| space is all that is required. Short on Shelf Space. | | | | Here's another. Dump a jar of home canned |
| Get creative! | | | | beans in the crock. Place some skinned, frozen |
| If you garden and grow your own foods, that | | | | chicken breasts on top, cover it all with a jar of |
| just triples the savings. Don't worry if you don't | | | | home canned salsa. Yum. Black beans are the |
| have a garden. Use Farmers Markets and | | | | best with this one! |
| Community Supported Agriculture programs to | | | | Safe? |
| provide the groceries you need. U-pick farms are | | | | Yes, done right it is a perfectly safe way to feed |
| a great way to get out in the fresh air with the | | | | your family.You will not blow up your kitchen. You |
| whole family. | | | | will not poison your children. Follow the correct |
| Healthy | | | | procedures and you will be fine. |
| Compared to store bought foods, a pantry full of | | | | An Art form - and FUN! |
| your garden fresh veggies has better flavor, | | | | Sometimes preserving is purely utilitarian. Veggies |
| color, texture and taste, and better nutrition. | | | | for instance; green beans, beets, corn. This type |
| It's green! | | | | of item provides a solid pantry for your family. |
| - Reusable packaging | | | | This gives you a sense of efficiency and |
| - No chemicals - do you really know what is in the | | | | preparedness. |
| processed foods you buy? | | | | Other types of food are .... well.... fun! Pickling, for |
| - Encourages the purchase of locally grown food. | | | | instance, is not just for cucumbers. There are all |
| - Grow your own food | | | | kinds of veggies that when combined make great |
| - Go all organic if you prefer. Special dietary needs | | | | gourmet combinations. |
| are taken into account. | | | | How about Jam or Jelly? How fun it is to create |
| For most products leaving out the salt is totally | | | | jars of spiced peach jam, decorate the jars with |
| safe and effective. Want fruit with no sugar | | | | a pretty topper, and give it as a gift in a gift |
| added? No problem. | | | | basket.... Your friends will be impressed. |
| Home preserving supports a self-sufficient | | | | Speaking of friends, invite one over to work with |
| mentality. We live in a me first, service driven | | | | you. |
| society.... We want what we want, when we want | | | | You can chit-chat to your hearts content. Two |
| it. We don't necessarily want to work for it. Is | | | | hands make light work. Share the costs of |
| their an unhealthier attitude? I don't think so! | | | | canning and the results. |
| Times are changing. People are taking a long hard | | | | |