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About Us
County Impact Statements - White County
4-Hers learn the art of food preservation
Some people say that food preservation is a lost art. But for some people in
White County, it is an art. Food preservation is a part of the 4-H Garden
Project. 4-Hers receive plants and grow them in their gardens. When harvest time
comes, a food preservation workshop is conducted. This means that food can be
eaten not only in the summer, but also throughout the year. 4-Hers and
volunteers learn the importance of safety in the kitchen, following directions,
and teamwork.
Several participants are on strict diets and preserved foods allow them to
eat needed foods all year at a bargain price.
This year's goals were to teach 4-Hers and volunteers to use cucumbers grown
in their gardens to make pickles and to use county-grown blackberries to make
jam. Participants were walked through the entire process, from cleaning
equipment, preparing food, and sterilizing to packing jars with the correct
headspace, processing safety and cleaning up, with the help of volunteers and
leaders.
Participants were encouraged to enter their preserved food in the county and
district fair. Judges were helpful by making constructive comments and
encouraging the 4-Hers to keep this skill alive. The 4-Hers also enjoyed sharing
their bounty will their family members and friends.
Ryan and Jacob cook their cucumbers to make pickles.
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Impacts
- Twelve 4-Hers and four adult volunteers participated.
- 25% of the participants learned at least one new technique in food
preservation.
- At least 50% of the participants entered their jars in the county fair
and placed. Most went on to the district fair.
- Comments from fair judges reinforced the importance of following directions
very closely.
Participants know:
- to sterilize jars, lids, and rings
- to cook and process foods the correct way
- what not to do for good quality food
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