Too Many Green Beans?

If you’re interested in ‘putting up’ a supply of delicious and low-cost foods for the coming winter - pickled beans, vegetable soup or strawberry jam from the bounty of your own garden - take your questions to the Food Preservation Fair, Saturday August 11, 10am - 3pm, just north of the Farmers’ Market at the Village Green.

You can learn about the different types of canning (cold or hot pack, pressure canning), fermented foods & pickles, jam & jelly, drying foods with solar energy, making your own garlic powder and more. If you grow your own food, or choose to can peaches with your favorite spices when they are plentiful and less costly, you can eat well for less! Make blackberry jam, jelly or juice when they are free for the picking.

The Fair is presented by the Vashon Food Security Working Group which also has a ‘library’ of food preservation equipment. You can borrow - a steam juicer to make fresh blackberry juice, an electric dehydrator to make dried apples or pears, a large pressure canner, plus a selection of other equipment from an apple peeler to a raw food juicer. You must be a Vashon resident and can use the equipment for 3 days in the busy season, or longer when there is less demand.

It’s about being able to enjoy food, eat well throughout the year, and make good use of our Island resources.

This event is co-sponsored by The Vashon Fruit Club, Sustainable Vashon, and VIGA - Vashon Island Growers Association.