The National War
Garden Commission's campaign for five million or more War Gardens has
brought about the creation of a vast food supply hitherto greatly neglected.
To utilize this to the best advantage calls for Canning operations in every
household throughout the nation.
The preservation of foodstuffs by Canning is always effective Food
Thrift. It enables the individual household to take advantage of summer's
low prices for vegetables even if no garden has been planted. It effects the
saving of a surplus of foodstuffs that would otherwise be wasted through
excess of supply over immediate consumption. It eliminates the cold storage
cost that must be added to the prices of commodities bought during the
winter. Of vital importance, also, is that it relieves the strain on
transportation facilities of the country. This phase has been especially
emphasized for this year by the unprecedented traffic situation. All this
increases the need for Home Canning and proves that this is a national
obligation.CANNING MADE EASY BY MODERN METHODS
By the Single Period Cold-Pack method it is as easy
to can vegetables as to can fruits, and this year it is more useful. By the
use of this method canning may be done in the kitchen or out of doors. It
may be done in the individual household or by groups of families. Community
canning is important in that it makes possible the use of the best equipment
at small individual outlay and induces Food Conservation on a large scale.
Community canning by school children, under the direction of competent
teachers, is especially valuable. |
This Manual
presents all necessary instructions for canning vegetables and fruits, in a
manner which may be so readily understood that the work is no longer a
problem, but is so simple that any adult or child may do it with success.
COLD-PACK IN THE SOUTH
In some parts of the Southern States there has been complaint
as to results obtained in the use of the Single Period Cold-pack method, but
inquiry and research have shown that in most cases the trouble arose from
lack of care in following instructions or the use of poor rubbers, and was
not to be blamed on the method itself. With proper care and perfect
cleanliness the results in the South are as good as elsewhere.
COMMUNITY WORK
One of the best methods to follow in canning and drying
operations is for several families to club together for the work. The work
may be carried on a t a schoolhouse, in a vacant storeroom, at the home of
one of the members or at some other convenient and central location where
heat and water can be made available. By joining in the purchase of
equipment each participant will be in position to save money as against
individual purchases and at the same time have the advantage of larger and
more complete equipment. The cost is slight when thus divided and the
benefits very great to all concerned.
For a co-operative enterprise it is well to have a committee of
from three to five to take charge of all details. First determine how many
people will take part in the work, how much each proposes to can or dry,
what vegetables and fruits each will furnish and such other information as
will have a bearing on the selection of equipment. After deciding how much
money will be needed have each member contribute his or her proportion,
determined by the amount of canning or drying he or she proposes to do. |
