Food Preservation Classes this Fall
The USDA estimates a monthly food budget of $252-$318 for one person. For a family of four, they estimate a monthly food budget of $1,036. If you have been to the grocery store lately, you quickly realize the reality of the ever-increasing cost of groceries.
Through our NC Cooperative Extension programs, we teach families and individuals how to grow staple food items, how to preserve surplus harvests, and how to cook and eat healthy. Through these learning opportunities, we are building healthy budgets and healthy people.
Our Family and Consumer Science (FCS) program is launching a series of food preservation workshops that aim to teach you how to preserve your harvest so that it may serve your budget and your belly well.
The following list of classes and workshops may change as more will be added to the schedule. Please check back often as registration information and offerings are updated.
*If you find that our offerings are not meeting the needs of your schedule, please give us a call. If enough people have similar needs, we may be able to accommodate additional requests.
A minimum of 5 participants are needed to hold our workshops.
Tomato Sauce Canning
INFORMATIONAL ZOOM - August 27, 6:30-8 PM
Register for the Intro Session on Zoom Tomato Canning Intro Zoom Registration
Attend this before taking the hands-on workshop to learn pertinent canning information. Even if you are not able to take the hands-on portion, this session will provide good information on the process.
HANDS-ON CANNING WORKSHOP - Saturday, August 29, 11am-2pm
Cost: $12
Register and Pay Online here: Tomato Canning Registration
Lucile Tatum Center, 959 Osceola St., Gastonia, NC
This portion of the workshop is in-person and takes participants through the steps of safely canning a pint of homemade tomato sauce. This workshop also guides participants through sourcing discounted bulk tomato purchases for canning purposes.
Dehydrated Herbs and Custom Spice Blends
Tuesday, September 22, 6pm-8pm
Cost: $5
Register and Pay Online here: Dehydrated Herbs and Custom Spice Blends Registration
Lucile Tatum Center, 959 Osceola St., Gastonia, NC
Explore flavors, spices, custom blended seasonings, and how using them enhances your dishes to make cooking and home dining delightful. We will explore how you can grow your own herbs, and techniques on dehydrating and preserving them for later culinary uses.
Dehydrated Fruit Snacks
Thursday, September 24, 6pm-8pm
Cost: $4
Register and Pay Online here: Dehydrated Fruit Snacks Registration
Lucile Tatum Center, 959 Osceola St., Gastonia, NC
Dehydrated fruit snacks are a great way to preserve a variety of fruits and even vegetables. They make great snacks for both youth and adults, and you don't need a fancy dehydrator to make them.
Cooking With Herbs
Saturday, November 21, 11am-2pm
Cost: $8.00
Register and Pay Online here: Cooking With Herbs Registration
Lucile Tatum Center, 959 Osceola St., Gastonia, NC
This hands-on cooking workshop will teach you to replace salt with flavor using a variety of herbs. You will also gain knowledge of the health benefits of cooking with herbs while reducing salt.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, NC Cooperative Extension will honor requests for reasonable accommodations made by individuals with disabilities. Please direct accommodation requests to: Jonette Mungo, jemungo@ncsu.edu or 704-922-2111. Requests can be served more effectively if notice is provided at least 10 days before the event.
