Can-A-Rama 2010: I teach my first workshop!

Julie took her notes on the recipe sheet Meaghan created!

Way back in April, Meaghan asked me if I could teach her and a few friends to can at some point in the summer. I immediately panicked.

It was not the teaching part that freaked me out. Despite my professed general dislike of people and them directing (in theory at least) all of their attention solely toward me, I am a decent teacher and public speaker in my professional life. As a geek I tend to get excited about things I enjoy doing, whether it is food preservation or the niche part of the tech world in which I have carved out a professional career.* This gives me an exuberance people are often caught off guard by since my demeanor is usually characterized as understated and aloof (see also: introvert, commonly mistaken for aloof by those in the extrovert category). I also tend toward obsessive when things interest me so I am told I come off as knowledgeable and credible. I am not one to BS people (but I now have a lot of young nieces and nephews so cannot promise this will not change) and will honestly admit to not knowing something when I do not know it. Not knowing something I think I should, however, tends to drive me crazy enough to go figure it out. Unless it is not related to science, technology or food… then it only keeps me awake at night. A little.

Meaghan’s proposal was way back in April- before I had become a Master Food Preserver. I had not even found a class I could take yet. The biggest issue I had with the situation was: I was self taught. I had 10 years of experience but just (often contradictory) books to teach me- no actual people actually certified in something. Those 10 years were fraught with experimentation and peril and the minor consolation that I had not killed anyone. Yet.

If you are an obsessive introverted geek, you see my problem here. If you are not, you probably missed how all the information I provided you with, both directly and indirectly on this site, should have led to the (very logical) conclusion that if I were to teach people to can food at the point when Meaghan asked I would HAVE KILLED PEOPLE! Or at the least made the very nice people severely ill. Then how would I live with myself? And worse, what if they sued me? (Did I mention that my job is related to the legal industry and I once dreamed of growing up to be a lawyer?)

Eventually I found a Master Food Preserver course and agreed to teach a workshop for Meaghan. We were both delighted to discover that we had (coincidentally and accidentally) scheduled the workshop during Can-A-Rama 2010!

Meaghan fabulously documented our day over on her blog. She failed to mention the wonderful recipe sheets with spaces for notes that she put together for everyone that attended. You can see Julie holding one above, right after she had taken some notes on it!

As a long time canner but first time teacher of food preservation, I found tomatoes ideal for a first workshop. They facilitate the introduction of many crucial topics in canning such as pH, different jar processing techniques, different food processing techniques and why certain techniques are only appropriate in certain situations. I was able to introduce important safety information applicable to all areas of canning without being tangential. And since this was a not a commercial workshop, I was able to use the teaching materials available through various extension services so that I did not have to create my own presentation and hand outs my first time out.

Other than having a fabulous and interested group of people to teach, I think my favorite part of the day though was when people purused the canning books I brought over. Books are usually better than talking. And always better than PowerPoint.

This is likely not the last time you will hear about me teaching canning. I have some things I am working on. If they work out, I will certainly update here!

*Which reminds me- if anyone is interested in some sort of “Doomsday” preservation package deal, please get in touch. I now hold certifications attesting to my qualifications to preserve food as well as collect/ preserve computer data. I am really curious to see if I can develop this into a valid business plan!