canning

Clermont County September Food Preservation Workshop

Do you enjoy food preservation?

Your last opportunity to attend a Food Preservation workshop with Clermont County Family Consumer Science Educator, Margaret Jenkins, is September 15, 2021 at 10AM. The last Food Preservation workshop will be held on the Clermont County Fairgrounds in the 4-H hall kitchen and will cover several different Food Preservation techniques. A photo from last weeks Food Preservation Workshop is posted above. Don’t miss out on the opportunity for this last workshop of the 2021 Food Preservation Season! See the flyer below for registration details.

FLYER

Clermont County Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden Update

It’s time for Clermont County Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden weekly update. Last week brought high humidity with temperatures in the 80’s and 90’s all week. The pollinators in the gardens were busy. There were many varieties of butterflies spotted in the gardens as well. Lots of produce was harvested from the gardens last week. Last weeks produce was used for OSU canning classes and the rest is being donated to the Owensville Senior Center. The following is as list of produce and their weights harvested from the gardens last week and updated pictures of the gardens:

8/23/2021

Yellow tomatoes – 3 lbs. 7oz.

Red Tomatoes – 4 lbs.

Cherry Tomatoes – 1 lb. 8.9 oz.

Cucumbers – 8.6 oz.

String beans – 4.7 oz.

8/25/2021

1 little zucchini – 4.2 oz.

3 small cucumbers –  7.6 oz.

9 small Mangos – 1 lb. 14.4 oz.

15 Dark green peppers – 11.6 oz.

16 Banana peppers – 5.6 oz.

16 jalapeños – 9.4 oz.

Pepperoncini – 7.3 oz.

37 Tomatoes – 10.lbs 11.8 oz.

Cherry Tomatoes – 3lbs. 6.3 oz.

3 Pumpkins – 9.lbs 8.5 oz. (Pumpkin 1) 8.11 oz. (Pumpkin 2) 20 lbs. (Pumpkin 3)

8/27/2021

Tomatoes – 3lbs 6.4 oz.

Food Preservation Workshops

It is time for the annual Clermont County Food Preservation Workshops.

  • June 24th at 10:00 AM will cover Water Bath Canning Berries
  • July 15th at 5:00 PM will cover Pressure Canning Harvested Veggies
  • August 24th at 5:00 PM will cover Tomato Products
  • September 15th at 10:00 AM will cover Tomato Sauce

Workshops REQUIRE pre-registration and are limited to 6 people per workshop.

The deadline to register for the first workshop on June 24th is Tuesday, June 22, 2021.

Cost: $40 per workshop

Location: Clermont County Fairgrounds, 1000 Locust Street, Owensville, Ohio 45106, Located in the 4-H Hall kitchen.

Please see below for a link to registration and a workshop flyer.

FLYER 

REGISTRATION

 

Blue Ribbon and the Winner goes to…YOU!

The start of the county fair season in Ohio is just a few weeks away, Paulding County is the first Ohio fair and begins on June 12th and ending the season is Fairfield beginning October 8th. The county fair countdown begins as soon as the previous year’s fair ends. I know firsthand, my hometown has a rolling advertising sign with a daily countdown at the fairground entrance. The excitement, food, entertainment, youth displays and well, adult displays too!

Did you know that the Agricultural Societies were created for the purpose of communities to bring together farmers and homemakers to display their crops and wares? Of course, there is friendly competition but it was all based on agricultural achievement, recording of new agricultural methods and reporting those results to the State Board of Agriculture. You know, that stuff we call science and white papers to help improve our practices!

Not to long ago I watched an “Andy Griffith Show” re-run where Aunt Bee made her prized pickles to take to the county fair. Clara had been the blue ribbon winner for years and Aunt Bee was determined. She was so proud but everyone knew they were the worst tasting pickles around. But oh did they have fun watching the judging of the event. That is what it is all about, family, friends, and who canned the best pickles!

Each state has their own version of ag societies and how they recorded their outstanding production. From each state, then there is the county fair at the local level. Adults were the primary participants for many years and then youth started getting involved through 4-H and FFA projects. While our youth today seem to be the focus of our local county fairs, highlighting their agricultural achievements, record keeping and displaying their projects, (sounds familiar) I want you to think about what YOU, the adult, could participate in during your upcoming fair.

Do you have a talent for making jams and jellies, baking pies or cakes  , growing flowers, vegetables, fruits and grains? Maybe you like to preserve those vegetables and fruits.

How about sewing , needlepoint, rug making, painting, etc.

Are you an amateur wine or beer maker?

Do you like showing livestock? beef or dairy cattle, poultry, rabbits, horses, etc?

Adults can participate in the senior fair or adult portion of their local county fair, below is a short list in many categories.

  • open beef cattle show
  • bakery and pantry products
  • needle craft, art, ceramics and pottery
  • flower and horticulture
  • grains, vegetables, herbs and seeds
  • poultry
  • Grange
  • rabbits
  • wine making
  • open horse show
  • photography
  • quilting
  • antiques

Each county has their own set of rules and guidelines for participation in said events. Sometimes you can cross county lines and participate in more than one county! Visit your local county agriculture society to find out more information on the projects and events, rules and guidelines for participation.

 

“And the blue ribbon and the winner goes to YOU!”