August around here means it’s officially harvest season. The garden goes from “Look how cute these little seedlings are!” to “What on earth am I going to do with all of these cucumbers?”
Every morning starts with a basket in hand as I head out to see what’s ready. Tomatoes are ripening by the handful, cucumbers seem to multiply overnight, beans are hanging from every vine, and the berry bushes keep surprising me with one more harvest.
It’s busy. It’s messy. It’s hot.
I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Canning season is one of my favorite times of year because every jar lined up on the pantry shelf represents a little bit of summer we’ll get to enjoy long after the snow starts falling here in North Idaho.
Why We Love Canning
For us, canning is about much more than preserving food.
It’s preserving the hard work that went into planting the seeds, pulling weeds, hauling hoses, and hoping I remembered to close the garden gate so the deer decide to feast on someone else’s vegetables.
Every jar is a reminder that the long days were worth it.
Whether it’s raspberry jam, crunchy dill pickles, homemade salsa, or applesauce, we love that little pop we hear as each lid seals.
Our Pantry Starts Filling Fast
Once canning season begins, our kitchen transforms into what feels like a full-time production line.
One batch is cooling on towels across the counter while another is processing in the canner. Fresh produce is waiting to be washed, chopped, peeled, and packed into jars, and somewhere in the middle of it all, I’m trying to remember if I’ve eaten.
The house gets warm, the sink is constantly full, and there are jars everywhere, but watching the pantry shelves slowly fill up makes every bit of work worth it.
It’s a blessing to open the pantry in the middle of winter and see rows of food that came straight from our own garden.
Start with What You Have
One thing I always tell new canners is that you don’t need every gadget on day one.
Start with a simple recipe.
Learn the process.
Build your confidence.
Before long you’ll be looking for excuses to preserve everything your garden produces.
As you gain experience, you’ll naturally find the tools that make the process easier and faster.
My Favorite Canning Supplies
Over the years I’ve found a handful of tools that I reach for every single time I can.
They save time, reduce frustration, and make long canning days much more enjoyable.
👉 You can shop all of my favorite canning supplies here.
Inside you’ll find the jars, canning tools, funnels, jar lifters, measuring tools, stock pots, and other kitchen favorites that I use throughout canning season.
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A Few Beginner Tips
If you’re just getting started, these simple tips can make a big difference:
- Always use a tested canning recipe from a trusted source.
- Inspect your jars before each use for chips or cracks.
- Keep your workspace organized before you begin.
- Label every jar with the contents and the date.
- Don’t be afraid to start with something simple like jam or pickles.
Every experienced canner was once making their very first batch.
What We’ll Be Canning This Year
Our garden has been incredibly productive this year, so the canner is going to stay busy.
Some of the things we’ll be putting up include:
- Dill pickles
- Pickled vegetables
- Salsa
- Fruit preserves
I’m sure there will be a few surprise recipes mixed in along the way depending on what the garden decides to give us.
Here’s to Full Pantries and Happy Hearts
Canning season isn’t always glamorous.
There are sticky countertops, mountains of dishes, and days when you swear you’ve peeled enough tomatoes to last a lifetime.
But then winter arrives.
You twist open a jar filled with food you grew yourself, and suddenly every hot afternoon in the kitchen feels completely worth it.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I think the cucumbers have probably doubled in size while I’ve been writing this.
Happy canning, friends!
From our homestead to yours,
Eliza
