Seattle area classes and demonstrations on canning and preserving fruits and vegetables

Canning jar (Photo/Carole Cancler)

Here is a list of classes coming up in the Seattle area that offer information and demonstrations on canning and preserving fruits and vegetables. Most are free; a few are offered by local experts for a fee.

FREE classes

Monday, August 24 from 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm at a potluck hosted by Sustainable Ballard at Sunset Hill Community Club, 3003 NW 66th St., Seattle. Bring a dish and recipe to share. This discussion is titled Local Eating and Preserving the Harvest and explores how to get the most out of your garden or farmers market harvest. For more information, contact jennifer@sustainableballard.org.

Wednesday, August 26 from 4:00 pm to 05:00 pm at Columbia City Farmers Market, there will be a free preserving and canning demonstration hosted by the farmers market designed to show shoppers how to make their own canned and preserved produce.

Thursday, August 27 from 4:00 pm to 05:00 pm at Lake City Farmers Market, there will be a free preserving and canning demonstration hosted by the farmers market designed to show shoppers how to make their own canned and preserved produce.

Thursday, August 27 from 5:45 to 6:45pm at Queen Anne Farmers Market, there will be a canning demo by Sonja Skalbania, Master Food Preserver (part of Canning Across America Can-A-Rama events).

Sunday, September 6 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm at West Seattle Farmers Market: Tomato Tasting. Sample different varieties of tomatoes and find out which ones are your favorites, plus which varieties are best raw or for cooking sauces.

Saturday, September 12 2:00-4:00 PM (re-scheduled from 10:30AM-12:30PM) at the Seattle Tilth Harvest Fair at the Good Shepherd Center 4649 Sunnyside Avenue N in Wallingford, there will be a free Home Canning Food Preservation class taught by Jessica Dally, Master Canner/Food Preserver. Topics include: food safety, water bath canning, pressure canning, and when to use what method. NO REGISTRATION required for this class. Just show up on time and be ready to learn. As a note, doors will close at 10:35 and students will not be admitted late so please arrive a bit early.

Saturday, September 19 from 10am-12pm, at the Ask the Chef Booth at the U-District Farmers Market will be Lucy Norris, author of Pickled: Preserving a World of Tastes and Traditions and co-leader of Slow Food Seattle.

Thursday, September 24 at 4 pm at Queen Ann Farmers Market there will be a canning demo and book signing with Lorene Edwards, blogger at Planted at Home, author of Canning & Preserving Your Own Harvest.

Wednesday, October 14  from 6-8pm at the City of SeaTac Council Chambers a free class is offered by WSU King County Extension title Local Food Year-Round: Simple Methods for Preserving Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Food. This class focuses on jam and jelly making, fruit canning, and dehydrating fruits and vegetables. Registration is required.

Saturday, September 19 from 10am-12pm at the Ask the Chef Booth at the U-District Farmers Market will be Lucy Norris, author of Pickled: Preserving a World of Tastes and Traditions and co-leader of Slow Food Seattle.

These classes are offered for a fee:

Thursday August 20h from 3:00 – 5:30/6:00 PM at Kathy Casey Food Studios, 5130 Ballard Ave. NW Seattle, 98107. Class is limited to 30 people. What you always wanted to know about preserving … but no one will tell you! Kathy and her can’tastic team will cover Jams, Preserves, and Chutneys, Flavored Sugars and Salts, Fruiting Vinegars and Booze, Fresh Style Pickling, and more. This will be a demo style class with some hands-on. Each attendee will take home at least 1 jar/container of preserved goodness. The class will be based upon what is in season that week. Also Kathy will have commercial canning jars available for purchase as well as info on where you can get PH meters as well as some of her “put-up” creations made this summer. Class Fee: $55 to cover costs.

Thursday, August 27th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at J. Matheson Kitchen & Gourmet, 2609 Colby Ave., Everett WA 98201, offers an Introduction to Canning. Instructor Katherine Jordan from KJ Productions Catering will teach how easy it is to do your summer canning with her creative skills. Her popular Zucchini Relish is a must have and goes well as a side dish with many foods.On the menu: Peaches; Green Beans; Zucchini Relish; Dill Pickles. Class Fee: $27.50. Click here for information or phone (425) 258-4589.

Wednesday, September 23 from 6:30-10pm in Seattle. Canning, Jamming, and Pickling is offered by Bon Vivant School of Cooking. Instructor Hope Sandler will provide an introduction to home canning using the water bath method. She will demonstrate the proper techniques for canning peaches and tomatoes; making fresh berry jams; and preparing succulent, mouth-puckering pickles. *This hands-on class is limited to 12 students. Class fee is $78.