Rent Smart Workshops Available!
Workshop Schedule June 9, 11, 16, 16, 23, & 25 (Mon/Wed) | 9-10amAugust 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, & 28 (Mon/Thurs) | 11am – 12pmSeptember 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, & 26 (Tues/Fri) | 9-10amOctober 4, 11, & 18 (Sat) | 9-11:30amNovember 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, & 26 (Mon/Wed) | 7-8pmDecember 1, 4, 8, […]
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Heat Sources for Stovetop Canners, Q&A, and Vacuum Sealing
Heat Sources for Stovetop Canners What Heat Source can I use for the Presto Stovetop Pressure Canner? This is a question we received from a Family and Consumer Sciences Agent. Quick answer—Presto stovetop canners are versatile and will work on gas, electric coil, and electric smooth top (glass top) ranges. There are though, some qualifiers […]
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Preserve It Fresh, Preserve It Safe: A Newsletter for Those Who Preserve Food at Home (May/June 2025)
Steam Canning Steam canning, also known as atmospheric steam canning, is a great alternative to water bath canning for most high-acid foods with a pH below 4.6. Examples include most fruits, jams, jellies, pickled products, sauerkraut, preserves, salsa and acidified tomatoes. Steam canning uses less water, which reduces the canner weight and efficiently heats it […]
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Preparing for Tornado Season: What to Know!
Tornado Terminology For your own safety, it’s important to know the terms you might hear during tornado season. This could mean the difference between possible or immediate danger, and the more time you have to prepare, the better. What to Watch Out For: Preparing for a Tornado Now that you know what words to watch […]
Read More...Preserve It Fresh, Preserve It Safe: A Newsletter for Those Who Preserve Food at Home (March/April 2025)
Spring Clean Your Freezer Once you have a full inventory list from your freezer, use this list for future planning. If the freezer is quite full, “grocery shop” and meal plan from the freezer to make space for the produce you want to preserve in the coming months. If you notice you still have a […]
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Farm Safety & Equipment Operation classes offered by Fox Valley Tech
This course is designed for students 12 to 14 years of age. The Federal and State of Wisconsin require youth who will be operating farm equipment and implements on the highway or working for someone other than a family farm to complete this course. Students who complete this course will receive State of Wisconsin certification […]
Read More...Looking Ahead to Canning in 2025!
Growing season is just around the corner. We encourage you to look ahead to get prepared for canning season. For Consumers: Did you know? Canning has made a big comeback with sales of Presto canners increasing 15% over the last 10 years. UW-Madison Division of Extension agents work with local residents to test gauges to […]
Read More...Preserve It Fresh, Preserve It Safe: A Newsletter for Those Who Preserve Food at Home (January/February 2025)
Preparing and Planning for the Year Ahead Welcome to 2025! Have you considered what you will be preserving later this year? While it seems early to think about, it is the time to plan for your future needs. Different varieties of produce have different results in different home-processed products. So, it is important to consider […]
Read More...Preserve It Fresh, Preserve It Safe: A Newsletter for Those Who Preserve Food at Home (November/December 2024)
Helpful Hints for Gifting Home-Preserved Goodies Many home-preservers share their products with others. Holiday gifts might include a basket of home-canned foods such as jelly or salsa. However, remember that you are responsible for the safety of the foods you are sharing. That safety starts with a tested recipe from a trusted, reliable resource. If […]
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