Canning equipment needed

This is my favorite part, the equipment that you need. Please make sure you have all of your equipment ready and that it is very clean.
  Boiling Water Canner, Steam-Pressure Canner, Jar lifter, Jar funnel, Plastic Spatula, Lid Wand. Specialty equipment includes: Food scale, Food Mill, Food Grinder, Candy or Jelly Thermometer, cooking timer, adjustable slicer, refractometer, i hear ya..what is a lid wand, it's one of the coolest little gadgets, it is a small wand with a magnetic end that helps you easily remove lids from hot water.
  Jars of course are really important and they must be like mason jars or ball brand jars that have a two piece cap and ring system.
  All of this info that i'm sharing could easily be reviewed by purchasing a canning book, but, as time goes by my blog will start including more tips, photos and tried and true recipes. Best of all i will start sharing my stories and try to keep things simple.
  This time of year is perfect for buying your equipment and supplies because most of it is on sale and you can save a lot of money. I try to buy most of my canning supplies from local hardware stores and i stay away for big chain stores as i feel they are killing our country and have no respect for supporting local.
  As your garden progresses and your desire to experiment with various fruits grows, you may find it interesting to visit your local farmers market and share your desires. I will be doing the same and what is in season gives me the reason to can up a storm.
  Next blog i will share a little info on Preparing for canning, until then, remember, What " Can " you do...

Canning and preserving

I often wonder how many great batches of products are ruined by someone not knowing the proper technique of canning. This has been very heavy on my mind ever since I witnessed first hand ( where I shall not mention) the great efforts of a facility that tried to make Jam but ended up with syrup. There is no trick or secret methods but it does help to have a few batches made correctly. Trust me in the beginning of my Marmalade making a few things were very dissapointing. In the next few days i will try and lay out a few proven methods and resources for key ingredients as well as tools for the trade. Remember the old saying if life gives you lemons make lemonade, well here's one for you, if life gives you Fresh Fruit what "Can" you do..