Strawberry Fields Forever: Hungry for Change

Wendy Cohen August 1, 2008 | 1:51 pm EST

Treehugger has a fabulous post today about canning and why preserving fruits and vegetable is a green thing to do.

Here are their 5 reasons why:

1. You know what’s going in, and can avoid dangerous additives.

2. Instead of buying fruit from exotic and foreign countries in the winter, and having it shipped all the way to your door (this takes a lot of energy!), just go into your pantry and eat your own tasty and healthy preserves.

3. Preserving with your family and friends makes for a simple and practically cost-free day of fun. Go pick your own berries and veggies. Expenses will include canning equipment and jars, plus the veggies and fruits. But imagine the money you will save in the long run?

4. Preserves make wonderful gifts. Imagine making your labels on your own organic jams, chutney and pesto and telling your friends how you made it for them at the dinner party? It’s a good cheap way to give your friends presents they are actually likely to use. Plus you’ll be popular.

5. Preserves jars can easily be recycled. And I am not talking about the blue box. Ask your friends to return their jars. Promise them that they will be filled up next season with something new if they do. Just imagine how many people and local farmers you are going to make happy!