Summer is here and home gardens are flourishing! If you want to enjoy your delicious springtime fruits and veggies throughout the year here's an opportunity to gain some knowledge on home food preservation techniques through the NC Safe Plate Home Food Preservation program. Join us for our Summer Food Preservation Series to learn how to do it safely!

These 2-hour evening classes will be held at the N.C. Cooperative Extension, Carteret County Center, 303 College Circle, MHC, in room 320, Thursday evenings starting at 5:30 p.m. in July 2024. You can attend all sessions or just the ones that interest you. However, space is limited, so please register for each session you’d like to attend with the Eventbrite link for the specific class.

• Boiling Water Canning- Thursday, July 11th 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the N.C. Cooperative Extension – Carteret County Center, Room 320. FREE. This is a free workshop designed for those who wish to learn about water bath canning as a home food preservation method. Boiling Water Bath Canning is the recommended canning method for high acid foods such as most fruits, jams, jellies, preserves, and pickles. Participants will engage in a hands-on demonstration. Register for Boiling Water Canning here.
• Pressure Canning- Thursday, July 18th 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the N.C. Cooperative Extension - Carteret County Center, Room 320. FREE. This is a free workshop designed for those who wish to learn about pressure canning as a home food preservation method. Pressure canning is the only canning method recommended for foods that are naturally low in acid, such as meat, poultry, seafood, and vegetables. Participants will engage in a hands-on demonstration. Register for Pressure Canning here.
• Introduction to Fermentation- Thursday, July 25th 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the N.C. Cooperative Extension – Carteret County Center, Room 320. $15 fee. Want to learn how to make fermented foods at home? Lacto-fermentation is a powerful culinary tool that can transform cabbage into sauerkraut, milk into yogurt, and much more. In this class, you’ll learn about food safety and the science behind lacto-fermentation, then make your own sauerkraut. You’ll leave with a fermentation kit and recipes, ready to ferment in your home kitchen! Register for Introduction to Fermentation Here.