During my childhood, a lot of the amazing things my parents did flew past my notice. Amazing things like canning. As a kid, it just didn't sound super exciting or revolutionary. For this newsletter, though, I recently had the opportunity and honor of getting an up-close-and-personal look at what canning is all about when I visited the home of Janet and Herb McClelland. And the more I learned about the canning process, the more I realized how cool and vital it is for a sustainable future.

When I stepped inside Janet and Herb’s remodeled 1930s house, I was blown away by its staggering amount of character.

They beautifully decorated their home with antiques and family heirlooms. This respect for the past makes sense, especially when I learned how Janet got into canning by being inspired by her mother.

Janet with her ribbons that she won this year at the Washington County Fair.

Like many, canning was a necessity for people like Janet’s mother. Preserving food during hardships like the Great Depression and the World Wars was vital for survival for many families. As time went on, it became less of a necessity and more an act of frugality and sustainability. Also knowing what you put in your food is pretty important, given all the added preservatives in today’s food.

So, Janet began canning her food about thirty years ago and hasn’t looked back. Just three years ago she started entering her cans into the Washington County Fair. She has now won more than 40 ribbons! This year alone she got 20 ribbons and one best in show. After hearing that, and looking at her jaw-dropping pantry full of canned meats, homemade salad dressing, canned fruits, and more, I knew I was in the presence of a canning savant. 

Herb helps with the canning and is also mainly responsible for their family’s amazing garden. He took me on a tour of one of the most impressive and beautiful home gardens I have ever seen. The pathways between the gardens were made from recycled bricks, some as much as 200 years old! Their garden grows so much, including tomatoes, green beans, celery, beautiful flowers, and much more. Fun fact: they even had a pineapple growing in a pot! 

Even their daughter, Terra, has joined in on the action. She also entered the Washington County Fair this year and won 6 out of her 7 entries. This was also her first time canning jam.

Janet and Herb showed me the world of canning in a fun and beautiful way. It brought me back to seeing my mom and dad spending all day in the kitchen canning vegetables from my dad’s garden until they couldn’t anymore. I realize now that I want to carry on the tradition that has been passed down through generations. 

To see more of my visit with Janet and Herb, check out my reel linked below. Also, stay tuned for more articles in our Newsletter that celebrate all of Appalachia.