Harvesting and Preserving your Backyard Bounty

On Thursday evening, Sept. 6, the Marin Master Gardeners are hosting a special evening with canning guru Merrilee Olson.  By late summer, your garden is overflowing with produce. Need some ideas on how to preserve all those vegetables, herbs and fruits?  Merrilee will share with us her vast knowledge of the different techniques for preserving and canning fruits and vegetables.  She will discuss canning, pressure canning, freezing, fermenting and dehydrating. 

Merrilee is the program director for Community Action Marin Foodworks.  CAM Foodworks is a specialty food manufacturer that creates unique, delicious products inspired by local foods and the local harvest.  They are committed to sourcing from the hundreds of farms that exist within 150 miles of Marin.  CAM Foodworks provides low-cost, small-batch runs to farmers who wish to make value-added products such as preserves, pickles chutneys and sauces available to their customers.  Merrilee encourages us to know our food sources.  Supporting our local farmers contributes to the quality and vibrancy of our entire community.  CAM Foodworks maximizes their ability to produce and market their food locally. Profits from Foodworks benefit the CAM family of services.  Foodworks employs the highest standards in quality production and works in a fully licensed and insured facility.  Their commitment to maintaining a hands-on attention to detail in their products is evident when you sample the food. 

Merrilee will speak and answer question from 7-8 p.m.  The class is being held in the Livermore Room at the Marin Art and Garden Center in Ross.  The suggested donation is $5.00.

Come early and enjoy a tomato tasting hosted by our fabulous Master Gardener Tomato Market team!  Various varieties of tomatoes will be sampled and the wonderful tomato cookbook compiled by the class of 2012 will be on sale.  Tasting begins at 6 p.m.!