The Farmers’ Market organizers admire the many initiatives and gifts Clara Endicott Sears gave to the town of Harvard, the Canning and Evaporating Club being one of them. She created this club as an outreach organization, sending canned fruits and produce, as well as dried food, to American soldiers overseas.
Canning and preserving locally grown fruits and produce is a fantastic process—both meditative and, when done with friends, full of camaraderie and that sense of going back to basics. When we read about the Club, we thought it would be so nice to reinstate the idea of gathering together in a kitchen, preserving our own fruits of the land.
In addition, a few years back when we were involved in 4-H, the Farmers’ Market folks prepared baked goods with our kids several times and sent them to soldiers in Iraq. We thought we could look into how to do that with preserves, as Miss Sears once did.
We invite community friends and neighbors to gather to either learn or teach the art of making jam … or just enjoy the company of local folks. Our first canning session will be held Wednesday, June 2; arrive anytime from noon to 8 p.m. at 53 Bolton Road. We will send out a list of ingredients to bring; RSVPs will be appreciated. Plan on a good hour-and-a-half for jamming. We will meet once a month throughout the harvest season.
Jen Sundeen
on behalf of the Harvard Farmers’ Market community
