My (C) maternal grandparents were married on September 16, 1919. They were farmers who worked hard and earned their living on the farm. Grandpa grew grain and raised cattle and hogs for income and as their food source. Grandma raised chickens and grew a very large garden, also for income and as their own food source. She had a regular garden in the yard near the house and the “big” garden out beside one of Grandpa’s fields.
In early years, the best method of preserving many of their food for the winter was to can it. The canning process included preparing the food to be canned, packing it into 1 or 2 quart glass jars (Grandma called them sealers), covering each jar with a glass lid and a rubber ring to ensure a seal, securing the lid with a screw top and then “processing” the jars in hot water bath or pressure cooker. Grandpa built “fruit shelves” in the basement for storing the jars of preserves. He even built doors (the shelves were actually more like cupboards) so that the preserves were stored in the dark.
This series of “Grandma’s CANned Preserves” hides is in remembrance of my grandparents and the hard work they did to earn a living and raise their family.
Goose berries grew wild in the area where Grandma and Grandpa lived.
Grandma’s jam recipe is in the photos.