In the last several years there has been a high demand for Home Preservations education and materials in the Hardin County Community. Over 300 packets of UK Food Preservation materials were mailed out in June, July and August of 2005. Several hundred more packets were given away at the local farmers markets. Material were also taken to several large groups that meet in the community, such as the local RECC meeting, schools and church reunions. Over 115 phone calls were responded to with information that was usually needed ASAP. Over half of the phone calls were from people who were in the canning or freezing process and had problems. Numerous canning lids were tested in the extension Office also.
A Home Food Preservation workshop was taught with over 25 people attending. All methods of home preservation, from canning to drying were taught. Follow up evaluations were sent to all attendees and to over 100 of the people requesting information. The evaluations showed that the materials provided to them by the Extension Service were very helpful. Over 75% responded that they learned a least one new thing about food preservation, and that they tried at least one new recipe from the materials. 85% reported that they were more involved in home preservations than ever before. Reasons varied from: “I want to learn the old ways”, “I saved money with my garden, to “My garden produced more than we can eat and giveaway this year”
Several people were asked questions about selling off products from their farm and were encouraged to take the Microprocessing Training offered by Sandra Bastin. 55% said they would continue to use home preservations techniques in the future. Over 10% of the people attending had never been to the Extension Service before and several said they would use the services more often in the future.