Sarah Lewis of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service will teach a series of online Preserving Alaska’s Bounty classes about home food preservation. The classes will be held from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday afternoons, Jan. 7, Jan. 14, Jan. 21, Jan. 28, and Feb. 4 using Zoom. For more information, or to register, please visit bit.ly/PAB2024.

This course is designed to lead students through a series of food preservation methods, building on food safety knowledge and the development of skills for use in the home. Each module will start with a live lesson, instructing students on the topic and outlining the assignments to be completed for the module.

After completion of all modules, students will have both the knowledge and the experience to confidently continue preserving food in their homes. There is an optional exam available for participants who wish to become Food Preservation Educators within their home community.

There are important, but simple, food safety considerations when preserving food at home. In Alaska we preserve a variety of wild harvested meats, vegetables, fruits, and berries to ensure food security and nutrition through the non-harvest seasons. Alaskans also preserve their garden harvests for the winter months.

The preservation methods you will learn about (and practice in your own kitchen throughout this course) include: pickling and fermenting vegetables; boiling water-bath canning of fruits, berries, and pickles; pressure canning of meat, fish, and vegetables; dehydration of fruits and vegetables; making jerky; smoking fish. Other topics will include emergency preparedness, how to start a Cottage Foods business, and information about wild harvested plants. At the end of this course, students will feel confident that they have gained the skills necessary to safely preserve foods for the benefit of their household.

Those students who wish to receive a certificate of course completion and become a Food Preservation Educator within their home community may do so by attending all sessions, completing all assignments, and passing a final exam. Students who wish to become Food Preservation Educators must complete all assignments and pass a final exam to receive a certificate of completion.

Participants must be 16 or older (unless joining a household adult). The registration deadline is Sunday, Dec. 31. A course fee of $150 per household or Zoom connection includes one class textbook, which will be mailed to students. A 50-percent reduction is available if requested. The Preserving Alaska’s Bounty series will be taught by Sarah Lewis, an agent with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service‘s Juneau District Office. Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made 10 business days in advance of the Jan. 7 start, to sarah.lewis@alaska.edu.