Classes & Events

Upcoming classes

Please check back often for local classes and events.
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"Jam & Herbal Tea" workshop
Just in time for Mother’s Day gift giving ~ or, register mom too for even more fun!

presented by the UC Master Food
Preservers of Sonoma County

Friday, April 26, 2024 2pm - 5pm
OR
Saturday, April 27, 2024 10am - 1pm

in person at
Sonoma Clean Power's Advanced Energy Center
741 4th Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404

$45 per person

Join UC Master Food Preservers of Sonoma County at the Sonoma Clean Power's Advanced Energy Center in Santa Rosa to learn all about making jam and drying herbs for herbal tea.

In this hands-on class, you’ll be instructed on safe methods to preserve jam (full sugar, low sugar, sugar substitute, and no sugar varieties will all be discussed). While the jam is in the canner, you’ll learn about dehydrating herbs and develop your own herbal tea blend. We’ll show you that you can easily repeat both of these processes at home, with no special equipment.

Part way through, we’ll take a break and have our own little tea party featuring a sampling of the jam and tea that you are making along with other tea time fare.

At the end of the class, you will leave with a recipe/instruction booklet, a jar of strawberry jam, a jar of your own custom tea blend, and decorative embellishments to turn it all into a great personalized gift for the special “mom” in your life (or keep it for yourself!).

Pre-registration is required.

Registration closes April 24, 2024 (or earlier if 20 people have registered for each workshop)

The class will be held at
Sonoma Clean Power's Advanced Energy Center
741 Fourth Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404

For more information contact: mfpsc@ucanr.edu or 707-565-3026

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For easy ways to reduce your impact, save energy, and support a healthier future for all, visit sonomacleanpower.org

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Curious about becoming a Master Food Preserver volunteer? Check it out here.

Home Food Preservation Course (with no volunteer component)

Interested in learning more about preserving food at home? Want to expand your culinary skills? Do you live in a county without a UC Master Food Preserver Program?

The UC Master Food Preserver Program is excited to announce that plans are underway to offer an online series of courses covering the following topics. This educational series does not have a volunteer component to it (unlike the program described here).

Food safety in the kitchen
Freezing foods with maximum quality retention
Dehydrating fruits, vegetables and meats and making powders
Canning the pantry staples: tomatoes, applesauce, and fresh fruit
Making jams, jellies and other fruit spreads by canning and freezing
Using the fridge and a canner to pickle fruits, vegetables and eggs to add a burst of flavor to meals
Canning your own condiments and savory sauces
Stocking your pantry with main meal ingredients: meats, broth, soups and vegetables

"Totally Tomatoes"
(this demo has taken place already)

Contact: mfpsc@ucanr.edu or 707-565-3026

Sponsor: UC Master Food Preservers of Sonoma County

We covered methods for preserving tomatoes such as freezing, drying and canning. There was a demo on making salsa and crushed tomatoes in a boiling-water canner and participants took home a jar of yummy preserved salsa.

Resources for "Totally Tomatoes" demo:

Crushed Tomatoes Recipe - https://ucanr.edu/sites/camasterfoodpreservers/files/334012.pdf
Preparing and Canning Salsa - https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_salsa/chile_salsa.html
USDA Guide to Canning Tomatoes - https://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/usda/GUIDE03_HomeCan_rev0715.pdf
Dried Tomatoes - https://ucanr.edu/sites/camasterfoodpreservers/files/334013.pdf
Frozen Tomatoes - https://ucanr.edu/sites/camasterfoodpreservers/files/334018.pdf
Core Canning Techniques

Resources for the Pickling Demo and Tour of Sonoma Clean Power's Advanced Energy Center
(this demo has taken place already)

1). "Pickled Bread and Butter Zucchini" - https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_06/bread_butter_zucchini.html

2). "Zucchini Pickles" - https://ucanr.edu/sites/camasterfoodpreservers/files/335054.pdf.

3). "Quick Refrigerator Pickles" - https://foodsafety.ces.ncsu.edu/2020/04/how-to-make-quick-refrigerator-pickles/

4). "How Do I...Pickle?" Pickling Resources from the National Center for Home Food Preservation" - https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can6b_pickle.html#gsc.tab=0

Archive

Gravenstein Apple Fair 2023 - All Things Apple_Gravenstein Apple Fair 2023

The 2022 Gifts from the Kitchen cookbook and decorating templates for canning jars and lids are available for printing or viewing.

Resources from the Food Scrap Cooking Demo at Sonoma Clean Power's Advanced Energy Center (Santa Rosa, CA) - July 2022.

"Veggie Happenings" is a monthly webinar that features UC Master Gardeners of Sonoma County educating the public on seasonally appropriate sustainable food gardening practices. Also included in the webinar are the UC Master Food Preservers of Sonoma County who do a monthly demonstration on how to make the most of your seasonal fruits and vegetables. These monthly webinars are currently on hold. See below for information and resources from past webinars:

June 2022: Healthy Fruit Leather

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bUYgRqmWts

UC Master Gardeners of Sonoma County Food Gardening Specialists talk about how to incorporate peppers into your summer garden, as well as managing drought and pests in your garden. UC Master Food Preservers of Sonoma County show us how to create beautiful, delicious and healthy fruit leather by drying the abundant fruit in season now.

Resources:
https://www.freshoffthegrid.com/mango-strawberry-fruit-leathers/
https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/fruit-leather-tie-dye-camp-recipe.html
https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/dry/fruit_leathers.html

May 2022: Strawberry Freezer Jam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua11hvdqYvQ&t=12s

UC Master Gardeners of Sonoma Counry discussed interplanting your vegetable garden with an emphasis on the traditional “3 Sisters” - corn, squash, and beans. They shared ideas for trellising and talked about some Good Bugs that you want in your garden. UC Master Food Preservers of Sonoma County demonstrated making Strawberry Freezer Jam, just in time to capture that bounty crop. Check out the strawberry freezer jam recipe and other strawberry preserving ideas: Veggie Happening_Strawberry Jam .

April 2022: Making & Preserving Cool Season Pesto

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chdxhNqCntE

Cashew Carrot Top Pesto with Roasted Carrots and more!

March 2022: Quick Refrigerator Pickles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXdoPkvaZTw

Crunchy Mixed Refrigerator Pickles
Sweet Pickled Radish

February 2022: Fruit Based Dressings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg-oOo6tYhs&t=3s

Resources:
Recipes and links for Fruit Based Dressings
Cleaning and Sanitizing the Kitchen

January 2022: Preserving Citrus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PTm345IeQw

For more information about preserving citrus, check here and Resources related to January 2022 Veggie Happenings .