By STEPHANIE BRUMFIELD / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – Have you ever wished you could eat fresh peaches in December? Well, you can if you learn to can them.

For an introduction into the art of canning, visit the Shelby County Extension Office in Columbiana on July 18 at 1 p.m., where there will be a three-hour introductory workshop on the ins and outs of preserving food.

Hosted by canning veteran Angela Treadaway, regional extension agent for the Shelby County Extension Office, the workshop costs $10 to attend but includes all necessary supplies, including fresh veggies and canning materials for participants to bring home their own jar of preserved spaghetti sauce, which they will make during a hands-on portion of the workshop.

Treadaway, who has hosted several canning workshops across the state, said canning is making a comeback and her workshops have frequently hosted 20-30 people at any given time.

“The economy is a large part of it,” Treadaway said. “People are wanting to go more natural and fresh and to know what’s in their food.”

For Treadaway, the best part about canning is the ability to eat fresh vegetables at different times of year than when they are grown. She also loves to share.

“It’s really rewarding to be able to open up a jar of soup or green beans and be able to serve it to your family or your friends,” she said.

To register for the workshop, call the Shelby County Extension Office at 205-669-6763. Treadaway said she can host as many as 30 people, but she needs to know the final headcount of participants by July 18.

“Just wear comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty,” she said.