Canning provides new lease on life

This column is dedicated to acknowledge examples of positives that express the community spirit of Columbus — our town. Melody Siewert, owner of Trimmers Den Hair Salon, was the inspiration and major information source for this article.

I remember my Mamaw canning in her ranch house kitchen. She used a big contraption that I was led to believe could blow up at any time and spew hot water all over me. Mamaw (Louletia White) was in no way an alarmist. However, she kept me away from that canning “thing.” The canning “thing” did resemble something that could fly through outer space. More than likely, that experience convinced me that canning wasn’t for me. Besides that, my mother didn’t participate in the canning.

I do remember the one product that clearly was my favorite... wild plum jelly. The wild plums came from one spot on the ranch. It was a thicket very close to a natural spring. We went there on horses and Mamaw came in the car. I was allowed to help pick the tiny plums. If I decided to test a nice fat little plum, I quickly discovered its tartness. A lot of sugar in the jelly would correct that.

When I met Lori Cloat Meyer, and tasted her canned pickles, I promised to find a way to bribe her for more pickles. Surely, she has taught Mattie (the pie princess) to serve these pickles at The Dewberry Cafe.

Here goes the canning story from my friend, Melody. When Melody started canning about seven years ago, I heard lots of discussion about the learning process. She first started to can items that had to be cooked and then water bathed. She let it be known about the time this consumed and the heat it produced in her kitchen. I believe the water bath can take one to three hours. Her kitchen wasn’t designed for the hours canning requires. However, the rewards are great.

At least, Scott, Melody’s husband, kept praising her and convinced her to keep canning the salsa, pickles, and chow chow. The hot kitchen was a minor problem.

Then several years ago, the Siewerts decided that it would be best to plant a garden. The joy and excitement of the garden’s growth was overwhelming. Even though they had a few snake encounters, the garden was a prize.

On Valentine’s Day 2021, Melody said that there was a game changer for her. She praised sweet Scott for presenting her with an electric caner. She says that she always considered the old caner as dangerous as a bomb.

Now their kitchen produces canned meals in a jar. No more forgetting to thaw the meat for dinner — just grab a canned meal off the shelf in the pantry, heat and eat.

Melody admits her progress in canning has given her a new “lease on life”... just so you know, Scott gave her a second electric caner not long ago. There’s talk about adding on to the house so that they can enlarge the pantry. Melody has a daydream about helping have an organization of blue ribbon caners in Columbus. This group could enjoy “show and tell.” Their audience could be those who wish to learn to can. Call Melody at 979-732-3741 if you like this idea. By the way, our Country Market on the Square is a great place to buy from some of the Colorado County’s vendors who do can.