Tony Thomas’ grandfather kept a small garden behind the house Thomas and his wife bought a couple years ago, in Pittsburgh’s Morningside neighborhood.
After a season spent amending the soil, tilling it and laying down compost, he and his wife have a backyard vegetable and flower garden bursting at the seams.
Thomas, 35, would like a way to make his tomatoes last longer.
“They’re so quick to rot if you can’t use them quickly enough,” he said.
Later this week, Thomas and other gardeners can learn about the perfect way to extend the shelf life of his garden: canning.
The Penn State Extension will host a Sept. 21 canning seminar from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Energy Innovation Center on Bedford Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Hill District neighborhood.
The workshop will show the basics of water-bath and atmospheric steam canning.
Cost to register is $25. It is a hands-on workshop where participants will preserve a product.
Thomas said he’d definitely benefit from learning to can in order to keep his tomatoes longer, and “for my green beans as well, since they’re so prolific,” he said.
To register, visit Extension.PSU.edu.
