By GINNY COOPER MCCARLEY / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA—Angela Treadaway first developed a love of canning as a child, when she spent summer months working in the garden and kitchen with her grandparents, canning a variety of fresh produce such as tomatoes, green beans, turnip greens and whole kernel corn.

Treadaway, who works with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System as a regional extension agent, will host a canning class on July 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Shelby County Extension Office in Columbiana to teach others how to preserve foods through canning.

The class, “Preserving Summer’s Bounty,” will feature a presentation and hands-on experience, enabling attendants to learn how to preserve high-acid foods, such as any fruit, and low-acid foods, such as green beans, peas, turnip greens, potatoes and onions.

Canning is important “because it is fresher and you know what’s going in your food, it’s not a lot of preservatives,” Treadaway explained. “It’s the freshest it can be.”

During the class, participants will gain hands-on experience by canning tomato salsa and peach jam, Treadaway said.

“(Attendees) will have some hands on experience with it,” Treadaway said. “Bring real comfortable clothing you don’t mind getting dirty.”

The $10 fee for the class will cover all supplies and expenses, and each attendee will go home with two jars of fresh preserved foods. To attend, call Angela Treadaway at 410-3696 or 669-6763.