🤯 Pressure Canning: Overrated or Essential? + Signs You Need a Life Audit...

IN TODAY'S EDITION

1. Homestead Tip 🌱

2. Poll Results From Last Tuesday 📊

3. All Things Homestead: Pressure Canning: A Homesteader’s Best Friend for Preserving Food 💡

4. Personal Development: How to Do a Life Audit 📝

5. Today's Top Picks 🛍️

6. Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣

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POLL RESULTS FROM LAST TUESDAY

If you could master only one homesteading skill, what would it be?

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Gardening. I want to grow all my own food!

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Food preservation, so nothing goes to waste!

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Livestock care. Healthy animals = a healthy homestead!

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ Off-grid skills. Self-sufficiency is key.

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Building and DIY. I want to make everything myself!

Feel free to participate in fun polls in our next newsletters! 😉

Also, follow us on our social media accounts for daily homesteading inspiration and updates.

ALL THINGS HOMESTEAD

Pressure Canning: A Homesteader’s Best Friend for Preserving Food 💡

Spring planting is just around the corner, and soon, fresh produce will be overflowing in gardens and markets. But what happens when there’s more harvest than can be eaten fresh? That’s where pressure canning comes in.

Why Pressure Canning?

Unlike water bath canning, which is great for high-acid foods like jams and pickles, pressure canning is the only safe way to preserve low-acid foods. This includes most vegetables, meats, beans, and broths. These foods need higher temperatures to kill bacteria, and pressure canners reach the required heat of 240°F (116°C) to do just that.

If you’ve ever worried about food safety when canning, pressure canning removes the guesswork. Done correctly, it locks in freshness and keeps meals shelf-stable for up to a year.

Getting Started: What You’ll Need

• A Pressure Canner – Not to be confused with a pressure cooker, a pressure canner is designed specifically for preserving food safely. Choose one with a dial or weighted gauge for accurate pressure control.

• Canning Jars

• Two-Piece Lids – These include a flat metal lid with a sealing compound and a screw-on band to hold it in place during processing.

• Jar Lifter

• Bubble Remover and Headspace Tool

Best Foods for Pressure Canning

If you’re new to pressure canning, start with simple foods that are easy to process.

• Vegetables: Carrots, green beans, corn, and potatoes hold up well in jars.

• Meats: Chicken, beef, and venison become tender and flavorful when pressure canned.

• Beans and Legumes: Great for quick meals—just open and heat.

• Soups and Broths: Perfect for stocking the pantry with ready-made meals.

How to Pressure Can Step by Step

1. Prepare the Jars and Lids: Wash jars and lids in hot, soapy water. Rinse well and keep them warm until ready to use. Some canners require preheating jars, so always check your manual.

2. Fill the Jars: Pack prepared food into jars, leaving the recommended headspace (usually 1 inch). This space allows for expansion during processing. Use a bubble remover to release trapped air and wipe the jar rims clean.

3. Seal the Jars: Place lids on top and screw on the bands until they are fingertip-tight—firm but not overly tight. Over-tightening can prevent air from escaping and cause sealing failures.

4. Prepare the Canner: Add the correct amount of water (usually 2-3 inches) to the pressure canner. Place the filled jars inside, making sure they don’t touch. Lock the lid securely.

5. Vent the Canner: Heat the canner until steam flows steadily through the vent. Let it vent for 10 minutes to remove air pockets. This step ensures even pressure buildup.

6. Process at the Right Pressure: Once vented, place the weight or close the valve. Bring the canner up to the required pressure (usually 10-15 PSI, depending on altitude and food type). Maintain this pressure for the recommended time.

7. Cool Down Safely: Turn off the heat and let the canner return to zero pressure naturally. Do not force-cool it, as this can cause jar failures. Once pressure is fully released, carefully open the lid away from your face.

8. Check the Seals: Remove jars and let them cool for 12-24 hours. Check seals by pressing the center of the lids—if they don’t pop, they’re sealed. If any jars didn’t seal, refrigerate and use them soon.

Avoid These Common Mistakes

Even experienced canners make mistakes, but avoiding these can save time and frustration.

• Skipping Venting Time – Always allow steam to vent before sealing the canner, or temperatures may not reach safe levels.

• Overfilling Jars – Too much food can prevent proper sealing and expansion. Stick to the recommended headspace.

• Not Adjusting for Altitude – Higher elevations require longer processing times or higher pressure. Look up adjustments based on your location.

• Reusing Lids – Used lids may not seal properly. Always use new ones for canning.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

How to Do a Life Audit 📝

A life audit is a powerful way to step back, evaluate where time and energy are going, and make changes that lead to a more balanced, fulfilling life. It’s about getting real with priorities and making sure every part of life (home, relationships, health, and personal goals) is aligned with what truly matters.

Why Do a Life Audit?

Homesteaders and homemakers juggle endless tasks, often putting everyone else’s needs before their own. But neglecting personal growth can lead to burnout, frustration, and the feeling of being stuck.

A life audit helps:

• Identify what’s working and what isn’t.

• Create space for personal goals.

• Eliminate unnecessary stress.

• Bring back excitement and purpose to daily life.

How to Do a Life Audit Step by Step

1. Evaluate Daily Habits

Small routines shape entire lives. Are they moving things forward or just keeping everyone busy? Take a few days to track where time goes.

Example: If mornings start with rushing through chores and skipping breakfast, it may be time to set a slower, more intentional start to the day.

2. Assess Home and Work Life

Look at responsibilities and ask, Are these tasks necessary? Can they be simplified? If certain chores or commitments cause constant stress, it may be time to delegate, automate, or even let some go.

Example: A homemaker might realize that cooking three meals from scratch every day is draining energy. Planning batch meals or using a slow cooker could free up time without sacrificing home-cooked food.

3. Check in on Relationships

The people in life shape moods and energy levels. Some relationships uplift, while others drain. It’s important to spend more time with those who bring joy and set boundaries with those who don’t.

Example: If conversations with a certain friend always leave a feeling of guilt or exhaustion, it might be time to create some distance.

4. Look at Financial Health

Money stress can overshadow even the best moments. A quick financial check-in can help see where unnecessary spending happens and where savings can grow.

Example: If homesteading costs are rising, swapping store-bought items for homemade versions like bread, soap, or cleaning supplies can cut expenses while adding self-sufficiency.

5. Prioritize Health and Self-Care

Taking care of a home, garden, or family often means personal needs come last. But energy levels, mental clarity, and overall well-being depend on proper rest, movement, and nutrition.

Example: A simple habit shift like drinking more water, stretching before bed, or taking short outdoor walks can make a huge difference in daily energy.

6. Revisit Long-Term Goals

Dreams often get buried under responsibilities, but they don’t have to. Rewriting goals, whether it’s learning a new skill, expanding the homestead, or starting a side business, brings excitement and direction.

Example: If growing food has been the focus, but there’s always been a dream to sell homemade jams, now might be the time to explore that next step.

7. Declutter and Simplify

A cluttered home creates a cluttered mind. Letting go of items, schedules, and habits that no longer serve a purpose makes room for things that truly matter.

Example: If the pantry is overflowing with supplies no one uses, donating extras and organizing essentials can bring peace to the kitchen.

THE STEADY HOME’S GIGGLE CHAMBER

Why did the farmer start a compost pile in March?

Because they were ready to turn over a new leaf!

TODAY'S TOP PICKS

LET’S KEEP IT REEL!

I've put together some fantastic farm videos that are sure to make you laugh. Take a look and enjoy the fun!

1. Feels like the apocalypse is already here, and I am so ready! 😆

@itsbreellis

This sound was to funny! All jokes aside the world has been a stressful place. One way I get away from it all is gardening. I learned to p... See more

2. Just a hyper little goat on the move:

@kidsonkerth

Replying to @Georgina Boyce Here’s a peek at the evolution of Winslow’s side step 😂 Baby goat Zoomies morph into adolescent goat Zoomies 😆... See more

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