🍓 Water Bath Canning Workshop in Dunlap — Learn Peach Pepper Jelly Techniques July 27

As summer produce peaks across the Sequatchie Valley, the UT Extension Sequatchie County office is offering residents a hands-on opportunity to preserve the season’s flavors through safe home canning techniques. The first Water Bath Canning Workshop brings together beginners and experienced canners to master a skill that connects modern food preservation to deep local and family traditions.

📍 What’s Happening

On July 27, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., participants will gather at Chapel Hill Methodist Church Family Life Center to learn water bath canning methods while making Peach Pepper Jelly. The workshop is limited to 8 participants, with registration required. The fee is $20 per person. Participants should bring their own lunch, as none will be provided.

This is the first session of what organizers indicate will be an ongoing series — a second session announcement is coming soon. 🗓️

❤️ Why This Matters

Home canning connects residents to food security, self-sufficiency, and the ability to preserve summer’s abundance for months ahead. For families in the Sequatchie Valley, where gardening and food preservation have long roots in local culture, learning safe canning techniques ensures that homegrown produce and local harvests can be enjoyed year-round while reducing food waste. The workshop also addresses food safety — proper water bath canning prevents foodborne illness, making this practical knowledge valuable for any household.

🤝 Community Connections

The workshop is hosted by Chapel Hill Methodist Church, anchoring the event within an established community gathering space. The UT Extension office, a trusted regional resource for agricultural and family consumer sciences education, is leading the instruction. This partnership reflects how local institutions — churches, extension services, and community organizations — work together to strengthen residents’ practical skills and self-reliance. For families already gardening or preserving food, this workshop offers a chance to connect with neighbors doing the same work. 🌱

👥 Who May Benefit

Beginners interested in learning canning for the first time will find structured, hands-on instruction. Home gardeners with summer produce to preserve can gain confidence in safe techniques. Families with canning traditions may discover new methods or recipes to share. Anyone interested in food security, sustainability, or reducing reliance on store-bought preserves will find practical value in the workshop.

💡 What Residents Should Know

Date & Time: July 27, 2026, 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. ⏰

Location: Chapel Hill Methodist Church Family Life Center, Dunlap

Fee: $20 per person

Capacity: Limited to 8 participants — early registration is important

What to Bring: Your own lunch (not provided)

To Register or Learn More: Contact the UT Extension Sequatchie County Office. According to the workshop announcement, participants can reach out to Kailee Flowers, the Family & Consumer Sciences Agent, at 423-949-2611 or kflowe12@utk.edu. 📞

🔄 What Happens Next

After the July 27 workshop, organizers plan to announce a second session — a signal that demand for canning education may be strong enough to support ongoing programming. Participants who complete the first workshop will have the skills to can at home and may become advocates for the program within their own families and networks. The success of this first session could shape whether additional workshops are offered in fall or winter, potentially expanding access to food preservation education across Sequatchie County.

🧵 Community Threads

Food Preservation & Family Tradition: Canning connects generations. Residents who learned to can from parents or grandparents may use this workshop to refresh skills or learn new methods. Younger residents without that background gain access to knowledge that strengthens family food security and self-reliance — values that run deep in rural Sequatchie Valley communities.

Church as Community Hub: Chapel Hill Methodist Church opens its Family Life Center for this educational event, reinforcing the role of local churches as spaces for learning, gathering, and strengthening community capacity — not just for worship, but for practical skill-building that serves the whole community.

Extension Service & Local Expertise: The UT Extension office brings university-backed food safety knowledge directly to residents, bridging the gap between academic expertise and home practice. This relationship ensures that canning techniques taught are safe, tested, and aligned with current food preservation standards.

❓ Questions Worth Considering

• How might learning to preserve food at home change your family’s relationship with seasonal produce and local gardens?
• Are there canning traditions or recipes in your family that you’d like to learn or pass along?
• If a second session is announced, what other preserving techniques (jam, pickles, pressure canning) would interest you or others in your community?
• How could this workshop connect gardeners, cooks, and food-focused neighbors who might not otherwise meet?

🌱 Long-Term Community Impact

Workshops like this one strengthen food security and self-sufficiency across Sequatchie County. As more residents gain confidence in home food preservation, families become less dependent on store-bought options, reduce food waste, and build skills that can be shared across generations. Over time, a culture of home food preservation supports local gardening, strengthens family connections, and deepens residents’ connection to the land and seasons. If the program expands to multiple sessions and techniques, it could become a signature educational offering that draws residents together around a shared practical skill — reinforcing Sequatchie Valley’s identity as a place where people know how to grow, preserve, and sustain themselves. 🏡

🤔Source

View original post

📰Other Stories

• 🎆 Crumbs & Kisses Celebrates Fourth of July in Sequatchie Valley with Community Support
• Impound #2 for the night.
• 🎸 Dunlap Residents Search for Guitar Lessons — A Sign of Growing Interest in Music Education
• 🎄 Dunlap Farmers Market Takes Holiday Break — Returns July 11
• Finding Reliable Boat Mechanics in Dunlap , TN — A Community Service Challenge 🚤
• 🌿 Vacation Bible School Explores God’s Creation in Dunlap — July 6–8
• ☀️ Hot July Week Ahead for Sequatchie Valley — Scattered Storms Expected Daily