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| Gail Webb (Master Gardener), Angela Martin, Belindia Brown, and Judia Gentry. |
The theme of the 86th Putnam County Fair was
“Tennessee Pride”. And pride was
exhibited! After touring the commercial
booths, one guest exclaimed “…to think we have all of this in Cookeville.” Produce and farm products demonstrated
capabilities of local gardeners and farmers.
Arts, crafts, photography, and culinary pursuits made us proud of
hometown talents. As always, Putnam County
Master Gardeners blended their exhibit with that of the Putnam County Fair. Throughout their “Enchanted Gardens” they
showed Tennessee Pride comes from our history and the resources of Putnam
County.
 |
Denise Blodgett, Isabella Barona, Adam
Boutillette (Master Gardener),
and Lisbeth Fortuno (Master Gardener)
|
As usual, the Master Gardener Building was a place where
people congregated and talked. Many
guests had been to the Women’s Building where they had seen the fantastic
exhibits of canned vegetables. Thus, as
they observed the historic Mrs. McGregor’s Kitchen in the exhibit, their
conversation gravitated to canning. They
wanted to know: what was the best technique for this vegetable or another
vegetable, do you cook the vegetable before you can it, is a hot-water bath
sufficient or should one use a pressure cooker, what pressure, how long,
etc. Invariably they asked, “Will Master
Gardeners teach a class on canning vegetables?”
Master Gardeners is a component of the University of
Tennessee Extension and is responsible for educating the general public on
gardening related topics. Working with
Michelle Parrott, Nutritionist and Home Economist Extension Agent, Master
Gardeners decided to offer a class on canning vegetables using both hot-water
bath and pressure canning techniques.
The class and demonstrations will be at the UT Extension Building
between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 25. Enroll at the University of Tennessee
Extension Office (900 South Walnut Avenue, Cookeville) (526-4561). There will be a $5.00 fee to cover
expenses. Instructors will be Master
Gardeners: Bonnie Coburn, Rosemary Ponte, and Dimple Stewart.
Of course, the canned vegetables exhibited at the Putnam
County Fair are the best of the best.
However they all follow the same basic time honored techniques
recommended by UT research. Those
exhibitors have honed the science into an art form resulting in a “Tennessee
Pride” that is a part of our history, is a part of our present as seen in the
exhibits, and will be a part of our future as people learn the science and art
of canning.
