Old-Fashioned Canning Circles: Why We're Bringing Them Back (And Why You Belong in One)

Dear Sisters, It’s Time

Since 2004, I’ve been designing my life to reflect the values I hold most dear — slow mornings, real food, the sound of my son playing and learning beside me, and a deep connection to the land. I’ve always known I was meant to live this way, even before it was trendy. What I didn’t expect was how many of you would begin reaching for the same thing, especially now. That’s why I’m writing this. Because the wisdom of our grandmothers is calling us back — back to our roots, back to community, and back to the canning circles that once nourished more than just pantries.

Victory Gardens and the Women Who Carried Us Through

During the Great Depression and again through World War II, women across the United States fed their families through a mix of Victory Gardens and communal food preservation. By 1943 these backyard plots they produced nearly 40% of the country’s fresh vegetables. Growing the food was just one part. Preserving it — together — was where the magic happened. Church basements, kitchens, and county fairgrounds became the heartbeat of community survival. USDA-sponsored programs taught women how to can safely. Women gathered in canning circles to help one another preserve tomatoes, peaches, and green beans. It was noisy. It was joyful. It was sacred. And somewhere along the way, we lost that.

The Lost Art of Community in the Kitchen

We traded in our waterbath canners for convenience. Our food became wrapped in plastic, shipped from far-off places. And somewhere in that exchange, we gave up something bigger than just homemade jam. We lost the rhythm of seasonal living. We lost the practice of gathering with other women in a circle to do something worthwhile, meaningful, and life-giving. We lost our stories.

Why This Tradition Deserves a Revival

Today’s world feels more disconnected than ever. We scroll past curated meals and try to make sense of rising food prices and empty grocery shelves. But deep down, many of us feel the same thing: We want our kitchens back. We want to feed our families with intention. We want to gather in the warmth of other women and remember who we are.

What We’re Doing at Wylder Space

At Wylder Space, we’re reviving the canning circle — but with a modern twist. Every week, we gather either in person or online (if you're far away). It’s accessible, real, and full of love. These circles are where we:

Preserve food seasonally and safely
Teach the basics of water bath and pressure canning
Build community with likeminded mamas
Explore how traditional skills can turn into modern income

This is our real food revival - based on real connection, and the knowledge that our grandmothers would nod in approval.

How It Compares to the Past

The old canning circles were built on necessity. Ours are built on both need and choice. We aren’t waiting for a war to call us into action — we’re reclaiming something powerful simply because we know it matters. In 1940, women canned because they had to. In 2025, we’re canning because we choose to remember what matters.

What You’ll Learn and Why It Matters

In every canning circle, you’ll walk away with both knowledge and nourishment. We’ll cover:

Seasonal preservation techniques (jams, pickles, tomatoes, broths)
Safety protocols so your jars seal right every time
How to gather and prep ingredients affordably
How this skill can evolve into a Cottage Food Business (read the blog post here)

And if you want to deepen your learning, you can also grab a copy of The Essential Canning & Food Preservation Cookbook — the perfect companion to our weekly class.

Why This Is Bigger Than Canning

This is a movement towards change. It’s about reclaiming rhythm. It’s about teaching our daughters how to fill jars with abundance and confidence. It’s about raising sons who know how to preserve tomatoes and respect women who create life with their hands. It’s about understanding that everything we need starts in the kitchen.

The Invitation

I want you to join us. Not just because you want to learn to can, but because you feel the pull — the one that says: “I want more than what the world is offering me right now.” 💛 Come sit at our table. 💛 Bring a jar, a smile, and your questions. 💛 Let’s gather, together, & preserve what truly matters.

Join Our Weekly Canning Circle

📍 Every Monday at 2PM PST 💻 Online or In-Person 💰 Only $10 per session 📖 Optional Add-On: The Essential Canning & Food Preservation Cookbook

👉 Sign up now to reserve your spot

Let’s Do This Together

We are the bridge between generations. When we gather to preserve food, we preserve stories, wisdom, and resilience. The world doesn’t need more influencers. It needs more women who remember. And who dare to shift the narrative.