We had a great time at the last Jam Class at DIG Gardens on March 3rd making Kiwi-Pear Lime Marmalade using beautiful glass Weck jars. Thank you to those who attended! Check back for more workshops at DIG.

The next class at Let’s Cook is Saturday, June 2nd from 1-4pm.  Let’s Cook Santa Cruz is a new recreational cooking school located at 2880 Research Park Dr. #200, in Soquel (near 41st Ave).  We’ll be preparing and taking home two of the following low-sugar recipes based on availability: Balsamic Strawberry-Fig Jam, Spiced Plum Jam, Peppered Peach Jam, and Fig Rhubarb Jam. Learn how to make amazingly flavorful and low-sugar jams in this new professional teaching kitchen. Please register soon to save your spot at http://www.letscooksantacruz.com.

Treat yourself to an afternoon at the Farm at Hidden Villa in Los Altos where we’ll be canning the tastes of summer. On Saturday, August 4th from 1-4pm we’ll be making Summer Berry Jam and Spiced Plum Jam at the Dana Center.

Hidden Villa is a beautiful ranch of organic teaching gardes, farm animals, a smithy and lots more. Located off Highway 280 in the Los Altos Hills.    Pre-registration is required- please go to http://www.hiddenvilla.org/calendar and find the Calendar of Events under Programs to sign up. Class size is limited to twelve.

Thank you for supporting local food endeavors!

Next Preserves Workshop at Hidden Villa: Saturday, November, 12th, from 1-4pm. We’ll work as a group in the farm kitchen to make an Autumn Cranberry Chutney and Balsamic Red Onion Relish.  This is a special chance to look around the Duveneck House and visit the gardens.

If you have never been to this organic farm, ranch, camp in the Los Altos Hills, it is worth a visit!

Hidden Villa is a nonprofit educational organization that uses its organic farm, wilderness, and community to teach and provide opportunities to learn about the environment and social justice.  Hidden Villa stretches over 1600 acres of open space in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, about 40 miles south of San Francisco. Their mission is to inspire a just and sustainable future through their programs, land and legacy. Please visit www.hiddenvilla.org to register- don’t wait, this class is limited to 12 students!

Check back for more Jam Workshops at DIG Gardens, upcoming holiday sales and new Canning Classes at Let’s Cook in Santa Cruz.

top Photo attributed to Kristen (kthread) Taylor 2010

From Dec. 9th-19th, 2010 in downtown Santa Cruz, Grant’s Tomb and Artisans Emporium featured local collections and crafts of all kinds. A truly alternative holiday experience. New jam flavors in small batches included: Raspberry Agave, Vanilla Pear and Blackberry Honey. Thank you to those who came down to shop!

Check out the article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel from August 18, 2010:

Santa Cruz Jam Maker Savors the Fruits of Her Foraging

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_15811152