Everything Old Is New Again: The resurgence of the “Do It yourself “ movement

The term “do-it-yourself”  (dyi) has been associated with consumers since at least 1912 primarily in the domain of home improvement and maintenance activities. The phrase "do it yourself" had come into common usage (in standard English) by the 1950s, in reference to the emergence of a trend of people undertaking home improvement and various other small craft and construction projects as both a creative-recreational and cost-saving activity. Wolf & McQuitty (2011). Understanding the Do-It-Yourself Consumer: DIY Motivation and Outcomes. Academy of Marketing Science Review

 “Everything that is old is new again.”  I can not recall how many times I’ve heard my parents, dad specifically, tell me that one day the case of dust collecting jars in their basement from grandma’s basement will come in handy and that one day canning will be trendy again.  As I huff, and remind him that its been years since  the last time he or anyone in the family pickled, the jars still remain in the basement.  Now living many provinces away I chuckled to myself as my dad’s words of wisdom spoke truth as I have just bought a case of new jars to start canning. 

The DYI movement has brought a trend of crafting, vegetable gardens, food preservation, sewing, and general ‘fix it up projects”. For the baby boomers many recall making clothes for their children, growing a family size vegetable garden and canning in mass quantities.  With children out of the house, hobbies changed and change in appetite; the thought of canning in your senior years may come with a “been there done that” attitude. 

Whistler Community Services Society is offering a canning class, specific to pickled vegetables. Join us August 12th to participate in a fun, interactive canning class where participants learn to how to prepare pickled vegetables with expert canner Carolyn Morris. Participants learn about nutrition, seasonal canning and will meet like-minded community members.  Classes are held at 1519 Spring Creek Drive (Whistler Blackcomb Foundation Social Services Centre) at 6:30pm. Contact Sara at 604-935-7717 or email foodbank@mywcss.org to book your spot. Please sign up before 10am on the day of the class to ensure your spot.
 Pay online at our website www.mywcss.org for one class ($10) or 5X pass ($40).

Here you will learn some up dated techniques, information about food preservation and be able to take home a jar for yourself.  All ingredients, tools and jars are provided.  No digging in the crawl space for the jars, caning rack, lids, caning funnel (which yes is different than your everyday funnel) and no need to hit up Costco for a commercial size vinegar.  This evening will include; instruction, to prep, preserve, canning and most important being able to take home the finished product. The ‘been there done that’ attitude should be demolished knowing that you will end up with a small amount of product and a single evening of time taken. Give canning a second try for all those baby boomers who swore off canning once finishing cases of jams, jellies, pickles and anything else that the garden yielded. If this date does not work for you WCSS will be hosting more canning classes in the fall including Zucchini Relish on September 9^th and Cranberry Sauce on October 28^th. For more updates please check our website www.mywcss.org. Happy Canning! ---SNAP-----