Canning jars

I've know for a while that I have a canning jar problem. I have this compulsion to collect canning jars. If I see a canning jar in someone's recycling, I will stop and pick it up. If there are free canning jars on Craig's List I will happily take them off the giver's hands. If I see a canning jar for ten cents at the thrift store, I will buy it. In the 6 years I have been canning in Ann Arbor, I have amassed a large collection of canning jars, with only actually buying two dozen jars the first year I made pickles.

Lately, I have been good. I've realized that if I keep collecting jars at the rate I have been, pretty soon there won't be any space left for me to live in. Terry will tempt me on a regular basis by showing me free or very cheap canning jars on Craig's List. I've actually turned a lot of free jars this year! I haven't bought any cheap jars at second hand stores this year either. I will still pick up jars on the side of the road though and if someone actually hands me a jar and says, "Do you want this?" there is no way that I am going to turn the offering down! If you start canning, free canning jars somehow start materializing when you are around. Most people, I am sure, have the common sense to turn them down once they have collected a reasonable number.

I knew I had a lot of jars, but until yesterday I really had no idea how many. Terry had to rearrange some things in the garage, and that forced me to move a bunch of canning jars--9 dozen canning jars to exact. To be honest, I had no idea I even owned 9 dozen canning jars. And those were only the ones in the garage. I went down to the basement and counted 7 dozen jars. Then I climbed up to the loft and counted 5 dozen jars. I didn't have the energy at the time to get a step ladder and see how many I have up in the attic. I don't even want to know how many dozens of jars are up there! And this is not counting the 75 or so jars in the pantry that are full of pickles, tomatoes, salsa, beets, and jam.

I've always collected canning jars, as my sisters will tell you. I took over the family canning when I was 13. A big part of my problem is that canning jars represent food security to me. There were several winters when I was a little girl that my family lived on potatoes and soy beans. Those hungry winters made a big impression on me. As a teenager doing the family canning I knew that if I filled those jars with fruits and berries, tomatoes and pickles, we would be sure to have some to eat other than soy beans and potatoes. This wasn't something I consciously thought about it, but I've come to realize as a adult that I have this fear of being hungry and I'm sure it has to do with not having much food at certain times when I was little. If I have lots of canning jars, I will not need to go hungry. I can always fill them with food when it is plentiful and have it avaible when food is scarce.

Security blanket or not, I really don't need 21 dozen or more canning jars right now. I put four dozen out on the curb right away (thankfully with an ad on Craig's List, they were snapped up within half an hour, so I resisted the temptation to bring them back inside). I probably would have put more out there, except that Terry pointed out that someday I might need all these canning jars. Good point there. Someday I might have 12 children and need lots and lots of canning jars (though I seriously doubt I will ever have 12 children). Or someday I might have a 3 acre garden and have lots and lots of food to can (though even if I ever do have that big of garden, I seriously doubt I will be canning that much food). In any case, as Terry pointed out, some day I might need 21 dozen canning jars, so I shouldn't get rid of TOO many of my precious jars!

So in conclusion: I currently have enough canning jars. Please don't give me any more. Find someone else who grew up poor and canning who will appreciate them! And if you or some one you know is in despert need of canning jars, I would be happy to share a couple of dozen with you.