November 10, 2009 at 8:57 pm (Preserving Traditions)

Ok, it probably doesn’t look all that different to you (which is kinda the point), but I’ve finally gotten http://preservingtraditions.org/ up and running and not just pointing at the WordPress blog. You’ll notice the calendar is a little more slick, and there’s a prominent link to our Flickr photo group. (Please contribute photos!) The “about” page also has details on our second location, in West Bloomfield, Michigan.
Enjoy!
Leave a Comment
October 8, 2009 at 9:35 am (Preserving Traditions)
Just a note – instead of reposting things I’m posting over at Preserving Traditions, I’ve added a feed on the left side. As I add things over there, the title, date, and a link will show up here, and you can follow the link if you’re interested.
Leave a Comment
September 27, 2009 at 5:38 pm (Grange, Preserving Traditions)

When I can move my arms again, I’ll tell you all about Apple Day at the Grange (including making cider) and the chicken harvest workshop.
2 Comments
September 11, 2009 at 9:49 am (Musings, Preserving Traditions)
Hi-
Does anyone out there know the ins-and-outs of non-profit status enough to help me think through “franchising” Preserving Traditions? I want to keep my relationship with the Grange, but I also would like others to be able to start branches that aren’t housed at a Grange. We’re doing this informally now, but I can see it growing to the point where something formal needs to be set up.
Emily
3 Comments
August 5, 2009 at 10:44 am (Preserving Traditions)
When you think of pickles, do you only think of cucumbers soaked in vinegar? While no one denies the joy of a good garlicky dill pickle, there are so many more kinds of pickles to be savored! This class will teach you about the two basic methods of creating pickles: vinegar-brining (for making pickles that will keep all winter) and old-style lactofermentation (which produces outstanding nutrition, but no alcohol). Then we’ll make a quart of lactofermented pickles to take home.
Bring:
- A clean quart-sized glass jar with a lid (preferably a plastic lid)
- Enough small pickling cucumbers to fill the jar (don’t use the long “slicing” cucumbers – get the small, bumpy kind)
We’ll supply salt, dill, and other flavorings.
Sunday, August 9th
2-4:30pm
Pittsfield Grange
3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd.
Ann Arbor, MI
Cost is $5; free for members of the Grange. RSVP here!
Cost is $5 (free for members of the Grange). Space is limited!
Sunday, June 14th
2-4:30pm at the Pittsfield Grange
3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd., Ann Arbor, MI
1 Comment
July 24, 2009 at 10:36 am (Preserving Traditions)
Just a quick update to let you know what projects I’ve got going right now (besides the garden and, y’know, my actual job).
- First Preserving Traditions “canning work day” at the Grange, this Sunday starting at 1pm. The water situation at the Grange is still dire, but our wonderful facilities guru is bringing large jugs of city water so we don’t have to deal with sediment from the water heater.
- Getting interviewed by Edible WOW for their fall issue about PT.
- Initial meetings about selling “Yes. We Can.” schwag at a local store.
- Getting Groundcrew set up to organize the picking of feral fruit from untended trees around Ann Arbor. The perfect fruit will go to Food Gatherers; the imperfect fruit will turn into dried, canned, or sauced fruit for the pickers.
- Planning a farm visit with Preserving Traditions to see (and perhaps help) butcher chickens.
- Still planning to cook with Laura! In fact, I have secured a pig’s tail, bladder, and lard. I’m buying half a hog this year and I’ve been promised the…odd bits. I expect more of the Laura project will happen in the fall and winter once the pig is butchered.
3 Comments
July 20, 2009 at 6:03 pm (Preserving Traditions)
Hi, folks - I got a call from Edible Wow and they’d like to take some pictures this Sunday to go with the story they’re doing on Preserving Traditions. So I’m going to be at the Grange from about 1-3 the afternoon of Sunday, July 26th, canning raspberry jam. Feel free to come by, check it out, and/or do your own canning! It need not be raspberry jam, but it should be water-bath. Bring your own ingredients, jars, and lids; we’ll have a couple canners, jar lifters, etc.
Emily
Leave a Comment
June 18, 2009 at 11:26 am (Preserving Traditions)
Are you daunted by the thought of making homemade pie crust? Come join Preserving Traditions on Sunday, July 12 for a sweet lesson. Our teachers, Mary Wessel Walker and her dad, Jim, will lead us through making a real lard-and-butter pie crust and tart cherry pie filling. (If you don’t care for lard, you’ll be able to use butter or shortening in a separate mixer.)
Each participant will take home a ready-to-bake cherry pie! You’ll need to bring the following:
- One generous quart of fresh tart cherries (we’ll pit them at the Grange)
- 2 cups of sugar
- A stick of butter (4oz)
- A pie plate
Also, let us know if you can bring any of the following:
- A cherry-pitter, either mechanical or the handheld plunger type
- A food processor with a steel blade
- A rolling pin
…and let us know if you prefer not to use lard. We’ll have vegetarian/vegan options on hand for you.
Cost is $5 (free for members of the Grange). Space is limited! RSVP at http://cherrypie.sign-up-sheet.com/
Sunday, July 12
2-4:30 pm
Pittsfield Grange
Leave a Comment