Matthew 25, ISU Extension offer food preservation class

The Matthew 25 Ministry Hub is partnering with the Iowa State University Extension to offer a class on the various methods of safe food preservation. The class will be led by Linda Bigley, Linn County Extension Education Director. This is an introductory class focused on beginning preservation techniques, basic freezing and general discussion. The class will be held on Saturday, July 30 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in the Groundswell Youth Gathering Space at Matthew 25, 225 K Ave. NW, Suite G in Cedar Rapids.

“Our CSA families take home a lot of produce each week. We wanted to help them learn how to preserve it for use beyond the growing season,” said Matt Mayer, program director for the Cultivate Hope Urban Garden, a program of Matthew 25. “ISU has a great workshop planned at no charge so we decided we should open it up to the whole community.”

The Matthew 25 Urban Farm is located on the vacant land next to the former Boys and Girls Club on Ellis Boulevard. The farm is operated with sustainable practices and uses volunteer labor from Matthew 25 volunteers and GreenIowa AmeriCorps volunteers. Shares in a community supported agriculture (CSA) program are available to Cedar Rapids area residents. Interested readers should contact Matthew 25 for pro-rated mid-season rates. The farm also supplments the Matthew 25 Free Summer Meals program which is offered all summer long at the Matthew 25 Groundswell venue.

For more information or to register for the preservation class send an email to cultivate@hub25.org or call (319) 362-2214. RSVPs are requested by July 26 to ensure adequate amount of class materials. For more information on the Urban Farm or CSA Share program visit www.hub25.org/communitydevelopmentprograms/cultivatehope.

Matthew 25 Ministry Hub is a 501(c)3 organization in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The mission of Matthew 25 is to unite, empower, and change lives.