Preserving

Austin County Canners

Family & Flavors

A tradition of canning transcends generations in Austin County, weaving a tapestry of family, flavor and the pursuit of excellence behind every jar.

BEHIND THE BLUE RIBBON

Bellville High School grad, Elaine Galle’s journey into canning began in her youth, inspired by her 4-H experiences and lessons from her mother.

With a family tradition deeply rooted in these skills, it came as no surprise when her two sons and daughter joined in. Now, the tradition continues with her grandsons and granddaughters, who eagerly participate in canning sessions at her home in New Ulm. Galle’s 13-year-old granddaughter has already mastered jelly-making.

Family gatherings around the table to prepare pickles, beans and jellies underscore a multigenerational bond strengthened by the art of canning.

“Galle has been submitting her canned goods to the Austin County Fair for 65 years, with countless entries each year. Her specialty is jars of pickles, green beans, relishes, jams, sauces and jellies. Every year she typically wins 3 grand prize ribbons and several reserve ribbons.

My daughter and grandchildren have also won ribbons,” Galle said. “It’s interesting because we come together to can but work individually to pack the jars. “We pay close attention to how we pack the pickles and green beans for an appealing look because judges don’t taste the contents; their evaluation is based purely on appearance. There’s a specific requirement for headspace— the gap where no vegetables are visible,

ABOUT THE WRITER: Holly has covered the Austin County area since 2016, being a resident for portions of her young and adult life. When not writing, she spends time with her two young children or writing her blog, hollyinhouston.com.

and everything must be fully submerged in water,” Galle said. “This can be challenging to control during the canning process, but we’re meticulous in our approach to ensure everything looks as pretty as possible.”

Galle emphasized the importance of canning as a cherished family tradition, with her family eagerly assisting and continuing the legacy of canning passed down from her mother and grandmother.

FROM THE GARDEN TO THE JAR: THE JOURNEY OF A LOCAL CANNER

After a hiatus caused by a herniated disk, 33-year Sealy resident Pamela Joseph has resumed her entrepreneurial canning journey with Pam’s Jams and Pickled Veggies, a side business specializing in homemade preserves. The injury initially hindered her ability to participate in farmers’ markets, prompting a pivot to online sales through Facebook and personal networks.

Joseph attributes her expertise in canning and preserving to her early lessons with Grandma Atchley, alongside her Grandpa Jack, who were Justices of the Peace in Hilltop Lakes and were pivotal role models in her formative years. “I have some of my fondest memories cooking and canning with her. These days canning is a dying trade. I did not can often while I was raising my children, but once the kids were grown, I wanted to can again,” Joseph said. “I bought supplies and started; it was like riding a bike. Everything I had learned came back fast and easy. In a way, canning is a form of relaxation and introspection for me. I love it and remember my fond childhood memories while I’m cooking-- which I think makes the goodies even yummier.”

Joseph takes pride in her strawberry jam and strawberry serrano jam, which have become favorites for their unique blend of flavors. Her passion extends to pickling a wide array of vegetables and creating jams and salsas that satisfy any taste preference, thanks to her ability to adjust the spiciness of her salsas from mild to extremely hot – a customer favorite.

“As of right now, my business is not profitable, but I know once I can get back to the markets it can be. With the increases in costs for supplies, it makes it difficult to have low prices, but I do my best to keep them as low as I can,” Joseph said. “I only charge $12 a jar for the pickled veggies and $7 a jar for the jams. That’s a pretty great deal. I can also deliver for free in the Sealy/Bellville/ Wallis areas. It usually takes about 3 days for me to have an order ready unless I have that item in stock, and they are all canned and safe for shelf storage up to 12 months unless opened.”

For orders, Joseph can be reached via email at pammmiejoe6@ gmail.com or by phone and text at 979-7332581.