Mary Jo Thurber's Page

Join us for fun and yummy treats at a backyard ice cream social! Whether you're new to IthaCan, never attended an event, or want to reconnect with old friends, we hope you'll join us. Families welcome.At the event, check out different methods of home ice cream making, taste the difference between quick ice creams and custards, and try different strawberry and rhubarb toppings. Please bring something to share: ice cream, seasonal fruit, an ice cream maker, music, lawn games... be creative!See More

We'll be pressing apples again this fall. BYOA (Bring Your Own Apples). If you have access to unsprayed/untreated apples bring 'em along. Last year, we weren't able to have this event due to the late frost that ruined most apple crops in our area, so let's hope for more apple-friendly weather this year.Spouse and kids welcome! In 2009, we averaged 2.5gal/bushel of apples; in 2010, we 2.25gal/bushel. Be sure to bring cleaned containers with lids. We can have 10 member families at this event.…See More

Homebrewing is rewarding and fun, but sometimes it can seem intimidating to get started! No need to fear; it's actually quite simple for the beginner and gets progressively more challenging as the brewer is ready to advance. We will demonstrate a full-grain mash, but we'll also discuss extract brewing and partial grain. We'll also discuss mead/wine making.We will have a special segment where the group can breakout into either a "beginner" or "experienced" session where they get customized…See More

Looking to eat more locally?  Making pasta at home is child's play!  Join Kalle Brinnell, age 6, and her grandmother, Nancy Norton to transform local grain from 'berries' to flour and then on to pasta.  The techniques can be used to produce a wide variety of pasta, with eggs or without, and just about any combination of grains.  We will have manual and electric grain mills and pasta rollers and cutters.  See More

This event is a multi-skill workshop at Varna Community Center put on by IthaCan volunteers for the larger community.  We will begin with a keynote presentation on  the Home Food Processor's Role in the Local Foodshed.Following the presentation, participants will be able to attend two of four sessions:FermentationRoot CellaringCanningDehydrationSuggested donation to cover the costs of the evening is $5 on a sliding scale.CCE of Tompkins County is co-sponsoring this event.Walk-ins also welcome!See More

We'll set up pickles from locally grown organic cukes using 3 different preservation techniques, making:•  fermented pickles•  canned pickles (BPA-free)•  refrigerator picklesExpenses for produce and jars and lids will be split among attendees, figure about $10/each.Limited to 10 participants.See More

I am interested in another hard cheese making class.  I am not ready to teach it but would gladly host an event.  Is anyone interested in teaching it?  I was also thinking since it is time consuming with blocks of time, we could have another project going at the same time.  Maybe a group preservation of whatever might be in season at the time of the class, a craft of some sort.  A hike to flat rock from my house it takes about an hour.  I have two stovetops and if the group is small everyone…See More

Cheesy talk here.

Come and enjoy the summer weather at an IthaCan cookout, pool party and produce swap. Mark Norton, Brigid Cassidy and Katie Quinn-Jacobs invite you to visit the backyard of Ludgate Farm & Market for fun, food, and entertainment. We'll provide a grill, some chairs, and an in-ground swimming pool. We'll also provide some basic food both vegetarian and not. If you've got some lawn games, bring 'em.  We'll have a campfire at dusk with s'mores.  We're also going to have a produce swap, so bring…See More

This event is full.  To host an event of your own use the online form found under the "Events" tab on the orange menu bar. Have you been longing for a 100% reusable canning experience?  That's BPA-free too?  Now's your chance!  Join me to make some peach and blackberry jam using 2 different 100% reusable jar options.  We'll make…See More