Megan | Aug 21

Putting Up the Harvest: A Beginner’s Guide to Canning & Preserving

There’s something special about this time of year. Gardens are overflowing, farmers market baskets are full, and suddenly you have more cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet corn, and green beans than you know what to do with.

That’s where preserving comes in.

For generations, families have found ways to make the summer harvest last a little longer. And while canning may be the first thing that comes to mind, you can also freeze, dry, pickle, ferment, and even freeze-dry your favorite foods.

The best part? You don't need to be an expert—or have a kitchen full of equipment—to get started.

Canning 101

At its simplest, canning preserves food in jars by processing it with heat. There are two main methods:

Boiling-water canning is used for high-acid and properly acidified foods, including many fruits, jams, jellies, and pickles.

Pressure canning is required for low-acid foods such as plain vegetables, meats, poultry, and seafood.

Whichever method you're using, always follow a current, tested canning recipe. The proper acidity, preparation, and processing time are important for food safety.

Do I Need a Special Water-Bath Canner?

Not necessarily!

If you're making something that's safe for boiling-water canning, you may be able to use a large, deep stockpot you already own. You'll need a lid and a rack that keeps your jars from sitting directly on the bottom of the pot. The pot also needs to be deep enough to keep the jars covered with boiling water throughout processing.

Add proper canning jars and lids, a jar lifter, and a trusted recipe, and you've got the basics.

Important: A stockpot can take the place of a boiling-water canner for appropriate recipes, but it cannot replace a pressure canner when pressure canning is required.

More Ways to Preserve the Harvest

Canning isn't your only option! Sometimes the easiest preservation method is the one you'll actually use.

Freeze it. Sweet corn is a perfect example. Blanch it, cool it, cut it from the cob, and freeze it for a little taste of summer in the middle of winter. Berries, peaches, peppers, green beans, herbs, zucchini, pesto, soups, stocks, and plenty of other foods can also be frozen.

Make refrigerator pickles. Want homemade pickles without canning them for pantry storage? Refrigerator pickles are an easy place to start.

Dry it. Herbs like basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and mint can be dried and stored for later.

Ferment it. Sauerkraut and fermented pickles are classic examples of another preservation tradition that's been around for generations.

Freeze-dry it. For those ready to take food preservation to another level, freeze-drying can preserve fruits, vegetables, herbs, meals, and much more for long-term storage.

A Few Good Tools Go a Long Way

At Neighbors Mercantile, we love stocking products that help keep these practical traditions going.

You'll find Ball canning supplies, Kilner jars and preserving essentials, and Harvest Right products—including home freeze dryers—for those who want to preserve even more of the harvest.

But you don't have to do everything at once.

Start with a few jars of pickles. Freeze some sweet corn. Dry the herbs growing outside your kitchen window.

Preserving food can be as simple or as involved as you want it to be.

From the Garden to the Pantry

There's something satisfying about hearing the pop of a jar sealing on the counter or pulling summer sweet corn from the freezer on a cold January evening.

Maybe that's why preserving food feels right at home at Neighbors. It's about useful goods, practical skills, good food, and traditions worth keeping around.

And speaking of traditions worth keeping around, we couldn't write a blog about canning without sharing a recipe that's extra special to us.

This pickle recipe comes straight from the mom of one of Neighbors Mercantile's owners. It's a favorite family recipe, and we're excited to pass it along to you.

Enjoy!

Food preservation should always be done using current, research-tested recipes and methods. Before using an heirloom or family recipe for shelf-stable canning, compare its ingredients and processing method with current USDA or National Center for Home Food Preservation recommendations.

Holidays at Home: Christmas 2026 Trends We're Loving

There's something special about decorating for Christmas. Pulling out the ornaments you've collected over the years, finding the perfect spot for your favorite wreath, and adding those little touches that make your home feel ready for the holidays.

At Neighbors Mercantile, Christmas planning starts long before the first snowflake falls. As we've been selecting our collections for 2026, we've noticed a few decorating trends that have us especially excited for the season ahead.

This year, we're seeing a beautiful mix of handmade charm, nostalgic traditions, rich colors, and timeless pieces. Some styles feel like Christmas at Grandma's house, while others bring a more polished, elegant touch. And the best part? You don't have to choose just one.

Here are four Christmas decorating trends we're loving for 2026.

Nordic Ware vs USA Pan: What’s Right For You?

When it comes to reliable, American-made bakeware, two names consistently rise to the top: Nordic Ware and USA Pan. Both brands are known for durability, performance, and thoughtful design—but they take very different approaches to materials and baking styles. Whether you’re a casual home baker or a detail-oriented cake enthusiast, choosing between them comes down to how (and what) you love to bake. Here’s what you need to know before you decide.

Treasure Hunting in Nappanee? Make Neighbors Mercantile One of Your First Stops

If you're planning to visit Nappanee for the annual Experience Nappanee celebration, be sure to add Neighbors Mercantile to your garage sale route.

From Thursday, July 9 through Saturday, July 11, we'll be joining the city-wide Embrace the Pace Garage Sales with a special outdoor garage sale featuring hundreds of deeply discounted items. The city-wide garage sales are part of the larger Experience Nappanee 2026 celebration, a weekend filled with local shopping, live music, family activities, food trucks, and community events throughout downtown.

Bringing Spring to Life with Real Touch Greenery

There’s something about spring that makes us crave fresh starts—open windows, lighter spaces, and a little more life in every corner of our homes. Our Spring Real Touch Greenery collection was curated to do just that: bring the beauty of the outdoors in, without the upkeep.

Designed to look and feel incredibly lifelike, real touch greenery offers the softness and texture of fresh stems with the ease of everyday styling—no watering required. Whether you're refreshing your home for the season or preparing for special gatherings, these pieces make it simple to create a space that feels alive, welcoming, and effortlessly styled.

Stronger Days on the Line: Meet Poly-Grip Clothespins

At Neighbors Mercantile, we believe everyday tools should work as hard as you do. Whether you’re embracing a slower, more sustainable rhythm or simply tired of flimsy clothespins that snap, twist, and fail when you need them most—there’s a better way to hang your laundry.

Enter Poly-Grip Clothespins: thoughtfully designed, American-made, and built to last.

Sourdough at Home: A Beginner’s Guide from Neighbors Mercantile

There’s something special about sourdough. The smell of a loaf baking in the oven, the crackle of a golden crust, the tangy flavor that only time and fermentation can create—it’s bread the way it was meant to be.

At Neighbors Mercantile, we believe sourdough isn’t just food. It’s a craft, a rhythm, and a connection to simpler, slower living. Whether you’re brand new or ready to try again, this guide will walk you through the why, the how, and the what you need to get started.

Timeless Toys: Built for Play Today and Memories Tomorrow

At Neighbors Mercantile, we believe the best toys aren’t the ones that light up, beep, or need batteries—they’re the ones that spark imagination, stand the test of time, and get passed from one set of small hands to the next.

There’s something special about a toy that doesn’t just belong to one child, but becomes part of a family story. The scuffed wheels, the worn paint, the tiny fingerprints—those are signs of a childhood well played. That’s why we’re proud to offer a collection of timeless, classic toys designed to last for years, even generations.

Bring the Beat Outdoors — Meet Turtlebox Audio at Neighbors Mercantile

At Neighbors Mercantile, we’re all about gear that keeps life loud, rugged, and ready for adventure — and that’s exactly why we carry Turtlebox Audio speakers. These aren’t your average Bluetooth boxes — they’re engineered for real outdoor use: rain, dirt, beach days, campfires, tailgates… you name it. Born from a garage idea to build the ultimate outdoor speaker, Turtlebox Audio has carved a niche as best-in-class for rugged performance and bold sound that travels with you.

Whether you’re chilling at the campsite or powering the party on your patio, we’ve got Turtlebox speakers ready to rock your soundtrack.

Crow Canyon Enamelware: A Classic That Still Knows How to Show Up

There’s something instantly comforting about enamelware. Maybe it’s the familiar speckled finish, the sturdy feel in your hands, or the way it brings to mind campfires, family kitchens, and well-used tables. At Neighbors Mercantile, we love pieces that tell a story—and Crow Canyon Enamelware tells one that spans generations.

Whether you’re discovering enamelware for the first time or grew up eating cereal out of a speckled bowl, Crow Canyon’s high-contrast splatter ware bridges the gap between nostalgia and modern living.