Join us for an engaging, hands-on workshop with Carla McClure, a dedicated organizer, grower, and advocate for healthy food access. Carla’s work is grounded in her personal experience with food insecurity, which shaped her belief that everyone deserves to feel welcomed, respected, and supported as they nourish themselves and their families.

Carla manages a weekly community food pantry and teaches the “360° of Food” workshop series in homes, churches, and community spaces. Her classes explore the full life cycle of food—from seed selection and growing practices to harvesting, preparation, and long-term preservation—all grounded in a “food as medicine” philosophy.

In this interactive workshop, Carla will guide participants through research-based, safe food preservation techniques, focusing on canning and dehydrating seasonal produce. Participants will learn step-by-step methods for water-bath, pressure, and steam canning, proper equipment handling, and current food safety standards so they can confidently preserve foods at home.

Carla brings extensive training and practical expertise to her teaching. Her certifications include programs through Michigan State University Extension, ServSafe, and the Produce Safety Alliance, along with advanced training as a Master Gardener and organic farmer. She also holds multiple food pantry and food safety certifications that support her work managing community food distribution.

With over 30 years as a grower and food enthusiast, five years specializing in food preservation, and years of community education experience, Carla combines hands-on demonstrations, practical guidance, and community-centered learning to make complex skills accessible to everyone.

This workshop will help participants:

• Reduce food waste

• Preserve local produce safely

• Extend household food budgets

• Build skills that strengthen family and community food security

Come learn how to buy, grow, prepare, and preserve food economically and safely—and leave with the knowledge to turn fresh harvests into nourishing pantry staples that last. 🌿