December, 2022
now browsing by month
CAN YOU CAN?
by Debbie Kimmel
Yes, canning can be intimidating and scary, but there is a very easy way to start canning without pressure cookers and water bath canning! It is called the Open Kettle method. It is a perfect way to get your feet wet in the canning world without the fear of blowing up a pressure cooker. I have had great success canning tomatoes with this method. Below are the steps to can tomatoes using the Open Kettle Method:
ITEMS NEEDED:
• Tomatoes • Glass Jars (preferably Mason)
• Cookie Sheet • Metal Lids /Metal Rings
• Jar Funnel • 1 tsp. Non-Iodized Salt per jar
DIRECTIONS:
Place clean jars on a cookie sheet and heat in oven at 250 deg F. (20 min)
Boil lids in small pot to sterilize, pull out and dry on clean paper towels. (1min)
Boil water in large pot and blanch tomatoes for one minute and peel skin off.
Remove blemishes, and cut tomatoes in small chunks and place in large pot.
Heat tomatoes slowly at medium-low, stirring occasionally. Increase heat to medium-high till boiling.
Skim any foam off the top.
Take jars out of oven and place next to pot of tomatoes on cookie sheet or towel. Ladle hot tomatoes into hot jars using a jar funnel. Fill to an inch below top of jar. (Near the lowest ridge of the jar opening)
Add a tsp of salt to each jar.
Wipe top of jars from all tomato residue with damp paper towel so lids will seal.
Place lid and rings on each jar. Tighten down rings tightly.
Flip tomato jars upside down. Always use oven mitts to handle the jars.
After 5 minutes, flip the jars right side up and they will vacuum seal within 30 minutes- to 24 hours.
If the lids compress down, and you hear a “Ping” they have sealed. Tomatoes can be stored on the shelf for up to a year. If a lid does not seal, put in the refrigerator and use within a couple of weeks.
The trick to being successful with this method is to work fast with the very hot tomatoes and very hot jars to ensure the lids sealing. Some people may choose to do one jar at a time until they get the process down. I will do about 4 at a time so I can keep everything hot while going through all the steps.
Safety Alert: You cannot mix foods and safely use the Open Kettle method as the mixing of the foods will alter the pH of the food and cannot safely be preserved without pressure canning.
Just the other week I was craving some spaghetti and meat sauce but didn’t want to go to the store. Looking around my kitchen I found the ground beef in the freezer, the canned tomatoes in the pantry and the pasta in the cupboard and it was a great feeling to whip up my dinner from everything I had stored.
Although the tomato season is over, buy some from the store and practice for next year’s summer harvest!
Debbie works a full-time job away from home; her “Home Sweet Homesteader” column includes what she is currently working on as she aspires to be a “Homesteader” in her own backyard in Greenville, SC.
Full-Spectrum Sauna Added to Healing Center
Affordable Acupuncture has added a full-spectrum infrared sauna to their healing center in Simpsonville. A full-spectrum infrared sauna not only aids clients with detoxification, weight loss, relaxation, passive cardio, and pain relief, but the full-spectrum gives clients that low, constant intensity level that penetrates tissue to help with various skin concerns. In addition to the heat, the MPulse chromotherapy lighting allows the client to choose the chakra they want to work on, and can change the colors with a remote control.
Joan Massey, owner and licensed acupuncturist (L.Ac) of Affordable Acupuncture says, “We’re continuing to expand services to help facilitate healing for our clients as much as we possibly can.” Besides their private sessions of acupuncture, (by appointment only) Massey, along with Nicole Negron, L.Ac, offers community acupuncture, AMP Coil PEMF, Beemer sessions, footbaths, and whole-body vibration machine sessions as well.
Affordable Acupuncture is located at 3100 Grandview Dr., Simpsonville. For more information, call 864-406-3800 or visit AffordableAcupunctureByJoan.com.
Regenerative Clinic Opens Inside
16 Lindsay in Greenville
The Danita Clinic recently joined Fresh Feet Foot Care, Live Healthy Be Healthy, a Bowenwork therapist, and a traditional massage therapist at 16 Lindsay Avenue, in Greenville. “The clinic is the perfect addition to this location, and we’re excited to be a part to offer multiple healthy services and tools for our clients to improve their life,” says Anita Swiss, RN, and co-owner of the clinic. The clinic offers pain alternatives with PRP and regenerative therapies, Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) featuring BioTE, microneedling featuring SkinPen, guided weight loss with Semaglutide + B12, IV vitamin/peptide therapy, and in-house general family medicine appointments with Victoria Cochran, FNP-BC.
“At Danita, we have many clinical studies on every service we provide, says Swiss, and are trained and certified in BHRT and microneeedling as well.” “We want to be an integral part in getting clients back to looking and feeling their best from head to toe all under one roof,” exclaims Swiss.
For more information on The Danita Clinic and their free consultations, call 864-419-7896 or visit TDCGreenville.com.
Online “Inner Fitness” Resource Available in the Upstate
Joi Natural Wellness is happy to announce the launch of their brand new online resource center on Patreon.com. This is a place for deeper learning about natural wellness, herbalism, plant-based medicines, inspirational topics, life-coaching, along with tips, tricks, recipes and great discounts on products at Joi, plus discounts on services from many holistic practitioners and life coaches.
“Greenville’s local apothecary, Joi Natural Wellness & Tea Bar has responded to customer’s desires to have access to more in depth education regarding natural plant based medicines and natural ways to be fit from the inside out,” says, owner Angie Chandler. “This online resource center is the perfect place to start your new year and create a new healthier you from the inside out.”
Joi Natural Wellness & Tea Bar is located at 86 Orchard Park Dr., next to Stax Omega, Greenville. To learn more, call 864-626-3126 or visit JoiNaturalWellness.com. To become a member/patron join: The Joi Center on Patreon.com.
Holistic Dental Hygiene Team
Receives Certification
Palmer Distinctive Dentistry’s hygiene team recently received their certification in Biological Hygiene through the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) Hygiene Program. “Our hygiene team is proud of this certification, which in turn, helps our guests know the hygienists have the knowledge and understanding to treat them with the best holistic care possible,” says Celia Bridges, Office Manager/Marketing. “And between our three hygienists, they have a combined experience of over 50 years and are always striving to learn and grow to better serve our guests.”
According to their website, Palmer Distinctive Dentistry’s goals are to help guests achieve better oral and general health through treatments that are effective and biocompatible. Their approach to dental care is such that the entire body should benefit. Certainly, the dental treatments and materials used to address dental concerns should not stand in the way of one’s best health. Holistic dental care extends beyond preventing, diagnosing, and treating dental diseases. It works through becoming familiar with not only oral anatomy but also looks into the medical history and lifestyle habits as they relate to oral health. This familiarity, which is also facilitated with advanced imaging like digital x-rays, allows for customized care to the individual.
Holistic dentistry may be considered alternative, but this approach to dental care is becoming more recognized for its excellent benefits.
Palmer Distinctive Dentistry is located at 134 Milestone Way, Greenville. For more information, call 864-879-6494 or visit PalmerDMD.com.
Colon Hydrotherapy Open System Coming to the Upstate
Pure Health & Wellness is adding the Libbe colon hydrotherapy open system to their many modalities offered. “With 25 years experience working in 16 different countries and 50,000 clients, I appreciate both systems equally,” says owner and colon hydrotherapist Betsy Exton, I-ACT, BA, MA. “This system offers our clients more privacy, and for those who want to be left alone throughout their cleansing process session. We’re excited to offer both systems; it’s important to keep cleansing out the toxins no matter what,” says Exton.
There are two locations in the Upstate. Pure on Main (in downtown Greenville) and Pure Wellness Spa (in downtown Greer), which are also herbal remedy boutiques that offers vitamins, supplements, and a variety of natural health spa therapies that aid in healing, nourishing, and cleansing the whole body.
For more information about Pure Health & Wellness, call
864-991-2726 in Greenville, or 864-655-5079 in Greer, or visit PureOnMain.com.
Coach Encourages Sleep Wellness through Grounding
Derek Johnson, a wellness coach from The DJ Wellness Network, is bringing sleep wellness to the Upstate with a unique line of grounding sleep products that have recently helped him recover from a stroke in 2017.
This remarkable recovery has made him want to encourage everyone he meets to make sleep wellness a priority. Within the SleepM product line of organic mattresses, pillows, and more, is a mixture of 16 ancient elements, such as Amethyst
and Citrine. They are amplified by the addition of gold and silver crystals into the products. The crystals balance the bioelectrical field of the body through sleep.
Johnson says, “Biocrystal sleep technology enables us to have optimal health while we sleep. Who doesn’t want to sleep well? I know now how important it is to sleep well to heal my immune system and achieve optimal health.”
Derek Johnson, Wellness Coach of DJ Wellness Network, is located at 141 Traction Street in Greenville. For more information, call 864-275-3236 or email [email protected].Mailto:[email protected]
Organic Salon Introduces New Clean Makeup Line
Nancy Minix, owner of Nancy Lee’s Hair Art, has recently completed an education class for a clean skin care and makeup line called Mirabella. “I brought in a new makeup line that is natural and fragrance-free. The core value of this line is cruelty, gluten and paraben-free with the highest quality of ingredients,” says, Minix.
The products contain plant extracts like bamboo leaf, lavender water, rose flower, rosemary and witch hazel; these plants have been known to contain healing properties.
“I personally have been using these products. My skin is very sensitive to fragrance and chemical ingredients; I am pleased to say that my skin has improved greatly and have not had any irritation; which for me is a wonderful thing, and I want to share this discovery with my clients,” exclaims Minix.
Minix is offering a Winter Special: A 30-minute mini-makeover for $25 and with a purchase of any product, the $25 will go towards your purchase.
Nancy Lee’s Hair Art Studio is located in Greer, by appointment only. For more information, call 864-320-2359.
Integrative Practice Expands Team
Healthcare in Easley is growing again. With the recent addition of Tracey Schofield, a Nurse Practitioner, they also brought on two new staff members; Beverly Merry and Ramona Roque. “We are excited about the expertise and knowledge they both bring to the practice,” exclaims Cheryl Middleton, PA. “Both ladies have already been positive assets. Don’t forget about Jessica and Anna with their experience and knowledge in our office as well. All are a great team to make LivingWell Integrative Healthcare a valuable resource to improve our patients’ quality of life.”
LivingWell Integrative Healthcare is located at 838 Powdersville Rd., Ste. G, Easley. For more information, call 864-850-9988 or visit their website at LivingWellHealthcare.com.
Letter from the Publisher
Our winter issue was so much fun to spruce up for the holiday season, with color options and little special touches like our Christmas tree recycling tips on page 23, and our Locally Grown advertisers’ favorite holiday traditions in the Upstate on page 31. The “Healthy Tips to Glide Through Winter” section on page 14 and 15, has some great kidney support suggestions, and I tried those cold weather stretches out from Dr. Ian; I found I was more flexible and it positively enhanced my mood afterwards.
With the many stressors that encompass the winter months, (including the holidays) remind yourself how to be simply joyful on page 20, and also more romantic on page 21, so your New Year will be off to a fantastic start!
Locally Grown is supported solely by our advertisers, and we added even more new professionals this quarter for you to get to know! Please support them and their endeavors to help readers like you lead a healthier lifestyle. Make sure you grab a few extra copies from locations like Publix, Garner’s and Earth Fare to share with family and friends. Don’t forget to keep one in your car!
Feel free to contact us at LocallyGrownGreenville.com. We welcome your comments and suggestions.
May you all have a Healthy, Joyful, and Blessed Holiday Season!