I am an amateur "canner." I came to this like I did quilting -- it seems like a great old-fashioned hobby that is made easy with modern equipment. I don't have a garden (cannot grow anything in our tiny yard in 100 degree Dallas weather), but I buy produce from a local store and make cinnamon pickles, watermelon rind pickles, and jalapeno pepper jelly. The latter is soooooooooo easy and delicious. These canned goodies are also the Christmas gifts I share with family and close friends.