The annual Prince of Wales Island “Putting Up POW Grub” event is set for Friday in Hydaburg and Saturday in Klawock.
The event, organized by the Southeast Regional Health Consortium, helps home canners test their equipment before putting up food for their families.
SEARHC Health Educator June May said this year marks the program’s 10th anniversary.
“We invite everybody to bring in their dial gauges from their pressure cookers,” she said. “It’s recommended that they be tested every year, so that they’re testing at 11 pounds pressure for fish and meat.”
May said they have a master tester to compare individual gauges and make sure they are adjusted correctly for food safety.
In addition to testing, the event offers food preservation and gardening tips.
“Information on pickling, lots on canning, freezing, drying and a lot of recipes for local foods,” May said.
May said prizes will be offered to people who show up for the event.
“This year, to commemorate our 10th anniversary, we’re going to be giving everyone who comes a beautiful canvas bag with a Native design on it by a local artist,” she said. “The local artist is Brian Holter Jr. He donated his design to us.”
May said there also will be a raffle drawing for a new pressure cooker and other door prizes, in addition to refreshments. She said the program has grown in popularity every year.
In Hydaburg, the event is set for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the Alma Cook Health Center. Saturday’s event is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Klawock Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall.
