Northern Shenandoah Valley Food, Nutrition, and Health

08/04/2026

🍓 NEW! Food Preservation Workshop – Homemade Jam

Love homemade jam? Learn how to safely make and preserve seasonal jam using the water bath canning method in this hands-on Virginia Cooperative Extension workshop.

📅 Saturday, September 12, 2026
🕛 12:00–2:00 PM
💲 $25 materials fee (paid to the instructor at class)
🗓️ Registration deadline: September 5
👥 Limited to 8 participants

You'll leave with a jar of homemade jam, research-based resources, and the confidence to safely preserve jam at home.

👉 Register here: https://clarke.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=4731

Questions? Contact Amanda Johnson at [email protected]

Alt Text:
Promotional flyer for a Virginia Cooperative Extension canning class. On the right is a large glass jar filled with bright red strawberry jam, topped with a silver lid resting loosely on the jar and a white spoon. Fresh strawberries are arranged around the jar on a light wooden surface. On the left, the Virginia Cooperative Extension logo appears above the headline "Canning Class!" in large red lettering. Below the headline is the text: "Learn to safely make and preserve homemade jam using the water bath canning method." Event details include Saturday, September 12, 2026, 12:00–2:00 PM, Clarke County Community Center, and a $25 materials fee due to the instructor at the beginning of class. A green circular badge states that participants will take home their own jar of homemade jam. The overall design uses bright red, green, and white colors to create a fresh, eye-catching advertisement for a hands-on food preservation workshop.

06/16/2026

🥕🥫 Registration is OPEN! Learn How to Safely Pressure Can Vegetable Soup

Interested in preserving your garden harvest or learning how to safely use a pressure canner? Join Virginia Cooperative Extension for a hands-on Pressure Canning Vegetable Soup Workshop.

Participants will learn research-based home food preservation practices while preparing and pressure canning vegetable soup.

During this workshop, you will learn:
✅ Principles of safe pressure canning
✅ Step-by-step pressure canning procedures
✅ How to safely prepare and preserve vegetable soup
✅ Pressure canner equipment use, care, and maintenance
✅ Current USDA and Virginia Cooperative Extension food preservation guidelines

📍 Choose from three workshop locations:

Shenandoah County
📅 Monday, July 13, 2026
⏰ 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
📍 VCE – Shenandoah County Office
600 N. Main St., Suite 100, Woodstock

Page County
📅 Wednesday, July 15, 2026
⏰ 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
📍 VCE – Page County Office
215 W. Main St., Stanley

Warren County
📅 Saturday, July 18, 2026
⏰ 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
📍 Happy Creek Antiques
515 N. Commerce Ave., Suite B, Front Royal

💲 Supply Fee: $25 per person
👥 Space is limited to allow for hands-on instruction.

Register here:
https://register.ext.vt.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=4589802

Questions? Contact Amanda Johnson, Virginia Cooperative Extension
📧 [email protected]
☎️ 540-665-5699

Learn the skills. Preserve safely. Enjoy the flavors of the season! 🥫

05/18/2026

🥫 Free Pressure Canner Gauge Testing in June! 🥫

Getting ready for canning season? Make sure your dial-gauge pressure canner is accurate and safe to use before preserving vegetables, soups, meats, and other low-acid foods.

Virginia Cooperative Extension will offer FREE pressure canner gauge testing at each County Extension Office from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.:

📍 Monday, June 1 – Shenandoah County Extension Office
📍 Tuesday, June 2 – Page County Extension Office
📍 Wednesday, June 3 – Clarke County Extension Office
📍 Thursday, June 4 – Frederick County Extension Office
📍 Friday, June 5 – Warren County Extension Office

✅ Simply bring the lid from your dial-gauge pressure canner for testing.

Can’t attend during the scheduled time? You may also drop off your canner lid at your local Extension office anytime during normal office hours. We will test the gauge and contact you when it is ready for pickup.

Annual testing is recommended because gauges can become inaccurate over time due to normal wear and use.

Questions? Contact Amanda Johnson at [email protected].

Learn more about Virginia Cooperative Extension: https://ext.vt.edu

04/30/2026

Prevention + Early Detection = Powerful

Cancer prevention and early detection go hand in hand.

👉 Take one step today to protect your health.

💡 You have more control than you think.

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention.html

04/29/2026

Build Healthy Habits

Cancer prevention happens through daily habits.

👉 Pick ONE today:
✔ Eat more plants
✔ Move more
✔ Schedule a screening

💡 Small steps lead to big outcomes.

10 Cancer Prevention Recommendations

04/28/2026

Know the Warning Signs

Screening is important—but so is knowing your body.

👉 Pay attention to:
✔ Unusual changes
✔ Persistent symptoms
✔ Pain that doesn’t go away

💡 Don’t ignore changes—early action matters.

Cancer signs and symptoms can depend on where the cancer is, how big it is, and how much it affects nearby organs or tissues. Learn some common symptoms here.

04/27/2026

What to Ask Your Doctor

Not sure where to start with cancer prevention or screening?

👉 Ask your provider:
✔ What screenings do I need?
✔ When should I start?
✔ Are there less invasive options?
✔ What is my personal risk?

💡 Asking questions helps you take control of your health.

Screening is the best way to catch several types of cancer early, and that's one the roles of a primary care physician. Learn how your P*P can help reduce your likelihood of developing the disease.

04/26/2026

Prioritize Sleep

Sleep supports your body’s ability to repair and stay healthy.

👉 Tonight:
Aim for 7–9 hours of sleep.

💡 Healthy sleep supports overall wellness and cancer prevention.

General information and recommendations about sleep and sleep health.

04/25/2026

Prevent Cancer with Vaccines

Some cancers can be prevented with vaccines like HPV and Hepatitis B.

👉 This week:
Check if you or your child are up to date.

💡 Prevention can start early.

🔗 Cancer-preventing vaccines https://www.cancerresearch.org/immunotherapy-by-treatment-types/cancer-vaccines #

The science behind cancer vaccines builds on the proven success of vaccines used to prevent infectious diseases. See how it's revolutionizing immunotherapy.

04/24/2026

Be To***co-Free

To***co use is the leading cause of preventable cancer.

👉 Take one step today:
Reach out for support to quit.

💡 It’s never too late to reduce your cancer risk.

🔗 Get help quitting to***co https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/to***co/health-risks-of-smoking-to***co.html #