UPCOMING UCFA WORKSHOPS- SCROLL DOWN To learn more

Join us in a walk through the steps to confidently create flavorful shelf stable food, save money, and build your pantry! 

The Beginner’s Canning Workshop Series is ideal for those interested in learning the basics or as a refresher of USDA food preservation guidelines, including the safety and science of preserving high and low acid foods for in-home canning. During this two-hour course you will learn the fundamentals of preserving high and low acidic foods using the USDA approved methods of boiling water (water bath) and pressure canning at home.  

A printed slide presentation will be provided for attendees to follow along and take notes. Included with your fee is a jar of preserved fruit or vegetable created by the presenter.

THE PRESENTERS

Mike and Tasha Whitt of Whitt's Farm, LLC have a small farm on 3.5 acres, where they grow seasonal produce and fruits for their subsistence and at local farmer markets. Tasha has been canning since 2021,and is skilled in both water bathing of high acid foods and pressure canning of low acid foods, as well as jams, jellies, preserves and fruit butters. She has successfully preserved over 3,000 shelf stable jars in a variety of foods including pickles, salsas, sauces, relishes, meats, veggies, soups, jams, jellies and fruits.

The origin of the name "indigo" points to India, where the dye was first processed and traded to Europe. However, the plant itself, Indigofera tinctoria, is also native to tropical regions in west Africa and China. Ancient civilizations in these areas, as well as in the Maya region, were among the first to cultivate and use the indigo dye. This workshop will focus on the cultivation and uses of indigo in West Africa and among people in the southeast  regions of the United States of America.

As stated above, indigo has deep roots in west Africa, where it was more than just a plant—it was an entire cultural and economic system.  Traditional centers of west African indigo production include the city of Kano in Nigeria, home to the ancient Kofar Mata dye pits, and the broader regions of Nigeria (especially among the Yoruba and Hausa people) and Mali (particularly the Dogon and Mandinka groups). Other important traditional centers are found in parts of Ghana, Senegal, Guinea, and Côte d'Ivoire, where distinct indigo dyeing and weaving techniques were developed and passed down through generations. Indigo-dyed textiles signified wealth, beauty, and tradition, often used in clothing, ceremonies, and even as currency. The craft was a highly skilled science and art, reflecting the ingenuity of African communities long before colonial contact.

THE PRESENTER

Bernard Singleton is a visionary Gullah-descended farmer, educator, and cultural steward based in North Carolina. As the co-founder of Nebedaye Farms and the Bennu Gardens Project, he cultivates crops deeply rooted in African and Gullah heritage—most notably indigo and rice—and operates an acclaimed African Botanical Garden that celebrates Africa’s botanical legacy in the Americas.