About Cecilia

Hi, I’m Cecilia and I have lived in a suburban part of U.K. for decades, but I grew up on an African farm, where my elders modelled enormous respect and care for quality animal and plant foods and products. 

Seasonal produce was embraced and if necessary or possible, preserved later for longevity and convenience.

Spoilage was frowned upon and with the current cost of living, it’s more important avoid waste than ever.

Thus, my need to preserve good food safely, simply started with a need to reduce food waste, this, despite most of us not having unlimited fridge or freezer space. 

I’d seen some of it growing up, but sadly, I couldn’t claim to remember much in practice .. 

I wanted to aim for such foods to be as natural, nutritious unpolluted or tampered with as possible .. The lists of additives, preservatives and modifications to so many of our commercially available foods (especially processed) is of increasing concern as I have a background (long since retired) in health care and nursing education.

It was time to learn about (the now hugely scientific and technologically advanced) world of canning, dehydration, fermentation, culturing, pickling, and even freeze drying ..  Many such rooted in ancient practices and processes; BUT now with the necessary tweaks for additional food safety .. Most surprising, I realised how many younger people all over the world are passionately engaging in safe food preservation .. And so, the more I learned, the more I wanted to try and each success (or failure) drove me to learn more.

There is much greater support and more available resources (online and actual) for all the more specialised methods of food preservation in countries like the USA & Canada than Europe, and I joined many such groups and enjoy them tremendously.. But, I personally only know (remotely) one other person in the U.K. who has a freeze dryer, for example, but she is in Cornwall - too far away from me .. Surely there must be many more ? If not, it’s simply a matter of time .. 

Although I enjoy ALL types of food preservation techniques, it’s the ‘Freeze-Drying’ shortage in the UK (especially) which has made me finally decide to begin sharing some my food preservation escapades with others.

Let me know what food preservation techniques you most enjoy!