By Karolyn Gephart
Heritage Gardeners will begin their new year with a meeting on Thursday, September 5, at 9:30 am. The speaker will be Ginger Benson with “I Can? You Can. WE CAN: the Modern Ways to Can Fresh Produce.”
An abundance of home-grown fruits and vegetables often triggers the desire to can foods at home. While this can be a fun and rewarding way to keep food long after the season ends, care must be taken to ensure that foods canned at home are safe. Join Ginger Benson, Galveston County Extension Agent for Family & Community Health, as she shares the how-to’s of home canning, including the science, safety, equipment, and steps used to can food.
Benson’s office is at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension office in Carbide Park in La Marque.
She received her Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Foods with a minor in Psychology from the University of Houston in 2013. She began her journey with Extension in 2015 as a Texas Master Gardener volunteer. Later that year, she became an Administrative Assistant for the Horticulture Department and was promoted to Office Manager in 2019. Ginger was awarded the prestigious Superior Service Award 2022 from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Administrative Support – County for the State of Texas.
She actively educates the Galveston County Community on various topics including food preservation and preparation, nutrition, sewing, physical activity, and much more.
Benson lives in Friendswood.
The Heritage Gardener meeting is open to anyone interested in attending. It is held at 112 W. Spreading Oaks (behind the library) in Friendswood.
New officers for 2024-2026 include President Tonya Richardson, First Vice President (Programs) Karolyn Gephart, Second Vice President (Yearbook) Tassa Arentsen, Third Vice President (Membership) Deena Metaxas, Recording Secretary Martha Scott, Building Manager Linda O’Brien, Corresponding Secretary Brenda Coe, Treasurer Teresa Hull, Parliamentarian and Past President Dianne Barron and Historian Karolyn Gephart.
Follow Heritage Gardeners on Facebook to find out more about upcoming events.
