The trading table is where the magic happens and it is the heart of the canning swap. The guests do the real work, but here are a few tips to keep in mind. Make sure the table you choose is a sturdy one—no wobbling tables; you don’t want to be the cause of a canning club disaster. The trading table is usually the most photographed, so it’s nice to place a solid-color tablecloth on the table to make a clean backdrop.
Each of the guests places their five canned items on the trading table as they arrive. If you are hosting, try placing your jars in the middle of the table so guests can carefully add their masterpieces to the mix, building out from your starting point. This way if there are only a few guests, the table won’t be lopsided. The location of the table is important: It needs to be away from the food and drinks so it doesn’t get bumped and so that people have a chance to eye their first choices. As the event goes on, we naturally migrate from the food and drink tables to the canning table to check out all the beautiful goodies.
What people bring to the trading table changes according to the season. Our summer meeting is bountiful and participation is high. In the cold drizzle of winter, Portlanders tend to hibernate and few people come, but those who do tend to get creative with alcohol infusions, salts, and lots of pressure-canned meats. Although I love a lively summer meeting, it is also a nice change to enjoy a small meeting. One of our members hosted one of my favorite canning club meetings during Christmas. She made a big pot of chicken noodle soup, played holiday records, and we exchanged items around her beautifully decorated tree.
You should host canning meetings as you would host a party. Make sure to greet each person who comes in. When new members come to their first meeting, make them feel welcome. If chatting with strangers is not your strong suit, ask someone in the group to be the official new-member greeter. Everyone has made something and the common talking point is canning, so that is a great place to start.
If the overall mood is stark and somber, the meeting will be too. Music can help create a fun, lively vibe. You can set up a music station so guests can select songs, which can also be a fun conversation starter. You can also request a music savvy club member be in charge of making a monthly canning playlist.
After everyone has had a chance to put out their canned goods and have a drink and a bite, we call for everyone to gather in a circle around the trading table. Members are welcomed and thanked for coming. Starting with the host, each of us says who we are, what we made, and the best way to eat our item. This is a great opportunity to learn new members’ names and listen for the items that sound the most appealing to you. After we have introduced ourselves and our creations, the host gets first choice and we go around in a circle until all the items on the table are gone. As we start taking turns, it often grows quiet while we wonder if the jars we are eyeing will go home with another person. It’s kind of like a white elephant gift exchange, except all the prizes are really great!
I have always loved a rewards system. I believe that when people do hard work they should be honored and celebrated. Having a prize for creating something everyone wants keeps people motivated and it adds a fun vibe to the gathering. In this spirit, the first person to have all five of their jars chosen from the trading table wins a prize. I have loved every prize I have received, but my favorite prize was a unicorn pin, and I continually think about the baby doll head salt and pepper shakers I once almost went home with. Our group is full of creative people, so the prizes have ranged from illustrations, ceramics, and hot sauces, to plants and even fresh garden vegetables. The promise of a prize adds a nice extra treat and a bit of a competitive edge.
Finally, be open to learning as you go and seeing what works for you and your group. Make some traditions, share your stories, and, most of all, have some fun. I’m sure you’ll look forward to your canning club meetings every month, just as I do. Keep canning, loving, and sharing within your community!