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Why the Svalbard Archipelago? U.S. Involvement
It would be difficult to find a place more Participation in the Svalbard Global
remote than the icy wilderness of Svalbard. It Seed Vault endeavor has given the United
is the farthest north you can fly on a States a visible presence in the worldwide
commercial airline, and apart from the effort to safeguard the genetic diversity that
nearby town of Longyearbyen, it is a vast underpins our food supply. It has also been
white expanse of frozen emptiness. a way for ethnic groups to preserve for
At first blush, its location would seem an prosperity foods indigenous to their culture
odd choice for those unfamiliar with this and their roots.
remote location, but for designers and In 2020, The Cherokee Nation became
project participants, its location was ideal for the first US Tribe to deposit culturally
long-term seed storage: For one thing, the important crop seeds in the Svalbard Vault.
area is geographically stable and the humidity The Cherokee Nation’s Office of Natural
levels are low. For another, the Vault is well Seeds in tubes in preparation for storage Resources collected nine samples of
above sea level at 426 feet, protected from Cherokee heirloom crop seeds, including
ocean flooding according the Cherokee White Eagle Corn – a blue
to worst-case scenario sea and white corn with a red cob that gets its
level rises. Another advan- unusual moniker because some kernels
tage is the permafrost, appear to display an image of a white eagle.
which keeps the vault at -3 White Eagle Corn is the tribe’s most sacred
degrees Celsius, a naturally corn and is used in important cultural
occurring environment activities. Other seeds sent to the Seed Vault
that provides a cost- include Cherokee Long Greasy Beans,
effective and fail-safe Cherokee Trail of Tears Beans, Cherokee
method for conserving Turkey Gizzard black and brown beans, and
seeds. Lastly, it is remote Cherokee Candy Roaster Squash, along
but accessible. with several more varieties of corn. All nine
“It is away from the Cherokee crop varieties sent to Svalbard
places on earth where you predate European colonization.
have war and terror, The National Seed Vault has plenty of
everything maybe you are afraid of in other places. It is situated in a safe Cherokee White room left and the initiative is ongoing, but
place,” says Bente Naeverdal, a property manager who oversees the Eagle Corn as all involved understand, time may not
day-to-day operation of the vault. always be on their side.

“Canning” continued from page 26

U.S. Home Canning During the World Wars vegetables, and tuna fish. The use of glass jars
World War I and World War II had to can at home is also still common, and not
tremendous impacts on home canning in just in the United States. Canning practices
the U.S. Home canning using glass jars of various types are used all over the world to
had just started to gain popularity thanks preserve foods in multiple ways. Thanks to
to the release of the pamphlet “Canning modern innovations and conveniences,
Vegetables in the Home” included in the it’s easier than ever to can. It also makes a
USDA Farmer’s Bulletin #359 released in lot of sense because it can save you money
1909 by the Bureau of Chemistry. and help you reduce food waste.
Subsequent issues covered using pressure If you are going to “put up” preserves
cookers and other innovations. or other goods in glass canning jars at
When World War I struck just four home, or even purchase items in metal
years later in 1914 it caused a huge spike cans from manufacturers, you need to
in canning. Commercial canning know approximately how long they last.
companies mostly canned items in metal The problem is that, both in the early days
cans for use by soldiers, while home of canning and today, shelf lives are
canning in glass jars took off as people unpredictable. Early canning successes did
had concerns about food and other lead to the ability to store some foods for
resources during wartime. With the help months, or even a year or more. There
This pamphlet is part of the of the Ball brothers, among other makers, were also a lot of failures, both before and
collection entitled: USDA after the discovery of pasteurization.
Farmers’ Bulletins and was many communal canning centers were 1915 Kerr Self Sealing In general, a good goal to shoot for
provided by the UNT Libraries started to help those on the home front, 1 Qt Mason Jar today is preserving goods for up to about a
Government Documents as well as soldiers overseas.
Department to the UNT Digital A combination of things caused a real year from the date canned (or jarred, as the case may be). However,
Library, a digital repository spike in home canning practices during jams, jellies, and pickled products can all last longer than a year, under
hosted by the UNT Libraries. World War II. One was the invention of the right circumstances. Ultimately, your best option is to use your
stovetop pressure canners. Another was senses. Look for decolorization, mold growth, unpleasant odor, and for
the stress of food rationing, as well as incentives that came along with goods in metal cans, dents, rust, or bulging. If none of those issues are
that rationing. Namely, extra sugar was given to homes where canning present, the goods you have preserved are probably still fine to eat.
was practiced. As World War II ended and goods were readily available There is a saying to live by in canning – when in doubt, throw it out.
again, canning decreased in popularity.
Title image: Chinese cannery workers labor inside a cannery in Astoria. This
exceptional image shows much of the salmon canning process. From butchering fish
Who Cans Today? with a gang knife, to filling and weighing cans, to soldering filled cans and venting
The short answer to who cans today is everyone. Large companies them before sealing them again, until the cans are placed in retorts and finally
still produce a wide variety of goods in metal cans, such as fruits, submerged in water to test for any bubbles. West Shore, June 1887.
28 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles