Peach Jam

Location: Lodi, California

A few times a year my aunt can be found in her kitchen, canning or preserving one thing or another. A history buff and a journalist, she possesses a wealth of knowledge and stories she loves to pass along. As she walks me through the process of making peach jam, she recalls memories of her grandmother’s pantry stocked high with canned fruits, jams, and pickled vegetables. She tells me she learned to can to feel closer to her grandmother. I can’t help but feel closer to my aunt as, one by one, the jam jars seal themselves with a faint *pop* and we share the joy of knowing we’ve had a successful day in the kitchen.