Photo by Jim Tait. Canby resident Emily Gerking, right, sold jams and jellies at the Russell Bandwagon Days vendor show, pictured here with her daughter, Vivian.
RUSSELL — Russell Bandwagon Days weekend featured a variety of activities and a vendor show at the Community Center that began at 9 a.m. Saturday and always drew a large crowd.
One of the vendors taking part was Emily Gerking from Canby, who has been selling unique flavours of jams and jellies that can’t be found anywhere else for 10 years.
“I have about 20 different recipes, so I make them depending on the season and what’s available.” She said:
Her favorite was the first one she made: Berry Jam.
“This is my grandmother’s (Mary Ann Zacharyson) recipe.” She explained, it’s made with strawberries, rhubarb and blueberries.
“We try to offer things that you can’t get in the stores. The garlic jam on display had a little container next to it for people to sample. Other examples include jalapeño and watermelon. As the year draws to a close, we’ll be listing a few batches of a holiday blend with strawberry, cranberry and spices.”
She has a cottage food license from the state which allows her to make jams and jellies at home to sell at vendor/craft shows and farmers markets.
She usually “400 to 500 bottles per year.” She said she puts batches of eight to 10 jars in a water bath on her electric stove, something she said has been especially hard to come by during the pandemic.
“I had to go online and to stores I wouldn’t normally go to, and my family and friends helped me get what I needed.” She said:
Bottle prices have remained high, and so have prices for some ingredients.
“Before, I used to buy (25 pounds of sugar) for $10. Now it’s $20.” She said:
And sometimes she experiments with flavors. “It’s not a big hit.” She said: “I had pineapple and onion jam with balsamic vinegar in it, but it didn’t work.” She said:
Robin Christenson of Tracy was selling homemade dishwashing detergent and rags.
“My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was little. I think of her every time I pick up a hook.” She said:
Elizabeth Rowan Keith, an author from Russell, also had a table and was selling her books. “Becoming a birch” A Minnesota Book Award winner, she has published several books, with others available online.
Also for sale were sprays and diffusers, Avon products, Tupperware, decorated and insulated beverage containers, handmade signs, T-shirts and bean bags.
The ladies of Grace First Parish also sold homemade treats.
