As The Modern Pioneer Pantry book tour came to a close, I could not have asked for a more meaningful final stop than the San Antonio Book Festival on April 11, 2016. It was a day filled with learning, laughter, and the kind of heartfelt connection that reminds me why I love sharing traditional skills so much.
From the moment I arrived, there was a wonderful energy in the air—people gathering together with a shared curiosity about food, tradition, and the simple joy of creating something with their own hands.
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Table of Contents
- A Delightful Conversation: Foraging Meets Preserving
- Your Questions Made the Day So Special
- Learn More About Pressure Canning
- Finding Confidence in Fermenting
- A Joyous Time in the Book Signing Tent
- A Heart Full of Gratitude
- Masontops Mason Jar Fermentation Kit Discount Coupon
- Backwoods Home and Self-Reliance
- The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
- The Modern Pioneer Pantry
- Start Your Traditional Foods Journey
- Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List
- Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy
- Kitchen Academy Videos
- Shop for My Favorite Items
A Delightful Conversation: Foraging Meets Preserving
One of the highlights of the day was being part of a discussion panel alongside our moderator Wendy Atwell and Gabrielle Cerberville, a talented mushroom forager and author of Gathered: On Foraging, Feasting, and the Seasonal Life. We had such a delightful time together, and I think what made it so special was how naturally our topics complemented one another.
Gabrielle shared her knowledge of foraging—how to recognize what nature provides, gather it thoughtfully, and reconnect with the land around us. And I had the joy of sharing how we can take that harvest from foraging or simply from our own kitchen gardens and preserve it for the days and seasons ahead.
It was such a beautiful reminder that traditional skills are all connected. Whether we’re foraging, gardening, fermenting, or canning, we are participating in something our ancestors understood so well—working in harmony with what we’ve been given.
Your Questions Made the Day So Special
But what truly made this experience unforgettable was you!
The questions from the audience were thoughtful, enthusiastic, and filled with a genuine desire to learn. I was so encouraged to see how many of you are already embracing traditional kitchen skills in your own homes.
From Jams and Jellies… to So Much More
Many of you shared that you are already confidently making jellies, jams, and preserves—and now you’re ready to branch out into even more home canning adventures. That is such a wonderful place to be!
- Learn about water bath canning: Canning Crushed Tomatoes with Water Bath Tutorial
And I must say, I was especially proud of those of you who are preparing to take the next step into pressure canning. That’s a big and exciting leap—and one that opens the door to preserving so many nourishing foods for your family.
Learn More About Pressure Canning
How to Use the Presto Precise Digital Pressure Canner
Learn how to use this incredible digital pressure canner as we cold pack and can carrots
Pressure Canning Essentials: Tools and Supplies Every Home Cook Needs
Learn the essential tools and tips every home cook needs for smooth, successful pressure canning—perfect for beginners!
Choosing the Right Pressure Canner: What Every Home Cook Should Know
Discover the pros, cons, and tips for choosing the best pressure canner for your kitchen.
Finding Confidence in Fermenting
We also had a wonderful conversation about fermenting—something that can feel a little mysterious when you’re just starting out.
I was glad to share a simple tip that can bring great comfort, especially for beginners: using pH strips. When you’re fermenting, being able to use a pH strip to see that your ferment has reached a pH of 4.6 or below can offer such reassurance.
In that naturally acidic environment, with a pH below 4.6, harmful bacteria simply cannot survive. Sometimes it’s just that little bit of confirmation that helps you feel confident enough to continue—and before you know it, fermenting becomes second nature.
A Joyous Time in the Book Signing Tent
After the panel, we made our way over to the book signing tent—and oh my goodness, what a joy that was!
Meeting so many of you one-on-one, hearing your stories, and having the opportunity to personalize your books is something I treasure deeply. Those quiet moments we share—filled with smiles, laughter, and kind words—mean more to me than I can ever fully express.
A Heart Full of Gratitude
As the day came to a close, I found myself reflecting on just how blessed I am to be part of this beautiful community of sweet friends who share the desire to create a Traditional Foods Kitchen.
- What is a Traditional Foods Kitchen? (You might be surprised!)
To see so many of you embracing traditional foods, learning new skills, and creating warm, nourishing homes for your families…it truly fills my heart with gratitude.
And if there is one thing I carried home with me from San Antonio, it is this: we are on this traditional foods journey together—and what a wonderful journey it is.
Masontops Mason Jar Fermentation Kit Discount Coupon
Although you don’t need any special equipment to start making ferments, the Masontops kit can help you simplify the process and enable you to create your ferment successfully. In my Masontops unboxing video, I show you my Masontops Complete Mason Jar Fermentation Kit and go over everything the kit includes.
- Use promo code MARYSNST for a one-time 15% off Masontops and Breadsmart products on Amazon.com. (This is not a sponsored post. Masontops provided me with a special discount code for my viewers. I like their products, and I think you will too.)
Backwoods Home and Self-Reliance
The Backwoods Home and Self Reliance printed magazines are two of our favorite publications, especially since they deal with topics of interest to traditional foods cooks and modern pioneers.
- Special Offer: The publisher of Backwoods Home and Self Reliance is offering my sweet friends 50% off subscriptions to their printed magazines. This is not a sponsored post. I love these publications, and I’m grateful you can get them at a discount.
Order YOUR COPY Now!
The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
Seasonal ingredients, traditional techniques, and nourishing recipes. Over 85 traditional, from-scratch recipes! Discover for yourself how you can use simple ingredients and traditional techniques to cook the modern pioneer way.
Order YOUR COPY Now!
The Modern Pioneer Pantry
Simple ingredients, timeless techniques, and a well-stocked pantry. Discover over 100 nourishing recipes to preserve food and turn pantry staples into homemade meals. Build a wholesome, traditional pantry—just like a modern pioneer!
Start Your Traditional Foods Journey
Sharing my passion for traditional cooking goes beyond my YouTube cooking school—it also comes to life in the pages of my cookbooks. Both of my books, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook and The Modern Pioneer Pantry, are proudly published by Penguin Random House.
The first is filled with time-honored recipes to help you create a traditional foods kitchen, while the second is your complete guide to home food preservation. Order both books today to start or continue your traditional foods journey.
Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List
For an extensive list of the traditional foods you can make and purchase to stock your pantry, be sure to download my free 36-page Traditional Foods Pantry List. This comprehensive eBook is full of links to recipe videos, helpful articles, and more!
Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy
Are you looking for more traditional foods videos? If so, I invite you to join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy. Members of this optional paid YouTube community get access to exclusive videos and other members-only perks. Plus, your YouTube comments include a special members-only badge.
Kitchen Academy Videos
Why We Should Incorporate Mackerel Into Our Diet
Easy and nourishing ways to enjoy mackerel into your meals.
The Gentle Power of Fermented Beverages—All Year Long
Learn how fermented beverages gently support digestion year-round, shifting with the seasons to nourish the gut through traditional, living drinks.
How to Make Oatmeal Higher in Protein (The Old-Fashioned Way)
Turn simple oats into a hearty, protein-rich porridge.
Stay in Touch with Mary’s Nest
- Subscribe to My YouTube Channel for Traditional Foods Videos (Free) - When you subscribe, be sure to click on the notification bell that will let you know each time I upload a new video.
- Subscribe to Mary’s Traditional Foods Newsletter (Free) - Get a free 36-page eBook for signing up: How to Stock Your Essential Traditional Foods Four-Corners Pantry.
- Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy - For more detailed videos and exclusive members-only perks, join my YouTube membership community.
- Order The Modern Pioneer Cookbook - Get a hardcover book of Mary's nourishing recipes from a Traditional Foods Kitchen. This bestselling cookbook is published by Penguin Random House with their DK imprint.
- Order The Modern Pioneer Pantry - Get Mary's latest hardcover cookbook about preserving food and making delicious meals from your Four Corners Pantry. Mary's second cookbook is also published by Penguin Random House.
I look forward to having you join me in my Texas Hill Country Kitchen!
Shop for My Favorite Items
Favorite Kitchen Supplies
- Favorite Aprons
- Spice Grinder
- Countertop Burner (On my kitchen island in many recipe videos.)
- Handheld Vacuum Sealing System
- Vacuum Lids
- Whisk
- Silica Gel Packets (Helps keep moisture from building up in your mix)
- Cast Iron Dutch Oven
- 8-Quart Slow-Cooker
- Fat Separator (Clever kitchen device to help you decant bone broth)
- Flour Sack Towels
- pH Strips (Helps you check on the acidity of your vinegar)
Amazon Shop and Shopping Guide
- Visit Mary’s Nest Amazon Shop
- Get a 30-day Audible trial with a free audiobook
- Visit my Shopping Guide page
Get up to 15% off for stocking your Traditional Foods Pantry and equipping your Modern Pioneer Kitchen, including discounts from US Wellness Meats, Farmhouse Teas, Backwoods Home, Masontops, Cultures for Health, Survival Garden Seeds, Redmond Real Salt, and More!
