Our First Birthday
Our First Birthday
Wiley Canning Company turns one year old on Thursday, July 15! Can you believe it? What a year it has been! Thank you for being here. Wiley would not be here today without you every day.
I’m a big believer in honoring milestones. Recently, I’ve wondered how we can pause to celebrate and take stock of Wiley Canning Company and who we are today.
I wonder if I might throw a small party.
I wonder if I might write about the first year of Wiley Canning Company, what it has meant to me, and how it has allowed me to grow and feel challenged.
I wonder if I might make a big, delicious meal that includes in-season Wiley Recipes.
I wonder…
I wonder what it might be like to hear from you. I wonder what it might be like to hear about your own version of Wiley Canning Company. You see, to me, Wiley is so much more than a small business.
Wiley Canning Company—the practice of canning, pickling, and preserving—is a habit, priority, and value rooted in my family’s past that I wish to carry forward into my family’s future.
Let’s continue.
When I called my grandparents, growing up, both of them got on the line from different phones to talk to me at the same time. I loved this. One day, when Sullivan calls home, I dream of saying, “Let me grab Dad! Okay, we’re ready!” I want to carry this habit forward.
Almost every evening, growing up, my mom or dad made dinner for my sisters and me. While they prepared dinner, my sisters and I set the table and asked, “What would you like to drink? Milk or water?” Each person had to stay at the table until the last person was done eating. It didn’t matter what each day brought; we knew, at the end of each day, it would reliably end with a shared dinner together. I really loved this. I want to carry this priority forward.
Every spring and summer, growing up, we ate fresh strawberries, peaches, sweet corn, tomatoes… you name it! Eating in-season produce, sharing their irreplaceable taste with family, and saving as much of that produce as possible through canning, pickling, and preserving allowed me to feel connected to my family through food. This meant meals felt special and grounding—not passive. I loved this, too. I loved the value my family placed on a personal, respectful relationship with in-season produce. I want to carry this value forward.
Now, I ask you…
What is your own version of Wiley Canning Company?
What is one habit, priority, or value rooted in your family’s past that you wish to carry forward into its future? I would absolutely love to hear.
You can comment below or share your answer on Instagram.
My hope is that our answers to this question encourage others to ask themselves, “What did my family do well that I might carry forward?”
“What might I tweak moving forward?”
“What might I leave behind completely?”
Thank you for celebrating!
Below is a collection of your responses from Instagram and our weekly newsletter.
“One habit, priority, or value rooted in my family’s past that I wish to carry forward into its future is…
…the preservation of ethnic culture and heritage. In my case, Ukrainian artifacts, clothes, food, etc.” — Alexandra
…Sunday whole family dinners and a big veggie garden.” — Morgan
…to always put God first.” — Jodi
And more…
“In our family (as a common Chinese custom), we invite our elders to eat before we begin. It’s a ritual of knowing each person’s place in the family. We call each other by our relational name, and every one is invited to the table. As the older one, my sister will say to me, ‘姐姐吃饭 (sister, come have rice / let’s eat)’, and I’ll follow with her, ‘爸妈吃饭 (dad and mum, let’s eat)’. My parents will then say, ‘大家吃饭 (let’s all eat)’. During the meal, there’s an increased awareness that we’re sharing together. We offer and serve each other their favourite dishes or cuts from the shared plates. It’s reciprocal and communal, and it’s one of my favourite expressions of familial love. I wish you could see it in person.” — 美安 (May)
“Happy anniversary! I wish I could say that the practice of canning was passed down to me, but that I learned on my own. One value that was instilled in me and my brothers and which I attempt to pass on to my daughters is a tremendous love of, and respect for, nature.” — Amy
“My grandma cooked big family meals from scratch for us to gather around. She’s no longer able to cook, so Nate and I throw HER dinner parties and invite the family to gather over her recipes, as she supervises from her chair, watching us cook and resting her tiny little grandma feet.” — Mary
You may continue sharing below at any time. Thank you!