Seasonal masterclasses focused on preserving fresh produce, sharing traditional skills and reconnecting with the rhythms of home, garden and kitchen.

Preserving the Past is a hands-on masterclass designed to support people to confidently preserve fresh, seasonal produce for use throughout the year. Participants learn practical skills for bottling, fermenting and creating sauces, chutneys and jams using traditional methods and simple ingredients.

The workshops focus on how to work with excess garden or orchard produce, how to balance flavours safely, and how to preserve food in ways that support both nutrition and enjoyment. Participants are guided through each step of the process, gaining skills they can easily repeat at home.

More than a technical class, Preserving the Past is about slowing down, sharing knowledge and reconnecting with the rhythms of seasonal food. By learning together, participants rediscover the satisfaction of preserving food with care, intention and connection to the past.

Is your garden/orchard abundant with fresh fruits and vegetables? Do you want to learn how to preserve fresh food from the garden for you and your family that will feed you through the winter months? 

Learn how we utilise excess seasonal produce to create an array of sauces, sauerkraut, chutneys & jams in our masterclass. Gilly Stewart and Dee Petit will teach how to bottle fruit and vegetables, what blends of vinegars and spices to use when you preserve sauces and chutneys and their top tips for jam making. Preserving fruits and veggies is an important step in ensuring that you know what ingredients are in your food and that the food is locally grown. Homemade food is nutritious, and delicious! 

Highlights include:

  • Learn how to utilise excess produce to make family favorite chutneys
  • Discover our recipes for making delightfully delicious jams & sauces
  • Many secrets shared from Dee and Gilly years in the kitchen 
  • Experience hands-on sauerkraut making 

What’s included:

  • Morning tea on arrival – a welcome drink and a tasty bite from the kitchen team
  • Interactive cooking session with Dee Petit & Gilly Stewart
  • Secret recipes to take home
  • Shared lunch at our banqueting table
  • Take home 2 jars of whatever is being preserved on the day

Early 2026 Masterclasses

We will be offering Preserving the Past Masterclasses at:

Onehunga Community Centre

83 Church Street, Onehunga

Saturdays 10am – 2pm

February 14 & 28

March 7 & 14

April 11 & 18