The Preserving Place

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Martha McMillin was once an attorney. Now she is a small business owner, having just opened The Preserving Place nine days ago in a shopping center off of Hamilton Mill Rd. in downtown Atlanta. The small shop has a boutique feel, dishing out fresh and delicious food stuffs. However the main draw for the shop is the commercial kitchen that is attached. Wednesday through Saturday of each week and every other Sunday, canning classes will be offered to patrons that run the gamut from fresh preserves to baby food from scratch. I had the opportunity to sit in on one of the first classes as students learned to make pear preserves and can fresh okra.

The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

Lucia Smeal (right), Morgan Dooley and Martha McMillin cut up pears during a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Lucia Smeal (right), Morgan Dooley and Martha McMillin cut up pears during a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

Lucia Smeal (bottom), Kristin Stockton, Dawn Nelson and Morgan Dooley cut up pears during a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Lucia Smeal (bottom), Kristin Stockton, Dawn Nelson and Morgan Dooley cut up pears during a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

Kristin Stockton (left) and Dawn Nelson cut up pears during a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Kristin Stockton (left) and Dawn Nelson cut up pears during a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

Martha McMillin holds a handful of pears as she teaches a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Martha McMillin holds a handful of pears as she teaches a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

Martha McMillin (center) holds a handful of pears as she teaches a canning class to Lucia Smeal (right), Morgan Dooley, Dawn Nelson and Kristin Stockton at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Martha McMillin (center) holds a handful of pears as she teaches a canning class to Lucia Smeal (right), Morgan Dooley, Dawn Nelson and Kristin Stockton at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

A bowl of okra sits next to empty mason jars at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

A bowl of okra sits next to empty mason jars at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

Kristin Stockton pours sugar into a pot of cut up pears during a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Kristin Stockton pours sugar into a pot of cut up pears during a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

Kristin Stockton (left) Martha McMillin and Morgan Dooley prepare to can pear preserves during a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Kristin Stockton (left) Martha McMillin and Morgan Dooley prepare to can pear preserves during a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

Kristin Stockton (left) Martha McMillin and Morgan Dooley prepare to can pear preserves during a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Kristin Stockton (left) Martha McMillin and Morgan Dooley prepare to can pear preserves during a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

Dawn Nelson stirs a pot of pear preserves during a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Dawn Nelson stirs a pot of pear preserves during a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

A bowl of okra sits next to empty mason jars at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

A bowl of okra sits next to empty mason jars at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

Kristin Stockton (left), Dawn Nelson and Morgan Dooley prepare to can pear preserves during a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Kristin Stockton (left), Dawn Nelson and Morgan Dooley prepare to can pear preserves during a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

Kristin Stockton (left) pulls a mason jar from a pot of boiling water as Martha McMillin and Morgan Dooley prepare to can pear preserves during a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Kristin Stockton (left) pulls a mason jar from a pot of boiling water as Martha McMillin and Morgan Dooley prepare to can pear preserves during a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

Kristin Stockton (right) pours pear preserves into a jar during a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Kristin Stockton (right) pours pear preserves into a jar during a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

Morgan Dooley (left) pours pear preserves into a jar as Kristin Stockton and Martha McMillin watch at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Morgan Dooley (left) pours pear preserves into a jar as Kristin Stockton and Martha McMillin watch at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

Martha McMillin (center) places a jar of pear preserves into a pot of boiling water as Kristin Stockton (left) and Morgan Dooley (right) watch as she teaches a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Martha McMillin (center) places a jar of pear preserves into a pot of boiling water as Kristin Stockton (left) and Morgan Dooley (right) watch as she teaches a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

Kristin Stockton pulls a jar of pear preserves out of a pot of boiling water as she learns to can at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Kristin Stockton pulls a jar of pear preserves out of a pot of boiling water as she learns to can at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

Martha McMillin stuffs a mason jar with okra as she teaches a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Martha McMillin stuffs a mason jar with okra as she teaches a canning class at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

Kristin Stockton stuffs a mason jar with okra at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Kristin Stockton stuffs a mason jar with okra at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

Glass mason jars filled with okra, garlic, red peppers and spices sit ready to be sealed at The Preserving Place in Atlanta as Kristin Stockton (left), Dawn Nelson and Morgan Dooley fill more jars on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Glass mason jars filled with okra, garlic, red peppers and spices sit ready to be sealed at The Preserving Place in Atlanta as Kristin Stockton (left), Dawn Nelson and Morgan Dooley fill more jars on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

Morgan Dooley stuffs a mason jar with okra at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Morgan Dooley stuffs a mason jar with okra at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

Morgan Dooley stuffs a mason jar with okra at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Morgan Dooley stuffs a mason jar with okra at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

Glass mason jars filled with okra, garlic, red peppers and spices sit ready to be sealed at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Glass mason jars filled with okra, garlic, red peppers and spices sit ready to be sealed at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

Kristin Stockton stuffs a mason jar with okra at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Kristin Stockton stuffs a mason jar with okra at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

A glass mason jar filled with okra, garlic, red peppers and spices sits ready to be sealed at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

A glass mason jar filled with okra, garlic, red peppers and spices sits ready to be sealed at The Preserving Place in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14, 2013.