Product Review Monday

This week’s book review emphasizes safe canning.

As most readers know, I’m a passionate canner. I’m also passionate about safe canning. To that end, this week I would like to extravagantly recommend what I’m calling my “new canning bible”: The USDA’s “Complete Guide to Home Canning.”

Each chapter has a comprehensive table of contents. The chapters cover:

• Principles of Home Canning

• Selecting, Preparing, and Canning Fruit and Fruit Products

• Selecting, Preparing, and Canning  Tomatoes and Tomato Products

• Selecting, Preparing, and Canning Vegetables and Vegetable Products

• Preparing and Canning Poultry, Red Meats, and Seafoods

• Preparing and Canning Fermented Foods and Pickled Vegetables

• Preparing and Canning Jams and Jellies

Each chapter is color coded, and the guidelines for each food item are detailed and easy to follow.

In short, if anything could be called a canning “bible,” “The Complete Guide to Home Canning” is it. Highly recommended for both novice and experienced canners.

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This week’s product review features the solution to an annoying problem.

A couple of years ago, I noticed a large wolf spider on our bathroom floor. Because it was right against the baseboard, it was difficult to catch. I tried placing a (round) cup against the (square) right-angle of the floor and baseboard, and of course the spider evaded me with ease and disappeared behind the toilet.

I remember the frustration of that moment, because right away I went to the computer and started doing an internet search for bug-catchers, something that would let me live-catch them and wouldn’t harm the critter. When spiders or wasps or even moths get into the house, I don’t want to kill them; I only want them out of the house. Surely there was some sort of contraption that would work for a catch-and-release program?

Well, I found it: Something called “My Critter Catcher.”

I had no particular expectations for this gizmo. When it arrived, I was amused to see it came with a plastic spider so I could “practice” catching arachnids.

Well, by golly it works. I’ve caught spiders, moths, wasps, beetles, flies, and various other insects and arachnids. The long handle makes it easy to reach high places. The nylon bristles hold the critter firmly but gently, and I can carry it outside and release it unharmed.

Here’s the bristles in the closed position:

And in the open position:

The Critter Catcher has its limitations. It only works on hard surfaces (floors, walls, ceilings) and not soft surfaces (curtains, carpets). It works moderately well on screens, though since screens have a bit of “give,” sometimes it takes several tries.

If you prefer to live-catch critters rather than outright killing them, this is the tool for you.

(Obligatory disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, if you purchase through those links, we earn a small commission.)

(Don’t forget: A complete list of all our book and product recommendations are linked here and at the upper-right column of the blog.)

Source: http://www.rural-revolution.com/2025/07/product-review-monday_27.html