Welcome to Lucky Larder!

Larder n (ˈlär-dər) — a place used to store food; a pantry; a supply of food

Here in the Portland Metro area, we are blessed with a climate that allows us to grow an incredible variety of fruits and vegetables. Although nothing beats fresh, in-season produce, preserving an abundant harvest for long-term storage can be a healthy and satisfying way to capture those bright seasonal flavors and prevent food waste.

Whether you shop the farmers market, forage in U-pick fields, tend a hearty home garden, or have a single prolific fruit tree, that fresh produce can be transformed into something that will continue to nourish you throughout the year. Lucky Larder can help with education about custom, small-batch, fruit and vegetable preservation. You can take a group class, get one-on-one instruction, host a preservation party, and find individual support for your preservation projects. Contact us directly for more information about how we can help.

We are excited to announce that Lucky Larder has moved into the new Kitchen Culture location at 6300 SE Foster Road, Suite A in Portland, Oregon. Our preservation classes will resume at this location beginning in January 2023. 

About

The Lucky Larder was established by Traci Stenson Hildner to share her passion for local produce and her obsession with the art and science of food preservation.

An avid gardener, it was those first few successful gardening years that led her to seek out various methods for extending the life of her harvest and reducing food waste. In addition to her own extensive research and regular kitchen experiments, Traci has completed Acidified Foods & Better Process Control training with the Oregon Process Authority and is a Master Food Preserver and Family Food Educator for the Oregon State Extension Service. Combining her education and experience in fruit and vegetable preservation with her masters degree in teaching, Traci loves sharing her knowledge and food passions with others.

Along with Kitchen Culture, we have recently found a brick-and-mortar location to call our own on SE Foster Road in Portland. In the meantime, the Lucky Larder can be found teaching classes, conducting demonstrations, answering questions, and offering information and support regarding fruit and vegetable preservation all over the greater Portland Metro area.