Every spring, violets bloom in a mass of purple and white in yards all across the South. Every time I see them, I think of two things: Easter (and I have no idea why) and my paternal grandmother’s violet jam.

Nanny grew up during the Depression when folks took economizing to a whole new level. Everything had a purpose. Nothing was wasted. Nanny reduced, reused, and recycled long before the expression became popular among greenies. She was so thrifty, she took an African violet plant, cut leaves off of it, rooted them in pots of sand, and sold the new plants for pin money.

True story.

Nanny was frequently interviewed in Foxfire Magazine, as were many other members of her immediate family, and thankfully, they’ve preserved those interviews in a variety of forms. A few years ago, they shared her violet jam recipe on their Facebook page, so if you’re interested in making some this spring, you’ll be carrying on an old family tradition.