In Dialogue: Christiana Christian
In Dialogue: Christiana Christian
We cannot will ourselves to feel connected to something or someone. We cannot predict what or who will gain our attention. These feelings, these experiences, happen to us. They find us. They stay with us. We, mysteriously, notice feelings, or experiences, of admiration or respect after they are earned.
When I first discovered Christiana Christian on Instagram, I felt immediately drawn to her work and lifestyle. Christiana is the founder and owner of Christiana’s Preserves. As I paid attention to her, I quickly noticed I felt both admiration and respect for her. Simply put, she seems to do what feels important to her: prioritize time with her family, create delicious meals, and habitually spend time with herself outdoors. To live simply requires great complexity and curiosity. A life made of only a few important ingredients is often harder to cultivate and protect than one made of ever-changing top priorities. Christiana seems to, very consistently, focus on her family, work, and personal wellness. This is a discipline I admire and respect. This is a discipline that leaves me feeling drawn to Christiana.
I recently found myself with a list of questions and ideas about the future of Wiley Canning Company. At first, I felt unsure of who to ask, if anyone. As I sat with this unncertainty, an idea ultimately struck.
“Christiana might be willing to talk with me. I’m going to reach out,” I thought to myself.
I wrote to Christiana, and she immediately responded with a willingness and open heart. We scheduled a phone call, and I held no questions back. She advised and encouraged me simply because she was interested, open, and kind. Christiana is a wealth of knowledge in the culinary world, and I am so fortunate to learn from her, little by little, while states apart.
Below, Christiana and I are in dialogue about canning, family, and their symbiotic, difficult, and always-meaningful intersection.
Chelsea: You created Christiana’s Preserves in 2012. What led you to create and build Christiana’s Preserves? What is one aspect of Christiana’s Preserves that has worked well?
Christiana: I began Christiana's Preserves in 2012 in Orange County to make extra money while being a stay-at-home mom. I would do small pop-ups in the area, which garnered a small following of customers. This was also when Instagram was beginning to take off. I was privileged to be featured as a local canner by Ball® and start a partnership with King Arthur Flour. In 2015, I put my business on hold. My family was moving up the coast to the San Luis Obispo area, which was a hard transition for our kids. I felt I needed to put my kids first and sacrifice my business, which was difficult because things were starting to take off.
In 2019, I relaunched Christiana's Preserves. It felt like the timing was right. I had been working as the Culinary Expert for Williams Sonoma, making many connections and getting a feel for the area's demographics. I cold-called farmers all over the Central Coast and began selling my jams and teaching cooking classes out of my home kitchen and at local wineries. I think an aspect that has worked really well is my connection to people, whether it's a vendor who sells my preserves, the farmers with whom I work, or the customers I meet at classes or through social media platforms. The community aspect of my business has brought people together.
Chelsea: Nowadays, what is one pursuit or ritual that brings you joy, consistently?
Christiana: I walk or hike every morning with my Australian Shepard, Rudy. We live in a fantastic coastal climate with lots of trails and hills, which makes for great hiking. I love the peacefulness of being in nature; it's my therapy.
Chelsea: How does your role as a mother strengthen your work?
Christiana: I think back on the sacrifice of closing down my business to be present for my kids. It makes me realize how we will do anything for our kids to thrive. I'm very close to my kids; they are all teenagers now. When I relaunched my business, they were part of it from the beginning. Going with me to farms to pick up fruit, meet the farmers, and process fruit. They have helped with prep work for cooking classes. They have sold jam. They help me record content for social media; it's a family-run business. They have cheered me on from the beginning.
Chelsea: How does your role as a mother challenge your work?
Christiana: The balance of it all. As moms, we carry so much, and I think I tend to overwork but also try to be a supermom. Having had some health issues in October of 2021, I realized after working with my doctor and ending up in the hospital that I needed to slow down. I needed to cut back on stress. I was working nonstop but also trying to be everything for everyone, and it was an impossible task. I try to balance and put boundaries where boundaries need to be.
Chelsea: To you, what does a preserved good add to a meal? How does it change a meal? To me, adding a preserved fruit or vegetable atop a dish, many times, feels as important as salt and pepper.
Christiana: It adds so much flavor and depth! When you add mango chutney to curry, it brings another level of taste. I make a spicy tomato jam that brings a unique sweetness and spice when added to a burger or eaten with sharp English cheddar. I also love how pickled vegetables can change a dish; I add pickled carrots or pickled green beans to my salads to add the right amount of acid and crunch.
Chelsea: What is one food-related habit, priority, or value rooted in your family’s past that you wish to carry forward into the future? Or, what might you begin?
Christiana: The art of cooking. I have had my kids in the kitchen since they were 18 months old. It's been messy and stressful, but I want my kids to understand that making food is not a task but an art form. It's fun to see them now as teenagers. They appreciate food and flavors; it honestly brings me so much joy! All my kids can cook, and it makes my heart so happy to see them creating a meal.
You can follow Christiana on Instagram here. You can find her website here.
Photos by: Christiana Christian