If life in the south has taught me anything (beyond an appreciation for drawn-out vowels and the comforting value of shrimp and grits) it is an adoration (read: borderline obsession) with all things canning jar.

My family was never into jarring and canning, so my first introduction to canning jars came through an unlikely source – Classico pasta sauce. At the time, their sauce was sold in Atlas jars, and as a child, I remember staring longingly at the empty jars as they dried on the rack, feeling that there was something special about them. It was as though they were artifacts from another decade. Elegant visitors from another front porch.

Even as an adult, there is something magical about canning jars. Preserved bits of an eternal summer, waiting to be filled with the twinkling of fireflies (to be released, of course) and the barefooted pixie dust of sweltering southern nights. And brides around the country have taken note, too. It seems canning jars are the beverage container of choice at weddings these days. But what the rest of the world is just now catching on to, has been a way-back way of life down here for longer than most of us have been alive.

If you’ve ever had the opportunity to explore the culinary south, then surely you’ve had the delightful experience of drinking lemonade or sweet tea from a mason jar. It’s transformative. There is such a rustic, welcoming and tradition-filled sentiment that arises the moment you are presented with a sturdy jar filled to the brim with your favorite beverage and ice. It’s unpretentious and resourceful, with just a dash of history sprinkled in.

A couple months ago, I finally decided it was time to invest in my own set of canning jars as drinking glasses. Naturally, I was on the hunt during prime canning season, which made it a bit of a challenge to even FIND jars in stock. When I finally ended up at a local Walmart, I stumbled upon the mother load. Choosing a size was a bit of a goldilocks dilemma, however. The full-size jars were a bit too big for my liking. The jam jars were much too tiny. In the end, I took home a set of 12 half-pint jars for under $10. Quite a steal, if I do say so myself.

If you’re not in the market for new drinking glasses, there are still so many interesting uses for canning jars – even beyond the kitchen.  Check out the many alternative lives for canning jars as shared by a few fabulous do-it-yourselfers…

• DIY blue mason jars via Sugar Baby Boutique
• Mason Jar craft storage via Epheriell Design
• Wall mounted jar herb garden via Tip Junkie
• Rainbow cake in a jar via B for Bel (great kid project/treat!)
• Red velvet cake in a jar via The Antique Door (beautiful!!!!)