Preserves are easier than jam; for jam you need a blender or food processor to puree the fruit. The only special equipment you need are the jars (which can probably be found at your local grocery) and a cooking pot big enough to boil the whole batch (I used to use a dutch oven). You also need some fruit pectin (two main brands: Certo and Sure-Jell), and the instructions for use are in the box, with specific proportions of fruit and sugar for each of a couple of dozen types of fruit. When Maggie gets a little taller, it would be a good mom-and-kid activity. By the time Jamie gets tall enough to participate you'll be an expert.