By Beverly Ewart
It really doesn’t matter how stressed I am feeling, as soon as I escape into the woods, peace pervades!
The forest is not only a place of peace, it’s also a place of fascination and enchantment. Everything has meaning, if you can learn to read the signs.
Because of my friendship with the forest, I’ve been enjoying Peter Wohlleben’s book, Forest Walking: Discovering the Trees and Woodlands of North America. He’s introduced me to the magic of moss and the tenacious tardigrades that dwell therein, and the culinary delight that is the pillbug. (But – no. Thanks, no.) Wohlleben’s contagious awe of the natural world among the trees permeates each page, draws me in, and makes me want to go hiking to see if I can recognize the plants, creatures and situations he describes!
Pick up this book and learn how to read the woods!
- Forest Walking: Discovering the Trees and Woodlands of North America by Peter Wohlleben and Jane Billinghurst. When you walk in the woods, do you use all five senses to explore your surroundings? For most of us, the answer is no–but when we do engage all our senses, a walk in the woods can go from pleasant to immersive and restorative. Forest Walking teaches you how to get the most out of your next adventure by becoming a forest detective, decoding nature’s signs and awakening to the ancient past and thrilling present of the ecosystem around you. What can you learn by following the spread of a root, by tasting the tip of a branch, by searching out that bitter almond smell? What creatures can be found in a stream if you turn over a rock–and what is the best way to cross a forest stream, anyway? How can you understand a forest’s history by the feel of the path underfoot, the scars on the trees along the trail, or the play of sunlight through the branches? How can we safely explore the forest at night? What activities can we use to engage children with the forest? Throughout Forest Walking, the authors share experiences and observations from visiting forests across North America: from the rainforests and redwoods of the west coast to the towering white pines of the east, and down to the cypress swamps of the south and up to the boreal forests of the north. With Forest Walking, German forester Peter Wohlleben teams up with his longtime editor, Jane Billinghurst, as the two write their first book together, and the result is nothing short of spectacular. Together, they will teach you how to listen to what the forest is saying, no matter where you live or which trees you plan to visit next. ~ Provided by publisher.
VOTE ON MAY 17th! Canton Free Library relies on the support of school district voters for our operating funds. This year, we’re requesting an increase of $26,364, or 7%, for a total of $402,992 in our local public funding. This money is a separate tax line and isn’t part of the school budget; it’s collected on the library’s behalf by the school. If approved, the funds will be used to cover our operating increases, including employee salary increases to keep pace with minimum wage, repairs and improvements on our buildings, and new technology and other materials. Please vote on the library’s Proposition #4 this Tuesday, May 17, from 12pm-8pm at the Canton Central High School Library. We are so grateful to be part of a supportive community of readers!
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS: Virtual Preschool Storytime is taking a break to prepare for the return of in-person children’s programming, in July, with the 2022 Summer Library Program: Oceans of Possibility! Registration deadline is June 10th for the age-specific programs, so please check out the calendar at https://cantonfreelibrary.org/summer-reading-program/ and register soon!
Check out the archive to view one of the many virtual storytimes posted since April 2020. Scroll down the webpage for older content.
We’re so excited! Our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten celebration board is just waiting for your child’s name! Come in once they’ve read 100 books to get them on the board and moving through those milestones! Register here https://cantonfreelibrary.org/1000books/
If you are short on time, curbside service is still very much an option! Give us a call or send an email, and we will pack up your books, check them out, and hand them to you from the front door of CFL. Hope to see you there!
PARDON OUR DUST: Our handicap-access ramp is closed to the public for renovation until further notice. We apologize for the inconvenience, but we think you will appreciate the improvements!
In terms of accessibility, we are slightly challenged at the moment; our lift is being belligerent, but we have the means to make it behave! If you need a lift to reach any of our floors, simply ring for assistance – the lift is safe, and we are glad to help.
MORLEY BRANCH is open on Tuesday 1pm-3pm; Wednesday 4pm-6pm; Thursday 10am-12pm. There is a computer available for your use, but it’s a good idea to call first to check on availability. Call for more details: 315-379-0066.
RENSSELAER FALLS BRANCH is open onTuesdays from 11am – 5pm. Children under age 12 must be with an adult. Call the library (315-344-4155) for additional information.
A great way to find out what’s happening at our Morley and Rensselaer Falls Branches is to check out their Facebook pages:
Morley: https://www.facebook.com/MorleyBranchLibrary
Rensselaer Falls: https://www.facebook.com/RensselaerFallsLibrary
Canton Free Library’s Hours: 9am-6pm Monday – Friday; 10am-3pm Saturday. For more CFL news, stay tuned on Facebook, Instagram, or our website. Find new additions to our collection on our website: cantonfreelibrary.org. To renew your current checkouts, login to ncls.org; you may also renew via email at canlib@ncls.org, or by calling (315) 386-3712 (choose option 1, “For curbside service” on the menu – we continue to offer curbside service for your convenience).
CFL is following CDC guidelines on masking.
Discover Forest Walking @ your library!