Programming | Huron County Library

In Your Backyard – The Hidden Gems of Huron Centre

by Avery Greaves | May 16, 2022 | In Your Backyard, Programming

The Huron County Library has been highlighting the hidden gems found across Huron County through our In Your Backyard speaker series and for those who were unable to attend, we will share some of those gems right here on our website! Join us as we travel all directions of the County, focusing this week on the central part of Huron!

FOR THE HISTORY BUFF: Zurich is home to many distinct historical houses, which are well known for their rich architectural designs, while Clinton is home to the CNR School on Wheels Museum. Vanastra is not to be forgotten, home of the former RAF Station Clinton – North America’s first radar training school.

FOR THE ADRENALINE SEEKER: For those wanting to take adventure to new heights, All-In-Skatepark in Zurich is happy to help – with their massive indoor skatepark, suitable for BMX bikes, skateboards and scooters! For those who like to go all in, Clinton has a few options – including the Clinton Raceway, the Gateway Casinos Clinton and Anger Management Destruction Therapy Clinic.

FOR THE OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST: The Hullett Provincial Wildlife Area offers countless attractions, from hunting, to horseback riding, to canoeing and kayaking, to hiking and geocaching, to birding – while the Huron Fish & Game Club offers seasonal sporting clays and more!

FOR THE BEVERAGE ENTHUSIAST: Believe it or not, there are over half a dozen breweries, cideries and wineries, producing local beverages in central Huron alone! From Cornerfield Wine Co., to River Road Brewing & Hops, to 2nd Streetlight Estate Winery, to Bad Apple Brewing, to Bayfield Berry Farm, to Hessenland and Schatz Winery, and to Stone House Brewing Company.

FOR THE FOODIES: The heart of Huron County is home to some of the most mouth-watering food around – from delectable donuts from Bartliff’s Bakery & Restaurant, to Willy’s Burger Bar, to White Carnation Banquet Hall, to Masse Fruit & Vegetables, to Zehrs County Market, to Blyth Farm Cheese, to Jerry Rader’s Homestyle Catering & Market.

FOR THOSE WHO LOVE A GREAT COMMUNITY EVENT: REACH Huron, found in Clinton, regularly hosts international events, like dog agility events, the Canadian Barrel Racing Championships and more! Both Clinton and Zurich have annual fairs – Clinton’s taking place in June, and Zurich’s following one month later, in July. Both communities also host large-scale events, Zurich hosting the famous Zurich Bean Fest and Clinton the Clinton Fall Festival.

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In Your Backyard – The Hidden Gems of East Huron

by Avery Greaves | May 11, 2022 | In Your Backyard, Programming

The Huron County Library has been highlighting the hidden gems found across Huron County through our In Your Backyard speaker series and for those who were unable to attend, we will share some of those gems right here on our website! Join us as we travel all directions of the County!

To the eastern side of Huron County, you will find the communities of Seaforth, Brussels, Egmondville, Cranbrook, Kippen, Vanastra, Walton, Winthrop and more. Almost all of these communities boost a rich history – from Seaforth’s downtown core, which is a heritage conservation district, to Brussels’ Victorian homes, to its Logan’s Mill and beyond!

RECREATION: Seaforth is bursting at the seams with recreational activities for all ages – from its outdoor pool and splash pad, to its off leash dog park, to lawn bowling and pickleball, to shuffleboard and even a full 18-hole golf course!

PARKS: There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors with a variety of parks, playgrounds and more!

HUNGRY?: Seaforth has a number of different restaurants to keep you well fed after a day of sun and fun – from Filipino cuisine, to Chinese, to Canadian and beyond!

GROUPS & CLUBS: For those looking to join a group or club, Seaforth has many to choose from – from becoming a member of the Britannia Masonic Lodge or the Royal Canadian Legion, to the Seaforth Optimist Club or the Seaforth Lions, to even Seaforth & District Horticultural Society (for those with a green thumb)!

BRUSSELS: If Brussels had a town-wide theme for the last few years, it would be “upgrades” – with a number of landmarks getting much well-deserved attention. From the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre slated to get close to $5 million dollars in renovations, to the Logan’s Mill being upgraded to include washrooms, walking trails, and playground equipment, to breathing life back into an 1862 barn, today known as the Brussels Four Winds Barn.

Brussels is also home to some of the most unique attractions in all of Huron County – like its famous Fairy Door Trail and The Old Shop, a collection of some of the most memorable vintage items around!

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In Your Backyard – The Hidden Gems of Huron South

by Avery Greaves | Apr 29, 2022 | In Your Backyard, Programming

The Huron County Library has been highlighting the hidden gems found across Huron County through our In Your Backyard speaker series and for those who were unable to attend, we will share some of those gems right here on our website! Join us as we travel all directions of the County, starting in the south.

Huron County’s southern most part, encompassing Exeter, Hensall, Huron Park, Centralia, Grand Bend, Kirkton, Brucefield, Centralia, and more, is chockfull of some of the most unique attractions around! There is sure to be a hidden gem for everyone!

FOR THE WATER LOVERS: Exeter and Kirkton each have outdoor pools, which offer swimming lessons, public swims, swimming teams and more. You can also enjoy splashing around in Hensall at the Kinsmen Pavilion and Splash Pad.

AND THE BEACH LOVERS: The southern part of Huron County stretches along Ontario’s west coast, which features stunning beaches, including at the Point Blake Day Park!

FOR THE HIKERS: Grab your hiking boots and take a hike at either the Morrison Dam Conservation Area or Bannockburn Conservation Area. Access the Ontario’s West Coast Hiking Guide to learn more about these and other hiking trails located through Huron County.

FOR THE DOGS: Looking for something to do with their furry friend? Visit the Crediton Conservation Area’s dog park.

FOR THE THRILL SEEKERS: If you’re looking for something more adventurous, head on over to Grand Bend to skydive, take in a drag race, or hop in a helicopter.

FOR MOVIE BUFFS & THEATRE-GOERS: Take in a late night move at the Starlite Drive-In or see a play come to life on the Huron Country Playhouse’s main stage.

FOR THE FOODIES: For those looking for a culinary adventure, southern Huron County is home to a number of food producers – from The Whole Pig, to Hayter’s Farms, to the Garlic Box, to Metzger’s, to Ferguson Apiaries and more!

FOR THOSE WHO LOVE A GREAT COMMUNITY EVENT: There are a number of fun activities that take place in southern Huron County – from the Kirkton Fall Fair, to the Exeter Family Day Winterfest, to the Lions Fishing Derby, downtown Exeter sidewalk sales, weekly farmers markets in Exeter’s core, the Dodge RAM Rodeo and more! Find more events at: https://calendar.southhuron.ca/default/Month or at https://www.experienceexeter.ca/community-events-2/

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Printable Garden Labels for Little Green Thumbers

by Huron County Library | Apr 22, 2022 | Programming

It appears that the spring weather is finally here and it’s time to start thinking about getting your hands dirty in the garden! As we celebrate Earth Day today, we recognize that planting even the smallest potted garden will make a difference in promoting a healthy, sustainable future for the planet. And, you may even enjoy some fresh, homegrown food at the end of the season!

To add a little fun to your garden, library staff have put together some garden labels. To make:

Print off the labels at home, or visit your local branch
Colour the labels with markers or crayons
Laminate or wrap in plastic to keep them dry through the season
Add a popsicle stick or a stick from your garden to the back of each label
Stick your labels in the ground to help you identify your plants as they grow

More gardening resources from the Huron County Library:

It’s Seedy Saturday at the Exeter Branch on Saturday, April 23. Swap seeds, learn more about gardening, make these labels in person, and so much more!
Borrow seeds from the Seed Library
Check out these books for little green thumbers!

April Spice Club – Allspice

by Avery Greaves | Apr 20, 2022 | Programming

Don’t be confused by its name, allspice isn’t a combination of different spices! It is, in fact, the dried unripe berry of a mid-canopy tree native to the Greater Antilles, southern Mexico, and Central America. While it is one of the most important ingredients of Caribbean cuisine, it is also indispensable in many others, like this month’s recipe, Borscht.

The Ukrainian version of Borscht normally contains sausage, lamb, and/or beef, as well as a variety of other root vegetables, and possibly apples, beans, and/or tomatoes. It is served hot with sour cream.

Show off what you made this month by sharing photos on the Huron County Library Spice Club Facebook events page or by emailing them to askalibrarian@huroncounty.ca. Photos emailed will be publicly shared by staff to the Facebook page on your behalf.

FUN FACT: Christopher Columbus encountered allspice during his second voyage to the Americas. At that time, it was found only on the island of Jamaica.

Borscht*

INGREDIENTS:

2 Tbsp bacon fat
2 lb beef, cubed
1 Tbsp vinegar
8 cups beef stock
1/2 cabbage, shredded
3 potatoes, cubed
4 beets, shredded
2 onions, chopped
1 carrot, sliced
1 parsley root, chopped
6 peppercorns
1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon allspice
3 bay leaves
dill, chopped
sour cream

INSTRUCTIONS:

Melt bacon fat in a large, non-reactive soup pot.
Add the beef and brown.
Add vinegar and stock. Simmer until beef is tender.
Add vegetables, peppercorns, allspice, and bay.
Simmer until all vegetables are cooked through. Remove bay leaves.
Serve hot, garnished with dill and sour cream.

*Recipe from Global Road Warrior™️ by World Trade Press. Access this online database for free with a Huron County Library card to get information about holidays, festivals, culture, travel essentials, and other beneficial travel knowledge.

Natural Dying Easter Eggs

by Rachel Garland | Apr 14, 2022 | Programming

Spring is in the air and it’s almost Easter! One of the things I loved about Easter as a child was dying and decorating Easter eggs. I have particularly enjoyed decorating eggs using natural dyes. They turned out amazing, so I thought I would share the instructions so you can give it a try at home!

Many of the ingredients you may already have in your fridge or pantry. The other ingredients you will be able to find in grocery stores fairly inexpensively. I used the following items to dye the eggs:

• Tea (brown)
• Turmeric (yellow)
• Blueberries (blue/purple)
• Grape juice (grey)
• Beet juice (red)

Reading list: If you are looking to add some Easter reads to your weekend, check out these books for young readers from our collection.

Image of naturally dyed eggs with labels

Dying Instructions:

Notes: For these eggs, I hardboiled the eggs before dying them. The longer the eggs sit in the dyes, the darker the colour. To achieve a rich, dark colour, let the eggs sit in the dyes for at least 20 minutes. Let eggs dry on a cookie cooling rack.

Tea:

3 bags of tea (I used Earl Grey. But you can use other teas. Different teas may create other colours, such as herbal teas, which may turn your eggs a purple or pink colour)
1 cup hot water
1/8 cup of white vinegar

Steep the tea for at least 5 minutes to make very strong tea. Put the eggs in the water so that they are completely covered. Let them sit in the tea mixture until the desired colour is achieved.

Blueberries:

½ cup frozen blueberries (thawed and smashed)
2 tablespoons white vinegar

Roll the eggs in the blueberries until desired colour is achieved. For darker colour, let them sit in the blueberries and rotate every couple of minutes.
I let pieces of blueberry dry on the egg to get the different colours.

Beet Juice:

½ – 1 cup of beet juice
1/8 cup white vinegar

Let the eggs sit in the beet juice until desired colour is achieved.

Grape Juice:

1 cup of grape juice
1/8 cup white vinegar

Let the eggs sit in the grape juice until desired colour is achieved.

Turmeric:

3 Tablespoons turmeric
1-2 cups of warm water
1/8 cup white vinegar

Roll the eggs in the turmeric water mixture until desired colour is achieved.

Paper plate Easter basket:

Now you need a basket to put all your eggs in!

Supplies:

Paper plate
Paint, markers, or crayons
Scissors
Stapler
Pipe cleaner or ribbon
Decorating supplies (optional)

Instructions:

Paint one or both sides of the paper plate. Let dry.
Cut four even slits (a few inches long) on each side of the plate.
Fold up the sides and staple them together at the top to secure. It should now resemble a basket.
For the handle, attach the pipe cleaner, ribbon, or twine on either side of the basket. You can either staple or use a hole punch to punch a hole on both side and secure the pipe cleaner.
Optional – decorate the outside of the basket with stickers, decals, glitter, etc.