Did you know that March is not only National Reading Month– it’s also National PEANUT Month?! It's time to celebrate this versatile little snack with some shelled peanuts, peanut butter, peanut candy.... and a party?
Cromaine Youth Librarians had something special up their sleeve for National Peanut Month in 1980. If you can imagine, the Library hosted a party on this day, March 11, forty two years ago in honor of the humble peanut. Children aged from seven to eleven years old were invited to a forty five minute program packed with activities– all celebrating the peanut.
March 11, 1980 was a busy evening at the Library – the first half of the peanut party consisted of a film viewing, which explored the history of the peanut. According to local papers, it also highlighted the peanut's “many valuable uses in everyday living”. Are peanuts used for something other than eating that we don’t know about?! (Honestly, I looked it up and found nothing...but I did learn that peanuts are supposedly great for the heart, brain, hair, and skin. Who knew?)
After the film viewing was a whirlwind of activity – a peanut-themed poster drawing contest, a peanut shelling contest, a peanut relay, and peanut butter making! Informational handouts and recipes were given to attendees as well.
The Library also hosted an educational display called “The Great Nuts in History”, which consisted of pamphlets and posters explaining the nutritional value of the peanut. According to Healthline, peanuts are not only packed with protein, but also contain lots of healthy fats, a variety of vitamins and minerals, and are low in carbs. The display also contained a giant jar of shelled peanuts– the patron who guessed closest to the number of peanuts inside won the entire jar!
Twenty-five pounds of shelled peanuts were generously donated to the Library for the program by Kar-Nut Products in Ferndale. Cheers to March, the National Peanut Month!
If you want to get on board with National Peanut Month this year, National Peanut Board has some fun information and resources to peruse, including tons of recipes and articles about peanut plants, harvest, nutritional value, history, and more. Take the time to learn something new about the peanut!
We may not have a peanut party this month, but we do have some great programs lined up in April to feed your inner foodie:
- Cooking Brunch with Mary Spencer is a virtual program. Join culinary instructor Mary Spencer as she guides us through some great brunch recipes – perfect for time with friends, holiday gatherings, or Mother's Day!
- Mixing Up Mocktails is also a virtual program. Packed with flavor, mocktails can be every bit as interesting and delicious as their alcoholic counterparts! Learn the history of these drinks and mix along at home with recipes sent to you before the program.
- Ale Together Now takes place in the Third Floor Community Room. Join presenter Michelle for fun, facts and samples of interesting beers.
You can learn more about our upcoming programs by visiting the online calendar or reading our upcoming April Newsletter (available Thursday, March 17).
It’s always fun to look back at Library memories through the years, especially when we catch wind of some incredible programming from the past! What are some of your favorite programs you’ve attended at the Library? Leave us a comment and let us know!