The Village Library of Morgantown is the place to be on Saturday, May 17, as two unique programs will be offered by local guest speakers. "A Morning With C.S. Lewis" will be presented by the Rev. Scott Stevenson of Elverson from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by "Foraging for Beginners" by Maureen Geary of Morgantown from 1 to 3 p.m.

Stevenson, pastor of Coventryville United Methodist Church, will provide a look into the life and works of Lewis, a British writer, scholar and theologian known for his children's fantasy series "The Chronicles of Narnia."

Stevenson said his interest in the author began when he was a youngster. "My second-grade teacher read 'The Chronicles of Narnia' to us. That was my introduction," he said, noting that he later studied the author while attending the seminary. "(Today), I am a theologian, and I am known as a C.S. Lewis scholar."

During the program, Stevenson will read passages written by Lewis, followed by a time for questions and answers and comments after each segment. "I go through a lot of his works. This is what Lewis wrote about, what to take from it and what he is saying," Stevenson explained, noting that it is not necessary to be familiar with the author to attend the event. "It's very hard to read Lewis on your own and get what he is trying to say. You need someone to help walk you through him."

Stevenson will recount information about the life of Lewis, who was a close friend of J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of "The Lord of the Rings," and was part of the literary group known as the Inklings.

"He was an atheist (until) he met Tolkien and the Inklings," said Stevenson, noting that Lewis converted to Christianity in 1931 and died on Nov. 22, 1963. "It is an amazing story. He died on the same day as John F. Kennedy and (author) Aldous Huxley. A philosopher wrote a book about the three of them meeting in heaven."

Stevenson pointed out that he has presented "An Evening With C.S. Lewis" at local churches and libraries and at Barnes & Noble. "Three C.S. Lewis reading groups came to Barnes & Noble, and I was able to answer all their questions," he shared. "(If people) come, they won't regret it. Everyone who has heard the program says, 'I'm so glad you did this.'"

During the following talk led by Geary, a home herbalist and gardener, attendees will learn about foraging, which is the process of gathering wild plants that can be used as food. "I lead 'weed walks' at a private farm and a few parks in the area," she noted. "It's about finding and learning. Everything is useful out there."

Geary will begin the program with a video, followed by a question-and-answer session and a snack. "Then, if anyone is interested, we will walk around the library and see what grows (there)," she stated.

Geary recommends that attendees download the Seek app prior to attending the program. "After you agree to the terms, you open the camera in the app and hover it over the plant and it identifies it for you and it logs it for you, so it creates a journal," she explained. "It's pretty accurate. Don't touch anything (that grows outdoors) unless you positively ID it."

For example, she noted, people can use pine needles or raspberries to make tea. "Pine needles have vitamin C, and when mixed with rosehips and sage, make a tea. Something as simple as pine needles are amazing when you simmer them," she said. "Raspberry leaves are so full of vitamins and minerals. You pick them and dry them and throw them in to a pot of boiling water, and you have raspberry tea."

She also noted that dandelions, found in everyone's yards in the springtime, also have many uses, such as dandelion wine. "The whole plant is useful. Dandelion can be put in a salad like spinach," she noted. "The roots can be washed and chopped in small pieces and roasted in the oven."

Geary said the program will be interesting to anyone looking to forage right in their backyards. "It's a great time because wild foods are free and they pack more vitamins and minerals in smaller concentrations," she said. "With the economy, it's perfect for people to learn the food value that is right in their yard."

The Village Library is located at 207 N. Walnut St., Morgantown. For information about either of the programs, which are free and open to the public, contact the library at 610-286-1022 or smolibrary@gmail.com.