Farmers Almanac 2011 [2011 ed.] 1928720013, 9781928720010

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Farmers’ ALMANAC Calculated, for the United States Jor the year of our Lord

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Being the third after bissextile, or leap year, and until the

FOURTH OF JULY The 235th Year of the Independence of the UNITED

STATES

Containing early America at its best, delightfully threaded through with a measure of good humor, amusing anecdotes, wise-old weather predictions, helpful hints and good reading for every member of the

family done ona high moral plane. EDITED BY PETER GEIGER, PHILOM. MANAGING EDITOR, SONDRA DUNCAN, PHILOM.

COPYRIGHT © 2010 BY ALMANAC PUBLISHING COMPANY

NO. 1815862

ISSN: 0737-6731 FARMERS’ ALMANAC

P.O. Box 1609, Lewiston, Maine 04241

www.farmersalmanac.com

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

Helpful Hints You Can’t Live Without Expiration Dates They don’t mean as much as you think they do.

A Clothesline Comeback Why hanging your clothes outside may make sense ... again.

3 Easy Ways to Save Money while Remodeling 2 Who Invited You? Invasive bugs that have made your home theirs.

Peak Foliage Dates » Why Rake Leaves Best Days to Hunt » Catch & Release Fishing tips > Best Days to Fish Feeding a Flock of Fun. Bird Feeding & Watching Tips.

10 (Easy) Ways to Boost Your Immune System Make Your Own Granola - Amazing Healing Foods Great for Arthritis and Inflammation.

| Recipe Box—favorite recipes Dehydrators and Smokers Why are they so popular?

. Friendships That Stand the Test of Time. Check out these friends for life and share your story.

Best Buddies A volunteer organization that creates beneficial relationships.

- Kentucky Derby The Oldest Horse Race in America. 2011

FARMERS’

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Source Code VB11FA01

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FARMERS’

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Can Acorns Predict the Weather? Ten Worst Winter & Summer Weather Cities Seasonal Weather Maps Weather Summary and Outlook for 2011 What’s Your Weather Personality? How Are Our Forecasts Made? Weather Zones Map 3 Monthly Weather Forecast Sep. 2010—Dec. 2011 Winter Preparedness Tips Sun Exposure and Heat Index Wind Speed Classifications Hurricane Tips & Names 2 Tornado Survival Tips

8 Best Days to Mow the Grass, Quit a Habit, & More! The Difference Between Astrology & Astronomy Moon’s Astrological Place Sep. 2010—Dec. 2011

Explanation of Calendar Pages Monthly Calendar Pages Sep. 2010-Dec. 2011 Meteor Showers Observing the Visible Planets Eclipses of the Sun & Moon for 2011 Full Moons in 2011 2 Winning Full Moon Names

Philosofacts & Thought of the Year Test (Tease) Your Brain Down-to-Earth Metaphors What Do Colors Mean? Remembering the Necessary Gadgets of Yesterday 7 Weird Presidential Trivia

Average Fall & Spring Frost Dates 5 Gardening Trends for 2011 and Beyond 6 Must-plant Perennials Planting & Gardening Calendar for 2011 Exclusive Gardening by the Moon Calendar Animal Facts, Best Days to Set Eggs & Lore 2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

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ips,and information that— stapull be helpful throughout the ear. We hope the Farmers’ Almanac

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Health & Medicine

This tiny pill could put your doctor out of business by 2012! Florida company develops what experts call “The end of medicine” - Could this be the last time

you suffer from joint ae stomach disorders and |! FACT: The U.S. Now Ranks #42 In The World In Life Expectancy (Right below Jordan and Malta).

By Stephanie Wechsler, Freelance Health Editor;

e@ most spectacular news in decades started with a simple thought... “Imagine a world where almost nobody gets sick... Now, stop imagining — it’s not too far away!” If anybody else made that statement, they’d be laughed at. But when Dr. Earl Mindell

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! Don’t Read This If You Have A Weak Stomach! “Your colon is your natural

Experts agree; now you can live without joint-pain, stomach problems and toxic attacks on

your heart and vital organs. Are You At Risk?

Some argue any colon cleanse can do what Bactium does! barrier against sickness”. But “They're dead wrong” says over the years, you store 15 to 25-Lbs. of rotting fecal matter. Dr. Mindell. “Problem _ is, Chances are, you’re colon is they only work temporarily, bulging with it. And before you so you clog right up again.” know it, you’re clogged up with Bactium literally flushes away toxic waste that ends up leaking bad bacteria that clings to your digestive tract. Then, it releases |into your bloodstream. That’s why you must cleanse over 25 billion cells of “good bacteria to wipe out toxins, and your colon thoroughly. So you bacterial viruses.” get the support you need to Special Opportunity For stay healthy. And even help add Readers Of This Almanac more than a decade to your life! We’ve made special arrangeSays Dr. Mindell, “if every ments with the distributor, to American supplemented their supply our readers with a riskdiet with the ingredients inside free trial supply of Bactium just Bactium, 90% of hospitals would shut down...and doctors for the asking. Plus, you'll get a FREE supply of Geracin Silver. would be scrounging for work’ With over 30 ingredients, we Biggest Medical News call it a “Super Vitamin” that In Decades will help you feel better than because Bactium’s That’s ever. A $19 value, yours FREE, potent ingredients actually but you must act now, supplies help your body wipe-out viruses, toxins and bad bacteria are limited. This risk-free trial is reserved before they ruin your health. for readers of this almanac. Even more shocking --- if you Call Now! struggle with your health now, you could begin to reverse the 1-800-201-8532

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FARMERS’

ALMANAC

—

ALMANAC

WEATHER

a

LORE

Can Acorns Predict

a Rough Winter? hile many of us in the 21st century may think weather lore is more whimsical than wise, it’s hard to discount all of these “natural

forecasters,” especially when most of them are based on years of observation.

The challenge comes in the handing down of the weather wisdom. Remember the game of telephone? One person would whisper something into the next person’s ear and so on down the line, and when the last person has to repeat what the original whisper was, it’s most often not anything like the origNatural Signs of a Rough Winter inal statement. Well the same goes for e Very thick onion skins or corn husks many of these weather sayings. They’ve e Woodpeckers sharing a tree been handed down from generation to e Early arrival of crickets on the hearth generation, so perhaps in the handing © Spiders spinning larger than usual webs down, some of the lore has been altered e A small rust/orange band on a wooly slightly. But many sayings prove to be worm caterpillar quite accurate. e Trees are laden with green leaves late in The following are some natural signs the fall of a rough winter that we’ve collected e Hickory nuts having heavy shells over the years. Check them out and let us ¢ Tree bark heaviest on north side of tree know if you have witnessed any of these e Crickets are in the chimney signs or have additional weather wisdom e Raccoons have thick tails and bright bands — we should add to the list. © Squirrels gathering nuts early inthe year e Pigs gathering sticks ¢ Frequent halos/rings around the sun or moon ¢ Heavy and numerous fogs in August © Knife- and spoon-shaped persimmon seeds means a rough winter. (Knifeis supposed to foretell of a cold icy winter, spoonshaped seeds mean snowy winter, and fork shape indicates a mild winter.)

What have you seen? Shhare your winter observations att Vann FFaprmmestssAN inmanmanc: cmon

ALMANAC

“Our birds are like family. We take their health seriously.

We're bird watchers. So, we watch them closely and follow disease prevention practices.”

Recognizing the warning signs of infectious poultry diseases such as avian influenza (bird flu) can help protect your birds. Be sure keeping sharing Healthy

to follow simple hygiene steps such as cages and equipment clean and not supplies with other poultry owners. flocks rock!

Learn more now at http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov SRE RE PERS SSS een eae Re ate See nee USDA —— =,

United States Department of Agriculture

ee

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

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2011

FARMERS’

Look

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For Signs | Sick Birds | Your Birds

ALMANAC

11

Beat Hunger

Try Music! Some studies suggest that music activates the same pleasure center of your brain that food does. Listen to an upbeat song and you may forget that you re hungry. a

without Storage Tips Store dried pasta, rice (except brown rice), and whole grains in tightly covered containers ina cool, dry place. Always refrigerate brown rice.

Share your hints with us at

FarmersAlmanac.com

Stainless Steel Cleaner Tired of buying expensive and toxic cleaners? Try the following (always test a small area first if you’re cleaning a large area like a stainless steel refrigerator): Clean with a cloth dampened with undiluted white vinegar or olive oil. For stainless steel sinks, pour some club soda on an absorbent cloth

to clean. Wipe dry using a clean cloth.

Stress Reducer Eat a handful of shelled peanuts.

a. 4

The magnesium in nuts is known to

help regulate stress hormones.

Candle Wax Mess If candle wax gets on wood, use a blow dryer on high to melt the wax. Scrape gently witha flexible plastic card to remove the wax. If the wax is on clothes or a tablecloth, place a clean scrap of cotton cloth over the item with the wax. Iron gently with a very warm iron. The cotton will absorb the wax.

12

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

For tastier meats, you should build “rest” time into your cooking plans. Rest time allows the juices, which migrate to the center of the meat, to be distributed more evenly throughout. After cooking the meat, allow it to rest on the counter for about 5 minutes. This works well for skinless chicken breasts and steaks.

For a whole roast or a bird,

let it rest 20-30 minutes after cooking, covering it loosely

Rub them with salad oil before washing with soap and water.

to keep it warm.

Applying a hot towel to the area of an itch can temporarily relieve minor itching. Don'‘tthrow the cards out after the holiday or event. Cut off the fronts and use them for recipes, for your own cards, or for notes or grocery lists.

Before you toss darkened bananas, try peeling them and freezing them until you have time to use them for breads, cakes, or pancakes.

Try these tips and you might be able to avoid that task: Do not overload the dryer and remove and fold clothes immediately when done. Do not overdry clothes. This can cause wrinkles. Hang clothes on hangers as they come out of the washer. They will only need a little touch up now and again. Permanent press clothes do well on clotheslines on windy days. They may need a little touch-up ironing but usually come off the line wrinkle free. 2011

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he idea of perfect weather is as crazy as the idea of a perfect world or a perfect anything. One person’s ideal weather is another’s worst day. The funny thing about weather is that some people enjoy what most of us consider the worst weather—snowstorms, tor-

nadoes, hurricanes—we’ve had people

ask us where to move to for the best place to see tornadoes, believe it or not.

To help us answer the question of “perfect” weather, we polled our Facebook fans. The consensus seemed to be for clear blue skies, low humidity, tem-

peratures around 75°F, and a light wind. Yet others said snow and lots of it. So instead of picking perfect weather we re picking far-from-perfect or “worst” weather. In the 2002 Farmers’ Almanac, we decided to offer our picks for the ten best and ten worst weather cities. The response was amazing. Many agreed, some disagreed, and others suggested cities we should have included on the list. To compile this list, we looked at temperatures, sky conditions, precipitation, humidity, and wind. This year we’re doing it again, but with atwist—we are looking at which cities have the worst winter weather and which have the worst summer weather. The following list took a number of meteorological factors into consideration, as well as the population size of the cities. We set a limit of a population of at least 50,000 people. Interestingly, from our original “10 Worst” list of 2002, two cities, Syracuse and New Orleans, made it onto our Worst Weather lists this year. Here are our listings for the ten cities, five each with the worst winter and worst summer weather in the United States.

16

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

WINTER 1. SYRACUSE, NEW YORK “Cold,” “clammy,” “snowy” are three great ways to describe Syracuse weather—from October through April. Winter starts very early and lasts late, with plenty of snow and extremely cold temperatures. Winter daytime

temperatures

average

ruary 5). During that time, Duluth recorded 164 consecutive hours of below zero (°F) temperatures. On February 2, the low temperature was minus 39°F and the high temperature was minus 21°F. Duluth receives nearly 80 inches of snow, much of it as a result of cold easterly winds flowing over the western tip of Lake Superior, producing local lake-effect snowfalls. But it’s the frigid cold that gets Duluth a spot on our Top 5 list.

in

the lower 30s, with nighttime lows in the teens, but temperatures as low

as minus 25°F have been recorded. Snow also makes winter uncomfortable in Syracuse, averaging almost 120 inches per season. During the winter of 2009-2010, Syracuse was again the winner of the prestigious “Golden Snowball Award,” celebrating the city with most snowfall for the winter in upstate New York, beating out such snowy

cities as Buffalo, Rochester,

Albany, and Binghamton. Syracuse also made our Farmers’ Almanac “10 Worst” list in 2002. Another reason why this city makes the worst winter weather

list—December,

January,

and February are typically gloomy, with Syracuse receiving only one-

third

of the

sunshine

possible,

because of considerable cloud cover.

2. DULUTH, MINNESOTA “Frigid” is how many describe Duluth. During the winter, it’s second only to International Falls (“The Icebox of the Nation”) in terms of rank among the nation’s coldest cities. The transition to bitter winter weather is dramatic. In October, the average high temperature is a comfortable 53°F. But by December, it has fallen to 22°F, and by January (the coldest month), it’s only 16°F. An example of how extreme the cold can get here is “The Great Cold Snap of 1996” (January 29 through Feb-

2011

3. CASPER, WYOMING Snow is common in this town and has occurred as early as September and as late as early June. The average daily winter temperature is 22°F, and on average, 181 days of the year have temperatures at or below 32°F. Casper is among the top five most windiest spots in the nation. The prevailing winter wind blows from the southwest, with the emphasis on “blows.” Some wind gusts have been clocked at over 60 m.p.h. The wind has knocked tractor-trailers off interstates. As one native put it: “In the winter we have snow followed by wind, wind followed by snow, and wind and snow together. In some places the snow never hits the ground but gets worn out by the wind.” And the late Jean Shepherd wrote: “Let me tell you, you’ve never been in a blizzard until you’ve been in a real Wyoming screamer. The snow was coming down so fast and hard that I felt I was driving through a white tunnel. It got colder and colder, and my windshield was freezing up faster than the defrosters could blow it off.”

FARMERS’

(continued on page 20)

ALMANAC

17

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19

(continued from page 1 7)

4. CLEVELAND, OHIO The earmarks of Cleveland winters are cold and snow. Typically, there are an average of five days with subzero temperatures. Mean annual snowfall increases, from west to east

in Cuyahoga County, from 45 to 90 inches. Winds generally blow across Lake Erie from the west and cause localized snow squalls in the city’s eastern suburbs.

5. DETROIT, MICHIGAN The hardest thing to adjust to in a Motor City winter is not so much the cold or wintry precipitation, it is the lack of sunshine. Winter days in Detroit mean an abundance of cloudy, gloomy days. The sky seems to be perpetually gray. During the winter season, two out of every three days are overcast. Clear, sunny days occur, on average, just 13 percent of the time.

SUMMER

1. MIAMI, FLORIDA Let’s make one thing clear: During the winter months, Miami ranks high in terms of great weather, with abundant sunshine and warm, pleasant temperatures. There’s probably no better place to spend a winter vacation than “The Magic City.” But between May and October, the overall climate is anything but pleasant, and the thing that becomes abundant is precipitation. Miami’s climate is subtropical marine, so think hot, humid, and showery. It

ranks second (behind Key West) as the nation’s hottest, averaging 75.6°F annually. Taking into account temperature and humidity, it ranks sixth among the 10 most uncomfortable cities. Among the top ten cities most prone to the effects of a tropical storm or hurricane, Miami

ranks ninth. Finally, it ranks tenth on the list of the ten wettest cities, averaging 59.55 inches; but nearly 44 of those inches typically fall

20

2011

between May and October, chiefly in thunderstorms. In short: keep your umbrella close by.

2. NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA New Orleans has a subtropical temperate climate and generally sees little variation on any given day. In other words, hot days tend to begin very warm and sultry and end that way. Temperatures rarely reach much higher than 90°F, but because of high humidity, it can get exceedingly uncomfortable. As we noted in 2002 when New Orleans made our “10 Worst” list: “Spend a summer here and you will very quickly learn why it’s not easy to live in the Big Easy without air conditioning!” Tropical storms are a definite concern to residents and visitors

to New Orleans. While not at the top of the list of danger zones for hurricanes, New Orleans is high on that list, and even tropical depressions can cause dangerous flooding.

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

Regular storms can also produce extremely heavy rainfalls, so street flooding is a continual issue in the New Orleans area. Most of the city is located below sea level, protected from the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain by an extensive levee system and by canals and pumps. But as was seen with Hurricane Katrina in 2005, even these protections are

also recently topped a list of the soggiest cities in the contiguous 48 states, with more than 5 feet of rain annually (according to a 2007 study by the San Francisco-based

not always enough; the levees were

breached, leaving parts of the city underwater for many days.

3. DALLAS, TEXAS This city’s climate is often identified as humid subtropical, even though it is located in a region that tends to receive warm, dry winds during the summer from the north

WeatherBill,

Inc.),

with the heaviest rainfalls occurring during mid- and late summer. It should thus come as no surprise that Mobile ranks high among the top thunderstorm cities; there may be a thunderstorm every other day during July and August. Thankfully, those summer storms are usually not too violent and seldom produce hail. 5. CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS Located

in south Texas, Corpus

over 100°F and heat indices soaring as high as 117°F. Dallas ranks fourth among the most uncomfortable U.S. cities. When only temperature itself

Christi Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico. Corpus Christi ranks ninth on the list of the nation’s ten hottest cities, averaging 72.1°F. But in contrast to other places along the Gulf Coast, Corpus Christi receives only about 30 inches of rain each year—most of it during the spring and early fall. In

is accounted

cen-

fact, summers usually feature lots of

Dallas is

sunshine and big puffy clouds passing over. And the threat of severe tropical storms only averages about one

and

west,

tral Texas

with

temperatures

for, the

north

region, where

well

located, is one of the hottest in the

United States during the summer months, usually trailing only the Mojave Desert of Arizona, southern Nevada, and southeastern California. In Dallas, severe thunderstorms can spawn tornadoes (number 3 among major metropolitan areas for tor-

nadic activity) as well as large hail (number 5 among cities most prone).

4. MOBILE, ALABAMA During July and August, temperatures will hit 90°F on two out of three days. Such temperatures, combined with average afternoon relative humidity levels between 60 to 70 percent, make for a very oppressive, uncomfortable environment. Mobile 2011

storm every ten years.

So why does Corpus Christi make our list? Unfortunately, the prevail-

ing summer winds often come from the southeast, right off the Gulf of

Mexico. Combine that with late afternoon temperatures that usually peak around 94°F, and you have a climate where you can break into a sweat just going outside to check your mailbox; itis, in fact, one of the most uncomfortable summer cities. — Compiled by Caleb Weatherbee, Farmers’ Almanac Weather Forecaster

Do you have a worse weather city that should be added to list? Tell us about it at www .FarmersAlmanac.com

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

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FARMERS' ALMANAC SEASONAL WEATHER

MAPS

The maps reflect an overview of Farmers’ Almanac's general weather outlook for WINTER (January through March 2011) and SUMMER (June through August 2011) accordingly.

WINTER 2011 Bitterly Cold

Mild & \

with Average

Very Wet ©

‘Precipitation —

—>/~

Precipitation —

VeryCold&Wet SUMMER 2011 Jon a

Cool with ee Average)

_ Rainfall 4

Hot with Average ab

Get the complete forecast for the year ahead on page 25. 24

More weather at www.FarmersAlmanac.com 2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

|

WoSESA~ TH ER

Winter Made a Comeback! What can we say about last winter other than—upside down? Snow and cold made a comeback, but in areas that normally don’t experience such wintry conditions. The southern half of the country was pounded with snowstorms and frigid temperatures,

yet the northern half made out easily. The reason for this mixed up weather was a strong El Nino.

How did we do? The Farmers’ Almanac suggested that the temperature pattern for the winter of 2009-2010 would resemble

an “Ice-cold Sandwich.” We predicted unseasonably cold temperatures would predominate mostly over the middle of the country, while, like the bread of a sandwich, there would be two regions

that would average closer to normal; the West Coast and the East Coast. We also predicted a stormy winter,

with February being the stormiest. The word “blizzard” was very accurately used. Here are a few highlights from the winter of 2009-2010 (for more stats, go to www.FarmersAlmanac.com) (continued)

2009-2010 WINTER

WEATHER

HIGHLIGHTS

Cental Park, 36.inches fell otal foran entire winter is just

round ou National Capital and caused an unprecedented four-day shutdown of the

»

Federal Government. | February 11-12sawa remarkable southern snowstorm that buried cities in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. Dallas-Fort Worth received 12.5inches

ofsnow, making ittheir greatest

24-hour

snowfallonrecord. 1 After a nearly two-week “winterlude,” ~ another blizzard-like storm occurred, during February 24-28, that again hammered the

_ Mid-Atlantic States into southern New England.

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

25

WEATHER

(continued from the previous page. »)

So what's ahead for this winter? A Split Personality—Overall Kinder and Gentler Assuming that the El Nino will have faded by late 2010, and a strong Arctic oscillation will weaken, we’re looking

at an upcoming

winter season

that

will display a split personality nation-

move off the Atlantic Coast, colder-thannormal conditions will move into much of the East. Disturbances sweeping in from the Pacific are expected to bring above-normal precipitation to parts of the Pacific Northwest.

Spring and Summer Outlooks Spring will be mild and showery in

wide. The eastern third of the country,

(New England down to Florida and as far west as the lower Ohio River and Mississippi River Valley), will experience colder-than-normal winter temperatures. Across New England, where relatively balmy temperatures prevailed during the winter of 2009-2010, the upcoming winter will be the equivalent of acold slap in the face, as we forecast

much colder-than-normal temperatures. Meanwhile, for the Western States,

milder-than-normal winter temperatures are expected. They will spread from the Pacific Coast inland as far as the Rockies and the western Great Plains. Across the nation’s midsection, near-normal winter temperatures are anticipated.

All things considered, when comparisons to last year are made, we believe

that for most, it will turn out to be a “kinder and gentler” winter.

How about Precipitation? Three storm tracks are expected to predominate during this upcoming winter season. One will be across the Gulf Coast and Southeast, delivering copious amounts of precipitation from lower Texas across the South (Texas, Louisi-

ana, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia) into the Mid-Atlantic region. A second storm track will be oriented across southwestern Canada into the Great Lakes, producing a procession of fast-moving “Alberta Clipper” systems that. will bring snowier-than-normal conditions to parts of the Northern and Central Plains, and to the Ohio River and Great Lakes region. As these clipper systems

26

2011

most areas, while the summer

should see a greater-than-normal tally of locally strong thunderstorms, especially over the eastern third of the country, where some much heavier-than-normal precipitation could fall over New England. Some of this activity could be especially severe and perhaps even lead to widespread tornado activity in the tornado belt early in June and again during mid-July. Portions of the Central and Southern Rockies and the Great Plains could also see a lot of thunderstorms. About twothirds of the country will experience above-normal summer temperatures, with an unusually large region of much above-normal temperatures for the Southern and Eastern States. We are expecting a spell of widespread extreme. heat and humidity for the latter days of summer, especially for late August and early September. : A tropical disturbance could deliver some adverse weather to New England’s coasts in early August, while hurricane activity could threaten the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions toward the end of August and beginning of September. At the same time, tropical activity might affect the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. Yet another tropical system could affect the Southeast coast during mid-or late September.

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Order a three-year subscription and next year well ship the 2012 edition right to your door.

_

The 194th edition of the Farmers’ Almanac

ORIGINATOR: David Young, Philom. (1781-1852) EDITOR: Peter Geiger, Philom.

MANAGING EDITOR: Sondra Duncan, Philom.

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Richard Lederer, Jaime McLeod,

Mary Beth Morris ART DIRECTOR: Richard Plourde

PRODUCTION ARTIST: Tyla Strout ASTRONOMY: Joe Rao, Hart Wright Co. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: Cheryl Morin SENIOR COPY/RESEARCH EDITOR: Lyle Bloom COPY EDITORS: Nancy Moyer, Doris Violette PUBLISHER: Almanac Publishing Company P.O. Box 1609, Lewiston, ME 04241 Phone: 207-755-2000

Fax: 207-755-2622 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.farmersalmanac.com

ADVERTISING: Rod Peterson, Sales Manager

Barb Hurwitz, Advertising Coordinator Account Executives: Helen Burkett, Jim Hastert, Judi Lampe, Sheila Kearney, Jan Meyers, Shannon Peavler, Angie Taylor, Denise Wiscombe Contact: [email protected] (800) 678-5779 Classifieds: Bob Farmer [email protected] 1-800-880-2204

28

2011

Farmers’ Almanac does not recommend, approve, or endorse the products and/or services offered by companies advertising inthe magazine or its Web site. Farmers’ Almanac does not evaluate advertisers’ claims in any way. Please use your own judgment before deciding to purchase. The Farmers Almanac does not accept responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. Unsolicited manuscripts, illustrations, and/or photographs must be accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope or they will not be returned. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. © 2010 Almanac Publishing Company Printed in the USA

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

DID YOU KNOW? Cucumbers are available as either monoecious (both male and female flowers being on any given plant) or gynecious (with only female flowers on plants). Some gynecious varieties require a pollinator which is usually included with the gynecious seed and marked with a dye. Other gynecious varieties don’t require a pollinator. Our Homemade Pickles Cucumberis a pickling, monoecious cucumber.

Just one of the interesting and useful facts found

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www.botanicalinterests.com “Availableat your localgarden center orgrocery store 2011 FARMERS? ALMANAC

29

Grow Your Life. of people. For the first

Dear Readers,

_ time in decades, more

Have you ever wondered what someone who lived 200 years ago would think if they were alive today, especially after seeing and hearing of all the world’s advances, nuisances, and challenges? Readers of the first edition of the Farmers’ Almanac had to make their own clothes, grow their own foods, milk their own cows, and pluck their own chickens. Imagine what their reactions to today’s modern conveniences would be. I’m convinced they would be both amazed and disappointed. We live in convenience-oriented times—where instant gratification is expected and almost guaranteed. And while the advances in medicine, farming, technology, and everyday goods have afforded us a quality of life that our ancestors couldn’t even imagine, sometimes it is good to remind ourselves that some things are just that: conveniences, which we could live without. Over the past few years, amid the economic crisis we’ve been living through, going without and living within one’s means has become necessary for an increasing number

30

2011

people have begun to look for ways to cut costs and live much more self-sustained and resourceful lives. Fortunately for all of us, there are signs that economic recovery and growth may be immanent, but that’s no reason to stop trying to live smarter and more simply. The idea of living more resourcefully is not a fad, but a solid base from which to live a satisfying life. The more the world changes, the more we need a firm foundation of positive values— community, family, gratitude for what we have, satisfaction with enough, and the pleasure of doing things for ourselves instead of always relying on modern “conveniences” that are sometimes more trouble than they’re worth. The Farmers’ Almanac, through depressions and recessions, has offered readers a guide to do exactly that—grow

thick and thin, wars,

your life without growing the amount of resources you need to be happy. In the pages of this, our 194th edition, you'll find tips on ways to save money while remodeling (page 48), conserve money and energy while

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

doing laundry (page 46), and ways to avoid common mistakes that can cost you money (expiration dates story, page 44). Our “5 Gardening Trends” story promotes the idea that resourceful living is not a fad, but a necessity, and our “Gardening by the Moon” calendar will help you enjoy a more satisfying connection with the food you eat by offering advice on growing a fruitful garden. Living a healthy life is easier when you take control of what you eat and how you eat. Be sure to read the articles on ways to boost your immune system

and what to eat to help heal common health issues. Stories on the importance of friendships also pepper the pages of this edition. We are looking for readers to share stories about their Friends for Life. Each month, we'll

honor one of these special friendships by sharing their story online at www.FarmersAlmanac.com. Read more about this yearlong campaign on page 154. Every year, the Farmers’ Almanac includes stories about people who are making differences in their communities and in our world. On page 160, you'll learn about Best Buddies, an organization that creates lasting friendships between volunteers and people with disabilities. Stories like these help to remind us that people are kind, there is good in this world, and that we can all make a differencein our own well-being, and that of our amazing planet, no 2011

matter how small our efforts are. Those who picked up this edition of the Farmers’ Almanac looking for the weather forecast—especially for the winter ahead—won'’t be disappointed. Our forecaster, Caleb Weatherbee, has you covered. Last winter, cold and snowy conditions made a comeback in areas that haven’t seen much snow in many years. Will those areas get pounded again? Turn to page 25 to find out. By popular demand, we have revisited the idea of best and worst weather cities and came up with a new list this year. Look on page 16 for the “10 Worst Winter & Summer’s Weather Cities.” Be sure to visit www.FarmersAlmanac.com to tell us whether you agree or disagree with our selections. Whether you completely embrace sustainable living or just dream of growing your own food or raising your own chickens, I believe you'll

find useful, valuable, and entertain-

ing ideas within the 201] Farmers’ Almanac. Share your thoughts and plans for growing your life on our Web site www.farmersalmanac.com or via our Facebook page http://www .facebook.com/TheFarmersAlmanac. You-:may also e-mail me at [email protected]. Stay warm, healthy, and happy this year.

FARMERS’

Gate g » Baipr ALMANAC

31

Wel

Too

WISDOM

PHILOS OFA CTS 5 Life is like a grindstone—where it grinds you down or polishes you up depends on the stuff you're made out of.

Computers are great. They make lots of mistakes,

and when they do, it’s nobody’s fault. If not for rain, there would

Often it’s in the winds of change

be no flowers.

that we find our true course.

Your life will go by someone’s agenda. If not yours, then someone else’s.

Regretting about yesterday and fretting about tomorrow will not get us anywhere today.

Patience strengthens the spirit, sweetens the temper, subdues pride and bridles the tongue.

you; the more you have, the

Don’t worry about avoiding temptation; as you get older, it starts avoiding you.

The only people with whom you should try to get even with are those who have helped you.

Age is a very high price to pay for maturity.

Ambition without application never broke any records.

It’s better to be short of cash than short of character.

Remember it’s what you do most of the time that really matters.

Birthdays are good for longer you live.

Inch by inch, life’s a cinch. Yard by yard, life is hard.

People who think they know it all are especially annoying to those of us who do.

THOUGHT OF

©

THE

YEAR Life may notbe the partywe 3 hoped for, but while we are here Re

we might as well dance. wes

2011

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33

WT

&&

2WeS

{DORM

Pe

{BRAINTEASERS & RIDDLES: Do you know what this stands for?

T’st r ofa Y e 4Rp WHAT AM I? the wind is my father, my son is the mother, my was Acloud 1. cool stream, and my daughter is the fruit of the land. A rainbow is my bed, the earth my final resting place. 2. Every dawn begins with me, at dusk I'll be the first you see, And daybreak couldn’t come without what midday centers all about. Daisies grow from me, I’m told, and when I come, I end all cold, But in the sun I won't be found, yet still, each day I'll be around.

WHAT IS IT? 1. It fell from a star, but not very far. It seems to fly above you and I. Look further down to see cousin Jay below us three. Jump down further to see an empty space. Tell me what “it” is, and where is this place? 2. What lies in bed and stands in bed; first white, then red;

the plumper it gets, the better we like it?

Restaurant Trick A customer in a restaurant asked a waiter for a juice glass, a dinner plate, water, a match, and a lemon wedge. The customer poured enough water onto the plate to cover it. “If youcan get the water on the plate into this glass without touching or moving this plate, |will give you $100,” the customer said. “You can use the match and lemon to do this.” A few minutes later, the waiter walked away with $100 in his pocket. How did the waiter get the water into the glass?

ANSWERS ‘uoisiAiedns ayetdoidde yim awoy ye JuaWedxe si} ALL ‘azejd ay} BuiAow 10 Buryono} yjnoyyUM ssejh ay} OJU! 19JeM 94} JOB J9a}1eEM ay} ‘sNy| “ejejd ey} pue ssejb 94} UBaMjeq adeds 8y} YHNOIY) 19}eM 94} Ul PayONS YOIYM ‘WNNIeA |jeWs e pajead }! ‘ssejH au} ul UBHAxO 94} dn pasn ewelj ay} sy "yo}eW 94} 48A0 UMOP apisdn sse|6 ay) pedejd ay ‘uay] *a}e]d 84} JO ajpprw ayy Ul UOWA| 84} pue }! Ind pue ‘yo}eW 34} It] 9y Udy, "}Y4H1e3s pues Pjnom }! Jey} Os ‘aBpam UOWs} 3} OJ! YOJELU BY} JONYS OWEM BU} ‘YSII4 “"YOJEWW e ‘49}eM ‘a}e/d J9UUIp e ‘sse|H ain! e 104 19}/eM e Payse JUeINe}sas 2 Ul JOWOSNS Y 2911] JUBINeIsSaY ‘Alaqmedjs Y “Z ‘pseogAay ajAjs-Sf e UO g JequINU ay] “| ZU SI JEU “Gd 4eHe] Syl 'Z uley "L Z| We JeUAA ‘AJI7 S,901]) & Jo Jea,A Jad Huly | {40} spueys sy} JeUM MOU NOA 0G

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35

e were once a nation of farmers, | but by the turn of the century most | @ of us had moved to towns and cities. Today only two percent of Americans live on farms, and we have lost touch with our agricultural roots. In “God’s Grandeur” (1877), the English poet Gerard Manley Hopkins lamented the effects of the Industrial Age on our feeling for the land:

And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;

And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod. Because our shod (shoed) feet no longer touch the soil, most Americans are unaware of the metaphors that spring from the earth and those who work it. These verbal seeds lie buried so deeply in the humus of our language that we are hardly aware that they are figures of speech at all. Let’s do some digging to uncover the rich, earthy metaphors from which grow so much of our speech and our writing, our thoughts and our dreaming. We may be aware of the agricultural comparisons in expressions like cream of the crop, to crop up, to feel one’s oats, to farm out, a farm team, to weed out, to plow into, a vintage year, agrass roots campaign, a budding movie star, easy pickings, gone to seed, seedy, to reap the benefits, cut and dried, to mow down, separate the wheat from the chaff, to cut a wide swath, a needle in a haystack, and take your cotton-

pickin’ hands off my lunch bag! But most city dwellers have lost contact with the down-to-earth figures of speech embedded in our language.

36

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

1. The lines in a worried forehead resemble the grooves in the earth made by a plow. We describe suchaforeheadas —__ 2. Like well-farmed land, the fertile mind of a KPBS listener is carefully tended and yields a bountiful harvest. We say that such people

3. Among farm equipment is a cultivating implement set with spikes or spring teeth that pulverizes the earth by violently tearing and flipping over the topsoil. That’s why we identify an emotionally lacerating experience as 4. Rooted in the Latin de-, “from,” and lira, “furrow,” is a word that metaphorically compares behavior that deviates from a straight

course to the action of swerving from the conventional path in plowing: 2" 5. In bygone days, the Old English math meant “mowing.” Nowadays a word that means “results, effects, or consequences” isan.

j

6. European peasants, forbidden to cut down or pick from trees, were allowed to gather gratuitous fuel and food blown down by acts of nature, a bounty that required little effort on the part of the lucky recipients. By extension, we today use a word that describes an unexpected stroke of good luck: 2. : 7. The arduous job of hoeing long rows in uncooperative terrain gives us this American expression that means “a difficult task”:

8. Late spring frosts or pests of the insect or human variety can kill a tree or flower before it has a chance to develop. When we terminate a project inits early stages, wesaythatwe 9. Hay is made by setting mown grass out in the sun to dry. When we want to make the most of an opportunity, we try to MaKe oon « 10. Anyone who has ever tried to use tightly stretched wire to bind bales of hay knows how inefficient and ornery the stuff can be. When someone or something behaves in an uncontrolled manner, we say that he, she, orit goes.

Answers auimAey ‘Q| SauUlYs uNs ayy ayiyM Aey 6 (Aem ay Aq_,,31Ng ay} Uy! diu,, Jou) png ay} uid diug aoY 0. Mo4 (yBnO} Jo) prey e-Z JJEJpUIMA"g YeUJEYye-G snouiap ‘wWNujap"y Buimoiuey Eg payeanjns 7 pamoliny"|

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

37

W1T

&

WS

DOM

What do colors mean? Do doctors wear white

to portray sterility?

Why are legal pads yellow?

baits about the meanings of colors. as“WHITE: Innocence. Purity. Fresh. Good. These are some of the meanings ofwhite. Brides wear white (innocence), doctors and nurses (although many wear blue now) wear white (sterility), and heroes tend to wear white or ride off on a “white” horse. 2 ‘BLACK: Authority. Power. Evil. Elegance. Black is a popular color for Clothes as many believe it’s slimming. Yet it is also associated with evil (black holes, black capes), and sometimes submission. S YELLOW: Cheerful. Attention-grabber. Youth. Fun. Energetic. Yellow is an interesting color. While it’s usually associated with upbeat and optimistic feelings, studies reveal that when a room is painted yellow, tempers are lost more and babies tend to cry more. It is supposed to encourage concentration, thus yellow legal pads, but it’s also a hard color for the human eye to take in so it shouldn’t be overused. S ‘RED: Intense. Love. Caution. Beware. Red is a very emotional color. It is capaaced to stimulate a faster heart beat and breathing. Red is love. Red

clothing gets noticed, as do red cars. Red is a good color to use for accents. ... BLUE: Tranquil. Loyalty. Wisdom. Trust. This very popular color is known to have calming effects over people, thus it is a popular color for bedrooms. On the other hand blue can be cold or depressing. Looking for a job? Wearing blue is suppose to symbolize loyalty. Increase employee productivity by painting the office blue. ... GREEN: Nature. Growth. Money. Fertility. Safety. Green is easy on the eye and can improve vision. It has a calming effect, thus the “green rooms” where

guests who are to appear on TV wait and it is often used in psychiatric wards. It’s often associated with good health too.

38

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

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39

N-OcS Tt A Gas

ook around any basement, attic, garage, or flea market and you’re sure to find a variety of obsolete or nearly obsolete items—eighttrack tapes, floppy disks, films, and rotary dial phones. E-mail has endangered the fax machine, and DVDs mean that VHS tapes are rapidly joining their BETA brethren in that great junk drawer in the sky, while the Global Positioning System is pushing paper maps to the back of the glove box. Technological advances, from cell phone applications to MP3s, have clearly changed how we communicate. And lifestyle changes have affected the day-to-day running of the household and put many once-common items on the road to obsolescence. Here is a list of once-ubiquitous items that, while they may still be in use and even available brand new, have seen their glory days come and go. Pull any of these out of the back of the drawer and have the kids guess what they are for.

By Judy Kneiszel

FLOUR SIFTER Time was when _ flour came from

_ the local mill and could be lumpy and even have a bug or two in it. It had to be sifted. Then presifted flour became the norm, and while some

home bakers still sift, claiming any presifting is undone by settling in the bag, most bypass this step—or bypass baking entirely. I personally remember playing with my mom’s sifter in the sandbox, once presifted flour hit the store shelves.

ALUMINUM ICE CUBE TRAYS You know, the ones with the removable cube separator and a release handle, that you spent a good deal of time swearing at and banging on the counter in the 1960s. These were eventually replaced by molded plastic ice cube trays that you twisted to get the ice out. In turn, those were abandoned when refrigerators started coming with built-in automatic icemakers. Thinking back on time spent with some of these items makes one wonder what we do with all our free time today.

all. It’s a good thing birds still migrate or we’d never know what season it is.

CORRECTION FLUID Nowadays, we just highlight, hit the delete key, and try again. But back in the days of typewriters, this mysterious white liquid you could brush over boo-boos and then type Over was a godsend. It didn’t make holes and smudges in the paper like erasers did and was barely detectable if you had a gentle touch. It still comes in handy on handwritten homework assignments when kids are first allowed to write in ink, but as homework goes high tech, the delete key steals the show.

SLIDE PROJECTORS When showing off digital photos on acomputer, cell phone or the cam-

era itself, users often have the option of using a setting called “slide show” which automatically flips through the shots at a nice steady pace, sometimes with accompanying music. But do the more youthful owners of these devices even know what a slide show is? They’ve missed out on the joy of making shadow puppets on the portable screen while the teacher’s back was turned, and the giggling of the class when one of the slides in the carousel was, inevitably, upside down.

REMOVABLE STORM WINDOWS Climb the ladder. Take them down in spring. Store them all summer. Take them out in the fall. Wash them. Dry both sides of them. Climb the ladder. Put them back up. Repeat. Ah, those were the days when the changing sea-

(continued)

sons meant something. Now we can just slide our storm windows up and down ona whim. Or, thanks to doubleglazed energy-efficient windows, many of us don’t have any storm windows at 2011

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Al

(continued from the previous page)

CHALK AND CHALKBOARDS No more

chalk

dust, no

more

squeaks. Teachers seem to prefer the quiet, smooth, dust-free white board with its colorful dry-erase markers these days. Many new classrooms are completely chalk free. So what does ateacher’s pet do after school if they can’t clap erasers? COLD CREAM This do-it-all makeup remover and moisturizer was all our mothers and grandmothers ever used on their skin, and many of them still look great because of it. Sure, you can still buy it, but it’s been all but squeezed off the shelves by a plethora of serums, hydrators, and moisturizers that cost more—but do they do more? Only time will tell.

FLOOR WAX No-wax vinyl flooring squeezed out linoleum a few decades ago, and ceramic tile and stone flooring gained in popularity, too, leaving a new generation of homeowners clueless as to what to even do with floor wax. It is still available, for owners of waxable floors.

MERCURY FEVER THERMOMETER Because of how detrimental mercury is for children and the environment, thermometers containing mercury have been banned in many parts of the country. Some hospitals and community groups have organized “tradein” days, where people could take an old mercury thermometer and trade it for a new digital model. Making these

42

2011

obsolete is a good idea, but still, don’t we all have memo-

ries of a caring mom or nurse “shaking down” a mercury-filled glass fever thermometer? Now mom just pops a plastic stick in the sick child’s ear and waits for the beep. CURLERS Electrically heated hot rollers are still available, or, in these “green” times, you can opt for “ecofriendly bamboo soft curlers.” What I’m talking about are the brush curlers, with the

plastic spikes jutting out from a metal core, that women secured in their hair with pink plastic “pins.” Then, of course, the users would either sleep in these uncomfortable things or sit under another nearly obsolete item, the bonnet hair dryer. Of course, classic products like Dippity Do and Adorn hair sprays were vital in achieving the perfect post-curler pouf. CASH REGISTERS WITH CLACKING KEYS AND A “KA-CHING” AT THE END Remember how fast those checkout ladies at the Red Owl could punch in the prices, and the satisfying combination of sounds when the register chimed and the drawer flew out? Maybe someone could record that melodious sound to be used as a cell phone ringtone, before it is completely extinct.

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Wit BUILT-IN CIGARETTE LIGHTERS/ ASHTRAYS IN CARS The space once occupied by cigarette lighters and ashtrays is now

taken up by cup holders and outlets for powering cell phones, portable gaming systems, and MP3 players. The number of small circular holes in automotive upholstery has also gone down

significantly. If you start looking around, you will realize there are probably hundreds of gadgets, devices, and products that were once an accepted part of life, but are no longer in common use. On my last birthday, for example, I had a flashback to my childhood and desperately wanted a “butter brickle” birthday cake. | did a little research on the Internet and found that Betty Crocker discontinued this cake and frosting flavor in 1990. This lead to my wondering if looking up obscure facts like that on the Internet is any faster than the now nearly obsolete way I would have done it a few decades ago: dial the reference librarian on my rotary phone and wait for her to find the answer. At least with the old method, an Internet full of articles, blogs, videos, and songs wouldn’t distract me. I’m sure it was faster.

& Wisdom

Please excuse Abraham Lincoln for the rest of the year. He has moved to a Gettysburg address.

Please excuse Rip Van Winkle for missing the past twenty years of school. He overslept. Please excuse Goliath for his absence from school yesterday. He got stoned and developed a terrific headache.

Please excuse King Kong for missing the past few days of class. He had to catch a plane.

By Richard Lederer

Famous

Excuse Notes TO SCHOOL Please excuse Spiderman for not handing in his homework. He was too busy surfing the Web. Please excuse Dracula for missing the entire school year. We can'tseem to stop him from staying up all night, and it’s impossible to wake him up in the morning. Please excuse The Invisible Man for

his absence yesterday. We couldn't find him to send him offto school. Please excuse The Wolfman from school for the next week. He is suffer-

ing from Irritable Howl Syndrome.

What other items would you add to this growing list? Share them at: www.FarmersAlmanac.com 2011

FARMERS’

Please excuse Isaac Newton from school for a few days while he recovers from a mild concussion. An apple fell on his head.

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43

R E'S 0-°U-R

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Lae VoPINeG

Expiration Dates: They dont mean as much as you think they do. Dates on products aren’t as important as you might think. By law, only infant formula and certain baby foods are required to have dates stamped on them. (How does a soft drink expire?) Most foods are still edible after the “expiration date” has come and gone. However, the taste may be affected. Before you toss out good food based on expired dates, be sure to know what the

codes mean: DIFFERENT CODES ¢ Sell by: Don’t buy the product after this date. This is the expiration date. ¢ Best if used by: Flavor or quality is best before this date, but the product is still edible thereafter. e Use by: This is the last day that the manufacturer vouches for the product's quality. MORE ADVISORY THAN EXPIRED | The dates listed on food products are basically guidelines, for both sellers (store) and customers. Most of the dates are not actually expiration dates and don’t mean that you'll get sick if you eat something that is past it’s best-by date.

USE COMMON SENSE You should, of course, use common sense. If a product has a bad smell or a bad look to it, don’t eat it. If it’s a box of crackers, you should be fine. Eggs are good for 3 to 5 weeks after their dates, and dairy may be, but use caution. How you store your food products can also make a difference. Many people freeze meats after the use-by/freeze-by dates and find them still good when used. However, if you don’t wrap meats well enough, then the quality and safety can be harmed. Sell-by dates usually allow additional time for storage at home. Generally, perishable products can be kept safely in your refrigerator for seven days after you buy them, even if that’s past the given date. Fresh meat is the exception. Don’t keep beef or pork for longer than three to five days before you use it or freeze it. And use poultry, seafood, and ground or chopped meat within two days (or freeze it). Most meats are good for almost a year after you purchase them if you keep them well wrapped in a freezer.

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While clotheslines may seem old-fashioned to some, they are making a comeback due to their considerable economic and environmental benefits. Clotheslines have always been around, but, sadly, in some places it has become illegal to hang clothes outside because driers are so accessible! Here are some compelling reasons why you should hang your clothes to dry.

Clothesline Comebac BY

FREELANCE

n

WRITER

riers are a major household energy consumer, and some directly produce CO, emissions. Depending ona drier s efficiency and how _ often it is used, running one can cost from one hundred to seveo Lal eral hundred dollars a year. Give yours up for a month and check out the effect on your electricity bill! You’ll be doing the environment a favor at the same time. Ditching your drier means a longer life for clothing, since drying clothes in the drier wears the fabric—just think about how much drier lint you remove after every load.

46

2011

KRISTEN

HEWITT

The fresh, clean smell that storebought detergents advertise comes naturally from drying clothes in sunlight. Sunlight kills the bacteria that create odors, and it helps bleach stains naturally. Try to hang stained clothes in direct sun. Clothesline drying may drastically cut down your ironing time. If you shake out clothes before you hang them on the line, the weight of the wet cloth can pull out most of the wrinkles without you lifting a finger. And you can enjoy the freedom of not needing to be there when the drier stops to make sure clothes don’t wrinkle.

FARMERS’

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Common Clothesline Hangups There are understandable reasons why people don’t use clotheslines (rainy weather, stiff clothes, too little space, etc.), but often the benefits outweigh the challenges. Here are a few simple ways to make using a clothesline work for you.

smaller items from door knobs. Strategically place wet clothes near open windows, air conditioners, fans, or heaters. They will even act as humidifiers in the winter!

Take it inside

Just add vinegar Line-dried laundry can get a little crunchy because of excess soap

If you are expecting cold or rainy weather, are embarrassed by neigh-

bors seeing your undergarments, don’t have a yard or live in a neighborhood that does not permit outdoor clotheslines, hang your laundry inside. You won't

get the

fresh

outdoor

smell,

but you'll still save energy, and your clothes will be less stiff than if you had hung them outside.

Get creative Worried about space? Use a retractable clothesline or a foldup drying rack that stores easily. Drape sheets or towels over your shower rod, and hang

that remains in the fabric. Some people like the feel. If you don’t, vinegar removes the soap residue. Add half a

cup to the wash and you’ll have fluffy towels in no time! Also try reducing the amount of detergent, or use a gentler homemade laundry soap. Shaking out laundry vigorously before and after hanging also softens clothes. If all else fails, throw overly stiff laundry in the drier for five minutes, on the air setting with no heat. Add tennis balls; they will bounce around and beat

the fabric soft.

Make Your Own Laundry Detergent 1 cup soap flakes Y% cup washing soda Y% cup borax LIQUID DETERGENT:

1 cup of the above dry mixture 2 tablespoons of glycerin 2 cups warm water For both recipes mix all ingredients together and store ina sealed (with a lid) and labeled container in the laundry room. List ingredients and keep out of reach of children. To use measure out % cup to % cup and add to your washer as you normally would.

More resourceful living ideas at www.FarmersAlmanac.com

47

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Renovating a room or a home adds value, function, and beauty to your real estate investment.

AS

By LOWELL

H. TUKUA

and DEBORAH

S. TUKUA

Before you start a project, there are some steps you should take to make sure you don’t overspend or underbudget. Prepare a cost sheet or contact a licensed contractor to Prepare an estimate for the renovation or new addition. If the costs associated with your planned project exceed your budget, what should you do? Forget the project, or consider where you can make cutbacks that will not compromise the integrity of the project.

Here are some good things to consider when makin g this decision ... 48

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What NOT (0cut

PERMANENT COMPONENTS: Don’t cut quality on the more

ture areas.

permanent

WINDOWS: New windows should be

com-

Dack ON tome projec ponents of your

windows, roofing, foundations, and

insulation. BATHROOM AND KITCHEN: Don’t forgo modernizing an outdated kitchen or bathroom. These key rooms are essential for present use and greatly affect future resale values. | ELECTRICITY: Determine whether the existing electrical service panel has ample space for additional circuits, if needed.

HEATING SYSTEMS: Ensure that the heating and air system is adequate for aroom addition. PLUMBING: When renovating or adding a new bathroom, preplan plumbing needs before starting the project.

Use mold- and water-resistant wallboard, greenboard, or a cement board in bathrooms and high mois-

rated low-E, to block out ultraviolet

rays and prevent loss of indoor heat and air. INSULATION: Exterior walls and ceiling insulation should be of the highest R-value feasible. (A high R-value insulation blocks penetration of outdoor temperatures.) SEALANTS: Seal and insulate around and behind new electrical switch and receptacle boxes on exterior walls to eliminate outside air infiltration and reduce energy costs. HOT WATER: Retrofit a hot water recirculating pump into your existing hot water supply system and

receive instant hot water. This pump will lower water heating costs, reduce water usage and sewage charges, saving energy and reducing expenses.

What you can do to SAVE

e Consider a lower fixtures or wallpaper, check the discost yet quality continued and sale items first. Store floor covering to lighting displays are often marked stay within budget. down in price, but make sure that all e Install ceiling fans the parts are intact before purchasto reduce energy ing and that the quantity available is expenses. Flip the enough to complete the job. switch on the fan, _ e Instead of replacing existing cabinetry, install a new countertop and reversing the direction of the blades paint or refinish the cabinets and in winter to circulate the heat comreplace the hardware. fortably in the room, especially in e Barter with handyman friends, rooms with high ceilings. enlisting help on projects requiring e Remove old flooring, cabinets, wall assistance or skill. coverings, etc., yourself to save labor e Complete the project in phases as charges. money permits, break big jobs into e Do your own painting, wallpaperseveral mini projects. Seeing each ing and install floor coverings to phase to completion will encourage save money. you to continue as funds allow. e When shopping for flooring, lighting (continued) 2011

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(continued from the previous page)

Need to update your kitchen or bathroom but don’t

room? Want to ugh capital to gut an entire pative (lp- have enoyour fixtures, appliances, flooring, counterreplace tops, or cabinetry? Try several of these do-it-yourself suggestions as your budget permits.

it-yoursell ideas! ——exaswrar e Need some

kitchen? Why not try adding an island with storage “ space below to the center of the kitchen. e Hang a pot rack over the island or range top. e Shop at unfinished wood furniture stores for kitchen islands, stools, bookcases, etc., and stain or paint them yourself. ¢ Gogreen. Pull up and discard old carpeting; expose original, existing wood, tile, or terrazzo flooring beneath.

e Repurpose and introduce vintage furniture such as farmhouse tables, Hoosier cabinets, rolling carts, and

with the flip of a switch. Paint existing kitchen or bathroom cabinets to freshen and brighten the room. e Update the hardware on your cabinets. e Installing a chair rail and beadboard wainscoting on an existing wall

is affordable,

attractive

and

doesn’t require professional installation. ‘ e Paint an old brick fireplace surround to conceal stains and lighten the room. e Update and organize your closet space with the latest shelving and storage units available. e Spruce up an existing bathtub by affixing decorative tiles to the outside of the tub. Either cover the entire outside of the tub with mini

the like into your country kitchen. An old pine freestanding cabinet instantly adds country charm to your kitchen as well as pantry space without the need or expense of installation. e Transform a vintage oak dresser into a bathroom vanity. Cut an opening in the top to incorporate a sink. The top drawer will need to be eliminated except for the drawer front, to

allow fitting of plumbing fixtures. The outer wood shell remains intact and stylish. ¢ Update your lighting. Installing an attractive chandelier, ceiling fan, or

track lighting will transform a room

tiles or mount

one or three large,

diamond shape tiles in the center to add color and style affordably. e Want an elegant bath? Install a paneled wood covering and trim to the side of the bathtub, coordinat-

ing wood stain or paint colors with existing cabinetry. ¢ Mount a shelf above doorways and windows in the kitchen or den for displaying decorative items. e Breaking up the massive job of updating a kitchen or bathroom into affordable mini projects keeps you motivated while making your overall goal attainable, one step at a time.

A CLOSING WORD

OF CAUTION

Not sure whether to attempt a job yourself? Consult a contractor. Most will be glad to help you determine the level of expertise your job requires and won't charge for estimates. Don’t attempt any renovation work yourself that you are not competentin performing. Inferior workmanship subtracts from the overall quality and appearance of aroom, thus reducing the overall value of your home and your satisfaction. 50

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TATAWAe tehWanlelie) (sere) an)

51

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Invasive bugs that have made your home theirs.

Most of us welcome guests with open arms, unless, of course, they bring hundreds of cousins, make messes in the house, or destroy the garden. Then we

just want to know who invited them and how to send them on their way. When these “guests” are insects, many of us wonder where they came from and why they decided to visit our yards. Did you know that many common insects actually originated on other continents? Some were imported because they were thought to be beneficial, while others hitched rides without being invited. With few or no natural predators, these nonnative species thrive unchecked, invading our homes and gardens. Here are a handful of creepy crawlies that cause many problems for homeowners and tips on how to deal with them.

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Earwigs: With reddish-brown, shiny bodies and pincers (called forceps) located on their hind ends, earwigs truly look like creatures from a horror movie. When they congregate en masse, something as simple as tipping over a rock can easily illicit a startled scream, while they scurry for cover. What’s even worse is when you wash a batch of corn or peel back cabbage leaves to find them burrowed inside. There are over twenty varieties of earwigs, but the most common

is the European earwig that came to the United States with travelers in the early 1900s. Their name is obvious from the menacing-looking forceps used in self-defense. While earwigs will pinch you if provoked, they don’t crawl inside of peoples’ ears when they sleep, as once rumored. Earwigs are a nuisance in the garden, often making crops less appealing by chewing numerous irregular holes into leaves or vegetables and using your produce as alatrine. Most of the time, earwigs remain outdoors, since they prefer dark, protected areas. But when the weather changes in the northern parts of the country, they'll sometimes venture inside. The easiest way to deal with earwigs is to minimize the number of hiding places. Keep pots, stones, and debris picked up. Some people make traps of cardboard tubes to encourage the earwigs to crawl inside, and then dump the earwigs into water to drown. Sucking them up with a vacuum also works well, indoors and out. Bedbugs: Many of us know the saying, “Sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.” But most people born after the mid-1950s have never seen a bedbug. Bedbugs were eradicated in the United States after WWII, due to the liberal use of DDT and improved hygiene. Now they’re back and are making themselves at home. Bedbugs originally arrived in America with the colonists. Currently, with people traveling more extensively throughout the world, bedbugs easily hitch rides in luggage and furniture. Infestations are often found in apartments, hotels, and dwellings where there are a lot of people, their food. As their name implies, these tiny insects, which measure a mere quarter inch long, prefer to nestle in the crevices of bedding, curtains, and soft places from which they can come out and feed on whoever is sleeping nearby. They can be hard to spot since they hide, but look for dark brown fecal spots near their hiding places, blood spots on bedding, as well as a “buggy” smell. Residents living in infested homes may find red bumps on their skin, where the bedbugs fed. If you have bedbugs, thoroughly scrub and vacuum the entire home. Seal any gaps where they might gather, and give the bed and other furniture more space from walls and solid surfaces to minimize hiding spaces. There are special prefitted mattress encasings to use that trap any bedbugs still in the mattress and prevents them from finding food. Don’t toss infested furniture, because you might spread the problem to your neighbors. Insecticides, such as pyrethroids, can be used to kill any bedbugs still hiding. Be certain to follow the labels explicitly, and do not dust or spray mattresses or furniture where people sleep. Because not all insecticides work on bedbugs, make sure the label specifies it will work on them. There are also dusts to use in the nooks, crannies

and crevices that bedbugs hide in. But the most effective action to take is to have a ; meee j fok is had. pest control company do it, especially if the infestation is ba (Continued)

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(continued from the previous page)

Asian Lady Beetles: Sometimes too much of a good thing can be

(a.k.a. scary. This is the case with large groups of Asian lady beetles s during building inside and on on protecti seek they when s) ladybug the autumn. A warm, sunny day followed by a cool night can mean thousands of these cheery red and black beetles will be trying to find their way out of the impending cold. Ladybugs are well known as an important tool against aphids, but the ones you purchase for the garden are different from the Asian lady beetle. The traditional red and black aphid killers are our native Hippodamia convergens beetle, while the newcomers are Harmonia axyridis. Although the Asian beetles can be red, they range from tan to black and are often orange. The Asian lady beetles were brought over by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help control pests in orchards. With no natural enemies, the ladybugs thrive on a steady diet of “bad bugs,” while nothing keeps their numbers in check. Although finding a ladybug is good luck for many, most people don’t want them plastering the outside of their homes, or overwintering inside. The best course of action is to caulk any openings along windows, doors and between bricks to block the ladybugs entrance. If masses of ladybugs on the outside of the home bother you, bring out the vacuum or wash them off with the hose. Any ladybugs found inside can be vacuumed or picked up with a damp towel.

Stinkbugs: There are dozens of varieties of stinkbug, but the one most prevalent in the news is the brown marmorated stink bug. It was acci-

dentally introduced in Pennsylvania from Southeastern Asia abouta { decade ago, and has spread to most of the Northeast. Other species are found throughout the country. Stinkbugs are like vegetable vampires, with a piercing, sucking mouth part that damages soft fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, corn, apples, and pears. While they don’t bite, they do emit an obnoxious odor when provoked, as a protective measure against their natural enemies such as birds and lizards—or the family dog. During the summer, they spend their time outside, preferably in cool, protected areas, but, like ladybugs, when the weather turns colder in the fall, they look for a warm spot to stay until spring.

Stinkbugs hibernate during the winter, surviving if they find enough protection under garden debris or leaves, but your home is much more inviting. These shieldshaped insects don’t move quickly, but they’re persistent. They’ll search out open-

ings to safety anywhere they can find them. Caulk all crevices on the exterior of your house to keep the stinkbugs outside, and if they are a problem indoors, suck them up with a vacuum. Don’t handle them, since some people are allergic to their spray. Lovebugs: Although their name invokes a more romantic impression,

lovebugs are far from sweet. For roughly 9 months of the year, lovebug larvae are found in leaf litter and grasses, where they feed upon dead vegetation. Once they reach maturity, the males and females join and stay like that for the rest of their adult lives. In their tragic tale, a female

often times drags along the male’s dead body until she has finished laying eggs and subsequently dies. (continued on page 56)

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: =

55

(continued from page 54) Despite reports that lovebugs are a genetic engineering attempt to reduce mosquito populations gone awry, these small flies actually originated in South or Central America. They were first documented in Texas in 1940. Since then, they’ve moved across the Gulf Coast all the way to Florida and as far north as North Carolina. They are transported on vehicles as well as through sod installations. The busiest months for lovebugs are in April-May and August-September, when they mate and cling all over houses, cars, and people. They prefer lightcolored surfaces. While lovebugs don’t bite or sting, they'll drift into your hair and face and stick everywhere. They drive people crazy. A favorite remedy of lovebug veterans is to put a bit of dish soap in a sprayer at the end of a hose. The sudsy spray smothers the bugs. It’s a good idea to keep your car cleaned, as well. Lovebugs have acidic bodies, and when they smash on a vehicle as youre driving down the highway, they can damage the paint. Some people swear by coating the front of their cars with baby oil to keep the bugs from sticking. There are hundreds of introduced species that cause terrible problems to crops and vegetation. While many have been with us over a century, there are always more newcomers keeping foresters, farmers, and gardeners on their toes. Here are a few of the more notorious invaders:

Gypsy Moth: Caterpillars from Eurasia were brought to Massachusetts in 1869 in a scientific attempt to create a silkworm hybrid resistant to a disease that was wiping out the silk industry. A few moths escaped and spread throughout much of the eastern United States and Canada, decimating millions of hardwood trees.

Emerald Ash Borer: Originally from Asia, it’s believed the beetle accidentally came to the States in wooden packing crates around 2002. It now inhabits a large section of the eastern United States and Canada. It devastates ash trees when the larvae feed on the inner bark, cutting off the tree’s water and nutrients.

Africanized Honey Bee: in 1956, a geneticist introduced bee queens from Africa into Brazil, in order to create a better honeybee for honey production. Several of the hives swarmed, and the bees bred with the native bee populations, creating this aggressive strain known through the Southern States.

Asian Longhorned Beetle: These wood-boring beetles origi-

nated in China and Korea, and were first spotted in Brooklyn in 1996. Their habitat is expanding north and east. They are extremely detrimental to deciduous trees, including sugar maples.

r

Japanese Beetles: These are the iridescent beetles that love your roses and vegetables as much as you do. Native to Japan, they were first discovered at a plant nursery in New Jersey in 1916. They now inhabit much of the eastern part of the country.

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» —

a

Each American president has made his own significant contributions to our great country. But as these legendary leaders go down in the annals of history, sometimes we forget that presidents are people too. With this in mind, we thought we would share some of the lesser-known bizarre and intriguing factoids about our 44 presidents. We think you will agree—truth is indeed stranger than fiction! 1. George Washington Contrary to popular myth, Washington wore dentures made of either human or animal teeth or ivory, not wood. Having learned the importance of good oral hygiene from his own dental misfortune, Washington ordered daily teeth brushing for his six horses. 2. John Adams Being the stereotypical male and not one to stop and ask for directions—Adams and his family wandered aimlessly in the woods for hours before finally finding their way to their new home at the White House. 3. Thomas Jefferson In writing his own epitaph, Jefferson did not mention his stint as president. The epitaph simply read, “Author of the Declaration of Independence, Author of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, and the Father of the University of Virginia.” 4. James Madison Weighing in at a lean 100 pounds, the 5 foot 4 inch tall Madison was the country’s shortest president. 2011

5. James Monroe During the Revolutionary

War, Monroe

the shoulder. removed.

The

was

bullet was

shot

in

never

6. John Quincy Adams What do you do when someone generously gives you an alligator as a gift? Adams decided to keep his in a bathtub in the White House East Room. 7. Andrew Jackson Jackson shot and killed a man in a duel (using pistols) while defending his wife’s honor. Before firing the fatal shot, Jackson had taken a bullet near the heart. The bullet could not be safely removed, so he lived with it the remainder of his life. 8. Martin Van Buren The Sultan of Oman gave Van Buren two tiger cubs,

which he planned on keeping at the White House as pets. However, an angry Congress argued that the cubs belonged to the American people and pressured the president into giving the young tigers to the zoo.

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9. William Henry Harrison This longwinded politician gave the longest inaugural address in history outdoors onacold, wintry day without wearing an overcoat or hat. He died of a respiratory infection—most likely pneumonia—one month later.

10. John Tyler Within five years of leaving the White House, Tyler was so broke he could not pay a bill for $1.25 until he sold his corn crop. 11. James Knox Polk At the age of 17, a tough Polk endured a gallstone operation without any anesthesia or antiseptics. Yikes! 12. Zachary Taylor Taylor did not receive notification of his presidential nomination until several days after the fact due to his policy of refusing all

postage-due correspondence. 13. Millard Fillmore He and his Cabinet helped fight the Library of Congress fire in 1851. 14. Franklin Pierce While in office, Pierce was arrested for running over a little old lady with his horse, but got off due to lack of evidence.

15. James Buchanan When the Prince of Wales visited the White House with his oversized entourage, Buchanan was forced to sleep in the hallway. 16. Abraham Lincoln Lincoln often carried letters, bills, and notes inside the black stovepipe hat perched atop his head.

17. Andrew Johnson Handy with a needle, this U.S. president was once a tailor who owned his own shop.

18. Ulysses S. Grant Even presidents

19. Rutherford B. Hayes He received ridicule, and his wife was nicknamed “lemonade Lucy” because the couple refused to serve alcohol in the White House.

20. James Garfield He could simultaneously write Latin with one hand and Greek with the other. Wonder if this politician was as skilled at talking out both sides of his mouth? 21. Chester Arthur Was nicknamed “Elegant Arthur” and “The Dude President,” Arthur was lauded as a man of fashion. 22. Grover Cleveland (his first nonconsecutive term) While serving Erie County, New York, as sheriff and public executioner, Cleveland personally hanged two murderers. 23. Benjamin Harrison His family was the first to have electricity in the White House—would sometimes sleep with the lights on, not because they were afraid of the dark, but because they feared touching light switches after Harrison received an electrical shock.

24. Grover Cleveland (his second non-consecutive term) Cleveland was known for personally answering incoming phone calls to the White House.

aren’t above the law—while in office, Grant was arrested and fined for driv-

ing his horse and buggy too fast.

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25. William McKinley McKinley and his patriotic parrot would often perform a whistling duet of “Yankee Doodle.”

34. Dwight D. Eisenhower One of his favorite desserts was prune whip. Yum, yum.

26. Theodore Roosevelt On the way

35. John F. Kennedy This fast-talking

to a campaign

Massachusetts native could speak up to 350 words per minute.

event, Roosevelt was

shot in the chest during an assassination attempt. At Roosevelt’s insistence, he was taken directly to the event hall where he delivered his ninety-minute campaign speech before being taken to the hospital. He fully recovered.

27. William Howard Taft Weighing over 300 pounds, Taft holds the undesirable distinction of being the heaviest U.S. president. Embarrassingly, Taft once got stuck in the White House bathtub. To avoid a repeat of the awkward

fiasco, a new tub—four times the normal size—was installed. 28. Woodrow

Wilson

During Wil-

son’s term, sheep were raised on the

White House lawn to support the World War I effort: This presidential flock included a ram named Old Ike who chewed tobacco. 29. Warren Harding Harding wins the prize for the biggest presidential feet (yes, that’s “feet,” not “feat”) —he wore size 14 shoes. 30. Calvin Coolidge This cowboy at heart had an electric horse in the White House which he rode most days.

36. Lyndon B. Johnson After a whirlwind

romance,

Johnson

married

his

wife, Lady Bird, with a $2.58 wedding ring from Sears. 37. Richard M. Nixon A skilled card player, Nixon used his poker earnings to help finance his first political campaign.

38.

Gerald

Ford Before becoming

president, Ford was a fashion model.

39. Jimmy Carter A real family man, he was the first president to send his mother on a diplomatic mission. 40. Ronald Reagan This former actor rescued 77 people from drowning while working as a lifeguard in his younger days.

41. George H. W. Bush During World War II, Bush flew 58 combat missions after being commissioned as the U.S. Navy’s youngest combat aviation officer. On one mission, the Japanese shot down Bush’s plane. He parachuted into the water and floated on a raft until a U.S. submarine rescued him.

private.

42. William Jefferson Clinton Dur-. ing his 1992 presidential campaign, Clinton boosted his popularity by playing the saxophone on alate night television talk show.

32. Franklin D. Roosevelt As a young boy, FDR ignored advice he was given by Grover Cleveland—he was told never to

43.George W. Bush Bush proposed to his wife, Laura, after only three months of courtship.

31. Herbert Hoover Mr. and Mrs. Hoover spoke Chinese when they wanted their conversations with each other to be

become president.

33. Harry S. Truman - This musical president rose before dawn each day for two hours of piano practice. 2011

44. Barack H. Obama Known as “O’Bomber” during his high school basketball days, Obama collects Spiderman

and Conan the Barbarian comic books.

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OC ULT

D7 0707 Res

PEAK FOLIAGE DATES FORTHE U.

Why do leaves change color? Find out at www.FarmersAlmanac.com

Alabama ...... (Northern) Oct. 22-Nov. 7 Alaska :s.cio3 to eee N/A

Avizonaiins cra.ees Oct. 8-24 Ark anSas-2. ccc. :sctsetsceaseontes Oct. 22-Nov. 7 Arkansas .............4+. (Ozarks) Oct. 15-31 California............ (Northern) Oct. 15-31 Colorado ine iciieschidceeecoeeiee Oct. 8-17 Connecticut, eae Oct. 15-31 Delaware 26 iivisctsnctocctees Oct. 22-Nov. 7 Rloridag

cist. xcutsscarn ese N/A

Georgia........ (Northern) Oct. 22-Nov. 7 Hawait'.

33 eins ee

ee N/A

Idahomce ieee Oct. 8-24 Wlinoisis.ccctesceewe.s (Northern) Oct. 8-24 Mlinois................. (Southern) Oct. 15-31 Indiana.s..3.2..00.: (Northern) Oct. 8-24 Indiana................ (Southern) Oct. 15-31 lOWalraics Seti eee Oct. 8-24 KanSaSivs.casci

slits

a eee

N/A

Kentucky .cccn. (Eastern) Oct. 8-24 Kentucky ............ (Western) Oct. 15-31 Eouisianas.s

Sake

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N/A

Maines: saccx ness Cnland) Oct. 1-17 Malinne wisviastecs cco (Coastal) Oct. 8-24 Maryland................ (inland) Oct. 15-31 Maryland........ (Coastal) Oct. 22-Nov. 7 Massachusetts......... Cnland) Oct. 8-24 Massachusetts .....(Coastal) Oct. 15-31 Michigan............... (Northern) Oct. 1-17 Michigan............... (Southern) Oct. 8-24 Minnesota............ (Northern) Oct. 1-17 Minnesota............ (Southern) Oct. 8-24 Mississippi... (Northern) Oct. 22-Nov. 7 Missouri .............. (Northern) Oct. 8-24

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2011

Missouri............. (Southern) Oct. 15-31 | Montana, ..5.2c5-2..--: (Central) Oct. 1-17 Montana................. (Western) Oct. 8-24 Nebraskan 2320 80h eee N/A NG@Va Galt sors cos ois otecsas cleness-eoeneecdasks N/A

New Hampshire........ (inland) Oct. 1-17 New Hampshire ..... (Coastal) Oct. 8-24 New Jersey ...........-- Cnland) Oct. 15-31 New Jersey .....(Coastal) Oct. 22-Nov. 7 New: MexIC@- oie scs.ncstae cone Oct. 1-17 New York: Sep. 24-Oct. 31, (Depending on elevation and distance from the coast) North Carolina....... Cinland) Oct. 15-31 North Carolina (Coastal) Oct. 22-Nov. 7 North Dakotas ....u:daccxau Oct. 8-24 O10 ccc cae Oct. 8-24 Oklahoma:s.c8c see

N/A

Oregons chao tee Oct. 15-31 Pennsylvania’... 9:88 Sane has Oct. 8-24 Rhode Island «02.00.05 6.as Oct. 15-31 South Carolina................ Oct. 22-Nov. 7 South Dakota win. nsen Oct. 8-24 TERNESSOE se hik sence Oct. 15-31 TERAS nog ereer hie Rees ee N/A Utah isis St Oct. 8-24 Vermont..... (Northern) Sep. 24-Oct. 10

Vermont:.c..3:....2.: (Southern) Oct. 8-17 Virginlatsck.s..ccccs Cnland) Oct. 15-31 Virginia .......... (Coastal) Oct. 22-Nov. 7 Wasnington® sce Oct. 15-31 West Virginia: 05. fe ees Oct. 8-24 WiISCOnSING Wins. casera Oct. 8-17 WYOMING sc. kics caeae Oct. 8-17 Peak times are earlier at higher elevations

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

COLLECT A YARD FULL OF LEAVES...

WHILE

YOU

RIDE!

The DR® LEAF and LAWN VACUUM DON’T SPEND ANOTHER WEEKEND RAKING In the time it takes to drive your riding mower around your yard, your leaf cleanup chore is complete. With unstoppable 85 mph suction, the DR® LEAF and LAWN VACUUM collects leaves, grass clippings, pine needles, pine cones, nuts, and twigs. You’ll never rake again.

LEAVES NOTHING IN ITS PATH, EXCEPT THE COMPETITION Beefy steel frame. Hard shell collector. Commercial engines. The DR® LEAF and LAWN VACUUM is loaded with a long list of premium features. No other lawn vacuum is built stronger or lasts longer.

AMERICA’S BEST SELECTION Choose from tow-behind models for larger properties...or our self-propelled

SHREDDING ACTION TURNS LEAVES TO MULCH

walk-behind models for not-so-large

Only the DR® LEAF and LAWN VACUUM

lawns, tight spots and hills.

features a serrated steel impeller. As debris is collected, it’s shredded by the impeller, turning 10 bags of leaves to just 1 bag offine mulch.

WALK-BEHIND AVAILABLE!

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

MODELS

0. U2T 3D" O70 URS

out the rake s the colorful autumn foliage begins to fall, it’s time to pull yard. So your from leaves those all g removin of chore the and begin d to involve work aking backbre the is there a legitimate reason for all You'll be choice? c aestheti an simply it is or leaves, remove and rake glad to know the payoff for all your labor goes beyond simply enhancing the curb appeal of your property. Removing fallen leaves is vital for the health of your lawn. When grass becomes buried beneath smothering layers of leaves, it is deprived of the air, water, and nutrients it needs to

Why

d ¢ 1 e leaves?

E

3

survive, and it becomes a breeding ground for fungi and insects. In addition, leaves shade the grass, preventing it from receiving the sunlight it needs to thrive. Sunlight is especially crucial for cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, since their prime growing time occurs in the cooler months. Whatis the best plan of action to clean up those leaves? If you have a large yard or an exceptional amount

of leaves to rake, using a leaf blower

as a first step can help make the task a bit easier. But don’t rely solely on a blower. It is helpful in rounding up the bulk of the leaves, but a rake will still be necessary for finishing the job. A thorough raking not only removes any remaining leaves, it will also remove thatch buildup, which can be equally damaging to your yard. Mowing the leaves with a mulching mower is an alternative option, but in order to shred the leaves effectively, it must be done before the carpet of leaves becomes too thick. Now, what to do with those piles of leaves? Put them to good use as compost for next year’s garden or as mulch for your landscaping needs. That is, however, after the kids have finished jumping into and rolling around in ae glorious mountains of autumn leaves!

How fall chores can actually make you healthier Fall is a season of annual chores that @ Raking Leaves: on average burns 283 many put off as long as possible. From __calories* per hour. Whether you have to raking to splitting firewood, tocleaning rake leaves or grass clippings from your the house for the holidays, these tasks lawn, this chore is exactly that—a chore. need to get done. Many of these fall However, raking is a great aerobic exerchores are physically exhausting. But, cise that uses upper body strength and depending on your health, they can back muscles. also be a great form of exercise and @ Splitting & Chopping Firewood: 400calorie burners. 500 calories per hour. This activity is very Here are some healthy reasons why fall physical and works almost every muscle chores should be looked at differently. | of your body. From squatting to get the

62

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

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KEY: Fishing Condition: This is the overall rating for the whole day, based on our formula: B=Best; G=Good; P=Poor; F=Fair. Best Time: This column lists the best time of the day when, according to our formula, fish will be biting: M=Morning; E=Evening. What do our ratings mean? POOR day basically means the fish will either steal all your bait or will not even touch your line. FAIR day means that you may catch one or two fish but you will have to work hard to do so. GOOD day means that you will catch enough fish to feel gratified. BEST day means that you will catch something almost every time you cast your line in the water.

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FARMERS’

ALMANAC

lon‘©

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Bird Feeding and Watching Tips

Feeding a Flock of Fun Everybody could benefit from a mild case of “Audubon-ic fever.” It sounds ominous, but isn't; the symptoms are feeding and watching birds. The side

effects include animating the garden with nature’s flying ornaments and justification for staring out the window. Best of all, to make an appropriate pun: bird feeding and watching are a hoot.

Seasonal Comings and Goings. Our suburban landscape of fragmented woodlands and landscaped yards is a man-built habitat that favors some birds more than others. Northern cardinals, multiple sparrows and assorted finches thrive in neighborhoods. So, too, do raucous blue jays and glib mockingbirds. Wherever you live—north or south, suburb or farm, forest or field— some birds stay in one place and some move around with the seasons. No surprise, since nearly 75 percent of the more than 800 species of birds that

By Glenn Moris

nest in North America exhibit some migratory behavior. By providing food and cover, you can establish a fairly steady population of avian visitors. Some may be encouraged to stay that otherwise would not. For example, homeowners that feed the northern cardinal may be encouraging it to expand its range farther north. Because the cardinal is a ground feeder, supplemental food may be offsetting the reduction in natural food caused by prolonged snow cover.

The More You Feed, the More You See. Year-round feeding provides a chance to see all the players: the summer birds before they migrate, and the winter birds that hang around. If you only feed in winter, natural migration will whittle down the list of birds at leaf fall, particularly where winters are harsh. The winter holdovers in the

Midwest and Northeast are similar. Migration brings the Southern States more birds in winter. The rosebreasted grosbeak and the cedar waxwing are two birds frequently seen in the South during winter, but not in other seasons. Feeders north and south alike are likely to have “regulars,” those birds that appear whenever seed fills the feeder or spills onto the ground. Among these are:

Black-capped chickadees sport a black chapeau and throat and a tiny black bill. These fussy,

charming birds define flitter and are unfazed by people. They eat seed and suet.

Mourning doves, ground feeders, appear like earth-toned ceramics, brown on top with light undersides. They are pigeon-like, but more delicate and sculptural. They have a distinguishing pointed, white-trimmed tail.

Slate-colored juncos, dark on top with pink bills and light underneath, join doves feeding on the ground. They are nicknamed “snowbirds,” because they seem to herald winter.

(continued)

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(continued from the previous page)

®

Goldfinches prefer specially designed feeders filled with Nyjer® seed (niger oilseed). In spring, the male goldfinch’s color brightens with the warming sun, until it shines like a gold doubloon. Goldfinches flock and will swoop to the feeder like bright balls of sunshine. Blue jays have blue backs and head crests, white faces, dark bills, and dark-feather necklaces. They are the self-infatuated ninth graders of the bird world, loud and unruly. They can mime the calls of hawks.

Northern cardinal males are bright red with head crests, black masks, and orange beaks. Females are brown with crests.

The white-breasted nuthatch and the smaller red-breasted nuthatch climb down trees headfirst—you can’t mistake them for others. Both have black caps, blue-gray backs, long beaks, and identifiable belly colors.

Tufted titmice are a chickadee relative of similar size but leaner. They are delicate, gray-backed birds with head crests, and they like both suet and seed.

Carolina wrens, small mostly brown birds with curved bills, are chatty, but wary. Wrens are

busy and have an unmistakable upward cocked tail. They eat both seed and suet.

wy

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

Red-bellied woodpeckers have bright red napes on their tan heads. (Most woodpeckers have black and white backs.) The tawny tummy has the namesake touch of red. The red-headed woodpecker actually looks like it was dipped headfirst in red paint, with a black back and a white rump. (A _ suet feeder is a woodpecker magnet.) The white-backed, black-trimmed downy woodpecker is a natty-looking regular all year and is sometimes chased away by its larger look-alike cousin, the hairy woodpecker.

Hummingbirds are the epitome of “now you see me, now you don’t.” These marvels of flight, like bright-hued helicopters, hover to sip nectar from flowering plants and are transfixing to watch. One or another of several species may be seen in summer in the 48 contiguous states. The ruby-throated hummingbird is the species most frequently seen east of the Mississippi. Attract hummingbirds by maintaining a feeder filled with fresh nectar (fresh sugar water). Be vigilant and patient. Once they discover your invitation, they—or someone just like them—will likely return each year. Give ita

try! They are high entertainment for the low $10 to $15 spent.

Remember, a Bird Feeder Is Serendipity. There’s a lot of downtime (pardon the pun) to feeding birds. The novelty wanes as regulars become routine. That’s when something, like an iridescent indigo bunting or a drop-dead-gorgeous orange and black Baltimore oriole, comes along “I spotted her midday and ran outside with half an orange,” recalled birdwatcher Bryan Morris, of Charlotte, North Carolina. Orioles love oranges, but they like grape jelly more. Morris switched and the birds became regulars. “They pop up like third graders—jelly all over their beak,” he added. Unexpected arrivals are the blessing of feeding birds and the reason why checking the feeder frequently becomes a habit. (continued) 2011

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(continued from the previous page)

Bird Feeder Basics Feeders: Choose a tube feeder with side perches and a base tray or a squirrel-resistant hopper feeder. Finch feeders have tiny openings suited for Nyjer® seed, finches’ preferred food. Suet feeders are wire baskets that hold a cake of suet. Hummingbird feeders are containers for sugar water, with small openings for the bird’s beak. Placement: Locate feeders where you can see them. To minimize bird and window collisions, place feeders within 3 feet of, or more than 30 feet beyond windows. Be sure they are at least 6 to 8 feet from trees ortall shrubbery. Mount or suspend feeders a minimum of five feet above the ground on poles with squirrel baffles.

What to Feed: Black oil sunflower seeds and white millet are the best for birds. Use Nyjer® seed in finch feeders. Commercial suet cakes of rendered beef fat work fine. (Squirrels avoid red pepper suet, but it does not bother birds.)

One More Thing ... Sciurus carolinensis is a Latin term translated as that @#*%$##@ rodent or eastern gray squir-

rel. It is the most creative, persistent, relentless

creature to cohabit our gardens. When you feed birds, you give new purpose to these furry knots of muscle. Hey, it’s a great life, from their point of view: “What will it be today? Search for acorns and hide them from myself or dine at the all-you-can-eat bird deli?” Duuh! Squirrels do three things well: monopolize a feeder, induce apoplexy in bird lovers, and make more squirrels. Seriously, squirrel-free bird feeding takes some planning and expense, but it saves a bundle on bird seed. The best method is to place a feeder on a pole, at least five feet off the ground, witha squirrel baffle on the pole. Then again, you can feed and watch them, too.

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TO BE BLESSED WITH MORE WEALTH, LOVE & HA PPINESS! PLEASE ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS HONESTLY

(All answers will be kept confidential)

mm wn

. Do you feel trapped by your problems? . Are you experiencing hard times? . Could you use a real miracle in your life? Are you worried about your health? Do you feel Life has been unfair to you? . Are you frustrated, depressed or confused? . Are you worried about money? . Do you believe in the Power of GOD? . Do you want to be BLESSED with good things? PB ©ON FWD AU 10. Will you accept Brother Jim’s help?

BRR Eee

My name is Rev. James LeGrand, but you can just call me Brother Jim. For well over 50 years | have witnessed, with my own eyes

This message is only for those whofeelthat life has passed them by and are unsure about the future. If you, or someone you love needs help, then read this

immediately!

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Now | wish to share this awesome POWER with YOU! If your life seems useless or helpless and you don’t know which way to turn, let me show you the way out. Take my hand and let me lead you to a new life overflowing with countless Blessings you can’t even

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2011

FARMERS’

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HOR

Lee VS DNENG

Ack tT ney

10 easy ways to ...

Boost Your Immune System By Deborah S. Tukua

take tostrengthen our bow.s natural defenses against ata Putti ngthe eseawe tipsinto practice will help boost your body's immune system and decrease yourvulnerability to sickness.

Take vitamin C anda quality multivitamin (without iron) daily. Other antioxidant-rich natural supplements with “ antiviral effects include: omega-3 fatty acids, elderberry, black current, CoQ10 (ubiquinone), garlic, olive leaf extract, zinc, resveratrol, Pyc-

nogenol, green or white tea extracts, acai berry, echinacea, quercetin, cur-

cumin and alpha lipoic acid. (Ask your naturopath professional which of these supplements best suits your health needs before taking.) 76

2011

Eat 5 to 10 servings of ~ antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables daily, Sex such as fruits, blueberries, broccoli, melons, sweet and hot peppers, carrots, and dark green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale. Consume high fiber foods, like fruits, potatoes, dark green leafy vegetables, flaxseed, and brown rice to rid the body of toxins. Don’t get enough vegetables in your diet? Drink a natural green beverage. It’s easy to make your own heaithy green drink. (We call ours ABC.) Purchase powdered alfalfa,

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

barley, and carrot. Mix equal amounts ing seconds. It takes at least that long together in a container. Add one heapfor your stomach to tell your brain that ing tablespoon powder mixture to 4% . it’s full. Better yet, eliminate second cup water or apple juice, shake or stir . servings. and drink, first thing each morning. Avoid unhealthy Have some local, raw | foods and lifehoney, in moderation, styles. Try to not daily. (Raw honey has . eat fried foods, * not been processed: ~ hydrogenated oils, processed foods heated or filtered.) Raw © (especially those containing MSG,

honey has powerful anti- «

artificial food additives,

aspartame,

oxidant properties and contains bee . and other excitotoxins). Use omega-3 pollen and propolis, which not only . rich oils, like extra-virgin olive oil boost the immune system but have = and virgin coconut oil, when preparanticancer properties, builds immuni- - ing meals. Limit sugar intake and ties to allergies, aid in detoxification, _ eliminate it totally when sick. Refined increase energy levels, and contain ~ sugar depresses your immune system, beneficial enzymes and antimicrobial - making you susceptible to illnesses. properties. Buy directly from a local _ Use natural, calorie-free stevia to

beekeeper. Ask if chemicals were used * sweeten beverages, instead of sugar. in the colonies. Do not purchase if they « Don’t use tobacco products. “Smokers were. Take note! Children under one .. were found to have an intense inflamyear old should not consume honey. _ Inatory reaction deep within their

» lungs when exposed to the flu virus,” Exercise5to6days . reported Dr. Russell Blaylock, MD, a week for at least _ editor of the Blaylock Wellness Report, 30 minutes a day, © in September 2009. Reduce your or for 60 minutes a day for the best results. _ Regular exercise helps a with lowering inflammation in your body. According to the latest medical findings, inflammation is more detrimental to your health than bad cholesterol. Exercise is alsoa great stress reducer. Combine cardiovascular exercises with weight training

» stress level when possible to avoid . compromising your immune system. * Exercise, a healthy diet, and adequate

- rest will help keep stress levels nor. mal. Good hygiene practices, washing your hands after blowing your nose and using the bathroom, also support healthy immune functions. Get a daily dose

©

exercises. Do resistance exercises or

of the Sunshine

other muscle building exercises, daily.

vitamin.Vitamin : D is_a very good » antioxidant. Deficiency

Avoid obesity. Don’t _ overeat. If you havea endency to overeat,

' begin each meal with a piece of fresh fruit or a green salad.

Take

modest

portions.

Don’t rush

through meals; relax and eat slowly. Wait 10 minutes after eating before tak2011

in Vitamin D makes the body susceptible to infections and is linked to numerous diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, . Parkinson’s, bone fractures, and obe-

sity. When weather permits, get 15 to 30 minutes of direct sunlight daily. (With

FARMERS’

(continued)

ALMANAC

77

(continued from the previous page)

¢ Lp

Get plenty of rest. In the Healthnotes Newswire, July 9, 2009, _é Kimberly Beauchamp, ND, reported that , “A good night’s rest goes along way to boosting your immune system.” A recent study showed that people who got less than seven hours of sleep per night were almost three times as likely to catch a cold as those who slept at least eight hours. Chronic sleep deprivation increases the likelihood of contracting _ the common cold as well as develop-

no sunscreen, if possible.) Dr. Blaylock advises, “Just 30 minutes of direct sun-

light produces up to 50,000 IU of vitamin D.” During colder seasons, take a vitamin D3 supplement. Dr. Blaylock recommends taking between 2,000 and 5,000 IU Blaylock “Vitamin late the

a day. In the September 2009

Wellness Report, he stated, D3 has been shown to stimuproduction of antimocrobial

proteins, powerful killers of bacteria,

viruses, and fungi (Candida).”

Drink adequate amounts of puri- | ing heart disease, diabetes, or certain cancers. fied water and/

or green or white tea daily to keep the body hydrated and functioning properly. Eighty percent of your brain is comprised of seventy water, and percent of your body is water. Illness, alcohol, drugs, and eating disorders can cause dehydration. Dehydration weakens the muscles and slows the recovery process from an injury or illness. According to Swanson Health Products experts, we

Seek a good chiropractic evaluation to maintain. the proper communication between the brain and the body. Chiropractic physician,Alexander

« . © «

Sayas, DC, of Florence, Alabama, further

explains, “The brain controls and coordinates the function of every tissue, organ and cell in the body. The nervous system is the wiring that connects the brain to the body. Any interference in

should be consuming half of our body weight in ounces of water per day. A | this connection/communication means that the brain is no longer optimally in July 2009, “Ask Our Experts,” post on control, which paves the way for tiswww.swansonvitamins.com states, “A 180-pound person should take in 90 sue, organ, or cellular malfunction. total ounces of water daily. The averThis results in symptoms, which alert age person gets 20% of his daily water us to this breakdown in communicaintake through food. Example: oranges tion. Chiropractic adjustments help are 87% water.” Drinking green tea has restore and maintain effective coma wide range of health benefits, includmunication between your body and ing lowering the risk of breast, colon brain. Remember the best cure for any and skin cancers; stroke prevention; ailment is prevention.” After examinapromoting healthy gums; and reducing tion and evaluation, your chiropractor psychological stress. White and green will determine a plan of treatment that teas also enhance the effectiveness of can promote your body to heal and antibiotics and have antiviral, antibacfunction at its best, thus boosting your terial, and antifungal properties to furimmune responses. ther strengthen your immune system. 78

2011

FARMERS’

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>

Easy Granola Bars

quick & easy recipes

Trail Mix

Ys cup whole almonds, unsalted Ys cup dry-roasted peanuts, unsalted Ys cup dried cranberries 2 ounces dried apricots Ya cup raisins Combine in a bowl—Store in plastic bag for up to 2 weeks at room temp. aKa ea aca CG nl ale cel ld aee ya

1 4 1 1 1 i] 1 i] i] i] i] i] | 1 i 1 i] i i] 1 i] 1 i] i i] 1 i] i] 1 i] 1! 1 { 1 i 1 i] t 1 1 1 t ! u

2% cups old-fashioned oats 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon baking soda 2% tablespoons flaxseed Ys cup honey 4 ounces of applesauce ‘/3 cup brown sugar 34 cup shredded coconut 2 ounces chopped pecans 2 ounces slivered almonds In large bow! combine oats, flour, vanilla, baking soda, flaxseed, honey, applesauce, and brown sugar. Mix well. Stir in coconut and nuts. Lightly press into 9x13 pan. Bake for 20 minutes at 325°F. Let cool and cut into bars. Makes 24.

SS lO a a we” i ee a

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Pancake Mix 12 cups flour 4 cups dry instant powdered milk % cup baking powder 34 Cup sugar 2 tablespoons salt Store dry mixture in tightly sealed container. Store in pantry or refrigerate until ready to use. To make pancakes use 1% cups of dry mix, 1 cup water, 1 egg, and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Mix pancake batter and cook ona griddle or a skillet. Pancakes are ready to turn over when top Starts to bubble. ee ee ee ewe ee eee ween,

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2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

Know vour milk.

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FARMERS’

ALMANAC

81

HOES An GD leHey

GREAT

FOR

ARTHRITIS

Ee Ve 1G

AND

INFLAMMATION

Amazing Healing

FOODS ixty-eight-year-old Molly Mann began suffering from joint inflammation just after her fiftieth birthday. Once able to knit intricate baby blankets and play piano sonatas, Molly noticed that these pastimes were becoming increasingly painful. She consulted her doctor, who diagnosed osteoarthritis.

He prescribed rest, ice, and medication. Molly’s hands continued to hurt.

Molly’s hands hurt less after she began making modifications to her diet. Instead of bacon for breakfast, she ate oatmeal topped with walnuts and ground flaxseed. A simple green salad with olive oil vinaigrette took the place of Molly’s typical midday ham sandwich. At dinner, she feasted on curry-spiced salmon with a side of broccoli, in lieu of steak and potatoes.

By Dr. Lisa Belisle

¢

Molly Mann had discovered a food-based solution to a problem that plagues millions of Americans: inflammation of the joints, also called

arthritis. Arthritis is crippling and all too

common. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov), “The term arthritis is used to describe more than 100 rheumatic diseases and conditions that affect joints, the tissues which surround the joint and other connective tissue.” These diseases carry labels such as osteoar-

thritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia. While each disease has a slightly different cause, the end result is the same—pain and disability. More than 19 million U.S. adults limit their activities because of arthritis. American adults also limit their activities because of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. These, and many other inflammatory ailments, are known to be related to diet. Meat, dairy products, processed foods, and some additives tend to cause more inflammation, while certain vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes (beans), and “good fats” can actually have the opposite effect.

What to eat to help contain the pain Good fats include those rich in omega-3 fatty acids (O3FAs). Omega-3 fatty acids contain the anti-inflammatory compound alpha-linolenic acid

such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and tuna, are high in O3FAs. Wild

fish ingest more algae and thus tend to have more O3FAs than farm-raised fish. Unfortunately, wild fish are being overharvested in most parts of the oceans. Wild and farm-raised fish may also be exposed to unacceptable levels of mercury, a substance that causes nerve damage. Individuals who eat fish should be aware of overharvesting and pay attention to mercury advisories in their area.

(For more

information,

visit www

.epa. gov). Omega-3 fatty acids and other good fats are available from other sources. Those who dislike whole fish may wish to try fish oil capsules, 1000 mg daily. Flaxseed, nuts, leafy greens, and algae are acceptable nonfish sources of O3FAs. Some references also suggest supplementing with borage, evening primrose or black currant oil, which contain gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Saturated fats, trans fats, and partially hydrogenated oils are less desirable fats that may worsen arthritis. Meat, dairy, and other animal products contain saturated fats. Margarine and some vegetable oils, and fried or baked or processed foods such as crackers and chips, are likely to contain trans fats and partially hydrogenated oils. This information is available on food labels. People with inflammation should minimize processed foods and meat in their diets.

(ALA). Fatty cold-water fish, More healthy living tips at www.FarmersAlmanac.com

(continued)

83

(continued from the previous page)

Processed foods and meats may be readily replaced with

plant-based foods. Nutrition experts agree that most individuals should aim for five to nine servings of fruits and/ or vegetables each day. Those with inflammatory issues may want to have more.

Whole grains and legumes have known antiinflammatory properties as well. Fiber-rich grains and beans help protect against high cholesterol and heart disease, and against breast, colon and

other cancers. These grains and beans contain a myriad of minerals and vitamins, such as sele-

nium and vitamin E. Navy beans, split peas and other legumes also abound with ALA. The protective effect of grains, beans, vegetables, and fish can be compounded by cooking with certain spices. Recent studies suggest that rosemary and turmeric (a component of some curry powders) may help with inflammation. In his book,

a compound that

reduces pain when /(usually foundinthe _formofa cream).

: iv Carrots, sweet potatoes, and other.

orange vegetables | _ contain the antioxi-

dant beta-carotene _and many other —

healthful substances.

V Berries and cherries are very useful in treating gout.

__

Foods that Fight Pain (Three Rivers Press, 1998), Dr. Neal Barnard also advocates the use of powdered ginger, one half to one teaspoon daily. Patients who continue to have arthritis symptoms after following the above suggestions may need to pay even closer attention to their plates. Many people have specific food sensitivities. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (www3.niaid.nih.gov), 1 in 10 individuals is lactose (milk) intolerant. In addition, Dr. Barnard

mentions

“corn, meat, wheat,

oats, rye, eggs, citrus fruits, potatoes, tomatoes,

nuts and coffee” as “major arthritis triggers.” Soy, often used as a protein source in place of meat, is another potential source of concern. Individuals with gout are especially susceptible to meat, seafoods, and other foods rich in the protein-related substance, purine. OTHER RESOURCES: Healing with Whole Foods Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition by Paul Pitchford (North Atlantic Books, 2003), Howto Eat Away Arthritis by Laurie Aesoph (Prentice-Hall Press, 1996), The Inflammation Cure by William Meggs (McGraw-Hill, 2004)

(continued on page 86)

84

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

ARTHRITIS

ALERT, Pain-Killing Cream Reduces Arthritis Pain! Works...On Contact: th Toughest Cass NEW JERSEY: Arthritis pain sufferers will be amazed by the uniquely formulated pain relief cream that could help them live normal and active lives.

Many ‘of our customers with Shas arthritis and joint pain swear by PAIN BUST-R II. It’s recommended by users who have resumed daily activities PAIN BUST-R II® is a fast acting and can enjoy life again. PAIN BUST-R I therapeutic cream developed in the fight can help put an end to agonizing days and against arthritis pain. Upon application, it sleepless nights. The following excerpts penetrates deep to the areas most affected are extracted from customer letters; — the joints themselves, to help bring fast “PAIN BUST-R II is the best there is. I relief where it’s needed most. have tried other pain meds — there is no comparison. It has gotten me through many, many nights of pain in my back and legs PAIN BUST-R II combines two active from arthritis. Where I go, it goes!” H.W. pain-killing powerhouses in one “Thank you for a wonderful product!! concentrated formula. These painrelieving agents are known to work, PAIN BUST-R II gives the ultimate relief providing analgesic relief at the site of of pain due to arthritis. Since I started arthritis pain. PAIN BUST-R I using it, I have been getting soothing provides deep penetrating heat to help sleep at night that [just wasn’t getting relieve stiffness and improve mobility. before.” M.B.

And it’s greaseless so it won’t stain or ar clothes or sheets Use it on knees, shoulders, wrists, hands, feet, ankles, wherever your pain is most severe. You'll feel relief right away.

Use only as directed

K FREE TRIAL -We Trust You - Send No Money! TO ORDER THE FREE TRIAL: Just write returning the merchandise. Act quickly — this. offer “PAIN BUST-R Il” on a sheet of paper and send it along with your name, address, phone number, and indicate that you would like to try our trial tube of PAIN BUST-R II. We will promptly ship you 1 large tube for $9.90, which includes shipping and handling. We will enclose an invoice and if for any reason you don’t agree that PAIN BUST-R Il relieves pain more effectively than anything you’ve tried, simply return the invoice to us with the word “cancel” written on it and there will be no charge to you. You don’t even have to bother 2011

may not be repeated. CALL NOW! TOLL FREE 1-800-451-5773 and ask for offer FRM-11 or write to: CCA Industries, Inc., Dept. FRM-11, 200 Murray Hill Parkway, E. Rutherford, NJ 07073. TO BUY NOW: If you would like to purchase PAIN BUST-R II directly without the trial period, please send a check or money order written out to “PAIN BUST-R Il” for either $9.90 for 1 tube, $16.80 for 2 tubes, or $21.90 for 3 tubes. All prices include shipping and handling.

FARMERS’

©2010 CCA Industries, Inc ALMANAC

85

Some individuals may be susceptible to inflammation caused

by food additives.

Those who believe they suffer from specific sensitivities should keep a food journal, which can be shared with healthcare providers. Healthcare providers may suggest additional testing or an “elimination diet” to determine which foods are triggering symptoms. Sleep, stress, activity levels, and environmental exposures can trigger inflammation as well. Less sleep and more stress can make pain worse, while activity may either worsen or improve pain. Chemicals found in personal, household, and construction

products may also impact arthritis. Dietary changes are not the only means of decreasing inflammation. It is also important to maintain a reasonable weight and engage in regu-

neh eLios

lar exercise. Many communities have yogaclasses,

_—_

that emphasize gentle stretching, and movement programs, such as tai chi. Swimming and biking may allow for aerobic activity while minimizingthe stress on joints. For those who are able, walkingis one of the best forms of exercise there is. When your lifestyle changes fail to improve arthritis, there are other options. Traditional therapies include rest, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and surgery. Healthcare providers may also suggest alternatives like massage and acupuncture. Acupuncture (sterile needles inserted at various points on the body) has been recognized by the World Health Organization as an effective way to manage pain caused by arthritis. Molly Mann was able to manage her pain with dietary modifications alone. She experienced relief from her arthritis by substituting good fats and plant-based foods for less desirable fats and processed foods. Her hands hurt less, and she was able to knit and play piano once again. Oatmeal, leafy greens, and curry-spiced salmon; Molly Mann’s simple but effective inflammation solution.

_ optics, hormones, and —_ other medications — —_ used in animals raised | formeat. __ Pesticides used on fruits and vegetables. =

86

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANA

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i

io SaSsSem88 oO FitHS

FARMERS’

CHA 20108

86, i. at ee eS HrHer ese. eee

ALMANAC

87

AST R-O2 EL: O2Gry

its The best days listed here are based on both the phase of the Moon and dates position in the zodiac. Many people believe that if you do the tasks on the listed, you will get the best results possible.

MAR

FEB

JAN

MAY

APR

JUN

COOKING/BAKING 45,1112, Bake |17, 18

|2,7-9,14,15 |7,8,13,14

]3,4,9,10,16 |7,8,13-15

|3,4,9-11

Brew GOOD

Can Fruits and Be

Dry Fruits and getables

1,

Jams/Jellies

26-28

a

1,2,18-20,

[17,2627

| 22,23,30

2, 3,22, 23, |18-20, 26,27 |17,23-25, | 19-21, 26,27 29-31

30,31

HEALTH & BEAUTY Cut Hair to|4,5, 9,10,13,|2,5, 6, 10, 11, |4-6, 9,10,

increase Growth |14,17,18

|14, 15

3,4,7,8,16 |3,4, 12,13

13, 14

Cut Hair to Retard Growth Quit Smoki 19-23, 29, 30 |18, 19, 25-27 |2, 3, 19, it Smoking

21, 22,26,

24-26, 29-31 |27, 30

Start Diet to Gain Weight

StartDiet to |2,3, 19-23, |18, 19, 25-27 |2,3, 19, 21,22, 26, Lose Weight |29, 30 24-26, 29-31 |27, 30

| 1,2,18-20, | 15, 16, 19-21, 23-25, 28, 29 |24

|1,2,18-20, |15,16, 19-21, 23-25, 28, 29 |24,25

PARENTING -

|{2-10,29-31

| 1-6, 25-28

1-6, 24-31

1

Wean Humans | or Animals |

HOME REPAIR 4.

|2,3, 19-21, 25-27

Paint F|

iz

24-26

21, 22,30

lie

Wash Wooden Floors | 59 . ee 2 , 22,2¢ Sate 4,5,9,10, 13, |2,5,6, 10, 11, }4-6,9,10, 13, |5,6, 9, 10, Wax Floors |14 17.18

88

14, 17, 18

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

|1,2,18-20,

115,16,

ASTROLOGY

The best days listed here are based on both the phase of the Moon and its position in the zodiac. Many people believe that if you do the tasks on the dates listed, you will get the best results possible.

JUL

AUG

1,7,8,14 — |3,4,10-12, 30,3

Nag

OCT

|1,7,8,27,28 |4-6,31

NOV

DEC

1, 8, 9, 28, 29 |5,6, 25,26

Bake Brew

19, 20, 28, 29 |15-17, 24,25|12, 13, 20-22 |18, 19

14, 15, 23, 24 as

Can Fruits and

Vegetables

: 10, 11, 23, 24 |20,

17, 18, 24,25 |13, 14, 20,21 |16,17

13-15

914 ® 15-7, 10-12

426. 9,10, -11,2,527, 26-28,31 |28,29

12:3,7.8 29, 30

Dry Fruits and | Vegetables : Jams/Jellies

CutHair to

3,4, 7, 8, 25, 26, 30, 31

Increase Growth Cut Hair to

Retard Growth

sa,

17, 18, 21-23, | 13, 14, 18, 19, |14, 15, 18, 19, |11, 12, 16, 17, |12, 13, 16-19 |10, 13-17,

~

26,27

|22,23, 26,27 123-26

ae

Quit Smoking

22, 23

20-23

Start Dietto Gain Weight 17, 18, 21-23 |13, 14, 18, 19, |14, 15, 23-26 |11, 12, 20-23 |16-19 26, 27

ee Ee 12-2

1

4-13

1-10, 29-31

|1-7,25-30

13-17, 22,23

Start Dietto Lose Weight

| Wean neeHumans

|1-4,22-31

:

{_or Animals

;

HOME REPAIR

| Paint Wash Windows

| Wash Wooden Floors 1,4-11,14

| 1-7, 10-12, 28-31

1-3, 7,8, 27-30

2011

4-6, 9, 10, 26-28, 31

FARMERS’

1,2, 5-7, 28, 29

3,4, 7, 8, 25,

26, 30, 31

ALMANAC

Wax Floors 89

KOS CPR

Orr

Ore Gat

The best days listed here are based on both the phase of the Moon and its

the dates position in the zodiac. Many people believe that if you do the tasks on listed, you will get the best results possible.

APR

MAR

FEB

JAN

JUN

MAY

OUTDOOR CHORES Destroy Wild Onions Dig Holes

Dig Post Holes

Harvest Mowto Increase Growth Mowto |1-3,19-31 Retard Growth

25-27

2,3,26, 29-31

|26,27,30

|1,2,24,25, |24,25, 28,29 ; 28, 29

1, 18-28

1-3, 19-31

|1,2,17-30

|1,2,17-31 | 15-30

Pick Apples and Pears

20, 23-25 |17,21,22

Castrate Farm Animals |2-20>29-3!

|1-6,25-28

|1-5,24-31

es

| 17,18

18-27

14-23

Hunting

Saughe

=S

SHOP. ADVERTISE, SOCIALIZE & MORE

Advertise ael

14-16, 26,27.

Ask for Loam

.

oC 15, 16, 28, 29

Buy Clothes

:

[aan ee

NOGOOD Buy a Home

|NO GOOD

Entertain Friends |

3,4, 7-9

.

4-6,9,10, 2

|1,2,5,6,9-13,

3,4,7H10, 13-15, |3-6, 9-11, 23, 26,27, 30,31

Reese Sr 90

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

AUS

TR. O°

O:'G ¥

The best days listed here are based on both the phase of the Moon and its position in the zodiac. Many people believe that if you do the tasks on the dates listed, you will get the best results possible.

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT = NOV

DEC

| 1-14, 14, 30,31 30,31 |1-12, |1-11,227-30 ]1-12,28-31 28-31 1-11, 7-30 |1-10, 1-10, 26-31 |1-9,25 ie -30

| 1-9, 24-31

Cut Firewood

1-14, 30,31 |1-12, 28-31

| 1-9, 24-31

Dig Holes

OUTDOOR CHORES | aa

Destroy Wild Onions 1-11, 27-30

1-10, 26-31

|1-9,25-30

Dig Post Holes

Mow to Increase Growth

Retard Growth Pick Apples and Pears 15, 16

NOGOOD

bees DAYS

|NOGOOD

DAYS

|NOGOOD

:

DAYS

ine

1-10, 29-31

|1-7, 25-30

ene Laalloas FARM/ANIMAL |1-4, 22-31

Castrate Farm Animals

Hunting

SHOP. ADVERTISE, SOCIALIZE & MORE 12, 13, 24,25

|8,9,20,21

|4-6,16,17

| 1-3, 13-15,

| 10, 11, 25-27 |7, 8, 22-24

Advertise to Sell

Host a Party Travel for Pleasure Write 2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

91

AS: Ti RO)

ASTROLOGY interprets the influence that the Sun and Moon have while they are in a specific zodiacal sign. Astrology is based on the concept that there are 12 signs of the zodiac, measuring 30 degrees each, along the astrological circle. However, because the astrological placement does not take into account the precession of the equinoxes (the “wobble” that the Earth’s axis describes over a 26,000-year interval), the Moon’s

place according to astrology differs considerably from its physical place according to astronomy. For your con-

OG:

venience, we now give both the astrological place of the moon (next page) and the physical, or astronomical, place of the Moon, now listed on the calendar

pages in the Moon’s Place column. ASTRONOMY is the scientific interpretation of matter in space. The Moon can wander into a few astronomical constellations that are not members of the zodiac. These constellations include: Sextans, the Sextant (SXT); and Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer (OPH). Thus you will notice new abbreviations in the Moon’s place listing on the calendar pages.

RAM

;

Y Aries Head & Face Mar. 20 at 7 p.m.

e

All| 0

ally

toApr. 21 at 6 am. TWINS

QMS

BULL

© Taurus Neck Apr. 21 at 6 a.m. toMay21at4 p.m.

CRAB

1 Gemini

©9 Cancer

Arms

Breast

May 21 at 4 p.m. toJun. 21 at1p.m.

Jun. 21 at 1 p.m. to Jul. 22at7 p.m.

LION

VIRGIN

£2 Leo

" Virgo

Heart Jul. 22 at 7 p.m. to Aug. 23 at 12 a.m.

Bowels Aug. 23 at 12 a.m. to Sep. 23 at 5a.m.

BALANCE

SCORPION

= Libra

™L Scomio

Reins Sep. 23 at 5 a.m. to Oct. 23 at 4 a.m.

Secrets Oct. 23 at 4 a.m. to Nov. 22 at 3 a.m.

ARCHER

GOAT

2 Sagittarius

6 Capcom

highs

ees

Nov. 22 at3a.m. to Dec. 22 at 1a.m. WATERMAN

Dec. 22 at 1 a.m. to Jan. 20, 2012 at 6 p.m. FISHES

=< Aquarius

Pisces

egs

F

Jan. 20 at 11a.m.

Feb. iat a.m. to Mar. 20 at 7 p.m.

to Feb. 19 at 4 a.m.

Astrologers associate the signs of the zodiac with specific parts of the body, believing that the signs affect the part of the body assciated with the sign. The dates listed with this diagram are the Sun's place in each astrological sign. Do not confuse the Sun’s sign with the Moon's place in the zodiac, which is used for calculating our charts and calendars (fishing, planting, best days, etc.).

92

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

ASTROLOGY

WW) oXoy aiow 0}F-Lox-) Sposa polcuiated PAUn

10

The signs listed below are based on astrological calculations. Use these signs for all planting and other Almanac traditions. NOTE: The Moon’s Place column in the calendar pages now gives the astronomical position.

SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC CAP. AQU

AQU PSC

AQU PSC ‘SAG CAP PSC ARI

‘CAP AQU PSC TAU

‘CAP AQU ARI TAU se

= wWwRPrP fF ow oonun

AQU PSC ARI GEM

SCO CAP AQU PSC TAU GEM

$CO CAP AQU ARI TAU CAN SAG CAP PSC ARI GEM CAN

“SAG AQU PSC TAU GEM LEO CAP AQU ARI TAU CAN LEO CAP PSC ARI TAU CAN VIR

‘CAP PSC TAU GEM LEO VIR SCC

-AQU PSC TAU GEM LEO VIR

AG CAP AQU ARI GEM CAN VIR LB R AG AQU PSC ARI GEM CAN VIR LIB | UBUB SCO SAG AQU PSC TAU CAN LEO LIB SCO UB LB SAG CAP AQU ARI TAU CAN LEO LIB SCO

VIR LIB SCO SAG CAP PSC ARI GEM CAN VIR LIB SAG VIR SCO G6 AR TAUGEM LEO LIB SCO 25 ARI TAU CAN LEO LIB SAG 26 ARI GEM CAN VIR $CO SAG

SCO SAG SAG SAG

CAP CAP CAP AQU

AQU AQU AQU PSC

PSC ARI ARI TAU

ARI TAU TAU GEM

GEM CAN CAN LEO

LEO LEO VIR VIR

VIR LIB LIB SCO

SCO SCO SAG SAG

SAG SAG CAP CAP

27 TAU GEM LEO VIR SCO SAG CAP AQU PSC TAU GEM LEO LIB SCO SAG AQU

28 TAU CAN LEO LIB SCO CAP CAP PSC ARI GEM CAN VIR LIB SCO CAP AQU AQU PSC ARI GEM CAN VIR SCO SAG CAP AQU 23 GEM CAN VIR LIB SAG

30 GEM LEO VIR SCO S:

31.

~—~—«*LEO

SCO 2011

AQU ARI TAU CAN LEO LIB SCO SAG AQU PSC AQU

FARMERS’

TAU

—«LEO._—« LIB

ALMANAC

CAP

PSC

93

oS) TREO;

NEON.

Almanac Symbols, Abbreviations, and Definitions aph./Aphelion The point at which a Moon’s Southing Also known as the body in an elliptical orbit around the Moon’s Meridian Passage or Upper Culmination. This occurs when the Sun is at its greatest distance from it. apo./Apogee The point at which a Moon appears to be exactly above body moving in an elliptical orbit the southern point of an observer’s around the Earth is at its greatest dis- locale. occ./Occultation This occurs with the tance from the Earth. § Ascending Node The point of the eclipse of a star or planet by the Moon Moon’s (or planet’s) orbit at which it crosses, from south to north, the plane of the Earth’s orbit extended to meet the celestial body. combust When the Moon, star, or planet is not visible due to its proximity to the Sun. ¢o Conjunction The alignment or close alignment of two or more astronomical bodies. cl./Close Used in this publication to define a conjunction. Example: h) cl. 2:12 am., means that Saturn and the Moon are close (or in conjunction) at 2:12 a.m. (in the morning). ?§ Descending Node The point at which the Moon’s (or planet’s) orbit crosses, from north to south, the plane of the Earth’s orbit extended to meet the celestial body. ; gr.el./Greatest Elongation When a planet

attains

its greatest

apparent

angular distance from the Sun. inf./Inferior Inferior conjunction is when an “inferior planet” (Mercury or Venus) passes between the Earth and the Sun. mer./Meridian A circle on the celestial sphere passing through the north and south celestial poles and the zenith of a given place. A Y Moon Highest or Lowest Occurs the day of the month when the Moon appears at its highest or lowest point on the meridian.

or planet. o& Opposition The position of an astronomical object when it is opposite the Sun, and as a result crosses the meridian at midnight. per./Perigee The point at which a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around the Earth is at its closest approach to the Earth. peri./Perihelion The point at which a celestial body in an elliptical orbit around the Sun is at its closest distance to the Sun. quad./Quadrature When a “superior” planet (a planet whose orbit around the sun is beyond that of the Earth) makes a 90-degree angle in the sky with the Sun. ri./Rises The rising of a particular celes-

tial body. sta./Stationary This occurs when a planet, appears to reach an apparent stationary point in its motion against the background of stars. As a planet is undergoing a period of retrograde (backwards) motion, it reaches a stationary point when it reverses its normal eastward course and a second stationary point when it resumes its normal course. sup./Superior Usually refers toa superior conjunction, when one of the inner (“inferior”) planets such as Mercury or Venus appears to pass behind or beyond the Sun as seen from Earth. (continued on page 96)

94

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

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FARMERS’

ALMANAC

95

KS

TOR

listed on the calendar of

All events

pages are plotted to an accuracy approximately

one

minute,

and

com-

puted for the sea horizon for the rising and setting of the upper limb of the sun and moon. In addition, allowance has been made for the effects of astronomical refraction. Local conditions, such as the difference between your latitude and those of the calendar pages (35° and 45° north), as well as the character of your local horizon will add uncertainties of up to five minutes. The times for the rising and setting of the sun and moon are calculated for an observer at 75° west longitude and either 35° or 45° north latitude. To convert the listed time of an event from civil to standard (clock) time, the following corrections must be made: The rise and set times of the sun and moon are given in civil or local mean time (LMT), which differs from ordinary clock time by sev-

OON

OMe

eral minutes at most locations. Our civil time zones are standardized on particular longitudes. Examples in North America are: Eastern-75° west; Central-90° west; Mountain—105° west;

Pacific-120° west. If your longitude is very close to one of these, luck is with you and this correction is zero. To get standard time, add four minutes to times listed on the calendar page for each degree of longitude that you are west of your time zone meridian. Or subtract four minutes for each degree you are east of it. Look up your longitude on a map. Example: Boston, Massachusetts, (longitude 71°) is 4 degrees east of the Eastern time meridian. So, for Boston, subtract 16 minutes from the rise and set times obtained from the calendar pages. The result is in Eastern Standard Time or Eastern Daylight Time, depending on the time of year.

Here are some corrections, in minutes, for selected major cities:

CORRECTION FROM ZONE TIME TO LOCAL TIME

Re

Atlanta Atlantic City Baltimore Bismarck Boise Boston Buffalo Chicago Cincinnati Cleveland Dallas Denver Detroit Durham El Paso Helena

96

ee ole ee

+38 -01 +06 +43 +45 -16 +15 -10 +38 +27 +27 00 +32 +16 +06 +28 2011

Houston Indianapolis Jacksonville Kansas City Los Angeles Memphis Miami Milwaukee Minneapolis Nashville New Orleans New York Oklahoma City Pensacola Philadelphia Pittsburgh FARMERS’

ene)

+21 +44 +27 +18 -07 00 +21 -08 +13 -13 00 -04 +32 -l1 +01 +20

Portland, ME Portland, OR Providence Richmond Rochester, NY Salt Lake City San Antonio San Diego San Francisco Santa Fe Savannah Seattle St. Louis Tampa Tucson Washington, D.C.

ALMANAC

-19 +11 -14 +10 +10 +28 +34 -12 +10 +04 +24 +10 +01 +30 +24 +08

ASTRONOMY

Rising and Setting Corrections Times of rising and setting need correction if your latitude differs from the two divisions. The times of the rising and setting of the Sun and Moon are given for latitudes 45 and 35 degrees, respectively. To obtain more precision for other latitudes, a more exact time can be obtained by interpolation and extrapolation. New Moon's Place This column now contains the actual placement of the moon astronomically speaking for each day day at 7:00 a.m. EST/DST. Note: In addition to the 12 constellations of the Zodiac, five other abbreviations may appear in these columns: Auriga (AUR), located to the north of Taurus; Cetus (CET) a large constellation bordering the southerm part of Pisces; Ophiuchus (OPH), a large complex constellation whose lower portion reaches into the Zodiac immediately adjacent to Scorpius and Sagittarius; Orion (ORI) a constellation that straddles the celestial equator and whose northern extremeties border Gemini and Taurus; and Sextants (SXT),

an faint and unimpressive star pattern whose northwest corner comes very

close to the ecliptic in Leo. For a listing of the astrologocial placement of the moon, turn to page 93. Rise, Set, and Culmination Times for Stars, Moon, and Planets These are found in the wide columns of the calendar pages and are calculated for 35 and 45 degrees north latitude. Morning “a.m.” is from midnight to noon and evening “p.m.” from noon to midnight. As with the rising and setting times of the Sun and Moon, use the correction table to convert zone time to local time in order to 2011

obtain a greater degree of accuracy. This rule also pertains to culmination or meridian passage (“mer.”) time of a given object, for the Moon’s southing or meridian passage. Moonrise and Moonset Determining moonrise and moonset is similar to sunrise and sunset, except

an additional correction factor must be added. This happens because of the Moon’s rapid orbital motion which tends to alter the lunar rising and setting times slightly if your longitude differs from 75°west. Moon Column Times in the Moon rises/sets column

are given only for hours of darkness, with the time shown being the first Moon event visible on that date. Rising times change to setting times (and vice versa) after sunset on or close to new Moon (SETS) and full Moon (RISES). When “MORN” appears, no moonrise or set occurs: the next Moon event is in the early morning of the following date. The Moon rises and sets roughly two minutes later for each time zone west of Eastern Time (0 minutes for Eastern, 2 minutes Central, 4 minutes Mountain and 6 minutes for Pacific). Twilight and Length of Days Across the calendars and even with the Sunday Liturgical Calendar, you will find the average length of day and length of astronomical twilight beginning Sunday and calculated for 35 and 45 degrees north latitude. To determine the length of day at other locations, use the methods listed earlier to determine sunrise and sunset times for your city. Add 12 hours to the time of sunset, subtract the time of sunrise, and you will have the length of day.

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

97

Take the quiz...

oy

What kind of weather personality are you? Find out what the weather says about your personality

_ Total between24 and30 points:ifyour _ total score was between 24 and 30 points

_ you arethe type of person who likes to stay _ busy and stay active. You don’t mind being in noisy areas, enjoy the outdoors andcan __ bedescribed as carefree. You do notliketo

be in places that are too hot, and weather _ the storms of life with a good attitude. You ___ enjoy change and getbored if everything _ Staysthesame. Total between 18and23: Attimesyoucan

4Hew hotis is too 0 hot? a) 75 degrees Fahrenheit

b)85 degrees Fahrenheit c) 95 degrees Fahrenheit

__ be described as chilly, cool, and reserved. -

You are not afraid to spend time alone, and, at times prefer éa gray day toa sunny—

d) 100 degrees Fahrenheit

BVWhat iis your idealweather day? a) Stormy with rain or snow b) Sunny but cool to cold— c) Overcast but warm — d) Sunny andhot 6. Sunny warm days make you ... a} Bored b) Miserable c) Full of energy

d) Happy 98

2011

,

one. You enjoy spending time outside in _ the winter and sometimes find an over~ whelming urge. to purge and clean out — ~ messy areas of the house. :

Between: 12 and 17:The sun nakesyyou.

happy as does warmer days. Youlike bright colors and have been known to befull of

don't need a lot ¢

ae

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

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rrOSstpl ite

Frostbite happens when the skin and the tissues underneath it actually freeze. Winds and cold temperatures are the culprits, as well as not dressing properly for the cold outdoors. Frostbite affects children more than adults, as children lose more heat through their skin. The first symptom of frostbite, called frostnip, is the least severe

form,

and usually leaves the skin feeling numb and looking white. Cheeks, noses, and ears are most frequently frostnipped. When the skin thaws or warms, the affected area will become red and painful. With even more severe frostbite, the skin may appear white and feel very numb, meaning that the tissue has started to freeze. Very severe frostbite may cause blisters and damage to structures, such as tendons, muscles, and bone.

Our weather forecasts are made by “Caleb Weatherbee” by means

of a long-standing (and secret) formula which goes back to the early 1800s, when the Farmers’ Almanac was founded. The very first weather prognostications were made by David Young, the Almanac’s first editor. In this formula, many factors are taken into consideration: Sunspots, Moon Phases, etc. It has been passed from calculator to calculator and has never been revealed. The formula itself is locked in the heart and mind of its calculator.

100

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

..

oO

kL< 4

=

i

o

n

ALMANAC

pauo0z

424y3edei] a\4

G3LINN S3LVLS

ASTRONOMY

2010

SEPTEMBER

§th Month

1? Virco August 22 to September 22

NOW AUTUMN’S GOLDEN STORES BEHOLD, WITH FRUIT EACH TREE IS CROWNED; PEACHES IN SUITS OF RED OR GOLD, EACH TWIG BOWS TOWARD THE GROUND.

MOON’S PHASES EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME @ @ D ©

Last Quarter NewMoon First Quarter FullMoon

NORTHERN STATES

Ist 1:22 p.m. 8th 6:30am. 15th 1:50am. 23rd 5:17 am.

45°N. Lat.

€ Last Quarter 30th- 11:52 p.m.

joaTt |oy |ASTRONOMY, HOLIDAYS, AND EVENTS 1 |We}

MOON’S PLACE ASTRONOMICALLY

SOUTHING MOON'S PASSAGE MERIDIAN OR

Last Quarter Moon 1:22 p.m.

2 | Th | Great Fire of London, 1666 3 | Fr |ATM machine first used, 1969 4 Sa | Los Angeles, California, founded, 1781

36. Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost - Sep. 5, 2010 Jesse James born, 1847 Labor Day; Venus at aphelion New Moon 6:30 a.m. Rosh Hashanah Traditional peak of hurricane season 1 | Sa | Mars rises 8:47 p.m.

VIR _| 6:34

37. Sixteen Sunday after Pentecost -Sep. 12, 2010 L/Day12h42m- Twi. 1h 39m L/Day 12h 31m-Twi. th 25m Willie Mays hit 500th HR, 1965 Teapot sets 12:48 a.m First Quarter Moon 1:50 a.m.

San Felipe Hurricane, 1928 Citizenship Day Yom Kippur; Jupiter rises 7:10 p.m.

7:08 |12:53 6:43 | 7:06 | 1:56

38. Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost -Sep. 19, 2010 L/Day 12h 20m - Twi. 1h 38m L/Day 12h 16m - Twi. 1h 24m 8 Moon at apogee 4:00 a.m. Autumnal Equinox-11:09 p.m.

6:44 6:45 6:46 6:47

| 7:04 | 7:02 | 7:00 | 6:58

Succot; Full Harvest Moon 5:17 a.m.

6:49 | 6:56

Venus at greatest brilliancy Mercury rises 5:28 a.m.

6:50 | 6:55 6:51 | 6:53

Belt of Orion rises 12:24 a.m. Samuel Adams born, 1722 New colorful U.S. ten dollar bill released, 2005

Michelmas Day Last Quarter Moon 11:52

102

2011

p.m.

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

WEATHER

1-NORTHEAST

1st-3rd.

Thunder-

storms, then turning pleasant. 4th-7th.

tered showers, few thunderstorms over the Rockies. 24th-27th. Thunderstorms

Improving weather for Labor Day holiday with scattered showers, thunderstorms, then turning fair. 8th-11th.

Colorado. Squalls over Plains. 30th. Fair, unseasonably chilly.

Hurricane threat, then clearing, cooler

5-SOUTH CENTRAL 1st-3rd. Fair. 4th-7th. Mixed bag for holiday: Windy through New Mexico. Scattered showers from Texas east, then fair. 8th-11th. Severe thunderstorms extend from

weather. 12th-15th. Thunderstorms. 16th-19th. Fair, then showery rains. 20th-23rd. Tropical system threatens Mid-Atlantic Coast. Mostly fair elsewhere. 24th-27th. Some locally heavy showers, thunderstorms. 28th-30th. Clearing skies. 2-GREAT LAKES AND MIDWEST ist3rd. Fair. 4th-7th. Showery conditions through Labor Day. 8th-11th. Severe thunderstorms. Possible tornadoes in most of Illinois, all of Indiana, western Kentucky. 12th-15th. Thunderstorms Kentucky, the Ohio River Valley, then clearing. 16th-19th. Fair, then showers. 20th-23rd. Mostly fair. 24th-27th. Locally heavy showers, thunderstorms Great Lakes. 28th-30th. Fair, quite cool.

3-SOUTHEAST 1st-3rd. Thunderstorms clear the Atlantic

Coast, then turning pleasant. 4th-7th. Potentially stormy Labor Day weekend, with a hurricane threat. 8th-11th. Pleasant. 12th-15th. Thunderstorms Tennessee east. 16th19th. Rain showers. 20th-23rd. Mostly fair. 24th-27th. Showery, thundery. 28th-30th. Gradual clearing.

4-NORTH CENTRAL ‘1st-3rd. Fair. 4th-7th. Showery through holiday weekend. 8th-11th. Severe thunderstorms from Rockies east. Possible tornadoes parts of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa. 12th-

15th. Clearing, pleasant. 16th-19th. Turning unsettled over Rockies, Plains, then fair. 20th-23rd. Fair, then scat2011

Southern

Rockies

Plains, tornadoes

through possible.

28th-

Southern 12th-15th.

Clearing, pleasant. 16th-19th. Turning unsettled, with showers over Southern Rockies, Southern Plains, then fair. 20th23rd. Fair weather, then scattered showers, thunderstorms Southern Rockies.

24th-27th. Windy, locally heavy showers from New Mexico to Texas. Showery,

thundery Louisiana, Arkansas. 30th. Fair, unseasonably chilly.

28th-

6-NORTHWEST 1st-3rd. Fair skies. 4th-7th. Showery holiday weekend. 8th11th. Continued unsettled, few more showers. 12th-15th. Clearing, pleasant. 16th-19th. Turning unsettled, with showers for Washington and Oregon. 20th-23rd. Fair, with scattered showers. 24th-27th. More scattered showers linger. 28th-30th. Fair and quite cool. 7-SOUTHWEST

1st-3rd. Fair, pleasant. 4th-7th. Showers. Windy Arizona. 8th-11th.

Mixed clouds and sun, a few showers, possible thunderstorms. 12th-15th. Clearing and pleasant. 16th19th. Threatening skies, with a few showers. 20th-23rd. Fair, then scattered showers and thunderstorms. Windy, few showers California, Nevada. 24th-27th. Thunderstorms Utah, then clearing. Fair elsewhere. 28th-30th.

Fair and unseasonably chilly.

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

103

ASS

TssRY ON

ONL YG

OCTOBER 2010

10thMonth

% =F

("\

© Lipra

«

September 22 to October 22

4\\S\ : agi

: ss

:

™.Scorpio

it~ POIs

is Sei

;

2

aly

Pe 22 to lovember 21

AND NOW THE FROST IS SEEN IN MORN, OVERSPREADING FIELDS WITH WHITE; THE FARMER GATHERS IN HIS CORN, WITH PLEASURE AND DELIGHT.

MOON’S PHASES EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME

@ NewMoon

7th

D First Quarter

14th 5:27 p.m.

2:44pm.

© FullMoon € Last Quarter

22nd _‘9:36 p.m. 30th 8:46am.

NORTHERN STATES 45°N. Lat.

SOUTHERN STATES 35°N. Lat.

75°W. Long.

75°W. Long.

SOUTHING MOON’S PASSAGE MERIDIAN OR MOON’S PLACE as| es|| as ||S |r ASTRONOMICALLY

Subtract hour(s) for other time zones

—th for C.D.T. -2h for M.D.T. -3hfor P.D.T.

st|wi[ASTRONOMY. HOLIDAYS, ANDEVENTS| Fr | Model T Ford pinodiee ds1908

RISES

Pee

; Sa | Groucho Marx born. 1890

7:00

RISES

6:39 |12:24

6:56

6 43

12:52 | 8:03

40. Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost - Oct. 3, 2010 L/Day 11h 37m - Twi. 1h 38m_ L/Day 11h 45m - Twi. 1h 24m Venus sets 7:22 p.m. Chester A. Arthur born, 1829

Moon at perigee 10:00 a.m. Peshtigo Forest Fire began, 1871 Leif Erikson Da U.S. Naval Academy established, 1845

Columbus Day; Mars sets 7:43 p.m. Columbus landed in Bahamas, 1492 U.S. Navy created, 1775

First Quarter Moon 5:27 pm. Virgil born 70 B.C. Noah Webster born, 1758 Pope John Paul I born, 1912 Moon at apogee 2:00 p.m. Orion’s Belt meridian 4:45 a.m. U.S.-Canada border established, 1818 Aries meridian 1:09 a.m. Full Hunter’s Moon 9:36 p.m. Women’s Right-to-Vote March,1 United Nations established, i945 Saturn rises 5:33 a.m. Erie Canal completed, 1825 Theodore Roosevelt born, 1858

Comet 102P/Hartley at perihelion Spica rises 6:28 a.m. Last Quarter Moon 8:46 a.m.

104

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

WE

1-NORTHEAST

st-3rd.

scattered rain showers.

AT: HE R

Fair,

then

Rain showers, wet flurries across Plains

4th-7th.

Fair,

to Dakotas,

Nebraska.

pleasant, with some unseasonably cold

chilly. 12th-15th.

mornings.

Fair,

Heavy

showers,

ers, wet

then

clearing.

Mostly fair. 20th-23rd. Unsettled Rock-

Quite cool. 12th-15th. Pleasant weather

ies, Plains. 24th-27th. Clearing, colder.

gusty

8th-11th.

thunderstorms,

returns.

- Clearing.

16th-19th.

Showers,

20th-23rd.

Rainy,

then

flurries

8th-11th.

Milder, then show-

Rockies.

16th-19th.

28th-31st. Wet Rockies, Plains, then fair.

milder.

24th-27th. Thunderstorms, then clear-

5-SOUTH

CENTRAL

1st-3rd.

ing. 28th-31st. Fair, then showers.

winds, showers. 4th-7th.

Fair, turning

stormy with rain, showers.

2-GREAT

LAKES

AND

MIDWEST

Fair,

chilly.

Gusty

12th-15th.

8th-11th.

Milder,

then

4th-7th.

showers. 16th-19th. Mostly fair. 20th-

Fair, pleasant, followed by increasing

23rd. Unsettled Rockies, Plains. 24th-

clouds. 8th-11th. Showers

27th. Clearing, colder. 28th-31st. Wet,

1st-3rd.

Gusty

derstorms.

pleasant. Lakes

showers.

12th-15th.

16th-19th.

and thun-

Partly

sunny,

Showers

Great

east. 20th-23rd.

Gusty winds,

then clearing.

6-NORTHWEST

1st-3rd.

Light rain,

showers. 24th-27th. Clearing, colder.

mixed with snow over mountains. 4th-

28th-31st.

7th. Fair, turning stormy. 8th-11th. Fair,

Fair, then showers

Michi-

cool.

gan, Ohio.

12th-15th.

Milder,

then

show-

ers. 16th-19th. Mostly fair. 20th-23rd. 1st-3rd. Fair, turning

Unsettled from the Pacific Coast east.

unsettled. 4th-7th. Pleasant. 8th-11th.

24th-27th. Clearing, chilly. 28th-31st.

Heavy rains, then clearing, quite cool.

Unsettled; showers for Washington and

12th-15th.

Oregon.

3-SOUTHEAST

Pleasant.

16th-19th.

Cold

rain, then fair. 20th-23rd. Pleasant, then

rain along the Gulf Coast. 24th-27th.

7-SOUTHWEST

Clearing, quite cool. 28th-31st. Fair.

Ath-7th.

1st-3rd.

Gusty winds,

Unsettled.

showers.

8th-

11th. Fair, chilly. 12th-15th. Milder, then

4-NORTH rain,

Gusty

CENTRAL

snow

winds,

mountains

showers

Light

showers. 16th-19th. Mostly fair. 20th-

Montana.

23rd. Unsettled from West Coast east.

‘1st-3rd. of

Plains.

4th-

7th. Fair, then stormy, rain Rockies. 2011

24th-27th.

Clearing,

turning

colder.

28th-31st. Unsettled, showery.

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

105

A“Se TREO N- OMY.

NOVEMBER

Vth Month

2010

Z Sai

TL.ScorPio

TTARIUS

November 21 to December21

October 22 to November 21

TIME ON HIS WING FAST HASTES AWAY, AND CHILLS EACH WARM SUCCEED; TO CAPRICORN SOL HASTES EACH DAY, SO NIGHTS THE DAY EXCEED. SUN ON MERIDIAN

MOR USKT/cANDARD TARE | CIVIL TIME 5 @ NewMoon 6th 1252am.|D. H M.S. wo3 pete

ge = Eg

gs

45°N. Lat.

25

S 2|

75°W. Long.

zz

EASTERN D.

®D First Quarter 13th 11:39am. “ oe 12:27pm.

© FullMoon

21st

@ Last Quarter

28th 3:36pm.

15th 11 |o9nq 11

35

46

05

48

Subtract hour(s) for other time zones

—th for C.S.7. -2h for M.S.T. -3h for P.S.T.

Bz

eee

44

S ln

2

S 2 Ss

ass|| RISES

1 |Mo} Jupiter meridian 8:51 a.m. 2 |Tu| First radio election broadcast, 1920 3 |We] Moon at perigee 1:00 p.m. 4 |Th| Mercury at aphelion 5 | Fr 6_| Sa |New Moon 12:52 a.m.; Neptune stationary

7:39 7:40 7:42 7:43 7:44 | LIB | 7:46

| 5:49 | 5:47 | 5:46 | 5:45 | 5:43 | 5:42 | 5:42 | 7:

45. Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost - Nov. 7, 2010 L/day 9h 54m -Twi. 1h 42m Daylight Saving Time ends : X-Ray Discovery Day, 1895 Great Lakes storm sank 12 ships, 1913 woos) Mars sets 5:94 p.m. Veterans’ Day; Armistice signed, 1918

6:02 | 6:

2054 :

—L/Day 10h 34m - Twi. 1h 28m N :

Ellis Island closed, 1954

First Quarter Moon 11:390 a.m. Robert Fulton born, 1765

Moon at apogee 7:00 a.m. Mercury sets 5:30 p.m. Jupiter sets 1:43 a.m.; Leonid Meteor Showe Leonid Meteor Shower :

Gettysburg Address, 1863 First commercial teletype service, 1931

Franklin Pierce born, 1804 Saturn rises 2:51 a.m.

Thanksgiving Day The Great Appalachian Storm, 1950 2M

First Macy’s

Thanksgiving Parade, 19:

48. First Sunday of Advent - Nov. 28, 2010

U/Day Sh 07m - Twi. 1h 45m —L/Day 10h 02m - Twi. 1h 30m

28 |Su | Last Quarter Moon 3:36 p.m.

LEO | 7:15 | 4:22 |MORN]

6:47 | 4:49 |MORN] 5:31

29 |Mo | Central New England’s worst ice storm, 1921 |LEO | 7:16 | 4:21 |12:02] 6:48 | 4:49 |12:06] 6:20 VIR | 7:17 | 4:21 | 1:17 | 6:49 | 4:49 | 1:13 | 7:10 30 |Tu | Hurricane season ends

106

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

Wark AS Re ESR:

1—NORTHEAST 1st-3rd. Fair and cold. 4th-7th. Stormy, heavy rains, possibly mixed with wet snow. Icy glaze for some areas. 8th-11th. Fair. 12th-15th. Rain,

then clearing. 16th-19th. Increasingly cloudy, with rain and (over mountains) wet snow. 20th-23rd. More rain, wet snow, then clearing, colder. 24th-

27th. Unsettled on Thanksgiving, with light snow, then clearing. 28th-30th. Mostly fair. 2-GREAT

LAKES

AND

MIDWEST

1st-3rd. Rain, wet snow Great Lakes.

4th-7th. Storm over nation’s midsection sweeps heavy precipitation up through Ohio River Valley, then fair,

cold. 8th-11th. Increasingly cloudy, but pleasant. 12th-15th. Some rain Great Lakes, then fair. 16th-19th. A storm out of Southwest dumps snow and rain through Great Lakes. 20th-23rd: Fair, cold. 24th-27th. Thanksgiving sees light snow through Michigan, Ohio, then fair. 28th-30th.

Fair, turning stormy.

3-SOUTHEAST

1st-3rd.

Fair

and

pleasant. 4th-7th. Unsettled; showery,

thundery. 8th-11th. Fair. 12th-15th. Rain, then clearing skies. 16th-19th. Pleasant. 20th-23rd. Rainy, then fair, colder. 24th-27th. Quick changes during Thanksgiving holiday: fair, then rain, quickly followed by clearing. 28th-30th. Fair, milder.

4—-NORTH CENTRAL 1st-3rd. Turning stormy Colorado and Plains. 4th-7th. Stormy

Clearing,

Missouri,

then fair and cold.

cold elsewhere,

8th-11th.

Pleasant, then unsettled, with strong winds, heavy precipitation Rockies, Plains. Some wet snow parts Colorado,

Kansas.

12th-15th.

Fair.

16th-19th.

Blustery, with snow Colorado, Plains. 2011

20th-23rd. Fair and cold. 24th-27th. Light snow Rockies, Plains east for Thanksgiving holiday. 28th-30th. Fair, then stormy. 5-SOUTH CENTRAL 1st-3rd. Stormy Southern Plains to Texas. 4th-7th. Stormy Arkansas, then fair, cold. Clearing, cold elsewhere. 8th-11th. Turning unsettled, gusty winds, heavy precipitation. Some wet snow northern New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma. 12th15th. Rain Texas east, then clearing. Fair elsewhere. 16th-19th. Blustery winds, snow Southern Plains. 20th23rd. Fair, cold. 24th-27th. Generally unsettled Thanksgiving holiday, with light snow Southern Rockies, Southern Plains. Fair, but rain Texas. Light snows New Mexico. 28th-30th. Fair, then stormy. Showers, thunderstorms New Mexico, Texas. 6-NORTHWEST

1st-3rd.

Mixed

sun,

clouds. Pleasant. 4th-7th. Clearing, and chilly. 8th-11th. Pleasant, then unsettled. 12th-15th. Fair. 16th-19th. Blustery, with showers Washington, Oregon. 20th-23rd. Fair, chilly. 24th27th. Unsettled for Thanksgiving Day. 28th-30th. Fair at first, then stormy.

7-SOUTHWEST

st-3rd.

Pleasant

weather most sections, except turning

stormy for Utah. 4th-7th. Clearing, cold. 8th-11th. Pleasant, then unsettled with gusty winds, precipitation. Some wet snow Nevada, Utah, northern Arizona. 12th-15th. Fair, pleasant. 16th-19th. Gusty winds, heavy pre-

cipitation. Snow for Fair, cold. 24th-27th. Nevada, Utah, parts fair cold. 28th-30th.

stormy.

Snowstorm

Utah. 20th-23rd. Light snows for of Arizona, then Fair at first, then

Utah.

Showers,

thunderstorms Arizona.

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

107

AS.

Re)

N Oo M.-Y.

2010

DECEMBER

12th Month

z S

AZ

3 4S

é=

el oe

31 Days |

TL oi

7 CAPRICORN

Z SAGITTARIUS

December 21 to January 20

November 21 to December 21

COLD BLOWS THE WIND, THE FROZEN RAIN AND FLEECY SNOW DESCEND; FOR, FREEZING WINTER’S COME AGAIN, AND SO THE YEAR DOES END. MOON’S

SUN

PHASES

EASTERN STANDARD TIME

CALENDAR

MERIDIAN

ON

D First Quarter 13th 859am.

H

M

S. oz

|ist 1 48 58 ag

‘2ist 3:13am. © FullMoon @ Last Quarter 27th 11:18pm.

15th 11 |o9,q 11

55 58

04 30

@NewMoon

Sth

1236pm.|D.

SOUTHERN

ul

STATES

35°N. Lat.

g cS} 8$

1 |We 2 |Th 3 | Fr 4 | Sa | Edison invented phonogra

Eli Whitney born, 1765 Clarence Birdseye born, 1886

Mars sets 5:26 p.m. 11 | Sa | Apollo 17 landed on Moon, 1972

50. Third Sunday of Advent -Dec. 12, 2010 12

Su

Pennsylvania became state, 1787 First Quarter Moon 8:50 a.m. Geminid Meteor Shower Bill of Rights adopted, 1791 Boston Tea Party, 1773 Jupiter sets 11:49 p.m. Mercury at perihelion

Vega sets 9:36 p.m. Sacagawea died, 1812 Winter Solstice 6:38 p.m. James Oglethorpe born, 1696

Washington crossed Delaware, 1776 Last Quarter Moon 11:18 p.m. Woodrow Wilson born, 1856 Charles Goodyear born, 1800 Rudyard Kipling born, 1865 New Year's Eve

108

2011

FARMERS’

g w

z

3

:

22 3:

&

[29th 12 01 58) 2%

CST t, IkforMsT-Ihfores -ntr

FOR

>

CIVIL TIME

: : 7:38 |4:28 | 4:04

ALMANAC

WEATHER

1-NORTHEAST

1st-3rd.

Snow

and

rain Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. 4th-

7th. Mostly fair, cold. 8th-11th. Light snow New England. Showers MidAtlantic. 12th-15th. Fair. 16th-19th. Stormy initially, heavy snows Upstate New York, northern New England, then

Wet for the Rockies and Plains. 8th11th. Clearing skies Plains. 12th-15th. Stormy Rockies across Plains. 16th19th. Colder. 20th-23rd. Some snow or flurries. 24th-27th. Fair, then stormy, with heavy.snow over Rockies, Plains. 28th-31st. Clearing.

clear, windy, cold. 20th-23rd. Heavy rains along the coast. Ice, snow inte-

5-SOUTH CENTRAL 1st-3rd. Gradual

rior. 24th-27th.

Fair, cold Christmas

clearing. 4th-7th. Fair at first, then unset-

holiday. 28th-31st. Some snow, rain,

tled with showers. 8th-11th. Fair skies. 12th-15th.

then fair, cold year’s end.

Stormy

Southern

Rockies

and Southern Plains. Rain Texas. 16th-

2-GREAT LAKES AND MIDWEST 1st-3rd. Snow Great Lakes, with accu-

19th. Colder. 20th-23rd.

Some show-

ers of rain or wet snow.

24th-27th.

Mmulations of 2"- 4", 4th-7th. Fair, cold.

Fair, then stormy. 28th-31st. Clearing

8th-11th. Light snow, then turning fair. 12th-15th. Stormy. 16th-19th. Dry and turning colder. 20th-23rd. Light snow east through Ohio River Valley, then

for Southern Rockies east.

becoming

unsettled,

fair. 24th-27th.

Fair, cold

for Christmas. 28th-31st. Some snow

showers and flurries.

3-SOUTHEAST 1st-3rd. Rainy. Some wet snow mixes in over higher terrain Tennessee. 4th-7th. Fair, cold. 8th-11th. Cold showers, then clearing. 12th-15th. Rainy. 16th-19th. Rains

clear,

frosts

to

then

Florida.

showers,

then

fair,

cold,

20th-23rd.

fair,

colder.

6-NORTHWEST pleasant.

7-SOUTHWEST

1st-3rd.

Fair.

4th-

7th. Fair at first, then unsettled with

Rain,

showers

24th-

California

Some Big

storm clears Dakotas, Nebraska area.

Pacific Coast. 8th-11th. east.

threatening

12th-15th. skies.

Colder weather moves then

4th-7th.

and

with

Showery, then fair and colder. ist-3rd.

Fair

Fair at first, then

Clearing.

under

CENTRAL

1st-3rd.

with showers. 8th-11th. Clearing. 12th-15th. Changeable. Sun, clouds with a risk of a passing shower. 16th-19th. Chilly and dry. 20th-23rd. Showers Washington and Oregon. 24th-27th. Very unsettled. 28th-31st.

27th. Fair, unseasonably cold Yuletide. Frosts down to Gulf Coast. 28th-31st.

4-NORTH

4th-7th.

rain,

(over

Fair

Milder

16th-19th.

in. 20th-23rd.

mountains

clearing.. 24th-27th.

snow),

Fair, then

very unsettled. 28th-31st. Clear weather moves in.

Fair at first, then unsettled. 2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

109

AUS

Ee ROGAN GO SiON,

JANUARY

Ist Month

Jl Days

2011

PEL. oat /,

% CAPRICORN

ax AQUARIUS January 20 to February 19

December 21 to January 20

NOW DREARY WINTER’S PIERCING COLD, FLOATS ON THE NORTHERN GALE, AND TREES, THOUGH GREEN, LOOK DRY AND OLD; SNOW COVERS HILL AND DALE.

MOON’S

PHASES

SUN ON MERIDIAN

EASTERN STANDARD TIME

CIVIL TIME

>

2 3

@NewMoon

4th

4:03am.

32

NORTHERN

E

irHerbs 8

other uses for MAIN USE

MEDICINAL USE

Salads, soups, and casseroles with tomatoes, fish, chicken, or lamb.

A tonic against rheumatism, eases stomach pains.

Used to flavor soups, meats, tomato sauces, and casseroles.

Used externally for sprains and bruises.

Breads, cakes, and salads.

Prevents colds, eases upset

stomachs and throat infections.

Herbal teas, cosmetics, and hair preparations.

Helps combat headaches, toothaches, earaches, and neuralgia.

Egg and fish dishes, sauces, salads, and butters.

Lowers blood pressure, diuretic.

Egg, cheese, and vegetable dishes, soups, and salads.

Appetite enhancer.

Sauces, curries, and chutney.

Good for digestion.

Potatoes, salmon, pickles,

Aids digestion.

sour cream sauces. Anise flavor used in pickles, biscuits, fish, or pork.

Appetite stimulant.

Fruit salads and grilled meats. Best known for its use in cosmetics and toiletries.

Antidepressant in aromatherapy, lowers blood pressure.

Stuffings, salad dressings, and potpourris.

Treats fever, aids poor

Garnishes, flavoring for many foods.

General tonic, bad breath.

Stuffings, roasts. Oil of thyme is used for perfumes.

An expectorant, antibacterial, and antiseptic. Gargle to ease sore throat.

2011

FARMERS’

digestion and nausea.

ALMANAC

213

Empty Tin Cans

Don’t throw it away:

Wash them out thoroughly. Cut out both the top and bottom ends and use to protect young seedlings from critters. @ Paint and hang in trees to discourage birds from eating your ripening fruit. # Punch them with designs and set candles in the middle of each. Use as lanterns to line sidewalks, steps, and gardens. (Do not cut out both ends. To punch, fill with water and freeze. Mark a pattern on the outside of each can, geta nail and a hammer, and hammer out the designs. Let the water thaw, then

put tea lights in each for lanterns.)

Junk Mail Instead of tossing coupons, letters, and envelopes from your mail, use them as scrap paper instead. They're really great for notes, grocery lists, or drawing paper for kids. ® Newspapers can be used as mulch to keep weeds down. You'll need to cover them with dirt or rocks or something to keep the papers from blowing away, but they will work well to keep weeds at bay and ultimately will dissolve into the soil.

FREE Box On trash days, try putting out a box filled with items that have value (but not to you) with a sign that says “FREE.” Sometimes your trash is another person’s treasure. ® Freecycle—check out freecycle.org. This online, nonprofit community is made of local groups which enable you to list and give away (and get) stuff for free in your own area. It’s all about reusing and keeping good stuff out of landfills.

Faded Curtains and Old Shirts

Yogurt Containers

Unless they’re made from polyester, old shirts and curtains are probably compostable. # They can be used for dust rags or cut down for something like a tarp or packing material, etc.

Use old yogurt containers to store leftovers in or to pack lunches. ® Cut the bottom out of a yogurt container and place it around delicate plants to protect them in the spring from chilly weather. & Make your own herb garden: put a hole in the bottom of a container, add a large rock, soil, and seed.

Brown Paper Bags Use paper bags for wrapping paper.

Turn them inside out if there’s writing on them, add colorful ribbons or have children color on them. ® Place hot cookies on brown paper bags.

This helps soak up a little of the oil from the cookies.

Egg Cartons Store your small pieces of jewelry in empty egg cartons. # Take the lid off a carton and place the bottom in a drawer. It can hold and organize buttons, paper clips, small screws, and nails. # Line the bottom part of an egg carton with small cupcake papers. You can place small homemade cookies or candies in each compartment. Wrap the whole with clear plastic. Top with a ribbon. Give as a gift. @ Use them to start seeds. If they are cardboard, the entire container can be planted when the seeds germinate. ® Use as a paint holder for children. When they are finished painting, the carton can be

thrown away. (Styrofoam cartons can be washed out and reused.)

Coffee Cans Coffee cans are really good to have in the shop. They hold all sizes of nails and screws. The sizes of the nails can be printed on the lids with a marker.

Empty Thread Spools String spools together and separate by knots to use as part of a gentle wind chime strand. ® They really make cute miniature dried flower holders and wonderful take-home souvenirs with children’s names on them when used for seating at a party.

Shower Curtains Clean and disinfect an old shower curtain by soaking it for a couple of hours in a bathtub filled with warm water and vinegar. Use it as a tablecloth for the picnic table. # Use an old shower curtain as a drop cloth when you are painting, or as a ground sheet under your tent or sleeping bags. ® Make a windshield cover to prevent frost build-up. Cut a shower curtain to fit your windshield and hem magnets in along the edges to hold it on your vehicle. # Use a shower curtain to make an apron for really messy jobs.

HEALTHY _ pySasoites soe. HINTS

Gotthefu? This iswhat fodo! sxcrzesnom=

in olive oil. Apply on

Sore throat—gargle with warm water and salt. : soaked potatoes on @ Dry throat—suck on hard candies. _ : for 10 minutes and © Stuffiness—drink warm, soothing fluids. They : then rinse off.

loosen up stuffiness, and ease the aches. * Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. This

: Try drinking 2 : tablespoons of pure helps to flush out toxins. Avoid drinking caffeine; : lmond oil mixed it may keep you awake when you need to get as_: in @ cup of warm much rest as possible. * Wash your hands often. Germs are easily passed around on door handles, faucet handles, and other shared surfaces. © Get lots of rest. Not slowing down not only causes symptoms to last, making you feel miserable longer, it also slows your immune system.

: milk. Many people

: believe the calcium > and vitamin E that : you will be absorb-

: ing internally not : only moistens skin, : : but also helps keep : coughs and colds

: at bay.

Consider over-the-counter medications intended to TEMPORARILY make you more comfortable. Despite claims of curing you, these medicines treat the symptoms only, and do not shorten the infection time. Take as little medication as is effective, since some of them cause drowsiness, irritate the stomach,

\

make you jittery, cause insomnia, etc. Always read labels and heed precautions. \\

q

t :

2011

GRANDMA’S

REMEDY

Eat good old chicken soup. Chicken soup really can open up stuffed nasal passages. It clears out mucus, and may get rid of the flu bug \,_. faster than other liquids. Chicken soup is DS nutritious, easy to swallow, and even is welcome when your appetite is suppressed. Tasty chicken soup can raise your spirits, and that’s half the battle.

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

Do You Know How To Burn Off Calories? Did you know that each pound of fat your body stores represents 3,500 calories of unused energy? In order to lose one pound, you would have to create a calorie deficit of 3,500 by either taking in 3,500 less calories over a period of

‘

,

t'

sae

time than you need, or by doing 3,500 calories worth of exercise.

f

Here are a few activities and the calories/hour burned:

SEDENTARY ¢ Lying down or sleeping - 90 c/hr * Sitting/writing/card playing - 114 c/hr ¢ Sitting quietly - 84 c/hr

MODERATE ¢ Bicycling at 5 mph - 174 c/hr ¢ Ballroom dancing - 210 c/hr ¢ Golf (2-some, carrying clubs) - 324 c/hr ¢ Horseback riding (sitting to trot) - 246 c/hr ¢ Light housework, cleaning, etc. - 246 c/hr ¢ Tennis (recreational, doubles) - 312 c/hr ¢ Volleyball (recreational) - 264 c/hr ¢ Walking at 2 mph - 198 c/hr

VIGOROUS ¢ Aerobic dancing - 546 c/hr ¢ Basketball (recreational) - 450 c/hr ¢ Bicycling at 13 mph - 612 c/hr ¢ Circuit weight training - 756 c/hr ¢ Football (touch, vigorous) - 498 c/hr ¢ Racquetball - 588 c/hr ¢ Jogging (10 minute mile, 6 mph) - 654 c/hr ¢ Scrubbing floors - 440 c/hr ¢ Cross country skiing at 5 mph - 690-c/hr

Please be sure to check with your physician if you are new to exercising or have underlying medical conditions. Start slowly and work up toward more vigorous activities. For those trying to gain weight, exercise regularly and increase the number of calories you consume until you reach your desired weight. Exercise will help ensure that the weight you gain will be lean muscle mass, not fat. For more information, go to the Web site sponsored by the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (www-fitness.gov).

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

217

AU GRATIN: Topped with crumbs and/or cheese and browned in the oven or under the broiler. AU JUS: Served in its own juices. BASTE: To moisten foods during cooking with pan drippings or a special sauce. It adds flavor and prevents drying. BLANCH: To immerse in rapidly boiling water and allow to cook slightly. CREAM: To soften a fat, by beating it at room

food to stand in a liquid to tenderize or to add flavor.

a sieve or food mill, or by

whirling in a blender or food processor. REFRESH: To run cold water over food that has been blanched, to quickly stop the cooking process.

SAUTE: To cook and/

temperature.

CRIMP: To seal the edges of a two-crust pie either by pinching them together at intervals with the fingers or by pressing with the tines of a fork. DREDGE: To coat lightly with flour, cornmeal, etc.

FOLD: To combine a delicate substance, such as whipped cream or beaten egg whites, with another substance, with-

out releasing air bubbles. A rubber spatula is used to gently bring part of the mixture from the bottom of the bow! to the top. The process is repeated, while slowly rotating the bowl, until the ingredients are thoroughly blended. JULIENNE: To cut vegetables, fruits, or cheeses into matchstick-shaped Slivers.

218

PUREE: To mash foods until perfectly smooth; by hand, by rubbing through

MARINATE: To allow

MINCE: To chop or cut food into very small pieces. PARBOIL: To boil until partially cooked; to blanch. Usually this procedure is followed by a final cooking in a seasoned sauce. PARE: To remove the outermost skin of a fruit or vegetable; to peel. POACH: To cook very gently in a hot liquid kept just at the boiling point.

2011

FARMERS’

or brown food in a small quantity of fat (oil, butter, shortening, etc.). SCALD: To heat to just below the boiling point, so that tiny bubbles appear at the edge of the saucepan. SIMMER: To cook in liquid just at the boiling point. The surface of the liquid should be barely moving, broken from time to time by slowly rising bubbles. STEEP: To let food stand in a (usually hot) liquid to extract or to enhance flavor, like tea in hot water, or poached fruits

in sugar syrup. TOSS: To combine ingredients with a lifting motion. WHIP: To beat rapidly to combine with air and produce expansion; used for heavy cream or egg whites.

ALMANAC

VEGETABLE COOKING TIMES VEGETABLE

COOKING

METHOD

Artichokes

40 minutes

Artichokes

45-60 minutes

Asparagus tips

10-15 minutes

Beans, lima

20-40 minutes

Beans, lima

60 minutes

Beans, string

15-35 minutes

Beans, string

60 minutes

Beets, young with skin Beets, young with skin Beets, young with skin Broccoli, florets Brussels sprouts Cabbage, chopped Cabbage, chopped Carrots, cut across

30 minutes

60 minutes 70-90 minutes 5-10 minutes 20-30 minutes 10-20 minutes 25 minutes 8-10 minutes 40 minutes 20-30 minutes 8-10 minutes 8-10 minutes 15 minutes

Carrots, cut across Cauliflower, Cauliflower, Corn on the Corn on the

stem down florets cob cob

Eggplant, whole

30 minutes

Eggplant, whole

40 minutes

Eggplant, whole

45 minutes

Peas, green

5-15 minutes 20-40 minutes

Potatoes Potatoes

60 minutes

Potatoes

45-60 minutes

Pumpkin or Squash Pumpkin or Squash Pumpkin or Squash

45 minutes

Tumips

25-40 minutes

20-40 minutes 60 minutes

COOKING

TIME FOR DRIED F RUITS

Cooking Time

Amount of Sugar or Honey

About 40 minutes

1/4 cup for each cup of fruit

About 30 minutes

1 tablespoon for each cup of fruit

About 45 minutes About 45 minutes

2 tablespoons for each cup of fruit

2011

FARMERS’

1/4 cup for each cup of fruit

ALMANAC

219

FaT CONTENT FOR LEAN BEEF Here are thirteen cuts of lean beef with a total fat content that falls between a skinless

chicken breast and skinless chicken thigh when comparing cooked 3-ounce servings. SOURCE: CATTLEMEN'S BEEF BOARD AND NATIONAL CATTLEMEN'S BEEF ASSOCIATION

SkinlessChicken Breast

0.9 gsat.fat 30g total fat Sirloin Tip Side Steak

Top Sirloin Steak

Skinlessmiess Ch icKen

_—_—

ee

ea

eee

Lean: less than 10g of total fat,4.5g or less of saturated fat, and less than 95mg of cholesterol per serving and per 100 grams. Source: US Department of Agricultura, Agricultural Research Service, 2005. USDA

Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 18. Based on cooked servings, visible fat trimmed.

18-226A

220

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

90535

CALORIES AND NUTRIENTS 3-OUNCE COOKED SERVING

CALORIES

TOTAL SAT. FAT FAT CHOLESTEROL PROTEIN IRON ZINC RIBOFLAVIN ® @& (mg) (mg) (g)

BEEF Daily Value* Bottom Round Roast & Steak 95% Lean Ground Beef Eye Round Roast & Steak Sirloin Tip Side Steak Chuck Shoulder Pot Roast Round Tip Roast & Steak Sirloin Tip Center Roast & Steak

1.7 0.13 0.15 0.14 0.17 0.21 0.13 0.18 0.23

2000 139 139 144 143 147 148 150

Shoulder Petite Tender & Medallions 150 Round Steak 154 Bottom Round (Western Griller) Steak 155

Shoulder Center (Ranch) Steak Top Sirloin Steak Top Round Roast & Steak Tri-Tip Roast & Steak Flank Steak Top Loin (Strip) Steak Chuck Shoulder Steak Brisket Flat Half Tenderloin Roast & Steak Shank Cross Cuts T-Bone Steak

155

PORK Daily Value* Top Loin Chop Tenderloin Sirloin Chop Rib Chop

POULTRY Daily Value* Skinless, Boneless Chicken Breast Skinless, Boneless Turkey Breast

FISH Daily Value* Cod Light Tuna Canned in Water Halibut Salmon

50 19.4 217 22.7 18.8

175

age. Source: USDA. *Daily Value based on a 2000-calorie intake for adults and children 4 or more years of

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

221

Why does Swiss cheese have holes in it? Believe it or not, the holes, also known as eyes to the Swiss cheese makers, are from tiny microorganisms acting on the cheese as it is fermenting. These harmless organisms give off a gas that actually causes the cheese to explode, leaving holes or eyes in the cheese. ee

eres

seroeereseseesereeereseseeseesseeseseseseseeseseeseseseses

FISHING FACT or FOLKLORE? According to many old-timers, fishing is extra good when the moon is in Cancer, the breast. Supposedly, fish are more plentiful during this period.

What Are CLOUDS Made Of?

vi

—

No matter what the color— gray, blue, or white—all clouds are made up of the same substance, water. Each cloud is made up of tiny drops of water that float. Alone, these drops of water are So small they are not visible. But when many of these drops collect, they form a cloud and you can see them. Most clouds float high in the air. But sometimes a cloud actually forms close to the ground. When this happens, we call that cloud fog.

IS

Hy Mj a —

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HERBS

nAtic ,

!' Cents!

ON THE GRILL Sprinkle sage, rosemary, and basil on the coals. The aroma is wonderful and neflavor the meat.

BY THE FIRE Herbs may be tied in small bundles and placed by the fireplace. Also, toss a few bundles into the fire. Cinnamon sticks near the fire also give off a festive fragrance. sabre IN THE WASH Lavender and/or lemon verbena may be tied in an old nylon stocking and placed in the rinse cycle. It can then be put in the dryer.

222

2011

Ever wonder what makes

POPCORN POP?

FARMERS’

STEAM. This may seem odd, especially since popcorn isn't wet. So where does the steam = come from? Inside each kernel there are drops of water so small that you can’t see them. When the corn gets hot, the water turns to steam, then pop! The steam bursts out, leaving a fluffy pile of white corn.

ALMANAC

How do people know when it will be a full Moon? Astronomers determine the moment of a full Moon based on the Moon’s position in relation to the Sun. When the Moon is exactly opposite in the sky to the Sun (180 degrees apart), it is deemed a full

Moon. At that moment, the Sun is setting in the West and the Moon is coming up in the East, a theMoon’s disk is fully (100%) illuminated. Some hours before or after the moment of full Moon, the Moon is ever-so-slightly out of round and its illumination is only 99.8% of full. Most folks, however, refer to the Moon as full not only on the day it is actually full, but also on the day before, since it is hard to see the difference.

Cost-Cutting Hint

:

Save energy costs this winter by

:

removing the screens from your

:

windows. Screens can block over 50% of the sunlight. Inthe sum-

i |]

)

als

..

: For DEODORANT: Sponge area —:_ with white vinegar. If stain remains,

mer, the screens block outsome

: soak with denatured alcohol. Wash

of the heat. When Will It Snow?

: with detergent in hottest water safe for the stained fabric.

According to folklore, “The first snow comes six weeks after the last thunderstorm in September.”

: For GRASS: Presoak in cold water : for at least 30 minutes. Rinse and

Prolong Your Silver After polishing your sterling silver, wrap it in airtight plastic bags to prevent tarnishing.

; then pretreat with detergent. Wash : using detergent, hot water, and : fabric-safe bleach. On acetate and :. colored fabrics, use 1 part alcohol to 2 parts of water. :

Great-Grandmas Hints e Sewing needles won't rust and will slide through cloth more easily if they are stored stuck in a piece of soap.

e Place a few marbles or pebbles , in the bottom of a double boiler. When the water gets low, the noise will alert you. 2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

DO YOU KNOW WHY

OCCURS?

nes 4% Ever Wonder Why We Say

It happens when the temperature of the Earth's surface falls below : freezing. The freezing tempera- : tures ensure that water on the : surface becomes ice.

DIFFERENT DEGREES OF FROST

~E @ ALIGHT FREEZE is when tempera-

“Sleep Tight?” The saying “sleep tight” dates back to when a bed was made of a wooden frame with a rope lattice strung across it. The mattress was placed on top of the rope. When the rope started to sag, it would be tightened. Thus, sleep tight came to mean to sleep comfortably on a tight or firm bed.

= Autumn is a good time to trim trees and shrubs that touch the house and to remove leaves from gutters. = To avoid bruised fingers when hammering nails, don't use your fingers to hold them steady. Try using needle-nose pliers. This way if you miss you won't bruise anything.

:: tures are between 29 and 32 degrees F. During a light freeze, tender plants may be killed, with little destruction on hardy vegetation.

: © MODERATE FREEZE is when temperatures are between 25 and 28 degrees F. During a moderate freeze : there can be wide destruction on most vegetation with heavy damage : to fruit blossoms and tender semihardy plants.

: © SEVERE FREEZE is when the temperatures are 24 degrees F and colder and will cause heavy damage : to most plants.

Spicy Cider : 2 quarts apple cider : I/4 cup red cinnamon candies

: 1 tbsp. whole allspice : 2 tbsp. honey : Heat cider, candies, and allspice to boiling;

: reduce heat. Cover and simmer 5 minutes. : Remove allspice, stir in honey. Serves 8.

Unwswvuat

Facrs

According to the California Milk Advisory Board . . . @ Dairy cows must give birth to a calf in order to produce milk. They are then able to produce milk for 10 months. At that point, they are bred again. Their production cycle lasts for 4 to 7 years. i Dairy cows are milked 2 to 3 times a day and produce 6 to 7 gallons a day. That’s over 2,000 gallons a year. li Cows have 4 stomachs.

224

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

Times Have Certainly Changed! HOW

CHILDREN SHOULD ACT WITH THEIR PARENTS IN PUBLIC

e Always call them “Mother” and “Father,”

or “Mom” and “Dad.”

e Always introduce people to your mother. No matter how important the other person is, begin: “Mother, I’d like you to know...”

e When your parents introduce you to their friends, make them proud. Stand up for an introduction, and acknowledge it with the friend’s name:

e If your parents’ friends ask questions, even though they seem a little foolish, answer. Never say, “I dunno” or just giggle. Admittedly, “You’ve grown so, haven't you?” is silly; but it becomes sensible conversation if you

e If your dad tells a story involving you and gets some of the facts wrong; let it go. Setting him straight in front of an audience just sounds quarrelsome and childish.

answer, “Yes, I’m

train or bus, or down

nearly two inches taller than I was last

a theater aisle. In these places, walk ahead of your father.

year.”

:

e Let your mother precede you into a

e Treat your mother like a lady and your father like a gentleman, and you can’t help impressing the world with your own es charm and

“How do you do, Mrs. Carter.” Don’t sit down, while either your mother or

Mrs. Carter is ¢ still standing.

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

225

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES UNITS

US EQUIVALENT

METRIC EQUIVALENT

1 inch 1 foot

2.54 cm 0.3048 m (exactly) 0.9144 m (exactly)

Linear Measure 12 inches 3 feet

1 yard

5'4 yards

1 rod/pole/perch

40 rods

1 furlong 1 statute mile

8 furlongs or 5,280 feet 3 miles

1 land league

6,076.115 feet

1 international nautical mile

5.029 m 201.168 m 1.609 km

4.83 km 1.852 km

Area Measure

144 sq. inches 9 sq. feet 43,560 sq. feet 640 acres 1 sq. mile 36 sections

1 square inch 1 square foot 1 square yard 1 acre 1 square mile 1 section 1 township

0.4047 hectare 259 hectare 259 hectare 9324 hectare

1 ounce or 1.8047 cu. in. 1 gill or 7.219 cu. in. 1 pint or 28.875 cu. in. 1 quart or 57.75 cu. in. 1 gallon or 231 cu. in.

0.0295 0.1183 0.4732 0.9464 3.7845

1 quart or 67.20 cu. in. 1 peck or 537.61 cu. in

1.1012 L 8.8098 L 35.2390 L

6.452 cm?

0.0929 m? 0.8361 m?

U.S. Liquid 8 drams 4 ounces

A gills 2 pints 4 quarts

U.S. Dry 2 pints 8 quarts 4 pecks

1 bushel or 2,150.42 cu. in.

L L L L L

Weight (Avoirdupois) 437.5 grains 7,000 grains 100 pounds 2,000 pounds 2,240 pounds

1 grain

0.0648 g

1 ounce 1 pound or 16 ounces

28.3495 g 0.4536 kg 45.36 kg 0.9072 t 1.016 t

1 hundredweight 1 short ton 1 long ton

Customary US Household 1 teaspoon = ' fluid ounce 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon or '/ fluid ounce 16 tablespoons = 1 cup or 8 fluid ounces

2 cups = | pint or 16 fluid ounces 2 pints = 1 quart or 32 fluid ounces 4 quarts = 1 gallon or 128 fluid ounces

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

4.9 mL 14.8 mL 236.6 mL 473.2 mL 946.4 mL 3.7845 L

METRIC AND DECIMAL EQUIVALENTS FRACTIONS FRACTION

DECIMAL EQUIVALENT — MILLIMETERS

2011

OF AN FRACTION

FARMERS’

INCH DECIMAL EQUIVALENT

ALMANAC

MILLIMETERS

227

IMPORTANT STATE FACTS STATE

ADMITTED TO UNION

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida

Dec. 14, 1819 Jan. 3, 1959 Feb. 14, 1912 June 15, 1836 Sept. 9, 1850 Aug. 1, 1876 Jan. 9, 1788 Dec. 7, 1787 Mar. 1, 1791 Mar. 3, 1845 Jan. 2, 1788 Aug. 21, 1959 July 3, 1890 Dec. 3, 1818

Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana lowa Kansas

Kentucky Louisiana Maine

Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota

Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada

New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma

Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont

Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin

Wyoming

228

Dec. 11, 1816

Dec. 28, 1846 Jan. 29, 1861 June 1, 1792

Apr. Mar. Apr. Feb.

30, 1812 15, 1820 28, 1788 6, 1788

Jan. 26, 1837 May 11, 1858 Dec. 10, 1817 Aug. 10, 1821 Nov. 8, 1889 Mar. 1, 1867 Oct. 31, 1864 June 21, 1788 Dec. 18, 1787 Jan. 6, 1912 July 26, 1788 Nov. 21, 1789 Nov. 2, 1889 Mar. 1, 1803 Nov. 16, 1907 Feb. 14, 1859 Dec. 12, 1787 May 29, 1790 May 23, 1788 Nov. 2, 1889 - June 1, 1796 Dec. 29, 1845 Jan. 4, 1896 Mar. 4, 1791 June 25, 1788

Nov. 11, 1889 June 20, 1863

May 29, 1848 July 10, 1890

2011

FARMERS’

HIGHEST POINT

| ELEVATION

Cheaha Mountain Mount McKinley Humphreys Peak Magazine Mountain Mount Whitney Mount Elbert Mount Frissell Ebright Rd.

Tenleytown Sec. 30, T6N, R20W Brasstown Bald Mauna Kea Borah Peak Charles Mound Hoosier Hill

Hawkeye Point Mount Sunflower Black Mountain Driskill Mountain Mount Katahdin Backbone Mountain

Mount Greylock Mount Arvon

Eagle Mt. Woodall Mountain Taum Sauk Mountain Granite Peak Panorama Point

Boundary Peak Mount Washington High Point Wheeler Peak Mount Marcy Mount Mitchell White Butte

Campbell Hill Black Mesa Mount Hood Mount Davis Jerimoth Hill Sassafras Mountain

Harney Peak Clingmans Dome Guadalupe Peak Kings Peak Mount Mansfield Mount Rogers Mount Rainier

Spruce Knob Timms Hill Gannett Peak

ALMANAC

1,951 13,804

IMPORTANT STATE FACTS SA:

LAND AREA IN SQ. MILES

2000 POPULATION

CAPITAL

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia

50,744

4,447,100

571,951 113,635 52,068 155,959 103,718 4,845 1,954 61 53,927 57,906

626,932 5,130,632 2,673,400 33,871,648 4,301,261 3,405,565 783,600 572,059 15,982,378 8,186,453

Montgomery Juneau Phoenix Little Rock Sacramento Denver Hartford Dover

Hawaii Idaho

6,423 82,747

L211 537 1,293,953

Honolulu Boise

Illinois

59,983

12,419,293

Springfield

Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts

35,867 55,869 81,815 39,728 43,562 30,861 9,774 7,840

6,080,485 2,926,324 2,688,418 4,041,769 4,468,976 1,274,923 5,296,486 6,349,097

Indianapolis Des Moines Topeka Frankfort Baton Rouge Augusta Annapolis Boston

Tallahassee

Atlanta

Michigan

56,804

9,938,444

Lansing

Minnesota

79,610

4,919,479

St. Paul

46,907 68,886 145,552 76,872 109,826 8,968 7,417 121,356 47,214 48,711 68,976 40,948 68,667 95,997 44,817 1,045 30,109 75,884 41,217 261,796 82,143 9,250 39,594 66,544 24,078 54,310 97,100

2,844,658 5,099,211 902,195 1,711,263 1,998,257 1,235,786 8,414,350 1,819,046 18,976,457 8,049,313 642,200 11,353,140 3,450,654 3,421,399 12,281,054 1,048,319 4,012,012 754,844 5,689,283 20,851,820 2,233,169 608,827 7,078,515 5,894,121 1,808,344 5,363,675 493,782

Jackson Jefferson City Helena Lincoln

Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming 2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

Carson City Concord Trenton Santa Fe Albany Raleigh Bismarck Columbus Oklahoma City

Salem Harrisburg Providence Columbia

-

Pierre Nashville Austin Salt Lake City Montpelier Richmond Olympia Charleston Madison Cheyenne 229

MovaBLE HOoLipAYS FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS 2011 Easter Passover Mother’s Day Father’s Day Columbus Day Thanksgiving Day Hanukkah

Sunday, April 12 Thursday, April 9 thru Thursday, April 16 Sunday, May 10 Sunday, June 21 Monday, October 12

Thursday, November 26 Saturday, December 12.thru Saturday, December 19

2012 Easter Passover Mother’s Day Father’s Day Columbus Day Thanksgiving Day Hanukkah

2013 Easter Passover Mother’s Day

Father’s Day Columbus Day Thanksgiving Day

Hanukkah

Sunday, April 4 Tuesday, March 30 thru Tuesday, April 6 Sunday, May 9 Sunday, June 20 Monday, October 11

Thursday, November 25 Thursday, December 2 thru Thursday, December 9 Sunday, April 24 Tuesday, April 19 thru Tuesday, April 26 Sunday, May 8 Sunday, June 19 Monday, October 10

Thursday, November 24 Wednesday, December 21 thru Wednesday, December 28

2014 Easter Passover Mother’s Day Father’s Day

Columbus Day Thanksgiving Day

Hanukkah

Sunday, April 8 Saturday, April 7 thru Saturday, April 14 Sunday, May 13 Sunday, June 17 Monday, October 8

Thursday, November 22 Sunday, December 9 thru Sunday, December 16

2015 Easter Passover

Mother’s Day Father’s Day Columbus Day Thanksgiving Day 2016 Easter Passover Mother’s Day Father’s Day Columbus Day Thanksgiving Day Hanukkah

230

Sunday, March 31 Tuesday, March 26 thru Tuesday, April 2 Sunday, May 12 Sunday, June 16 Monday, October 14 Thursday, November 28 Sunday, April 20 ~ Tuesday, April 15 thru Tuesday, April 22 Sunday, May 11

Sunday, June 15 Monday, October 13 Thursday, November 27 Wednesday, December 17 thru Wednesday, December 24

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

MovasBie HOo.pays FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS 2017 Easter Passover Mother’s Day

Father’s Day Columbus Day Thanksgiving Day Hanukkah

2018 Easter Passover Mother’s Day Father’s Day Columbus Day Thanksgiving Day Hanukkah

Sunday, April 5 Saturday, April 4 thru Saturday, April 11 Sunday, May 10 Sunday, June 21

Monday, October 12 Thursday, November 26

Monday, December 7 thru Monday, December 14 Sunday, March 27 Saturday, April 23 thru Saturday, April 30

Sunday, May 8 Sunday, June 19 Monday, October 10 Thursday, November 24 Sunday, December 25 thru Sunday, January 1, 2017

2019 Easter Passover

Sunday, April 16

Mother’s Day Father’s Day Columbus Day Thanksgiving Day Hanukkah

2020 Easter Passover Mother’s Day Father’s Day Columbus Day Thanksgiving Day Hanukkah 2021 Easter Passover Mother’s Day Father’s Day Columbus Day Thanksgiving Day Hanukkah

Tuesday, April 11 thru Tuesday, April 18 Sunday, May 14 Sunday, June 18 Monday, October 9 Thursday, November 23 Wednesday, December 13 thru Wednesday, December 20

Sunday, April 1 Saturday, March 31 thru Saturday, April 7 Sunday, May 13 Sunday, June 17

Monday, October 8 Thursday, November 22 Monday, December 3 thru Monday, December 10

Sunday, April 4

‘Sunday, March 28 thru Sunday, April 4 Sunday, May 9 Sunday, June 20 Monday, October 11 Thursday, November 25 Monday, November 29 thru Monday, December 6

When is the earliest date that Easter can occur? This holiday will occur no earlier than March 22 and no later than April 25. The date of Easter is determined as being the first Sunday following the first full

moon (also known as the Paschal full moon) that occurs on or after the day of the vernal equinox.

2011

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

231

NEW YEAR'S TRADITIONS — THAT COULD BRING yOu é GOOD LUCK, LOVE, AND FORTUNE The NEW YEAR is a time we set aside for getting rid of the old and bringing in the new. Throughout history, most cultures have drawn an association between aperson’s actions on New Year’s Day andtheir ~ fate during the following year. Here are a few of those New Year’s superstitions, taboos, and old wives’ tales still in general circulation: @ One of the more popular beliefs is that kissing your beloved at the stroke of midnight ensures twelve months of continuing affection. Failing to do so is said to produce the opposite effect. @ Never begin the New Year with unpaid debts. @ Empty cupboards at the turn of the year foretell a year of poverty.

: @ A Polish tradition states that if

@

: @ In Spain, and many other Latin : countries, eating twelve grapes, one : for each month, is said to ensure a : lucky year. : @ According to a Pennsylvania Dutch

The first person to enter your

home after midnight foretells the kind of luck you'll have in the coming year. A tall, dark, handsome male bearing small gifts is said to bring the best luck. According to this same tradition, no one should leave the house until someone first enters from outside, and nothing should be removed from the house on New Year’s Day. @ Opening all doors and windows at midnight lets the old year escape. @ Babies born on New Year’s Day are said to have the best luck throughout their lives.

232

2011

: you wake up early on New Year’s : Day you will wake up early the rest

: of the year. And if you touch the : floor with the right foot when get: ting up from bed, you should expect

: a lot of good luck for the whole year. : ®@ In Italy, eating chiacchiere (a : fried sweet pastry) guarantees

a

: sweet year.

: (German)

tradition, eating pork

: and sauerkraut brings good luck in : the New Year.

:@

In the Southern USS., it is : believed that eating black-eyed peas, : ham hocks, and collard greens or : cabbage on New Year’s Day will : attract a financial windfall. : @ Eating anything

that forms

a

: circle—such as donuts—leads to : good fortune in the coming year.

FARMERS’

ALMANAC

NV AVCeMAT YETalasXe Momo yl AV(-M nao) oa] and dad something back...

WMat-Viaelare=) el-lele(-Jalea-e Mom and dad have done a lot for us, that’s _why we wanted to do

something for them

|

in return.

i

So, we talked to Premier Care ! about their extensive range of Walk-In Baths which have —

helped improve the livesof thousands of people. Low entry, a built-in seat and temperature control are some of the benefits their baths offer.

i

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Please send me a FREE Premier Care brochure today!

1 n ! 1

Name

: }

Telephone (

)

; 1

Address

1 i]

City

Statee

i:

Zip

:

1148080

:

i]

Send to: Premier Care in Bathing Inc. 2330 South Nova Road, South Daytona, Florida 32119

i]

e

it

Published vay year since 1818, the Farmers’ Almanac is the goto ar i

‘i

source for inspirational and. useful tips. Time tested and generation approved * weather, iat

Oey

Almanac

is a compendium

of nowledge'i

gardening, cooking, remedies, managing your household prethe earth

Farmers’ ‘Almanac

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andmore! Anyone can gwagoe advice but aie a goes beyond: today’s experts and enlightens .ey

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from its generations 4

of perception,

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experiefice, and. common. Ey

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The Farmers’ Almanac is not only favored for its 16 months of 80-85% accurate

long-range weather forecasts, but also

for its information|

on better gardening, best Hays for fishing, easy-tomake recipes, uinely:

household tips, natural‘cures, and sustainable living _— and ait a elec,

Stecontains bits of wit and wisdom and just theTight touch of folkloreand humor that’s kepe consumers turning to its pages for almost 200 years

:

\

Grow Your Life. Read the Farmers’ Almanac.

www.FarmersAlmanac.com ny ‘, ike

Pieler

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$6.95

;

ISBN 1-928720-01-3

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