Over the years there have been certain slogans that stand out in our memory and almost become part of our every day language. Burger King’s “have it your way” campaign is one of those catchy ones that really worked well. You knew after watching those commercials that you could go in and order a burger “your way” even though it was “fast food.”

Well - if you could have it your way — the Farmers’ Almanac that is — how would you like it? Would you order more weather, hold the astronomy, extra recipes? Is there something you really like about the print edition? Or is there something you think we’ve missed?

At this time of the year, we start thinking about the 2010 edition. Before we start assigning stories, I thought I’d ask you –our web visitors - if you had any suggestions on how we could make the Farmers’ Almanac Your Way.

To quote another very famous and popular ad slogan (but change it slightly) GOT IDEAS?

I’d really appreciate your feedback regarding the print edition of the Farmers’ Almanac. Do you like the articles? What would you like us to add or take out? What about hints - should we add more green or frugal tips?

Share your ideas here or feel free to e-mail direct at sduncan@farmersalmanac.com. This is your Farmers’ Almanac and your chance to help us make it even more “your way.”

Thanks!

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I hav recently been asked if we had any suggestions for homemade, more natural cleaning products for the house. Here ae a few suggestions form past Farmers’ Almanacs:

Vinegar and water make a great window cleaner

Borax and water make an effective all-purpose cleaner

Baking soda is an earth-friendly, inexpensive way to remove baked-on, burned-on foods in pots and pans, and when mixed with vinegar acts as a super drain cleaner.

What’s your favorite alternative cleaner?

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Ever wonder why old barns are usually red in color? Red is (or, perhaps, was) a popular color for barns due not to its color shade but for its usefulness.

Many years ago, choices for paints, sealers and other building materials did not exist. Farmers had to be resourceful in finding or making a paint that would protect and seal the wood on their barns. Hundreds of years ago, many farmers would seal their barns with linseed oil, which is an orange-colored oil derived from the seeds of the flax plant. To this oil, they would add a variety of things, most often milk and lime, but also ferrous oxide, or rust. Rust was plentiful on farms and because it killed fungi and mosses that might grow on barns, was very effective as a sealant. It turned the mixture red in color.

When paint became more available, many people chose red paint for their barns in honor of tradition.

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In each new edition of the Farmers’ Almanac, we continue to share “Philosofacts” and a “thought of the year” with our readers. These witty one liners (part philosophical, part fact) have been a Farmers’ Almanac tradition for many, many years.

Here are a few thoughts or philosofacts that I thought might inspire or give you a chuckle. Enjoy.

Happiness sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open.

Don’t carry a grudge; it’s too heavy a load for anybody.

Defeat isn’t bitter if you don’t swallow it.

Life is like a mirror—we get the best results when we smile at it.

Beware of half-truths—you may get hold of the wrong half.

The size of your foot has very little to do with your ability to get it into your mouth.

Learn to profit by the mistakes of others; you can’t live long enough to make all of them yourself.

People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges.
Got any good philosofacts? Be sure to share them with us here.

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Wow - it’s hard to believe that yet another summer season is just about over. Yes, summer isn’t officially over for another 4 weeks or so, but for most of us who have kids heading back to school, the summer season is wrapped up. Labor Day is here, marking the unofficial end of summer, but have you ever given any thought to the origin of Labor Day?

Labor Day is a holiday like no other in the world. Celebrated on the first Monday of September, it is dedicated to honoring the contributions of U.S. workers to the strength and prosperity of our country. The first Labor Day was celebrated on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City.

Two different people are credited with the creation of Labor Day. Some historians believe Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, first suggested a holiday to honor those “who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold.”

Others credit the idea to Matthew Maguire, a machinist and secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is agreed upon is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.

Whomever really came up with the ideas isn’t as important as recognizing the contributions of all laborers in our great country. Enjoy the holiday. Remember if you need a weather forecast for the day you can find it here, or if you need some picnic food ideas we have lots of tasty recipes as well.

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The 2009 Farmers’ Almanac is here! It’s always an exciting time of year when the new edition comes out. It’s like a holiday that many of us have eagerly been waiting and working towards for months!

This year’s edition is better than ever! With concerns over the economy and the environment, the 2009 Farmers’ Almanac steps up to the plate and offers tons of advice and tips on ways to conserve energy, water, gas and more! One of my favorite features in this year’s edition is the many natural cures we’re offering for common ailments. Did you know that the herb feverfew can help prevent migraines? Or that a foot soak could help take the pain away from a headache?

Do you know how to test if your lawn really needs water? (Step on your grass, if it springs back when you lift your foot it doesn’t.) And another favorite is the Household Mysteries story, which provides a possible solution for the ever-mysterious Missing Sock Syndrome!

By now you’ve probably heard -the Farmers’ Almanac is calling for a NUMBINGLY COLD winter … yikes! If you like snow and cold you will love our predictions, but if you’re concerned about heating oil, you may want to start planning ahead now.

If you haven’t picked up a copy yet you should. It really is worth every penny. It’s great to hold onto for an entire year, consulting its weather forecasts from time to time, finding the best times to plant and fish, as well as watch meteors and full moons.

You should be able to find copies at bookstores and grocery stores around the country or you can purchase one online. But please - remember — our Farmers’ Almanac, which dates back to 1818 - has an orange and green cover-don’t buy any imposters!

I truly hope you enjoy this year’s new edition - drop us a line and tell us what you like or would like to see more or less of. Before I sign out, I’d like to leave you with the 2009 Farmers’ Almanac thought of the year:

The Keys to true Happiness are:

1. Weather — this winter’s forecast is sure to leave many hoping we are wrong.

2. Grow You Own - great story by the Garden Girl about how to grow your own fruit and vegetables even if you don’t have a yard.

3. Household Mysteries Solved- tried and true tricks on how to solve the mystery of missing socks, stolen scissors, and streaks on glass.

4. Natural Cures — for headaches, high blood pressure, cholesterol issues, stress and more.

5. Survival Tips, Helpful Hints, Best Days Calendars and more!

What are you waiting for? Order your copy today! It’s packed with proven advice, calendars, trivia, weather and a bit of humor. It’s the “go-to source” for frugal and resourceful ideas.

If you haven’t read the Farmers’ Almanac in a while this is the year to pick up a copy. They should start showing up at stores everywhere or you can order a copy here!

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The zucchini is coming …every day …two and three at a time! And I only planted one plant!

Here are a few ways we’ve been creatively using up these profusely growing vegetables (wonder if I can make a bio fuel out of them!):

Zucchini Parmesan: Use your favorite eggplant Parmesan recipe but substitute zucchini for eggplant. We made it the other night and it was an instant favorite.

Freeze it: My mom grates her zucchini now, and then freezes two cups in a freezer bag for use later on. Most zucchini recipes call for 2 cups. Freeze it now and make some tasty bread later.

Sauté it with some onions and teriyaki sauce.

Make zucchini pancakes – use your favorite potato pancake recipe but substitute the z for the p!

Don’t feel like cooking? Make zucchini people out of it. Fun for the kids, allow them to decorate the zucchini with yarn for hair, other vegetables for eyes…use your imagination. Then grate it up for some zucchini bread.

What is your favorite way to use up this vegetable?? Anyone have any good ides for yellow squash? That’s next on my list of what “not” to plant next year!

Thanks! Happy gardening and cooking!

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If you have kids, you might be familiar with the phrase “I’m bored!” And if you’re like most of us adults, we long for the days when we thought we were bored…when summer days seemed to last forever . . .

While boredom could lead to trouble, sometimes it’s OK to be bored. In today’s world of 24/7, rushing here and there, cartoons all day and night, computers and video games, sometimes being bored is a good thing.

Next time you hear “I’m bored” tell them “good, it’s good to be bored sometimes.” Use these times to appreciate nature, to take time just to sit and relax or to gaze at the sky and figure out what shapes the clouds look like. Sometimes having nothing to do is just what the doctor ordered. Sometimes we all need to be “bored” to appreciate what we have.

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Deer are very pretty to watch – from afar that is!! Where I live they are everywhere including my garden. They eat almost everything and without any mercy. In fact they recently grazed on some flowers I planted, and I wished them INDIGESTION.

Keeping deer out of the garden is a big job. I have sprinkled cayenne pepper on my flowers and plants, but once it rains, you have to reapply.

Some say human hair clippings work. I haven’t tried that though – have you?

I’ve also hear that strong scented plants tend to NOT appeal to a deer’s appetite. I have some blue salvia planted and so far they’ve stayed away.

Some plants are that supposed to be deer resistant, and I’ve had some luck with include:

• Ferns
• Salvia
• Geraniums
• Columbine
• Lilly of the Valley
• Tiger Lily
• Snapdragon
• Bleeding Heart

My mom who owns a plant farm with my dad, gave me this recipe for deer repellent. You need to make it in gallon size bucket and then apply with a spray bottle. She’s had some success, but as with the pepper, you need to reapply after soaking rains.

Here’s the recipe:
Deer Repellant

To 1 gallon of water add:
½ cup milk
1 egg
1 tsp. cooking oil
1 tbsp lemon dish detergent

Optional: Few drops of hot sauce or rosemary oil

Mix together and apply to plants.

If this doesn’t work a deer fence may be the answer.

Do you have a good deer repellent? If so share it with us here by leaving a comment.

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