Ok – summer has arrived for most parts of the country. Now is the time to prepare yourself for some great weather and all that comes with it. Here are survival tips:
For Insect Bites
> Meat tenderizer. Make a paste with tenderizer and water. Apply to sting or bite.
> Toothpaste, regular flavored, when applied to stings (especially fire ant bites) will relieve itching immediately.
> Orajel – small amount applied to the bite will numb the area.
> Great no-ice icepack. Keep a handful of popcorn kernels in a small, sealed plastic bag and store it in the freezer. The bag takes up little room and always ready to use.
Poison Ivy
> Witch hazel applied to the affected area soothes the itching.
> Instant tea helps dry the poison ivy. Add one 8 oz jar of tea to warm bath water and soak for 15 minutes. The tannic acid soothes and dries the poison ivy.
For Rashes
> Add 1/2 cup baking soda to warm bath and soak for 15 minutes.
> Oatmeal bath – In a blender, blend 1 cup of oatmeal until it is powder. Place in a nylon stocking and tie the stocking closed. Place the oatmeal filled nylon stocking in a tub of warm water.
> Cornstarch – sprinkle on rashes. It will help relive the temptation to itch.
I will be in Boston for the next 2 days but will over more summer tips when I return.
Peter Geiger is the Editor of the Farmers' Almanac. 
If you notice a hole in the upper left-hand corner of your Farmers' Almanac, don't return it to the store! That hole isn't a defect; it's a part of history. Starting with the first edition of the Farmers' Almanac in 1818, readers used to nail holes into the corners to hang it up in their homes, barns, and outhouses (to provide both reading material and toilet paper). In 1910, the Almanac's publishers began pre-drilling holes in the corners to make it even easier for readers to keep all of that invaluable information (and paper) handy.
