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:

by sduncan
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Ashcove, ME Lobster Crew A Maine Sunset

As Season 2 of our series on Public Television officially rolls out, I wanted to take a moment as the series producer and director to say what a wonderful season it will be. I had the incredible opportunity to travel the country meeting people that are inspiring, down to earth, and just plain real in every sense of the word.

I do not take those sentiments lightly. Having worked on other series for HGTV, Spike TV, Major League Baseball and OLN to name a few, I have to say that the stories we are telling at Farmers’ Almanac TV are one of a kind. I think the one major factor that separates our show from all others is the “human” quality we try to bring to each and every story we tell, not only is there great information and story telling, but you actually feel like you know the people involved, and that I fear is lost in much of the programming out there today.

We started shooting back in March of last year and after crisscrossing the country twice and going to Canada for the first time for a story, I figure we traveled about 30,000 miles or more, much of it riding in a van loaded with crew and production gear. Glamorous it is not, but that’s the point, to get to the hard to find stories, we had to dig a little deeper and travel off the beaten path, and it was worth it!

Dan and Jana Dennison

The travel wasn’t all that bad however, and there were a few perks, for instance, when we visited Ashcove Lobster in Maine, at the end of each day of shooting, they would pull freshly caught lobsters from the holding crates, and cook them up for us until we couldn’t eat anymore - thank you Fern Giard! There was also Dan and Jana Dennison who asked us if we had ever eaten fresh Iowa sweet corn, when we replied no, they drove an hour and half from their farm on the fourth of July, to deliver perfectly cooked sweet corn to our crew - amazing! When you spend the majority of time in a van traveling and eating gas station snacks, moments like those stick with you!

Doug Elliott

Our stories this year cover the gamut, they range from the light hearted and quirky like giant pumpkins weighing more then a thousand pounds, organic shoes and visiting the farm toy capital of the world, to the inspiring, like Ken Brecher’s unique collection, and of course, the first ever Special Olympics USA National Games. There’s also a lot to learn as usual as we continue to bring you Weather Wisdom, Astronomers Notebook and add several new features including Almanac Facts with Pete Geiger and Sandi Duncan and the incredible naturalist Doug Elliott.

The Giant Pumpkin Story

Some of things you’ll learn in season 2 is that it’s easier to live in one of the largest cities in the world, then it is to live on a small farm. There is a brewer in Delaware brewing beer with green raisons and St. Johns Wort. You can actually race a 700-pound pumpkin across a freezing lake. There are very few people more inspiring then the athletes of the Special Olympics. You can actually make shoes out of bamboo - and they can be fashionable, and that a very special family can farm for nine generations, and still love it! And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

In the end, this is more then a job to all of us at Farmers’ Almanac TV. We are bringing you real life stories from all around the country, and we are as passionate about telling these stories as the people featured within the stories. We care, and we hope it comes across to you at home. One last thing, it’s a big country, so if you have any ideas for stories that would be good for us to tell, send us an email, we’d love to hear them.

Enjoy season 2, and while your doing that, we’ll be out preparing for season 3 - by the way, does anyone have any advice on how to make a van ride more interesting?

Sincerely,

Paul Leone
Supervising Producer
Farmers’ Almanac TV
PaulLeone@FarmersAlmanacTV.com

by Farmers Almanac Staff
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This month, Farmers’ Almanac TV starts its second season on public television with hints and tips from the Farmers’ Almanac, plus a lot of inspiring, yet off-the-beaten path stories about gardening, natural cures, weather, rural destinations and more.

While the season is full of great stories that everyone in the family can enjoy, here are a few highlights:

• Meet two Portland, Maine natives who just hoped to create a better soda. In the process, they created Maine Root, an organic root beer that’s flying off the shelves of grocery stores nationwide.
• Think paddling a canoe is difficult? Try paddling a 700-pound pumpkin across a frigid Canadian lake, just to win a race. Farmers’ Almanac TV shows you this one-of-a-kind competition.
• Meet Verlyn Klinkenborg, The Rural Life author and columnist for the New York Times. He gives some unique insight about his life on the farm and writing for the Times.
• The trio, Nickel Creek, entertains us with their music and thoughts about being young musicians in a very mobile world.
• Meet folks in Grundy, County Iowa who restored their old barns by painting quilt patterns on them. In the process, they created a tourist attraction that has pulled motorists from the interstates and into their town.

Of course, there are a lot more stories about people who cherish the earth’s resources, as well as insights that have made the Farmers’ Almanac famous (like how to predict the weather just by looking at the sky).

There are also interviews with Former President Jimmy Carter, Senator Tom Harkin, Tom Arnold, Tim and Eunice Shriver as well as Willie Nelson.

So be sure to check out your T.V. Guide to find Farmers’ Almanac TV show times and dates for your local area.
For a complete run down of Season Two episodes, click here.

Technorati tags: Former President Jimmy Carter, Farmers’ Almanac TV Verlyn Klinkenborg Willie Nelson, Maine Root Nickel Creek

by Farmers Almanac Staff
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Of all the stories we cover, there seems to be one event that always gets rave reviews: The Combine Demolition Derby.

This annual derby pits 25-year-old combines against one another in a dirt arena in Lind, Washington. Thousands of residents from nearby towns come to see the battle that often resurrects aging combines before they are consigned to the scrap heap.

The drivers, who wear helmets but not much more protection, ram their duct-tape-laden machines into one another until they are just about disabled.

But it’s more than just a crash contest. The rural tourism event is a major fundraiser for the area’s programs, such as senior and youth services.

“The Combine Demolition Derby sets a shining example of what a small American community can accomplish when they put their minds to it. And, it highlights the family - and what it means for fathers and sons to work together toward a common goal,” said Mickey Youmans, exeuctive vice president of development and production for Farmers’ Almanac TV.

Farmers’ Almanac TV has included a 5-minute segment of the event in its public television show, Farmers’ Almanac TV. The segment can also be found on our web site: farmersalmanactv.com.

On Nov. 17th, we are proud to show a 30-minute episode of The Combine Demolition Derby on RFD-TV at 9:00 p.m. We hope you enjoy the show.

To see our press release, click here.

Technorati tags: public television, Farmers’ Almanac TV RFD-TV

Combine Demolition Derby Lind

by Farmers Almanac Staff
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We often get the question, “Where can I watch Farmers’ Almanac TV?” Well, we are broadcast on public television stations across the United States. But, we don’t have a set time. Local programmers in each market decide what shows to run for their local audiences – and at what time.

You can always check our map or local listings to find out when Farmers’ Almanac TV is broadcast in your area.

Our goal is to be broadcast on every public television station – and we are making steady progress. Since our debut in April, Farmers’ Almanac TV has been broadcast to approximately 63% of the country. More than 35 states have broadcast the show on their public television stations.

And, we are adding stations every day. In fact, over the past few months we have added 34 new stations throughout the U.S. We also recently added new television markets, including Casper WY, Houston, Klamath Fall OR, Medford OR, New York City, Odessa TX, Redding CA, Riverton WY, Schenectady, NY Scranton, PA, Spokane WA, Wilkes Barre, PA.

If you want to see Farmers’ Almanac TV, and it’s not running on your local public television station, feel free to contact your local programmer or us. The more public support there is for a show, the more likely programmers will choose to run it.

Technorati tags: public television, Farmers’ Almanac TV

by Farmers Almanac Staff
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Last week, I returned to our office in Savannah, Georgia, from producing upcoming segments for our next season on public television. Among them is a story on Tide Mill Farm, near Edmunds, ME.

Tide Mill is a spectacular 1600-acre farm with 6 miles of coastline that has been in the Bell family for nine generations. Robert Bell emigrated there from Scotland in 1765. Led by the local Passamaquoddy tribe to a site on the easternmost Maine coast, he built a grist-mill powered by the powerful flow of the area’s 28-foot tidal waters. Today, Robert is buried in one of two family cemeteries that overlook the farm and its surrounding tidal lakes.

Almost two-hundred and fifty years later, several Bell families spanning four generations now operate the farm.

The original Bell farmhouse still stands and is today operated as a B&B. We had the great fortune to stay there during our production and to eat wonderful meals made from the bounty of the farm. Each morning at six a.m., I drank milk from one of the Bell’s cows, as I watched Aaron from the kitchen window milking his herd.

For more on Tide Mill Farm, and to meet the Bells, look for the upcoming segment in our weekly show on public television. (This segement will appear some time after January). Here are some of the things you’ll see:

• The restored family farmhouse — once destroyed by fire, and rebuilt in part from the timbers of a three-masted schooner beached at the old Tide Mill wharf.
• The giant stones of a partially still-standing dam — built by hand and without mortar in the early 1800s, the dam controlled the flow of water, making it possible to operate a sawmill.
• The timbers of the old wharf and the old sawmill – deep below the frigid waters, their algae-covered outlines are revealed twice a day by the retreating tide.
• A millstone from Robert’s grist-mill – lying in the grass between the farmhouse and the site of the mill. The children of the 9^th-generation played on it as we shot an interview.

In the meantime, the Bells invite you to visit the Tide Mill website @ http://www.tidemillorganicfarm.com/

By, Michael Jarema, Producer for Farmers’ Almanac TV

Technorati tags: Tide Mill Farm, Farmers’ Almanac TV public television

by Farmers Almanac Staff
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After much anticipation, the Giant Pumpkin Regatta is finally here.

I joined the Farmers’ Almanac TV film crew for an early breakfast at the Clockmaker Inn. We then headed off to the Dill “Punkin” patch to catch the last bit of preparation for the giant pumpkins (and when I say giant, I mean pumpkins in the range of 800 pounds or more).

The pumpkins were all loaded up and then transported for a local parade, celebrating the race. There were floats, bands and over forty decorated giant pumpkins. The crowd for this small town (of Windsor, Nova Scotia) was unbelievable. Everyone was so excited.

The launching of the pumpkins (into the lake) was amazing and done very quickly. Many folks who were trying out their pumpkins for the first time, took a spill in the water. After a while of warmups, (or a better way to put it, a little breathing time, for those who went for a swim), the first heat started with the motorized ( YES MOTORS ) heat. Only two of the four pumpkins made it across, although the crowd was ecstatic.

Next came the big event: Forty paddlers make it across the lake in their makeshift boats, giant pumkins. We watched the heated competition between Peter Geiger in the Farmers’ Almanac pumpkin and Shellie of the Weather Network of Canada in her pumpkin. Both were great sports, and first-timers to boot.

They have a challenge for next year and I think I am going to throw my name in the hat - it looks like too much fun to pass up.

I have met a lot of very nice folks at the Giant Pumpkin Regatta in Windsor, NS - and it proves to me (again) that this world is full of great people who can have fun making lemons out of lemonade, or more precisely, turning giant pumpkins into floating fruits.

These are the stories that we at Farmers’ Almanac TV are excited to bring to television.

Unfortunately this great weekend has come to an end but I would like to thank everyone up here for the great time.

I strongly urge folks to put this event on their calendar for next year. It’s a great family event. Until then, you can see video about the Regatta on our television show, Farmers’ Almanac TV. This segment will appear sometime after January. Just check our map to find out when our show is playing on a public television station near you.

By Bill Chisholm, CEO/Chairman of Farmers’ Almanac TV and head Farmhand.

Technorati tags: Giant Pumpkin Regatta, Big Pumpkins Howard Dill

by Farmers Almanac Staff
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I made it to Windsor after traveling for over 18 hours. While it was a very long day, the ride with the film crew through Maine and New Brunswick was breathtaking. The leaves were changing - and I was enchanted by the colors.

I am staying at the Clockmaker’s Inn and I highly recommend it. Our host at the inn is the Dunham family. Please visit the inn’s web site www.theclockmakersinn.com .

Today, I spent some time learning about giant pumpkins from the man that started it all –Howard Dill . We arrived at the Dill farm, and were met with beautiful fall colors, cool air and huge pumpkins everywhere. The Dill family couldn’t have been more welcoming.

I ventured into the garden to see 1200 lbs. squash and 1100 lbs. pumpkins. Incredible! (I also learned the correct pronunciation of pumpkin — “pun-kin”).

The real drama of the day began when the racers came to pick up their pumpkins. Each crew has a great story about why they chose a certain pumpkin for the Giant Pumpkin Regatta. One crew was putting a number of pumpkins together with a 9-horse power motor on the back for the motor division.

Peter Geiger, the philom of Farmers’ Almanac, arrived with the real challenger pumpkin, which weighed over 600 lbs. A heated competition appears to be developing between the Farmers’ Almanac
and The Weather Network of Canada. Wow, this should be great fun.

Well it is time to get back to the show. I will report on the Regatta tomorrow (footage from this Giant Pumpkin Regatta will be included in our next season, which begins in January.) What fun and what great folks you can meet .

By Bill Chisholm, CEO/Chairman of Farmers’ Almanac TV and head Farmhand.

Technorati tags: Pumpkin Regatta, Big Pumpkins Howard Dill

by Farmers Almanac Staff
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I am on the road, heading off to meet our Farmers’ AlmanacTV film crew. They are on location, getting ready to capture the Giant Pumpkin Regatta in Windsor, Nova Scotia for our television show. It’s a fascinating race: two dozen racers, sitting in their own huge pumpkin, paddle like mad towards the finish line.

The winner covers the ½ mile course in just over 10 minutes. The race started in 1999, and was the brainchild of Danny Dill, son of pumpkin grower Howard Dill, one of the masters of massive pumpkins. (Howard also will be included in our footage for the television show).

I’m ready for the action. But it’s going to be a lot of traveling before I get to see any racing. My day began at 4: 30 am in Savannah, GA, where Farmers’ Almanac TV is located. I’m about to board my second flight of the day, heading up to Bangor. After that, it’s a much anticipated 7-hour drive to Nova Scotia.

I keep on thinking about how much fun Saturday and Sunday will be seeing all the giant
pumpkins and watching Peter Geiger, the philom of Farmers’ Almanac, paddle a giant pumpkin. (The size of these pumpkins average 800lbs). Well, off to the great race. I will keep in touch as I make this road trip.

By Bill Chisholm, Chairman/CEO of Farmers’ Almanac TV, as well as head Farmhand.

Technorati tags: Pumpkin Regatta, Big Pumpkins Howard Dill

by Farmers Almanac Staff
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On Oct. 25-27, the FFA is hosting it’s 79th annual convention in Indanapolis. Farmers’ Almanac TV will be there. Before we go, here is a primer about the organization and event.
What is the FFA?
The National FFA Organization was organized as the “Future Farmers of America” in 1928 in Kansas City, Mo. In 1988, the official organization name was changed to The National FFA Organization to reflect the broadening field of agriculture, which today encompasses more than 300 careers in everything from agriscience to biotechnology to turf grass management.

Convention:
The FFA convention is expected to draw more than 51,000 attendees. Events include:

Student workshops including:

Solving the Agricultural Puzzle - become a better advocate for agriculture.

Think Again About Agriscience - discover opportunities in Agriscience
Would You Like Fries with that - learn how to be a smarter eater

Learning to Lead - learn leadership skills

Career Success Tours:

Students can visit area farms, agriscience companies, horse parks, veterinary clinics and other places to get insight about future careers.

Plus there is a lot more scheduled, including a keynote address from Terry Bradshaw, co-host and analyst on FOX NFL Sunday.

Farmers’ Almanac TV will blog from the event. In the meantime, feel free to post your thoughts about the event.
Technorati tags: FFA

by Farmers Almanac Staff
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