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.

by pgeiger
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Fishermen are a different group. Nothing bothers them. They can stand by a stream or sit in a boat all day. The preference is to catch a fish or two but hey, just fishing makes  time whittle away. Here is one of my favorite fishing poems from an earlier Farmers’ Almanac:

A Fisherman’s Prayer

God grant me a little more time

To pick up my rod, and cast my line.

Work and worry  disappear

When I pick up my fishing gear.

With boat on trailer, I will go

Anywhere the fishing’s not too slow.

Work just doesn’t seem so fine

When I see what’s at the end of my fishing line.

When I am feeble, old and grey

Please don’t take my pole away.

When the Pearly Gates open wide

Please find this old fisherman, one good lake inside!

By Jeannette Hoppes

by pgeiger
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When I was a freshman at Villanova University, Earth Day was created on April 22nd, 1970.  It was the very beginning of a movement that has grown in importance as the debate on Global Warming has taken center stage. In 1970, it was a matter of cleaning up the roads and riverbanks.  The origins of Earth Day were announced in the fall of 1969 by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. It received great energy on college campuses. Many were tiring of the Viet Nam War and there was a need to focus on what was and wasn’t good for the environment.

Thirty-eight years later our world population has grown, we have seen oil spills, pollution all over the world and reduction in the number of trees worldwide. Earth Day is a reminder that Mother Earth needs to be cared for as we would for as any member of the family. There are extremes with any cause. The Farmers’ Almanac and  Farmers’ Almanac TV have dealt in a practical way with what is right for  the environment. 

When you have a moment visit our website www.farmersalmanac.com. Click on the icon for  Video & TV and review segments that deal with the earth, recycling and sustainability.  There are 175 videos in all. This is a great day to revisit what and how we live our lives.

Yesterday, I mentioned  folks who live to be 100+. Today, our paper carried a front page story about Libby Goldman who turned 100 and is as sharp as a tack. The piece mentions that 1 in 8,000 lives to be 100. Of this group only 20% are lucid.  For those who make it in good order, the common traits are (1) good genetics, (2) good health habits - don’t smoke, don’t drink and exercise, and (3) manage stress well. In fact we had a Hugging Campaign years ago. People who hug tend to have better quality lives. So, if you want to live to 100… here is your road map.

by pgeiger
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Since the beginning of time (almost), humans have tried to discover the “fountain of youth” and/ or reverse the aging process. For whatever reason we just don’t want to get old. In the 1997 Farmers’ Almanac, we interviewed four seniors all over the 100 mark. We told some great stories. Fred Hale, for example was 105 at the time.  A year earlier he had to  surrender his driver’s license because he failed the eyesight test. Fred was the oldest driver on record. Eventually, Fred moved in with his son (age 84) and lived to be the oldest person in the world passing 4 days shy of his 114th birthday.

Recently, I read a study of what are being called “supercentenarians” or individuals 110 years or older. Edna Parker at 115 is the oldest known person alive.  Not many years ago, a woman in France lived to be 122. The bottom line is that while it is good and important to eat healthy foods, exercise, limit stress and more, your genetics is what may determine your eventual age. We still want to get the most out of life by being healthy, but if your mom and dad lived to be very old, you have a darn good chance of the same fate. Scientists are studying genetic from healthy individuals  110+. They are looking for a mix of genetics that either allow a person to avoid illnesses or slows down the aging process.

My dentist (not my physician) and I got into a conversation, or as much  I could with his hand in my mouth, about how people are going to live to be 150 going forward. There will be pills for everything and replacement parts so you will not only live 1 1/2 centuries, but your quality of life would be just dandy. Maybe not in my lifetime, but that is the theory.

For my part my Dad first broached the subject of being the Farmers’ Almanac editor when I was seven years old. After all,  no one who held the job passed away before the age of 86. Ray Geiger only lasted to 83 but at that time it sounded like a ripe old age. Well, it isn’t 110 or 150, but if I get to 86, I will have felt that I did my job.

If you or a relative is 100+, I’d love to hear about their “secret” of life. Contact me at pgeiger@farmersalmanac.com.

by pgeiger
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There are few things in the sky more beautiful than a Full Moon. In April the Moon is Full on the 20th at 6:25am (EDT). It’s not really a pink moon but has been known by many a a Full Pink Moon. This designation came from the herb moss pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring. And, yes, it is pink.

Moon names came from a variety of Native American tribes. So, there is no one name. Depending upon the tribe  location other names, the moon has been referred to this month also include  the Full Egg Moon, Full Fish Moon and the Full Sprouting Grass Moon.  Enjoy the April Full Pink Moon on Sunday.

by pgeiger
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For some parts of the country, winter is a distant memory. And, in some cases, there was very little snow. But for most of the northern states, “Old Man Winter” was especially grumpy. It didn’t get much worse than in Caribou Maine. They surpassed their 1954 record of 182 inches of snow and are approaching the 200 inch mark. That translates into 16 1/2 feet of whet stuff.  It wasn’t one or two storms, it just kept snowing,,,, maybe 30+ times.  In honor of this record setting year,  I sent copies of the 2008 Farmers’ Almanac to the city officials and here is the reply from Mayor Miles Williams.

I want to thank you for the copy of the Farmers’ Almanac that you sent to each of us. It was a very pleasant surprise. I recall reading some of the entries in the last years edition and was thinking there is no way we are going to receive that much snow! The local television Meteorologist was saying last fall that he predicted we would receive at least 149”, to date we are almost 197”. I guess the best way to say it is “look at what we got”. It has been an interesting year for our Public Works Department also, I was up visiting the Crews late one night while they were working, and we were joking that the cabs of the vehicles haven’t had an opportunity to even cool off this season! No doubt we have set and broke many records this year and we have a lot of time yet before the air clears for the season. But we ARE Mainers and it is just another day in the “County” 

by pgeiger
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Sometimes I joke that “weather is my life”. And, for the Farmers’ Almanac, it is an important part of what we do. In the 1800s it was important for farmers to plan  according to the Farmers’ Almanac. In more recent years, because we travel far and wide and do so with a sense of urgency, planning (including weather) is just as vital…. maybe more so.

I also realize that weather folklore is the result of observations by folks over centuries. Over the weekend I attended  weather spotter training conducted by the National Weather Service (Gray, Maine Office). Even with the sophistication of computers and satellites, they depend upon people on the ground to report what is actually  happening.This is called “ground truth”.

In order to have ground truth, you have to have an army of people who observe conditions and report unusual activity to the NWS so they can update and pass on appropriate warnings. The training focused on observation of cloud formations and resulting  thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail , etc. If your local NWS Office offers such training, I recommend it.

The National Weather Service is is one arm of the Federal Government that impacts all of us every day.  Weather, by it’s nature and because of unique topography, can vary tremendously. They do  need the support of “spotters”. If you are interested in becoming a spotter contact the local office of the National Weather Service. The information you learn and the service you provide is “priceless:.

by pgeiger
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Yesterday, I spoke about being frugal. Today here are  a few easy things you can do:

   > Instead of  using wrapping paper, try using something recyclable, such as a kitchen tea towel, a pretty pillowcase, a linen napkin or tinfoil. You can also use pieces of wallpaper or the colorful comic section of the Sunday paper.

   > By a refrigerator with reduced chlorofluoro-carbon (CFC) in its foam insulation.

   > Organize your refrigerator so the air circulates over, under and around food.

   > Use a microwave whenever possible. They use less energy than conventional ovens.

   >  Car pool or use public transportation. You’ll help cut down on gas consumption, noise and  air pollution. 

If you have any suggestions on how to save energy, send me a note at pgeiger@farmersalmanac.com.

by pgeiger
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The slow economy and fast rising costs for health care and energy is putting a crimp in all of our pockets. The Farmers’ Almanac has always been an advisor on issues of “frugally”. It may be our Yankee ingenuity and it may be that there are ways to accomplish chores without buying disposable products. Here are a few suggestions concerning containers:

Coffee cans:

   * Storage place for nails, screws and small tools

   * Outdoor citronella candles -place candle inside. When done cover with plastic lid.

   * Fund-raisers. Decorate empty coffee can and fill with cookies and sell at bake sales or other fund-raising events.

Plastic Milk Containers:

   * Store sugar. Easy to pour and sugar won’t lump

   * Fill with rice, pasta, dried beans, etc.

Wrapping Paper Cardboard Tubes

   * wrap your holiday lights around empty tubes. Prevents tangling and allows for easy storage.

   * trim to size and store tongs closed so they take up less room in drawers.

by pgeiger
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Have you ever heard the saying “Sleep Tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite.”  In the early days f the Us, only the wealthy had mattresses. Most folks had to sleep on straw that was put inside sheets. And, each night the bedding might sag a little. So before going to bed, one would retie the ropes to hold the bedding in place and hope that the critters (bedbugs) would not come out and bite. Thus, the saying was true.

A couple years ago, the media started picking up on the fact that people were experiencing bed bug bites particularly if you travel and sleep in a motel. Personally, I have never had the pleasure (bugs in beds) but it is a problem and one that is growing. Bugs find their way into a mattress and when you go to sleep at night, they gravitate toward the warm body and then take a bite or two or three. If you have been bitten, you will awake with small red marks and  that itchy feeling.

So, if you need a mattress for a camp and go to a garage sale, be sure it is clean. Bedbugs are blood sucking insects that hide in a mattress, box springs, headboards, furniture and even in clothing. A sign of bedbugs is the look of pepper on a mattress or sheets - the remains of blood from previous victims. The bugs are about 3/16th of an inch long with six legs.

What to do:

Hotel rooms - inspect them carefully upon arrival. Look for this pepper appearance, check seams and headboard cracks.

Travel clothes - when you get home from a trip, wash your clothes - hot water does the trick.

Second hand furniture - check it closely before bringing  into the house.

I know when I check into a hotel, I always check for bugs… even at upscale places. If you find bugs in a hotel room, report it to the manager. If you have bedbugs at home, you may need to get a professional to spray. But, if you are careful about used mattresses and furniture you may never run into one of these critters. Yet another thing to worry about. Sorry

by pgeiger
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