One of the most exciting aspects of the Farmers’ Almanac during recent years is the ongoing development of Farmers’ Almanac Television. The book has been in existence since 1818, but in the last three years Farmers’ Almanac –the TV show–has come to life on local public television stations (90% of US homes).
 
A third season has been produced and will find its way into your home this winter. Sandi and I had an enriching visit with the TV folks last week and are encouraged with the way topics only found in the Farmers’ Almanac are now expanded on TV. The quality of each show is what makes Farmers’ Almanac TV such excellent programming – the show makes television once again good to watch.

If you have never seen Farmers’ Almanac TV, check your local TV Guide, or go to our home page, and enter your zip code for time and station. And, if you have missed programs, there are hundreds of short videos from some of the shows you can views right here online. (Go to the video and TV link (http://www.farmersalmanac.com/video/) and you’ll be able to watch an array of fabulous video (entertaining and educating) on everything from fall foliage to weather lore to recipes.
 
Tell us what you think of the show and of the Almanac. We are always looking for ways to add to our Farmers’ Almanac content. Leave me a note here or feel free to email me direct at pgegier@farmersalmanac.com
 

by pgeiger
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In the 2009 Farmers’ Almanac we have included a couple new pieces of information we believe will be helpful. The first is a Hardiness Zone Map. It has now ben loaded on our site.  It is different from other more static maps. You scroll over you region and it becomes colored and relates to the suitability for winter survival  of a rated plant in an “average” winter. Here is a link http://www.farmersalmanac.com/weather/a/us-plant-hardiness-zones. 

As leaves start to change colors, we have listed the Peak Foliage Dates for the entire country.   This is found on page 72. Again,  you can go to our website and find a map which offers this information easily. Here is  the  link :   http://www.farmersalmanac.com/home_garden/a/fall-foliage-dates.   In Maine the leaves have already started to make the transition. Because of the wet summer, I believe we’ll have brilliant colors this fall.   

 Try both and spend time on our website. We are adding new features almost daily.   Sandi and I will be traveling to Savannah, Ga. to spend time with our friends at Farmers’ Almanac Television. I’ll return on Monday and offer insights into what is happening  in the world of TV. 

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Fall Foliage, Hardiness Map, Colors

by pgeiger
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While Memorial Day is the “official start to summer”, Labor Day has become the “official end”. So, don’t let it go without  some rest and relaxation. The first Labor Day was celebrated with parades, picnics and fireworks. Today, Labor Day is celebrated in many different ways but is still a day set aside to appreciate the advancements, freedoms and prosperity our country experiences. Despite any current economic woes, this is still  a great country made up of women and men who work hard for their families and as a community help one another.

So, this Labor Day, look around and remember that life is good

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Official End to Summer, Labor day

by pgeiger
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This week has been a fantastically rewarding week. I get to talk to people (mostly in the media) from all over North America. From television in Boston, to radio in Portland, ME; Utica , NY; Wayne, NE; and a newspaper in Toronto, Canada, I’ve literally “been there.” Each interview has been great – highlighting first and foremost our weather predictions, but then going into more of what makes this year’s Farmers’ Almanac a “must-read.”

One question I often get and would like to share with you is the name of our publication – Farmers’ Almanac. Sometimes as an interview continues (especially radio),  is “this isn’t really just for farmers is it?” My answer is always “absolutely not.”

When the Farmers’ Almanac started 192 years ago, it was named after the people of its day- farmers. Farmers were and still are hard-working and honest people. As years passed and farming gave way to more industrial jobs,  our content changed but we kept our name. It’s part of our tradition, part of our history.

The Farmers’  Almanac isn’t a farming publication. We do offer tons of gardening tips, a gardening calendar and our exclusive gardening by the moon calendar, but we also offer gardening advice for all types of “gardeners” including thus without any land (patio gardens, etc.).  We also have fishing information,  helpful hints for around the house, natural cures, recipes and articles on ways to live more resourcefully (and sustainably), and much more.

We know that many of our readers and web visitors come from big cities and many from rural and suburban areas. We also know that some of our readers have “gone back to the land” and are actually  raising a few traditional farm animals such as chickens, rabbits and goats.  We also know that many of our readers who live in urban areas want to learn more about ways to conserve, reuse and live more in harmony with our planet. Thus we are for “farmers” in a sense that we are for good, honest, hard working people.

If you haven’t bought a Farmers’ Almanac or read one in awhile, you should. Then you can learn for yourself what a Farmers ’  Almanac really is.

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Farmers, City Folks, Must Read, Rural vs City

by pgeiger
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New England Cable News, Matt Noyes, Wedding Weather
Like that famous pink bunny in a battery commercial, Farmers’ Almanac editors have to be built for endurance. Since we live in such a fast-paced, 24/7 society, we are now asked to be on TV shows, radio shows and other media outlets at all times of the day and night.
 
Years ago, my Dad would travel 180 days a year going from city-to-city, talking about the Farmers’ Almanac. Today, the way we communicate is much different. In fact, with all the delays at airports, I am not sure it would be possible to accomplish what was once possible - running from plane to plane. Now I can do a radio, even TV interviews from the comfort of my own city. But, this morning, I got up at 2:30am to drive to Newton, Mass. to be on my favorite networks - New England Cable News.

Some interviews just have lots of energy. Matt Noyes is the network’s morning meteorologist. He was also featured in the 2008 Farmers’ Almanac article Everything Ice. While our weather outlook for the upcoming year seems to be the talk of most interviews, there are many other great features in the Farmers’ Almanac. Matt took the time to get into these articles and share some other non-weather related items. It was a great interview.

Matt got married on August 16th. It turned out to be a perfect wedding day. He didn’t ask me for the best day. But if he had, it would have been August 16th. Here is the NECN interview. http://www.necn.com/Boston/Weather/A-sitdown-with-the-new-Farmers-Almanac/1219836433.html <http://www.necn.com/Boston/Weather/A-sitdown-with-the-new-Farmers-Almanac/1219836433.html>

Speaking of weddings, here is a note from a friend of a friend who said… “I caught the headlines of the Farmers Almanac. There seems to be some dissension between the Almanac and the National Weather Service. I can honestly say that I used the almanac to plan my wedding and it was just as the almanac said it would be, a perfect day. I don’t know if I trust the NWS that much.”
 
Keep watching, listening, and reading for more interviews, tips and advice from you ever “ready” Almanac editor. Stay tuned ….

by pgeiger
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Upcoming Winter Weather, Being Green, Frugality, Resourceful Living

Today on my desk was a present that I have looked forward to for many months now – the brand new, hot off the press 2009 Farmers’ Almanac. Its pages are overflowing with new tips, articles, weather predictions and trivia. It’s certainly another bestseller in the making.

Your Guide to Resourceful Living
While most of you probably know that the Farmers’ Almanac is a great weather source, but it also contains valuable content on ways to save money, conserve gas and water, feel better about the environment, your health and your home, plus recipes, astronomical data and the all-important planting and fishing guides.

And WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE WHAT WE’RE PREDICTING FOR THE UPCOMING WINTER!
I am sworn to secrecy until the 2009 Farmers’ Almanac hits the store shelves (August 26, 2008), but I will tell you it’s one everyone is going to be talking about!

The new edition is a must-have . You can preorder your copy here – http://store.farmersalmanac.com/category/283 (and get a free gift if you order before August 1). In addition to the long-range weather, a few of my favorite articles in the 2009 edition include:

• 7 Survivor lessons in any situation
• 7 Ways to conserve water
• 5 ways you may inadvertently be hurting the earth
• 10 Green lessons from Farmers’ Almanac TV
• Ways to garden without a yard
• Natural cures for common ailments
• Regional recipes from around the country

Don’t let the name fool you. The Farmers’ Almanac isn’t just for farmers or for people who live in very rural areas. It’s a guide to good, simple living and provides resourceful ideas on ways to live a more frugal, happy, and green life.

Watch for our green and orange almanac in stores next month or order your copies now! If you already have a subscription, the 2009 Farmers’ Almanac will be shipped around August 15, and start showing up in stores around the 26th.

Keep coming back to our site too – we’ll reveal interesting tidbits and must-know ideas about the upcoming, newest Farmers’ Almanac.

by pgeiger
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