If there is one treat the summer months offer, it is the ability to enjoy the night sky.  Over the weekend I had an exchange with a reader concerning meteor showers. Each year we have a page devoted to the best meteor viewings. In the 2008 edition we placed this within  the calendar pages but in 2009 we will return the familiar meteor information (page 94) section for those who enjoy watching the skies.

On of the best viewings of the year takes place in  August - the Perseid Meteors. They are visible  between the 11th and 13th. Here are the specifics:

In three out of four years, the maximum visibility comes on August 12.  In some years (usually the year before a leap year) the peak comes on August 13.  These dates are for just before dawn (early morning hours).  So in those years when the peak is on August 12, people start looking late on the night of the 11th (before midnight).  In any case, August 11-13 is probably the best range of dates to list for viewing them.  Even on the night before and night after the peak, the meteors are still rather plentiful and worth looking for.

So, get the binoculars out and next week start looking skyward for a meteor show. While the best viewing is pre-dawn on August 12th, you can view showers from the 11th - 13th. If you are interested in meteors, here is a link to learn more www.farmersalmanac.com/astronomy/a/look-its-a-shooting-star.

by pgeiger
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Recipe, Broccoli, Guarantee Hit

If you are attending a party this summer weekend, I have a recipe that will get compliments. Even if  you hate broccoli… this will get raves:  Try it but bring along copies for the asks:

Fresh Broccoli Salad

2 bunches broccoli

1/2 cup chopped, sweet onion

1 pound bacon

1 cup grated sharp or longhorn cheese

Chop tender portions of broccoli into bite size pieces. Fry bacon until crisp; drain on paper towel. Crumble bacon; mix with broccoli, onion and cheese. Add dressing just before serving.

Dressing

1 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons vinegar

Stir ingredients well to dissolve sugar.

Done. You can enhance the recipe by adding raisins, chopped walnuts or other items. You can make it a bit healthier by using Miracle Whip vs mayo. And, if you hate the mess of cooking and chopping bacon, go to your supermarket salad bar and buy it chopped. Adjust for larger crowd.

Happy weekend.

by pgeiger
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Marigolds, Healing, Natural Cures, Farmers’ Almanac Television

I always enjoy hearing from either readers or fans of FATV when they question a fact, picture or concept. If it is in the Farmers’ Almanac and we are “caught”, I will salute the sharp-eyed reader in the next edition.

Here is a great question regarding an item on natural cures. I was just watching some of the videos about natural cures.  When I saw the one about using marigold petals, thought I ought to ask you about it.  You picture the kind of marigold flowers many of us grow in our flower gardens.  From all the reading I have done about herbs I think that you probably should have pictured calendula marigold.  That is the healing herb that I have read about so many times.  If I am wrong about this and any marigold petal would work, I’d like to know that too.

Thanks,Marilyn

There is always too much information on any subject. This item below offers the best insights into  the healing powers of Marigolds. It seems that “Calendula” encompasses many varieties of Marigold.

Calendula

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Cite This Source

Calendula (Ca-lén-du-la, pot marigold) is a genus of about 12-20 species of annual or perennial herbaceous plants in the daisy family Asteraceae, native to the area from Macaronesia east through the Mediterranean region to Iran. Calendula should not be confused with the true marigolds (Tagetes species, see marigold). It is also the flower of the month October.

The name Calendula stems from the Latin kalendae, meaning first day of the month, presumably because pot marigolds are in bloom at the start of most months of the year. The common name marigold probably refers to the Virgin Mary, or its old Saxon name ‘ymbglidegold’, which means ‘it turns with the sun’. Marigolds typically bloom quickly (in under two months) in bright yellows, reds, and oranges throughout the summer and well into the fall.

Marigolds are considered by many gardening experts as one of the most versatile flowers to grow in a garden, especially since it is easy to grow. Seeds sown in the spring, in most soils, will germinate freely in sunny or half-sunny locations. They do best, however, if planted in sunny locations with rich, well-drained soil. The leaves are spirally arranged, 5-18 cm long, simple, and slightly hairy. The flower heads range from pastel yellow to deep orange, and are 3-7 cm across, with both ray florets and disc florets. They have a spicy aroma and are produced from spring to autumn in temperate climates. It is recommended to deadhead (removal of dying flower heads) the plants regularly to maintain even blossom production.

Marigolds are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Cabbage Moth, The Gothic, Large Yellow Underwing and Setaceous Hebrew Character.

Marigold petals are considered edible. They are often used to add color to salads, and marigold extract is commonly added to chicken feed to produce darker egg yolks. Their aroma, however, is not sweet, and resembles the smell of hops in beer. The oil from its seed contains calendic acid.

Medicinal effects

The ointment of this herb is thought to cure a range of skin problems from burns to acne as it has properties that reduces inflammation, controls bleeding and soothes irritated tissue. Use externally or topically for minor wounds, eczemas and cysts as well as diaper rash and cradle cap in infants.

Clinical evidence is scanty but one study suggests that calendula can speed wound healing. Another study found that calendula helps prevent rashes caused by radiation therapy.

Selected species

• Calendula arvensis – Field Marigold
• Calendula bicolor
• Calendula eckerleinii
• Calendula lanzae
• Calendula maderensis – Madeiran Marigold
• Calendula maritima – Sea Marigold
• Calendula maroccana
• Calendula meuselii
• Calendula officinalis – Pot Marigold
• Calendula stellata
• Calendula suffruticosa
• Calendula tripterocarpa

by pgeiger
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Biodeisel Fuel, Energy Savings, Oil Prices, Ingenuity, Farmers’ Almanac Television

A couple of years ago, Farmers’ Almanac Television aired a segment on biodiesel fuels - growing soy and other crops to power trucks and cars. By definition, biodiesel  is a non petroleum, alternative fuel that comes from 100% renewable sources.  At the time, I received a blistering e-mail from a woman who chastised us for the segment; she was worried about what this would do to food prices. Fast forward two years and, sure enough, soy, corn and other crops are being grown for fuel and there are plenty of pros and cons. For the first time in a long time farmers are making money but at what cost. If you have a chance, go to our home page www.farmersalmanac.com  and read about biodiesel fuels. You can also watch the original segment that aired in 2006 at  www.farmersalmanac.com/video/featured-stories/biodiesel.

Over the holiday weekend, I spoke with a gentleman from North Carolina who owns a chain of truck stops. He recently built a biodiesel fuel plant and has engaged 20 farmers to grow crops to turn into fuel for his truck stops. Thinking about the “lecture” I’d received earlier, I asked what the farmers had been growing before. The answer was “tobacco.” With the decline in smoking, growing other crops has become a necessity for tobacco growers. Growing crops for biofuels was a golden opportunity for those farmers. As the push for new fuels continues, so will the number of ways we tackle the problem.
 
Generally speaking, I don’t have tremendous faith in our government to solve all problems, but there is no question in my mind that federal intervention is needed to control oil prices. While I recognize that world demand affects prices, speculation has clearly run amok. On June 1, the media reported it was the beginning of the hurricane season and predicted that just one major storm could disrupt the oil supply. Even though there have so far been no hurricane strikes, this manufactured fear resulted in a jump in gas prices that day. Within the last week, home heating oil prices jumped from $4.49/gallon to $4.59/gallon. People currently hoping to lock in a price for next winter in Maine are looking at paying $4.72/gallon. And these high prices persist despite two days of dropping oil barrel prices, a decrease in the number of miles being driven by Americans, and the fact that there is no demand for heating oil now. Speculations seems to be heading in one direction only: straight up.
 
If there is any silver lining to all of this, it’s that the high cost of fuel will spark the kinds of ingenuity that will eventually wean us off of our dependence to foreign oil. Let’s hope!
 
The type of winter we have – frigid, average, or mild – will either exacerbate the problem or offer relief. We’ll be issuing our winter predictions later this summer. Stay tuned!

by pgeiger
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Hurricane, Outdoor Event Planning, Weather, Vacation Planning

I often wonder how many people refer to the Farmers’ Almanac when planning an outdoor event. The answer is “lots”. Here is a cute message I received from someone who receives her free almanac from Badcock Home Furnishings in Florida. As you will see, she planned an event according to our predictions and is very happy even thought the event is this coming Saturday.

I get my almanac at the Badcock stores and have found the weather section to be more reliable than the local TV weather. Take this coming weekend for example, for the past several days the weather channel has shown a high probability of rain for the 12th you said fair and pleasant. so using you for a guide, even before the weather channel said anything about this weekend, I got with my neighbors to plan a community yard sale based on your predictions. Today, the weather channel has reduced the 60-70% chance of rain down to scattered thunderstorms possible which is a far cry different than before. I plan events weeks and sometimes months in advance thanks to the accuracy of your forecast some people think I’m off for doing so but I’ve never known you to be more than a day or 2 off and that was in a hurricane which tend to do their own thing. My mom taught me to follow you for weather and planting, she’s old school and right. I’ll be following her advice and teaching my children to follow your weather and planting advice as well. In a world of technology sometimes old fashioned is still the best way to go. so thank you for such a great publication. A.E. Tampa, Fl.

I have one employee who just returned from vacation. It was the 19th year she planned according to the Farmers’ Almanac and the 19th year she has not been disappointed.  I know we are not always right. In the case of hurricanes, we can miss a “hit” by a couple days but working 2 years in advance, we do well and enjoy hearing from people who trust us for weather and planting. “Old fashioned may still be the best way to go.”

by pgeiger
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American Farm & Home Almanac, Farmers’ Almanac, Almanac value

When you think of an almanac, I’ll bet tradition comes to mind. In the early days of this country, there were many almanac titles. In the late 1700s the term “farmers” was carried by many almanacs just as there are any number of “Times”, “Gazette”, etc. that go along with newspaper names. From time to time, I get questions regarding the value of an “old almanac”. Here is one:

 I happened to run across a old American  Farm  Home Almanac .  On the front of it, it say   (The American Farm & Home Almanac for the year of or Lord 1966) My question is could you please point me in the right way to find out how much is it worth? My plans are I would put the money towards my two grandchildren college funds. I also ran across a 1909 Cosmopolitan magazine. If you would know who would be interested in one or the other or both could you please call me or e-mail me? Thank you so much.

Because almanacs were useful reference books for homes, it is not uncommon to come across “old” copies. Many times a family  finds a box of almanacs in an attic and wonders about their value. The good news is that old almanacs are fun to read. They capture the humor, interests and needs of the time. The almanacs from the 1800s were printed on a paper with a high rag content and are in better condition then those from the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s. The bad news is that there were so many almanac titles and so many copies saved, that they are not as valuable as one might expect. Certainly, a Poor Richard’s Almanac (Ben Franklin) might have value but almanacs are not as valuable as one might expect. Again, much like a coin, it depends on the year and condition.

Ray Geiger published the   American Farm and Home Almanac (AF&H)  from 1966 through 1994. In those years his Farmers’ Almanac was only available through businesses who distributed copies to customers and friends. The AF&H Almanac was referred to as ”a second helping of a good thing” by Ray and available only in retail stores. In 1995 we started a retail Farmers’ Almanac to go hand in hand with the promotional edition  so many businesses distribute.

So, a 1966 AF& H Almanac is old but not in the sense that it has value. To fully appreciate the value of an almanac, it has to be seen. My advice is to go to a used book store or antique dealer who specializes in publications. Both can be found in the Yellow Pages. Whether it is a 1909 Cosmopolitan Magazine or 1996 American Farm & Home Almanac, they can asses the value, if any. You can also look on eBay and enter “almanac”, that might offer insights into the value of past editions.

Maine is referred to as “Vacationland”. The Farmers’ Almanac (Geiger Bros.) is located at exit 80 of the Maine Turnpike. We have a file with hundreds of old almanacs and publications. If you are visiting our state and would like to stop in for a peak at historical almanacs, call my office at 207-755-2246.

by pgeiger
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Sometimes we take our freedom for granted. Yet, in the 1700s, some courageous men and women fought for a common cause. Since the inception of this country, we have been blessed with a belief in freedom of speech, religion and the rights that all are equal.

by pgeiger
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Rainbows, 4th of July, Presidential Trivia

4th of July Trivia:

Do you know which US president was born on July 4th and which three died on that date?  See Below.

After the Memorial service for Tim Russert, there was an incredibly beautiful rainbow that arched over the NBC news studio. With frequent thunderstorms during the summer, have you ever wondered how rainbows form?? To understand how they form, you need to understand that sunlight is a mixture of many colors. Thanks to the earth’s atmosphere, which bounces light waves around, the sun looks yellow and the sky looks blue. The colors in sunlight can be separated by using a prism; the simplest being the triangular bar of glass. Light waves going into it are bent. Each color in sunlight has a slightly different wavelength, and each wavelength or color is bent at a slightly different angle. Sunlight shining into the prism comes out as bands of colors ranging from red through all the colors to violet. This is called a spectrum.

Glass prisms aren’t the only things that bend light. Diamonds cut for jewelry break light up in such a way that colors flash out of the stones. Even drops of water can bend the light that falls on them in the right way. When sunlight passes through the air which is full of droplets of water, each of the billions of droplets act as a tiny prism, bending the light into separate colors.

Colorful rainbows can also be seen when the sun’s rays are passing through the waterfall. You an make your own rainbow with a garden hose. Stand with your back to the sun at a time of the day when the sun is low in the sky. Point the nozzle of the hose upward and turn on the fine spray. Rainbows can happen anywhere there is light and water droplets to bend the light. You won’t see a rainbow at Noon. The sun has to be at a 45 degree angle or less. Thus, the rainbow that fell over the NBC Washington D.C. studio was in late afternoon. Great timing.

The answer to the 4th quiz….  Calvin Coolidge was born (1872) on July 4th; Thomas Jefferson (1826), John Adams (1826) and James Monroe (1872) all died on that date.

Speaking of the 4th of July - have you clicked on our Home Page list of the 10 hottest 4th on record? Interestingly, they have  all occurred  since 2001. Hot, Hot, Hot.

by pgeiger
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Yankee Ingenuity, Clothespins, Energy Savings

Frugal / Yankee Ingenuity - got to love how some people  can stretch a dollar. With less stretching at the pump, there are ways to get more for your money. Let’s take something simple (and cheap) like the wooden clothespin. Here are uses that you may not have considered:

Household

   Food bag closer - It costs $1.19 for a plastic closer in the store. But, a clothespin does the trick. It is actually a tighter devise and a fraction of the cost. And, during those hot, humid months, cereals, crackers and other bagged goodies stay fresh.

  Paper holders - good for keeping notes, receipts, monthly bills - any paper. It wind proofs the pile.

  Book markers - clip to the page where you stop reading.

  Clothes identifiers - print different names on the clothespins and use to clip to boots, mittens and shoes together.

Camping

  Clip clothespins to paper plates so they hold the plates down and won’t blow away.

  Clip wet towels, bathing suits, etc on thin tree branches.

  Use one to hold short matches when lighting candles, lanterns, or campfires.

  Use a clothespin as an emergency safety pin or hairclip.

Wooden clothespins cost about 7.5 cents each. They are often overlooked since most people don’t hang clothes on a line anymore. Speaking of that, during the summer have you considered a clothing rack to dry towels and sheets instead of an electric clothes dryer?? The sun does the trick and clothes smell fresher.

by pgeiger
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June 6th is a significant day in US history. On June 6, 1944, Allies stormed Normandy during World War II. This event was graphically captured in Steven Spielberg’s movie Saving Private Ryan. D-Day is actually a military term for the day an operation exercise starts. Most sources indicate that there is no significance to the letter D, other than the fact that it provides a point of reference, D+1, etc. The military also uses H-Hour for the time an operation starts. There were many D-Day operations, but the one involving the Allies to liberate mainland Europe from Nazi occupation stands out in history for its importance.

This operation took months to plan. 2,700 ships converged from British ports from Wales to the North Atlantic. The operation involved 2,000,000 tons of war materials, including 50,000 armed tanks, armored cars, and other supplies. The US sent 1,700,000 soldiers. The Germans believed the invasion would not take place because of inclement weather on June 6th. But, as the sun rose, the operation began and was the catalyst to ending “the war of all wars”.

June 6, 1968, is also the date that Robert Kennedy died. He was shot on June 5th while campaigning in California for the Democratic Nomination for President. He passed away the next day. This year is the 40th Anniversary of his death. For those who remember the 60s, it was a very unsettling time within the United States. The assassination of Kennedy was one among several during that decade that gave reason to pause and remember.

by pgeiger
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