Quick Reference: Diwali 2026 Main day (Lakshmi Puja): Sunday, November 8, 2026 Full five-day festival: Friday, November 6 to Tuesday, November 10, 2026 The rule: The main day falls on the new moon (Amavasya) of the Hindu month of Kartik Also known as: Deepavali, Deepawali, the Festival of Lights Celebrated by: More than one billion

According to popular folklore, a persimmon can predict winter weather. How do you make a persimmon forecast? It’s easy. Just split open a seed of a locally grown fruit and look at the pattern inside. If you see a fork, winter will be mild. A shovel (or spoon shape)? It will be snowy. A knife

Sourdough is the oldest form of leavened bread. Egyptian wall paintings show sourdough loaves from 1500 BCE. Before commercial yeast was isolated in the 19th century, every leavened bread was sourdough; bakers maintained a starter for years and passed it from one shop to the next. San Francisco still has bakeries using starters that have

Quick Reference Sun dog: A dim, fuzzy “second sun” 22 degrees to the left or right of the Sun. Sun halo: A full ring of light, usually 22 degrees, when ice crystals fill the sky. Sun pillar: A vertical shaft of light extending straight up from the rising or setting Sun. Cause: Hexagonal ice crystals

According to popular folklore, a persimmon can predict winter weather. How do you make a persimmon forecast? It’s easy. Just split open seeds of a locally grown fruit and look at the pattern inside. Here’s everything you need to know: “Some people believe persimmon seeds can predict the severity of winter weather,” says Farmers’ Almanac

As you finish up your last lawn mowing of the season, you might be tempted to wheel your mower into the shed and forget about it for the next five or six months. Not so fast! Before putting your outdoor power equipment into hibernation, give them a little TLC and they’ll pay you back when you

Quick Reference: Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2026 Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2026: Monday, October 12, 2026 Rule: The second Monday of October Same calendar date as: Columbus Day (the federal holiday) States that officially observe IPD: Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota (as Native Americans’ Day), Vermont, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia First US

Quick Reference Fertilizer: Snow carries trace nitrogen and sulfur from the air into the soil (“poor man’s fertilizer”). Insulator: Trapped air pockets between crystals keep soil temperature steady, protecting roots and bulbs. Water: Snow melt restores spring soil moisture and replenishes reservoirs. Erosion control: Snow cover protects topsoil from winter winds. Soil biome: Microbes, earthworms,

Saffron, often referred to as “red gold,” is a spice that has dazzled the world with its amazing flavor and vibrant color. Harvesting your own saffron spice is a journey filled with tradition and a deep connection to nature. In this article, we’ll explore the delicate process of harvesting, step by step, from the saffron

A wide variety of extreme weather conditions made summer 2023 one of most unusual summers across the United States in years. In case you weren’t keeping score, let’s do a quick review. Hurricanes From mid-August through mid-September, we saw three remarkable and impactful hurricanes: Hilary, Idalia, and Lee. Tornadoes With 92 confirmed tornadoes, July saw