EXTRA! CULTIVATING GRATITUDE WITHIN - GUARD YOUR FRUIT TREES NOW HOLIDAY SIDE DISHES INTRODUCING THE OLD - The Old Farmer's Almanac
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EXTRA! FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC GUARD YOUR FRUIT TREES NOW HOLIDAY SIDE DISHES INTRODUCING THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC FOR KIDS CULTIVATING GRATITUDE WITHIN NOVEMBER 2021 PHOTO: IVELINRADKOV/GETTY IMAGES
s ss CONTENTS FEATURES LIVING NATURALLY Cultivating WEATHER Gratitude Within FORECASTS How We Make GARDENING Our Predictions Guard Your Fruit Trees Now November U.S. and Canadian FOOD Weather Forecasts Holiday Side Dishes Weather Update ALMANAC FOR KIDS Introducing The DEPARTMENTS WIT Humor Me Old Farmer’s CALENDAR Grins and groans Almanac for Kids November Holidays, from the Almanac Full Moon Names, and More WHAT’S NEXT See what we have ASTROLOGY in store for our Best Days to December issue! Do Things Gardening by the Moon’s Sign ASTRONOMY Sky Map for November FOLLOW US:
s ss CALENDAR november Full Moon Names, Holidays, and More November woods are bare and still; November days are clear and bright; Each noon burns up the morning’s chill; The morning’s snow is gone by night. –Helen Hunt Jackson, American poet (1830–85) Eye on the Sky A Month to Remember “November” comes from NOVEMBER’S FULL MOON NAMES the Latin novem, “nine,” because Beaver Moon, Digging Moon, Frost this was the ninth month of Moon, Whitefish Moon the early Roman calendar. MOON PHASES New Moon: Nov. 4, 5:15 P.m. EDT Holiday Happenings First Quarter: Nov. 11, 7:46 a.m. EST Nov. 2: Election Day Full Moon: Nov. 19, 3:57 a.m. EST Nov. 7: Daylight Saving Time ends Last Quarter: Nov. 27, 7:28 a.m. EST at 2:00 a.m. SPECIAL EVENT Nov. 11: Veterans Day Nov. 18–19: A partial eclipse of the Nov. 11: Remembrance Day Moon is visible from North America (Canada) and Hawaii from 1:00 a.m. EST on Nov. Nov. 25: Thanksgiving Day 19 (10:00 P.m. PST, Nov. 18) to 7:06 Nov. 28: First Sunday of Advent a.m. EST (4:06 a.m. PST) on Nov. 19. Nov. 28: Chanukah begins at sundown TAP FOR MORE ABOUT MOON PHASES Order your 2022 Old Farmer’s TAP FOR MORE ABOUT NOVEMBER’S FULL Almanac calendars at Almanac MOON .com/Shop.
s ss ASTROLOGY BEST DAYS TO DO THINGS These November dates, deemed to be propitious in astrology, are based on the astrological passage of the Moon. However, consider all indicators before making any major decisions. –Celeste Longacre AROUND THE HOUSE Paint: 2, 3, 29, 30 Bake: 22, 23 Start projects: 5 Brew: 4, 5 Wash floors: 12, 13 Can, pickle, or make sauerkraut: 22, 23 Wash windows: 14–16 Demolish: 4, 5 PERSONAL Dry fruit, vegetables, or meat: 24–26 End projects: 3 Advertise to sell: 17, 18 Lay shingles: 24–26 Ask for a loan: 24–26 Make jams or jellies: 12, 13 Begin diet to lose weight: 1, 28 PHOTO: PIXABAY
s ss ASTROLOGY Begin diet to gain weight: 5, 13, 18 Harvest aboveground crops: 17, 18 Buy a home: 5, 17, 18 Harvest belowground crops: 27, 28 Color hair: 17, 18 Mow to slow growth: 24–26 Cut hair to discourage growth: 2, 3, Mow to promote growth: 14–16 29, 30 Pick fruit: 1, 27, 28 Cut hair to encourage growth: Plant aboveground crops: 12, 13 12, 13 Plant belowground crops: 22, 23 Entertain: 24–26 Prune to discourage growth: 24–26 Get married: 2, 3, 29, 30 Prune to encourage growth: 14–16 Have dental care: 1, 27, 28 Move (house/household): 19–21 ON THE FARM Perm hair: 10, 11 Breed animals: 4, 5 Quit smoking: 1, 28 Castrate animals: 10, 11 Straighten hair: 6, 7 Cut hay: 14–16 Travel for pleasure: 24–26 Purchase animals: 22, 23 Wean children: 1, 28 Set eggs: 18–20 Slaughter livestock: 4, 5 OUTDOORS Wean animals: 1, 28 Begin logging: 8, 9 Go camping: 6, 7 Make every day a Best Day with the Go fishing: 4–19 best-selling Old Farmer’s Almanac for Set posts or pour concrete: 8, 9 Kids, now just out with its brand- new Volume 9. Featuring everything from Astronomy, Gardening, and IN THE GARDEN Nature to Pets, Sports, and Weather, Destroy pests and weeds: 14–16 the OFAK is packed with facts, Graft or pollinate: 22, 23 activities, and just plain fun! Get yours today at Almanac.com/Shop.
s ss ASTROLOGY gardening by the moon’s sign Use the November dates shown in the Moon’s Astrological Place calendar below to find the best days for the following garden tasks: TAP FOR PLANT, TRANSPLANT, AND GRAFT: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, or Taurus MERCURY IN + RETROGRADE HARVEST: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, Gemini, or Aquarius DATES BUILD/FIX FENCES OR GARDEN BEDS: Capricorn TAP FOR NOVEMBER CONTROL INSECT PESTS, PLOW, AND WEED: Aries, Gemini, Leo, MOON PHASES Sagittarius, or Aquarius PRUNE: Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius. During a waxing Moon, pruning encourages growth; during a waning Moon, it discourages growth. THE MOON’S ASTROLOGICAL PLACE IN NOVEMBER 1 Virgo 9 Capricorn 17 Taurus 25 Leo 2 Libra 10 Aquarius 18 Taurus 26 Leo 3 Libra 11 Aquarius 19 Gemini 27 Virgo 4 Scorpio 12 Pisces 20 Gemini 28 Virgo 5 Scorpio 13 Pisces 21 Gemini 29 Libra 6 Sagittarius 14 Aries 22 Cancer 30 Libra 7 Sagittarius 15 Aries 23 Cancer 8 Capricorn 16 Aries 24 Leo PHOTO: PIXABAY
MERCURY IN RETROGRADE Sometimes the other planets appear to be traveling backward through the zodiac; this is an illusion. We call this illusion retrograde motion. Mercury’s retrograde periods can cause our plans to go awry. However, this is an excellent time to reflect on the past. Intuition is high during these periods, and coincidences can be extraordinary. When Mercury is retrograde, remain flexible, allow extra time for travel, and avoid signing contracts. Review projects and plans at these times, but wait until Mercury is direct again to make any final decisions. Mercury’s next retrograde period: January 13–February 3, 2022. –Celeste Longacre Celebrating its 45th anniversary in 2022, the best-selling Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Calendar is filled with beautiful art, helpful tips, insightful quotes, and an easy-to-use grid with holidays and Moon phases. Order yours today at Almanac.com/Shop.
s ss ASTRONOMY Two Horses, Three Fish, and One Happy Dolphin W hen you look to the south on November evenings, TAP TO GET your view of the sky is dominated by The Water. This A PRINTABLE region of the night sky is full of constellations both NOVEMBER SKY MAP wet and wild. Our tour of The Water begins with an airborne equine. TAP TO Note: You’ll need to do your stargazing from a very dark FOLLOW location to see many of the sights described here. OHIOAN JEFF DETRAY’S SKY High in the south lies Pegasus, the Winged Horse. ADVENTURES He’s flying upside down from our point of view, but the distinctive Great Square that comprises his body is easy to find. Pegasus’s neck and head arc from the lower right corner of the Great Square, ending in the star Enif (Nose). How can a horse, flying or not, be a part of the sky’s water world? In Greek mythology, Pegasus is the son of Poseidon, the god of the sea, who just happens to be the horse god as
s ss ASTRONOMY well. Due to his unusual father, Pegasus can be considered a seahorse as well as a flying horse! Just off the nose of Pegasus is his offspring, Equuleus, the Foal. There’s never been any word on whether Equuleus inherited his father’s ability to fly! Now we can dive more deeply into The Water. Look immediately below the Great Square for a small pentagon of dim stars called the Circlet. It’s the head of the first fish (Fish #1) on our tour, one of two scaly swimmers that make up the constellation Pisces, the Fishes. From the Circlet, follow a long, dim arc of stars to the left until it meets a sparse line of stars coming down from above at The Vee. This line leads upward to the second fish (Fish #2) of the Pisces twosome. In Greek mythology, the fish represent Aphrodite and her son Eros, joined together with ropes at The Vee. In this way, mother and son will never be parted. S tarting again at the Great Square, gaze down past the Circlet to the bright star Fomalhaut. It’s by far the brightest star in the otherwise dim constellation Piscis Austrinus, the Southern Fish, and the third member of our Sky Map’s fishy trio (Fish #3). One translation of Fomalhaut is “the mouth of the southern fish.” Above Fomalhaut are the stars of Aquarius, the Water Bearer. Aquarius is often depicted as pouring water from an urn down into the fish’s “mouth” (Fomalhaut). Below and to the right of Aquarius is another denizen of The Water: Capricornus, the Sea Goat. This unusual creature with the head of a goat and tail of a fish has mythological origins dating back more than 4,000 years. At lower left flows a large bend of the River Eridanus. Much of this ancient river lies out of sight below the horizon at this time of year. Above Eridanus swims sprawling Cetus, the Sea Monster (or Whale). The final creature of the celestial sea is not found in The Water itself. Return your attention to Enif, the Nose of Pegasus; look past Equuleus, the Foal; and find the little constellation Delphinus, the Dolphin. Despite ranking as one of the smallest constellations, Delphinus is one that truly resembles its name. But what’s a dolphin doing up there where the horses frolic? Why, it’s doing what dolphins do: leaping out of The Water for the sheer joy of it! –Jeff DeTray
L I V I N G N AT U R A L LY Cultivating Gratitude Within PHOTO: AARON AMAT/GETTY IMAGES
L I V I N G N AT U R A L LY E very so often, crops of berries and painful, previously most of us other crops, we invested undiagnosed health go through in a large, energy- condition that troubled a few days, weeks, efficient, chest freezer my mind, disturbed or months when a to replace a smaller, my sleep, and forced a raft of problems— older model. The first sudden withdrawal from simultaneously or one arrived damaged, coffee, a decades-long following one another in so we had to wait addiction. close sequence—emerges another couple of weeks to trouble our lives. for a replacement. GRATEFUL M We’ve had one of those We’d already installed y mom had years. Without droning and half-filled the a strategy for through the entire litany, replacement freezer dealing with I’ll touch on the most with strawberries, when an often over-anxious significant: we noticed significant child and adolescent • In mid-June, the condensation leaking (me). She’d insist on the water pump that had onto the cellar floor— spot that I say out loud wheezed and heaved and had to call for yet at least one thing I felt in the cellar for many another replacement. thankful for. decades pulling water • Following a “It never gets so bad up from a deep artesian reassessment, our that you can’t find well finally gave up the insurance company something or someone ghost, necessitating an threatened to cancel our to feel grateful for,” she’d expensive earth-moving homeowner’s policy after say. “Focus on that, and pump-and-tank demanding barn repairs and you’ll begin to feel replacement job. that we couldn’t afford better.” • The old cellar door to complete within the It worked for me then, fell apart as we were time allotted. and it still does. moving the old pump • Both the family car During each little and tank from the and the big rototiller domestic disaster this basement. Because no used to prepare the year I’d deliberately standard door would soil for fall cover crops bring to mind a fit the space, we had to needed expensive gratitude or two: A hire someone to build a repairs. sudden explosion of custom insulated door. • To top it all off, volunteer sunflowers • Expecting bumper I came down with a one sunny morning.
L I V I N G N AT U R A L LY The incomparable smell around our ancient And so it went. Every of freshly laundered plumbing and install a problem resolved, sheets, grabbed from new pump and tank at a bringing new cause for the line just before a reasonable price. gratitude. rainstorm. The sight of • Two farmer friends a heron swooping low recommended an THE POWER OF and dropping to the edge insurance company GRATITUDE W of our pond to fish. A friendly to farm and hat is it fresh-from-the-garden rural properties, and we about cantaloupe for breakfast. secured a slightly better gratitude The woodshed stacked homeowner’s insurance that gives the practice with enough dry wood plan from them at a such power? to take us through this lower price than we’d Most religions teach winter and into the next. been paying. gratitude as a central I felt grateful for • A customer-service tenet of the faith. a bountiful garden representative from the Twelve-step addiction- harvest and for being major retailer where we recovery groups promote able to keep up with the had bought our freezer “an attitude of gratitude” work required: freezers stayed on top of our as an important aspect of filling with hundreds of situation and called us staying sober. containers of berries and every few days to inform Cogitating, I came up melons, while meanwhile us where we were in the with a few reasons why two bushels of potatoes, replacement process. cultivating gratitude a beautiful crop of garlic, • Two neighborhood works for me: and several crates of red mechanics were able to • It pulls me away from and yellow onions had return the car and the the sheer force of the already been stashed in rototiller to service in painful circumstance or the cellar. short order. circumstances at hand, I felt grateful and • The household depriving them of the amazed for the way in emergency account power to suck me into which each problem dipped low but not the downward spiral quickly got resolved: below being able to be of “catastrophizing” • Our local networks replenished. (exaggerating a situation turned up a well-and- • I finally discovered a to be much worse than it pump guy able and therapy for my condition is or might be, projecting willing to innovate that seemed to work. wildly into the future).
L I V I N G N AT U R A L LY • It’s concrete and the rest of my life. It out but through.” personally meaningful— gives me the breathing –Margaret Boyles something that brings space to discover not my mind into sharp only what I can do about TAP TO READ MORE OF focus—as opposed to the problems (and do MARGARET BOYLES’S POSTS IN HER “LIVING abstract (and generally it!) but also how to let go NATURALLY” BLOG unhelpful) injunctions of things that I can’t do like “Get off the pity anything about. It’s harvesttime! Learn pot,” “Pull yourself Over breakfast this how to make your produce together,” “Get a grip,” morning, again able to internationally famous and “Look on the swig a delicious cup of on Instagram, dill your bright side.” coffee, I expressed green beans or pickle your • It reminds me that aloud my gratitude for jalapeños, and gather your my life is larger than the mom who started homegrown grains for the its immediate woes. me off with a useful tool drying process in the annual When problems arise— that’s seen me past these Old Farmer’s Almanac Garden especially one on top rough patches when, Guide! Get a copy—or join of another!—gratitude in the words of Robert the Gardening Club for even helps me to engage with Frost, “there’s no way more—at Almanac.com/Shop. PHOTO: PIXABAY
GARDENING Guard Your Fruit Trees Now . . . to protect them from winter’s wildlife. PHOTO: ZHEKOVA/GETTY IMAGES
GARDENING T he most costly • protect from careless locations. mistake that danger • Spiral guards made you can make • be nonflammable from plastic jugs. Cut when planting a fruit I’ve experimented with the jugs into strips with tree is not using a tree the following materials, a snip and form them guard to protect the all of which are effective into spirals. (To retain vulnerable areas of its even if they don’t meet the spiral, carefully crown and trunk. Tree all of the “ideal” criteria. heat the curled shape guards deter the animals Here are the pros and over a fire to soften it that like to eat the roots, cons: slightly to conform.) Slip trunk, twigs, and leaves • Burlap tied with the spirals around the of almost all fruit trees. string. This inexpensive trunk. Their evaluation Such nibblers include material is very effective of their appearance is a voles, who go after the against rabbits and subjective exercise, but roots and crown; rabbits, sunscald, but voles can they compete favorably who eat the trunks; eat through it if hungry with commercial plastic and deer, who enjoy enough. Wrap around guards. (The latter are the 1- and 2-year twig the trunk and tie with easier to get on/off.) and leaf growth. Good cotton string, which will Note that if a grass fire cultural practices such as rot in time but won’t occurs, the burning fertilizing and pruning bind if you forget to take plastic will kill the tree. make the young tree it off. Unfortunately, • 50-gallon steel even more tender and burlap can harbor insects drum. With both ends tasty to them. that can attack the tree. removed, this is an You can buy tree • Plastic jugs. Gallon excellent barrier against guards at large nurseries, jugs, slit at the neck and all animals. Sink it 6 via mail-order catalogs, with their bottoms cut inches into the ground to and on the Internet. Or, out, can be put over very stabilize. Decorate it to you can make your own. young trees. Sunk into make it more attractive. The ideal tree guard the ground, they deter Trees will grow taller should . . . voles, but they are too more quickly as they • be pleasing to the eye low to guard against reach for the light. • be easy to get on/off the rabbits. While utilitarian, • Screening and tree they tend to look trashy. hardware cloth. These • let sunlight through It’s probably best to use are very effective, let • be durable them in out-of-the-way light in to the trunk, are
GARDENING pleasing to the eye, and a combination of wears on and no grass is are easy to check for circumstances made exposed. insects. Wrap the tree our orchards into a When the snow melts and secure it with cord. vole heaven. Rabies had in the spring, the attack Check the tree’s growth depleted the foxes and on fruit trees abruptly routinely; hardware raccoons, their natural stops. However, a cloth can grow into it if enemies, and a deep, surprise snowstorm neglected. powdery snow gave these in late April or May frolicking bark-eaters probably causes voles to AVOID A WRAP TRAP protection from owls, do more damage than at Do not use old stovepipe and cats, and other predators. any other time. Do not stacked tin cans. Although It’s good practice remove the tree guards effective and great fire to put on a tree guard too soon! barriers, these harbor insects when a tree is planted, –Richard Fahey and make the trunk tender although it is unlikely due to lack of light. that the tree will be eaten We all love flowers but—for a before deer find the grass change—think about putting Keep in mind that old and tough and look foliage bouquets front and animals have population for better pickin’s. center: They’re fun, festive, cycles. For a number If the tree survives the and fit in anywhere! Learn of years, there may be first deer onslaught, it is more about how in the annual no voles and you will usually safe until the first Old Farmer’s Almanac Garden be lulled into thinking permanent snow, when Guide! Get a copy—or join that your trees need rabbits and voles can’t the Gardening Club for even no protection. I lost easily eat grass. They more—at Almanac.com/Shop. many trees when get hungrier as winter PHOTO: PIXABAY
FOOD Holiday Side Dishes When the holidays roll around, there’s often a lot of fuss made about the main course. Will you serve turkey or ham? Make a roast or Tofurkey? But a good meal can not be made by main course alone. Side dishes are often an afterthought. There’s no excuse for letting them take a backseat while the rest of the meal steals the show. Make one (or all!) of these recipes and find out what all of the fuss should really be about. PHOTO: BECKY LUIGART-STAYNER
FOOD Roasted Autumn Vegetables PHOTO: BECKY LUIGART-STAYNER
FOOD ROASTED AUTUMN VEGETABLES 1 pound small red-skinned potatoes, quartered 2 cups peeled butternut squash, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 2 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch-thick diagonal slices 2 parsnips, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch-thick diagonal slices 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 2 to 3 cups packed kale, rinsed and chopped Preheat oven to 450°F. Lightly oil two large rimmed baking sheets. In a large bowl, combine the vegetables (except kale), olive oil, garlic, rosemary, and salt and pepper and toss by hand to coat. Spread vegetables evenly onto baking sheets and bake for 15 minutes on separate oven racks. After 15 minutes, add kale, stir vegetables, and return to the oven, switching the rack position of the sheets. Bake for 15 minutes more, or until vegetables are tender and browned. Makes 6 servings. Looking for more great recipes? Get a copy of our best-selling cookbook with recipes from you, our readers. The Old Farmer’s Almanac Readers’ Best Recipes is filled with tried-and-true recipes that keep folks coming back for more, plus the stories behind them! Store.almanac.com/cookbook-readers-best-recipes/ PHOTO: BECKY LUIGART-STAYNER
FOOD Corn Bread Dressing With Sausage PHOTO: SAMANTHA JONES
FOOD CORN BREAD DRESSING WITH SAUSAGE 3 cups stale corn bread 3 cups stale white bread 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, divided 1/2 pound sausage meat 3 stalks celery, chopped 2 onions, chopped 1 apple, peeled, cored, and chopped 3 sprigs parsley, minced 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 bay leaf 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon dried sage salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 13x9-inch baking dish. Crumble breads together and place in a large bowl. In a pan over medium heat, melt 1/2 cup of the butter. Add sausage, celery, onions, and apples. Break up sausage as mixture cooks. Add remaining butter; once it’s fully melted, add remaining ingredients. Cook for 2 to 4 minutes, or until vegetables are soft. Pour mixture into bowl with bread. Stir to blend ingredients, then pour into prepared baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes, or until top is golden brown. Remove bay leaf before serving. Makes 10 to 12 servings. PHOTO: SAMANTHA JONES
FOOD Potato Rolls PHOTO: SAMANTHA JONES
FOOD POTATO ROLLS 1 large potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks 1/3 cup sugar 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon dry yeast 1 egg 3-1/4 to 3-3/4 cups flour In a large pot of boiling water, cook potatoes until tender. Drain, reserving 3/4 cup of cooking water. Mash the potatoes and set aside. In a large bowl, combine hot potato cooking water, sugar, butter, and salt. Let stand until butter is melted and mixture is warm (105° to 115°F). Stir in yeast and let stand for 5 to 10 minutes. Beat in egg and potato by hand. Using a wooden spoon, stir in as much of the flour as you can. Turn dough out onto a floured work surface and knead for 3 to 5 minutes, adding enough flour to make a moderately soft dough. Place in an oiled bowl, turning to coat all sides with oil. Cover and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in bulk, about 1 to 1-1/2 hours. Lightly grease a baking sheet. Punch down the dough. On a lightly floured work surface, roll dough out to a 1/2-inch thickness and cut with a 3-inch round cutter. Place rounds 1/4 inch apart on prepared baking sheet. Cover and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 30 to 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Makes 16 rolls. PHOTO: SAMANTHA JONES
The Old Farmer’s Almanac 2022 Hardcover Edition A comprehensive and trustworthy guide to 2022, with weather forecasts, gardening advice, astronomical events, and more! ORDER NOW
Introducing . . . THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC KIDS FOR A L L- N E W A N D DISCOVER MORE 100% J U S T F O R YO U ! THAN EVER BEFORE! PURE FUN! Developed for young people and people young at heart, the best-selling Old Farmer’s Almanac for Kids is a full-color, 192-page book full of fascinating facts, amazing stories, fun activities, and LOL riddles and games on topics that folks love in the Almanac itself. See for yourself on the following actual pages!
A T U R E’S NW E A TH E R S IG N S Long before satellites and radar, people often looked to insects and other animals to predict the weather. IF BEES FLY AWAY, FINE WILL BE THE DAY. Fall bugs begin to chirp 6 weeks before the When scorpions first frost. crawl, expect dry weather. AN OPEN ANTHOLE SIGNALS CLEAR WEATHER; A CLOSED ONE, AN APPROACHING When STORM. squirrels eat nuts on the tree, Weather as warm as warm can be.
When a cow tries to scratch its ear, It means a shower is very near; When it thumps its ribs with its tail, Look out for thunder, lightning, hail. If toads hurry When foxes toward water, it is bark and utter going to thunder. high-pitch cries, expect strong wind and rain within 3 days. HORSES AND MULES, IF VERY LIVELY WITHOUT APPARENT CAUSE, MEANS COLD. Hornets build nests high before warm summers and low before cold and early winters. If sheep feed uphill in the morning, it is a A cat sign of fine weather. sitting with its back to the fire indicates snow.
RIVER GUARDIAN S tella Bowles wanted to swim in the LaHave River in front of her Nova Scotia home, but her mother said no. She explained to Stella that many of the nearby houses had “straight pipes” that emptied toilet waste directly into the river even though such pipes are illegal. Stella nicknamed the waterway “Poo River” and decided to focus her sixth-grade science fair project on the problem. While doing research, Stella learned that 600 straight pipes emptied into the LaHave River! She tested the water for human waste and made her results public. The project earned her international recognition. She convinced the Canadian government to pledge $15.7 million to help clean up the river and replace all of the pipes with more environmentally friendly systems. Stella was named an International Young Eco-Hero, cowrote a book called My River: Cleaning Up the LaHave River, and now leads workshops to teach other kids how to test water for contamination. “My hope is that I can inspire more people—of any age—to take on a cause they believe in and make change,” she says. “Every little act of kindness to our Earth helps.”
PRAIRIE PROTECTOR W hen Trevor Burke first visited the Blackland Prairie at age 11, he loved the unique Texas landscape—a 300-mile-long ecosystem running from the Red River in North Texas southward to San Antonio. The Dallas native marveled at its black, spongy soil, and its tall grasses reminded him of cotton candy. But Trevor discovered that this prairie was one of the most ecologically threatened regions in the world. Only 5,000 of its original 12 million acres remained, due in part to agricultural development, grazing, mining, and urbanization. After consulting with Texas master naturalists and other experts, Trevor organized a team of volunteers. Together they removed invasive grass species and planted native alternatives. The next step was to reintroduce endangered Texas wildlife, including the northern bobwhite quail, whose population had declined by 82 percent in the previous 50 years. Trevor learned about incubating eggs—by doing it in his own living room! He raised over 300 quail, eventually moving them to a special area in his backyard. “They learn to walk, learn to poop, and chirp constantly,” he notes. When the birds were big enough, Trevor helped tag and release them into the Blackland Prairie. Trevor won many awards, including a college scholarship, for his environmental activism. He encourages others to get involved: “Each of us has the capability, power, passion, and responsibility to preserve and protect our world.” (continued)
Everybody loves The Old Farmer’s Almanac for Kids! Kids can’t put it down, and parents—and grandparents— can’t wait to pick it up! C O N T EN T S THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC KIDS FOR CALENDAR IN THE GARDEN What Happened in History? . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Pots That Rock! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Why the Week Has Seven Days . . . . . . . . . . 20 Meet the Humble Bumble . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Kindness Is Contagious! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Who Put the “Straw” 8 in Strawberries? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Garden Snack Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 54 ASTRONOMY Grow Trash-Can Potatoes . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Perplexing Pluto’s Planet Status . . . . . . 28 Behold the “Supermoon”! . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 N AT U R E So, You Want to Live in Space? . . . . . . . . 32 The Big Cats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 The Astronaut Who Was Allergic to the Moon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Craft Some Pinecone Critters! . . . . . . . 96 Make Way for Duck Stamps . . . . . . . . . . 98 W E AT H E R Dynamic Dart Frogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 56 Eyes on the Skies for Dragonflies! . . . 108 Up in the Clouds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 78 Weather Plot Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 32 AWESOME ACHIEVERS Weather Tracker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 How Cold Was It? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Look What I Found! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Nature’s Weather Signs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Environmental Warriors . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 ON THE FARM 118 Cows and Moos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Old MacDonald Had a Dog . . . . . . . . . . . 64 40 90 C O N T EN T S FOOD AMUSEMENT Cracking the Coconut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Do You See It? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Breakfast Around the World . . . . . . . . 130 Amazing and True! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 Fun and Flavorful! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134 What Are You Afraid Of? . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 Sign Here . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 SPORTS How a Comic Strip Is Made . . . . . . . . . 182 Table of Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186 Games of Glory: All About the Olympics . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 Solutions to Games and Puzzles . . . . 187 Frozen Football: The Ice Bowl . . . . . . . 146 130 170 The Pine Tar Incident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 FUN & GAMES The Halloween Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 H E A LT H Mirrored Twins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Know Your Nose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 Travel Unravel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 The Body Parts Rap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 Digging for Garden Words . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Blood: The Good and the Gross . . . . . 162 Create Your Own Colorful Frogs . . . . . 106 Treasure Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 179 138 PETS Penguin Pucks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 The Other Washington Zoo . . . . . . . . . 166 Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 Calming Creatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 A L L- N E W A N D DISCOVER MORE 100% 154 J U S T F O R YO U ! THAN EVER BEFORE! PURE FUN! 23 Brand-new Volume 9 of The Old Farmer’s Almanac for Kids is available now wherever books and magazines are sold. If “local”— which we recommend!—is not an option, you can order yours from the U.S. ($9.95) at Almanac.com/Shop or Amazon.com. In Canada ($10.95), your online source is Amazon.ca. For lots of educational fun, consider getting a copy today for your kids, your grandkids, yourself, or everybody!
s ss W E AT H E R F O R EC A S TS A NOVEMBER FOG MAGNIFIES THE SUN AS MYSTERY MAGNIFIES DANGER. How We Make Our predictions We derive our weather forecasts from a secret formula that was devised by the founder of this Almanac, Robert B. Thomas, in 1792. Thomas believed that weather on Earth was influenced by sunspots, which are magnetic storms on the surface of the Sun. Over the years, we have refined and enhanced this for- mula with state-of-the-art technology and modern scien- tific calculations. We employ three scientific disciplines to make our long-range predictions: solar science, the study of TAP TO FIND sunspots and other solar activity; climatology, the study of OUT THE WEATHER prevailing weather patterns; and meteorology, the study of HISTORY OF the atmosphere. We predict weather trends and events by THE DAY comparing solar patterns and historical weather conditions LOVE ALL with current solar activity. THINGS Our forecasts emphasize temperature and precipitation de- WEATHER? viations from averages, or normals. These are based on 30-year TAP FOR THE statistical averages prepared by government meteorological WEATHER FOLKLORE agencies and updated every 10 years. Our forecasts are based OF THE DAY on the tabulations that span the period 1981 through 2010. We believe that nothing in the universe happens haphaz- ardly, that there is a cause-and-effect pattern to all phenom- ena. However, although neither we nor any other forecast- ers have as yet gained sufficient insight into the mysteries of the universe to predict the weather with total accuracy, our results are almost always very close to our traditional claim of 80 percent. CELSIUS–FAHRENHEIT TABLE PHOTO: PIXABAY
s ss W E AT H E R F O R EC A S TS U.S. Weather Regions 15 9 1 12 13 6 3 2 10 16 7 14 4 8 11 5 17 18 canadian Weather Regions CLICK HERE TO FIND NOVEMBER WEATHER PREDICTIONS FOR THE U.S. AND CANADIAN 6 REGIONS Y.T. NUNAVUT 7 N.W.T. N.L. B.C. ALTA. QUE. SASK. MAN. 1 ONT. P.E.I. Southern Atlantic 5 British 2 Canada Southern N.B. Columbia 4 The Prairies 3 Southern Ontario Quebec N.S.
s ss W E AT H E R U P DAT E A Cornucopia of Conditions O n November 2, Election Day in the United States, chilly temperatures will be the rule in the East, with mild to warm temps arriving across the central and western states. Snow showers will dot the skies in Alaska and the northeast quarter of the nation, while Hawaii will see rainy periods. Elsewhere, mostly dry weather will prevail. November 4 is Will Rogers Day in Oklahoma, where folks will see some wet snow with cold temperatures. Daylight Savings Time ends at 2:00 a.m. on November 7 in those areas where it was in effect. If you stay awake until then, you’ll see rain and snow showers in the Northeast; snow showers from Oklahoma into the High Plains; and rainy periods in the southeastern, Intermountain, and Pacific states, which PHOTO: PIXABAY
s ss W E AT H E R U P DAT E will also be around on Veterans Day. Of course, November 11 is Veterans Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in Canada. Most of the United States will have dry weather with rather mild temperatures on this holiday. While the Canadian Prairies will have sunny, mild weather, most of Canada will have rain or snow showers. On November 20, National Child Day in Canada, you can expect snowy periods from Quebec to the Prairies and in the Yukon and Northwest Territories, with dry weather elsewhere. N ovember 25 is Thanksgiving in the United States and the start of a 4-day weekend that includes Black Friday. Expect flurries and cold temperatures from the Northeast westward to the Intermountain region; rainy periods from Florida into the Deep South and Texas; rain and snow in Alaska; showers in Hawaii; and mainly dry weather elsewhere. November temperatures will be cooler than normal, on average, across most of the United States and Canada, although the Pacific states and provinces will generally feature above-normal temperatures. Precipitation will be above normal in the Gulf Coast states and the Canadian Prairies and Northwest Territories, and generally below normal elsewhere. Looking ahead to winter, important factors will include a weak La Niña, a continued warm phase in the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), a neutral to positive phase in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) in the early stages of its warm cycle. Oscillations are linked ocean-atmosphere patterns that influence the weather over periods of weeks to years. This should lead to a colder-than- normal winter across most of the United States with milder-than-normal temperatures across most of Canada. –Michael Steinberg, Old Farmer’s Almanac meteorologist
Kids love it! Adults can’t put it down! The Almanac for Kids features a treasure trove of fun facts and creative activities that will keep kids of all ages engaged the whole year through! ORDER NOW photo: Sam Jones / Quinn Breinv
s ss WIT humor me grins and groans from the almanac Optical Allusion Father looked up “You won’t believe Willie had tried by with interest: “What’s what we’ve got various means to that? What accident?!” upstairs!” she gushed. interest his father in “Well,” said Willie, “What is it?” inquired conversation. edging toward the the friend. “Can’t you see that door, “a woman had “It’s a new baby I’m trying to read?” her eye on a seat and a brother!” said Doris asked the exasperated man sat on it.” proudly, as she settled parent. “Now, don’t back upon her heels bother me!” Stayin’ and folded her hands The boy was silent Little Doris was ecstatic to watch the effect. for about a minute. about the new addition “You don’t say?!” said Then, reflectively, he to her family just born the neighbor, adding commented: “Awful in her house and rushed mischievously: “Is he accident on the subway outside to tell the news going to stay?” today.” to a passing neighbor. “Well, I guess so,” ILLUSTRATION: DRANTE/GETTY IMAGES
s ss WIT replied Doris, suddenly Soon we came to a Looking at the infant, given pause. “He’s got big water hole, but we she asked: his things off.” drove straight through it “Mama, are little and—would you believe babies dressed up when Ignoramus Editor it?—the first team went the angels send them Young Johnny had straight out of sight!? down?” taken to reading the A newcomer then “Why, no, darling,” newspaper. spoke up. her mother replied. “Father,” he asked, “I’ve seen some mud, The child was “where is Dresden?” too,” he said quietly. pensive for a moment “Dresden is in “When I was a boy, one and then queried: Germany, son. Why?” day—after a terribly wet “Then how do they “Oh, no big deal, spring—I looked out know whether it’s a boy but I guess this paper and saw a hat floating in or a girl?” must be edited by an a puddle in the middle of the road, so I went What do you call a sad ignoramus, ’cuz it’s outside and waded out strawberry? Now available talking about Dresden at Almanac.com/Shop, the China.” to get it. All of a sudden, brand-new Old Farmer’s it moved—there was Almanac for Kids, Volume 9, a man underneath it! In It Pretty Deep has not only the answer to ‘Whoa!’ I said. ‘Do you The champion liar of this riddle but also almost need some help?’ ‘I the town was outdoing 200 pages of full-color fun think I can make it out,’ himself on his favorite and activities on everything came a voice. ‘I’m on topic, the Civil War. from Awesome Kids Around horseback.’” “Talk about mud!” the World, Food, and he was saying. “Our History to Puzzles, Farm campaign in The Birthday Suit Life, and Animals. Great Wilderness was the Ella, age 4, was for “kids” ages 8 to 80, and worst. It rained for delighted at having often also used for super- days without letting up. been told that the fun home and classroom When it did, we started angels had brought her education. The answer: A off with our artillery. a new baby brother. blueberry, of course!
s ss WHAT’S NEXT CALENDAR GARDENING ASTRONOMY Moon phases; December Waxing Amaryllis— Explore with name origin, holidays, how to add sparkle our Sky Map and full Moon names; to the season’s most winter solstice elegant ornament FOOD ALMANAC Homemade LIVING FOR KIDS Gifts From the NATURALLY All about new Kitchen How to “think local” Volume 9! when gifting Plus: Weather Update • U.S. and Canadian Weather Forecasts • Gardening by the Moon’s Sign • Best Days to Do Things • • Humor • and much more in the December EXTRA! CELEBRATING THE ALMANAC’S 230TH YEAR!
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