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:
A wonderful daily planner
filled with fun facts, lore,
and cheerful illustrations!
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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
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MOON
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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
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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
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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
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quotes, and an easy-to-use grid with
holidays and Moon phases. Order yours
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2022 Moon Calendar
Enchanting lunar
photos and folklore!
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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 ass
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 DeTrayL I V I N G N AT U R A L LY
Cultivating
Gratitude Within
PHOTO: AARON AMAT/GETTY IMAGESL 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: PIXABAYGARDENING
Guard Your Fruit
Trees Now
. . . to protect them from winter’s wildlife.
PHOTO: ZHEKOVA/GETTY IMAGESGARDENING
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, areGARDENING
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: PIXABAYFOOD
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-STAYNERFOOD
Roasted Autumn
Vegetables
PHOTO: BECKY LUIGART-STAYNERFOOD
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
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behind them! Store.almanac.com/cookbook-readers-best-recipes/
PHOTO: BECKY LUIGART-STAYNERFOOD 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 JONESFOOD
Potato
Rolls
PHOTO: SAMANTHA JONESFOOD
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 JONESThe Old Farmer’s Almanac
2022 Hardcover Edition
A comprehensive and trustworthy guide to
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advice, astronomical events, and more!
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THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC
KIDS
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Developed for young people and people young at heart, the best-selling
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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: PIXABAYs
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: PIXABAYs
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 meteorologistKids 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 Breinvs
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 IMAGESs
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!You can also read
