Dave Matthews (musician) was born on this day in 1967. Tom Longboat (runner) died on this day in 1949.
Question of the Day Do you have a recipe for oatmeal soap? Answer
Keeping Warm in Winter
How to Keep Warm in Winter Where I live, winter temperatures are often in the single digits, but no matter where you live, keepingwarm is a basic need that we all share. Here are some tips—from both Almanac editors and readers—about how to stay warm. These aren’t “big” projects like buying a new heating system—just inexpensive, resourceful ways to help you warm up now!
The First Snowflake Photographer, Wilson Bentley Is there any truth to the old saw, “No two snowflakes are alike”? Wilson A. Bentley, a farmer and amateur meteorologist, sought to answer that question, dedicating himself to observing flakes of snow for 50 years.
Heirloom Catalogs and Pioneer Seedswomen Even though many seed companies have gone digital, I’m amazed at how many catalogs we still receive in the mail. If you think there are too many seed catalogs now, back in the late 1880s there were thousands of small seed companies. Although the cultural information and descriptions in old catalogs are helpful if you are researching heirloom plants, the artwork is the draw.
A gardener’s most useful tool is knowledge from past seasons. Don’t rely on sticky notes or memory! You’ll love our beautiful Gardening Notebook with its waterproof cover—easy to bring to the garden. Keep records so you know when pests arrive and when to put preventative controls in place to avoid damage. Also, track what blossoms when, first and last frost dates, what was planted where, what worked, favorite varieties, what you want to move, and other notes.