So there I was at a local hardware store yesterday, buying wheat straw to stuff a scarecrow for Halloween, when I saw The Old Farmer's Almanac for 2008 sitting there on the counter. I had never picked up this annual publication before (the oldest continuously published periodical in North America, by the way). I have become interested in learning more about biodynamics lately--in particular, how the moon pulls moisture up through crops and can therefore aid us farmers and gardeners in our planting and harvesting strategies--and was thrilled to find whole sections on astronomy and moon charts within this handy little book.
But I was also surprised to find trends, fun facts, games, articles, folklore, home remedies and more. Plus, the whole feel of the almanac (the size, the paper) reminded me of TV Guide, a periodical I haven't picked up in years. And then I thought of a fact I just read, that Americans watch an average of 1,555 hours of television a year (I estimate my viewing at about 156 hours a year, if you include movie DVDs).
And then it reminded me of this past spring, when the crimson clover was blooming and we had just gotten our house painted and the screens were still off. The whole back of our house overlooks the garden, and I would open all the blinds and ask the kids if they wanted to watch The Nature Channel. And they would lean across the back of the couch and watch the bunnies and chipmunks and butterflies, as if it were an observation window at the zoo. I need to remember to do that more often.
As I was perusing my new almanac, I remembered I had bought The Old Farmer's Almanac for Kids at a book fair a while back. It is a wonderfully-designed, colorful book packed with photos and fun stuff that makes kids say, "Wow! Did you know . . . ?" Check out its companion website at www.almanac4kids.com. Then, pull up the blinds so you don't miss an episode of the best TV show of all.
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