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With the cold weather comes the flu season and other airborne ailments that may compromise one’s immune system. Farmers’ Almanac offers some natural remedies to combat these illnesses. Published in the Oct. 7, 2008 edition of The Chicago Tribune, Farmers’ Almanac suggests combating a cold by pouring “a pint of boiling water over a handful of rosemary leaves placed in a pot. Cover and infuse as you do with ordinary tea. Take ½ pint daily while the cold lasts.” Rosemary contains active acidic compounds making it rich in antioxidants. If one experiences a sore throat, try munching on marshmallows, slippery elm bark or honeysuckle flowers. If that doesn’t cut the mustard, try gargling mustard seeds mixed with salt, honey and boiling water or try gargling crushed cayenne pepper mixed with warm water. If that doesn’t sound appealing, try some chamomile tea, something Farmers’ Almanac also recommends for relieving insomnia.

In an article on AugustaFreePress.com (Oct. 7, 2008), Jan Levinson asked for natural remedies to cure headaches instead of Advil and Tylenol. One of the solutions came straight from Farmers’ Almanac’s remedy recommendations: relieve tension headaches by applying an ice pack to the neck and upper back or soaking the feet in hot water to divert the blood from the head. Not only a natural remedy for headaches, but relaxing, too!

Much attention has been drawn to the declaration of a numbing winter ahead on the front cover of the 2009 edition of The Farmers’ Almanac. Accurate and sometimes alarming weather predictions, however, are not the only contents of the annual publication. According to the Sept. 28 posting on JournalGazette.com, the Almanac also makes a good travel guide, citing the best locations and times for a glimpse of the most picturesque autumn. STLToday.com wrote on Sept. 21 some of the “fabulous fall trips” according to the Almanac’s leaf-peeping predictions, such as the Stone Hill Winery in Hermann, MO (StoneHillWinery.com) and The Chicago Country Music Festival (ChicagoCountryMusicFestival.us).

Farmers’ Almanac always features articles on health and good living and offers great natural remedies for common ailments. HealthNewsDigest.com posted natural ways of curing a headache. The Almanac recommends applying an ice pack to the neck and upper back, getting someone to massage the area, or sticking your feet in hot water to divert the blood flow from your head to your feet.

Farmers’ Almanac’s weather predictions are great and you may discover a new vacation spot, or you may even be able to cure what ails you.

Interest from various news sources has arisen from Farmers’ Almanac’s 2009 publication since it hit the bookstores, especially on the topics of peak days for leaf peeping and winter weather predictions. Though the best times for leaf peeping vary around the country, the peak time for most places in 2008 appears to be in mid October. Farmers’ Almanac says peak times come earlier in higher elevation levels.

Onto the more controversial weather predictions: Famers’ Almanac says the winter of 2008 will be numbingly cold. The far-off forecasts come under skepticism by meteorologists and national weather services, however, The Almanac, which has been predicting the weather for 192 years, claims an accuracy rate of 80 to 85 percent.

Jerry Harkavy of the Associated Press posted on Aug. 24, 2008 Farmers’ Almanac predictions for winter chills. On the 2008/09 winter, the 192-year-old publication says, “numb’s the word.” The 2009 edition of Farmers’ Almanac predicts colder than average temperatures that are “going to be catastrophic for millions of people,” according to almanac editor Peter Geiger.

Not every weather authority agrees with these predictions, however. The National Weather Service predicts a warmer winter over much of the country. Ed O’Lenic, chief of the operations branch at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, says it’s impossible to predict the weather two years in advance. The article points out, however, that the almanac was accurate in its winter predictions in the 2008 edition.

Click here to read the article.

Click here to order the 2009 edition of Farmers’ Alamanc.

At least, according to Farmers’ Almanac, summer temperatures will be near-normal.

Farmers’ Almanac is loaded with helpful gardening tips, home remedies, monthly moon origins and more - so, naturally, it makes its way into some interesting blog posts.

In a blog post on brain freeze, published on Aug. 7, 2008 in the Boston.com Lifestyle section (from The Boston Globe), blogger Devra First writes about a mind numbing brain freeze she experienced after gulping her morning smoothie. She turned to several sources for information and relief including The Farmers’ Almanac, who offered this advice: “For instant relief, simply press either your tongue or your thumb firmly to the roof of your mouth. Taking a couple sips of a warm beverage may also help stop the pain. To prevent further ice cream headaches, remember to slow down and savor every delectable spoonful or sip.”
Click here to read the blog post.

Judy Walker of The Times-Picayune (Louisiana) blogged about “Some tips for preserving and using fresh herbs” on Aug. 16, 2008. She references Farmers’ Almanac extensively for suggestions on various ways to preserve August basil, rosemary and more. The two methods mentioned are drying and freezing. One can dry certain fresh herbs by tying them in small bunches and hanging them upside down in the sunlight. When freezing herbs: wash them first, then chop them and place them in an ice cube tray lined with nonstick spray. Once herb cubes are frozen, remove them and store them in plastic bags or jars with tight-fitting lids. The article then goes on to list several dishes the herbs can be used in.
Click here to read the blog post.

ADW Rich Travel is a blogger who not only loves to travel, but also enjoys Autumn in New England. That’s the name of his Aug. 19, 2008 blog post on his website. His focus is on Massachusetts: great cities to visit, cultural heritage spots and the best times to view fall colors. For the last one, he uses the Farmers’ Almanac fall foliage dates map found on their website, here.
Click here to read the blog post.

Judith Evans published some helpful shopping suggestions by Farmers’ Almanac in the July 24, 2008 edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in an article titled “How to buy the best fruits and vegetables.” When choosing broccoli, for example, one shoud look for flower clusters that are tight and close together and smudge or dirt spots may indicate insects.

Click here to read the article for more shopping advice.