What’s the big deal about the Old Farmer’s Almanac?

Granny use to say “Make sure and check the Old Farmer’s Almanac before you plant anything’. As a child, I would be confused. Why would an almanac dictate when you would go outside and garden in your own yard? I would see her with the book but still, it just made no sense.

 

Fast forward 20 years and here I am cynically looking at, you’ve guessed it, the Old Farmer’s Almanac to determine when the next best day for planting would be. For those of you like me, had no clue what this Almanac is about, I’m about to blow your mind!

 

How Do They Predict the Weather?

According to the Old Farmers’ Almanac, they derive their weather forecasts from a unique secret formula that was devised by the founder of the 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. (Mental Floss http://bit.ly/1zb4028)

 

Is This Reliable Information?

Apparently, the accuracy of the forecasting formula used in these predictions are said to be between 25 to 30% at best and not the 80% to 85% Almanac followers would like us to believe. (http://bit.ly/1zb4028)

 

What does this have to do with gardening?

According to the Modern Farmer, before the era of modern weather forecasting, it was the best resource for farmers in keeping abreast of seasonal weather shifts, planting times, and other general agriculture reference points. However, today there are farmers who have never flipped through its pages and farmers who still consult with the publication (Modern Farmer, http://bit.ly/2gk0PSX) both reap successful crops!

  


So what do you think? Do you believe and follow the Farmer’s Almanac or do you garden whenever the heck you want to do? Tell us in the comment section below! 

Comments

  1. Christeon RomainNovember 26, 2017 at 11:04 AM

    Nice post! Will print it out and hand it to some old folks :D . Gonna hear a lot of backtalk...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rogue Gardening November 26, 2017 at 8:22 PM

    Hahahha be careful, you might get some 'licks'!

    ReplyDelete

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