Tea finds it’s place in the Farmer’s Almanac
We discovered a few tips in this year’s edition.
The small print on the cover of The Old Farmer’s 2019 Almanac reads “Useful, with a pleasant degree of humor; also featuring astronomical tables, tides, holidays, eclipses, etc.”
The table of contents lists these chapters:
- 2019 Trends
- Amusement
- Anniversary
- Astrology
- Astronomy
- Calendar
- Folklore
- Food
- Gardening
- Husbandry
- Miscellany
- Nature
- Pets
- Special report
- Weather
Publications that discuss both astrology and astronomy always catch my attention.
Robert B. Thomas (1766-1846) grew up on a farm in Massachusetts, founded the Old Farmer’s Almanac in 1792 and remained the editor till his death at age 80. The 2019 edition marks the publication’s 227th issue.
The almanac’s upper left corner is hole-punched so it can be strung and hung, or nailed inside maybe farmers’ barns, homemakers’ kitchens, anywhere and everywhere; for easy access and retrieval.
Without including and counting the recipes, this year’s issue mentions tea exactly three times:
STAIN REMOVAL: HOW TO GET STAINS OUT OF CLOTHES
Fresh coffee and tea call for the “hot waterfall” approach. First, stretch the stained part of the fabric over a bowl, as if you were putting a head on a drum, and secure it with a rubber band. Then pour boiling water over the stain from a height of two to three feet. Be careful not to burn yourself! Wash the article as you normally would, using a small amount of bleach if the fabric can tolerate it.
There is a tea-related tip for gardening novices to cultivate the easiest varieties of roses:
Dump coffee grounds and used tea leaves around bushes. Both acidify the soil slightly, which roses love.
And finally from the almanac’s popular Calendar Pages:
Near the end of April, the Moon pays a visit to Jupiter and Saturn for a spot of tea.
No, I did not peruse the entire almanac to gather the above-mentioned information. A wealth of knowledge and equipped with user-friendly interface, the online version stores editions dating back to 2002 and is enriched with new posts throughout the year.
Was tea discussed in the 1792 issue?
I learned something new and quintessentially American from reading this almanac. Enjoy!
Image provided, permission granted, and copyright held by Old Farmer’s Almanac
I guess by 1792, USAmericans were drinking tea again; the harbor turned to teapot back in 1773.
I have always enjoyed the Farmer’s Almanac; have not purchased one in the last few years, but it is truly a part of USAmerican folk culture.