Old Farmer's Almanac 2000
by Judson Hale
Publisher: Yankee Publishing, Incorporated
ISBN: 1571981462
It's hard to believe, but The Old Farmer's Almanac, that annual compilation of astronomical calculations, planting times, weather forecasts, and other quirky information published in Dublin, New Hampshire, has been around since 1792! It's definitely earned the right to call itself "North America's oldest continuously published periodical," and it does just that on the cover of the new millennium edition.
I must admit, I'd never owned a copy of The Old Farmer's Almanac, but with all of the millennium hype, I couldn't resist picking up my own copy of the 2000 Almanac. It's truly filled with something for everyone. For those who like to plan ahead, the Almanac provides weather predictions for all of 2000. There's a table to help you determine how old your dog REALLY is (it's not as easy as multiplying by seven). If you're worried about Y2K, you'll even find a five-page "Poultry Primer." According to the Almanac, "Having your own small flock of hens ensures a certain security in the 21st century."
And, even if you don't need to know what the weather will be in August, you don't have a dog, and you're not about to share your living quarters with chicks no matter how fearful you are that the lights will go out on 01/01/00, you may still get a kick out of the General Store and the classified ads if you're easily amused like me. One of my favorite sections of the millennium edition of The Old Farmer's Almanac is the "General Store," seven pages of small display ads near the back of the Almanac that feature quirky, unique mail order products, many of which I never would've dreamed existed. It's a great resource if you're shopping for that hard-to-buy-for person that might just be delighted with a composting toilet. And you're bound to get a chuckle, too, from the Almanac's five pages of classified ads. Some are downright scary... like the ones that start with, "DEATH BEGINS IN THE COLON," and "IS PRID DRAWING SALVE missing from your pharmacy?" Yikes! But others are fun... and probably harmless!
The Old Farmer's Almanac is bursting with New England wit and wisdom, and it's sure to provide insight and amusement for readers throughout the year.
Kimberly Knox, your Guide for New England for Visitors