In 1792, Robert B. Thomas, a school-teacher, bookseller, and amateur astronomer living near Boston, Massachusetts, began a North American institution when he published the first issue of his Farmer's Alamanac. (The word Old was added in 1832.) He was confident of his skills and knowledgeable about his readers. In one of the early issues, he wrote: "We must strive always to be useful, but with a pleasant degree of humor." That timeless formula of providing useful advice and entertaining information has contributed greatly to making The Old Farmer's Almanac an indispensable reference for generations of readers. This Almanac is produced by Yankee Publishing of Dublin, New Hampshire. It is joined by the brand-new The Old Farmer's Almanac for Kids, Volume 3, as well as three cookbooks: Everyday Cookbook, Blue Ribbon Recipes, and Best Home Baking. Several calendars for 2010 are also available: Gardening, Country, and Weather Watcher's (all full-color); the Engagement Calendar, a spiral-bound daily planner; and the page-per-day Every Day Calendar. The Alamanc and its family of publications make every day special. To learn about any of our products, please call 800-ALMANAC. Or visit our Web site: Shop.Almanac.com. Introducing The 2010 Old Farmer's Almanac! It's about time-literally and figuratively. As surely as the Sun rises in the east every day, The Old Farmer's Alamanac appears on newsstands, bookstore shelves, and check-out counters every September. Its regular presence on national best-seller lists attests to the value and pleasure that it brings to readers around the country. It is as American as apple pie, but it lasts a lot longer! Now marking its 218th consecutive year, this "calendar of the heavens" aims once again and more than ever to be "useful, with a pleasant degree of humor," as founder Robert B. Thomas mandated in 1792. (Mr. Thomas is pictured on the cover, with Benjamin Franklin, whom we honor as the "father of almanacs.") In fulfillment of this mission and in an effort to surpass reader expectations anew, this edition contains astronomical predictions and weather prognostications for every day, best times to do a variety of common tasks, timeless adages and advice, pithy quotes and profound proverbs, quirky facts, amusing and informative anecdotes (and pleasantries), recipes, contests, and much, much, more, including... Tastes & Trends 2010(Page 12) This comprehensive section reports on and forecasts fashions, foods, home amentities, farm and garden interests, collector interests, and much more for the year, with comments from experts. Chips Off The Old Blocks (Page 32) Meet the chain saw champs, men and women who are tops in the art and craft of sawing and carving sculptures out of tree trunks, and see what it takes to wield the tool of their trade. Ghosts In Your Garden? (Page 42) Nicotiana, Begonia, Magnolia, Camellia, Gardenia, Wisteria, Poinsettia-plants all, but people, too. Learn about the famous botanists, explorers, naturalists, and gardeners for whom these and other horticultural beauties are named. Got Pots? Grow Salads! (Page 56) The ingredients for a simple salad-lettuce, peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes-will all thrive in containers, especially if you follow the tips and advice contained here. What Is "Normal" Weather? (Page 68) Probably not what you think. The National Climate Data Center uses a specific formula for calculating "normal" weather conditions, and it is about to change. Learn how abnormal "normal" weather really is. Giant Jupiter Pays A Visit (Page 98) Not since 1963 has this sky king been so close to Earth, so bright, and so easily seen-if you know where to look. (We tell you on page 99.) Let's All Cheer For Fathers! (Page 146) 2010 marks the 100th anniversary of Father's Day. Meet the daughter who started the tradition. Simple Solutions For Indecisive Times (Page 148) Need help making a decision? Try one of these two tried-and-true techniques. 10 Curious Facts About Mark Twain (Page 152) Celebrate the contennial of this great American's passing with tantalizing Twain trivia. Did you known that he had 19 cats at one time and gave them each an unusual name? How To Keep More Money In Your Pocket (Page 158) Twenty east, effective, and little-known ways. Better Than Barebones Cooking (Page 162) A good soup or stew starts with a stock. Learn how stocks and broths can make you a better cook. The Old (And New) Farmer's Essential Manure Manual (Page 174) Generations of farmers and gardeners have praised the values of "green" cover crops and farm animal manure. They-and we-still do. Great Moments In the History Of Laughter (Page 186) Guaranteed to have you giggling, guffawing, snickering, and chuckling. The Right Way To Do Things (Page 192) Ask a few thousand people how to boil an egg, mow a lawn, shovel snow, and wash windows, among other things, and you'll get a thousand answers. Here are the best ones-as well as what experts say. The Man Who Shot Everyone In Town (Page 200) No one paid attention to this small-town photographer until collectors paid millions for his images. When All Else Fails, Try A Mad Stone (Page 224) You can't buy one, sell one, or charge for its use, and some are more valuable than others. Why would you want one? Read on. All of this, plus calendar pages, planting tables, astrological tables, tide tables, measuring tables, a comprehensive reference section, and too much more to mention make this the one book you can read all year long-and we hope that you do! Available in selected bookstores, this special Collector's Edition is presented as a durable hardcover book to ensure its survival and your satisfication for many years to come. For it, we chose a heavy paper stock that provides sharp black/white contrasts, we made the pages slightly larger than those in the paperback edition, and we enlarged the type-all in an effort to make the text easier to read. We hope that you enjoy it. Book jacket.