Dear Friends,
In his 1961 inaugural address, President John F. Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” With these simple but inspiring words, he led a nation to consider their actions in the context of the greater good.
Regardless of what country we’re in, we’re all being asked to do the same today, as we stay home to protect family, friends, and neighbors. As many of us have found out, “doing nothing” can be pretty challenging, but remember that every time you choose to change your routine and embrace the possibilities of this new normal, you’re doing your part for everyone’s sake.
Soon after our last note, we temporarily closed our Almanac offices. Our staff continues to work remotely and collaborate online, which has presented some technological challenges for some of us here in rural New Hampshire! Through it all, we’ve made it work, proving that it is indeed possible to learn new tricks at any age—even 228 years young!
Now that we’re all set up to work in spare bedrooms, on kitchen tables, or wherever there’s a bit of free space, we’re struck by the pace of this new life. While we’ve always been fans of enjoying a sunrise or the stars in the night sky, there now seems to be more time to sit back and appreciate the rhythms of nature in all of their splendor and beauty.
As sleeping gardens begin to awaken to spring splendor, now is the perfect time to plan or play in yours. At Almanac.com, we’ve been busy curating articles and advice for gardeners of every skill level, including things to consider when selecting a site for a new vegetable garden, 15 Essential Gardening Tasks, and the best annuals to grow right now. As necessity is the mother of invention, consider these 15 Tricks for Gardening with Limited Supplies. Also, if you’re not using it already, we invite you to try our Garden Planner free for 7 days!
The kitchen is getting a lot more use these days as people learn new cooking and baking skills like making scratch sourdough starter, creating delicious meals with basic pantry staples, and baking when flour is scarce. If you need a break from dinner prep, consider supporting a local restaurant with a takeout or delivered order, but, of course, there are a few precautions that you should take to ensure a safe and delicious experience.
One of the best gifts that you can give kids during these times is good memories, and some of the best of these can come from daily life! Consider involving kids in your hobbies and experiences, like the cooking or baking projects above, or even in planning and planting a kids-centric garden!
Sky gazing is another great activity for kids. In fact, consider doing it virtually with friends and family elsewhere. No matter where we live, we all share the same big and beautiful sky.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve heard from many of you who have embraced the Almanac’s mission of being “useful, with a pleasant degree of humor” in your day-to-day lives. Starting next Sunday (April 26), our Sunday edition of the Almanac Companion will continue to focus on helping you through these times—with plenty of good advice and reasons to smile.
And, of course, whenever you have a free moment, we invite you to join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for daily doses of humor, fun facts, activities, and more.
The best way to get through tough times is to connect with the things that bring us joy—family, pets, hobbies, the outdoors, our inner selves. Adversity can bring time not just to rediscover old passions but also to find new ones. However you’re spending your time these days, thank you for everything you’re doing to help take care of yourself and those around you.
As sure as the Sun will rise and set each day, The Old Farmer’s Almanac is here for you, now and always.
Your Friends at The Old Farmer’s Almanac |
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