| Thank you, Carol Goodwin Hannon in Long Island, NY, for this week's cover image! |
October arrives later this week, which means that Halloween is right around the corner—and now’s the perfect time to talk about garlic.
Garlic is, of course, a defense against vampires—an idea made popular in Bram Stoker’s seminal work, Dracula, which was published in 1897. (By the way, in 1897, The Old Farmer’s Almanac was publishing its 125th annual issue.)
It’s thought that Stoker came up with this bit of mythology as a nod to garlic’s many medicinal uses, including as a repellent against real-life blood suckers: mosquitos.
Garlic’s health benefits date back millennia. Ancient Egyptians used garlic to imbue pyramid builders with strength. The Canon of Medicine, published in 1025, recommended garlic in the treatment of everything from chronic cough to snake bites. During World War II, garlic’s antiseptic properties saved soldiers from the agony of gangrene.
Today, the average person eats about 300 cloves of garlic a year and—potential bad breath aside—this is a good thing: Tasty and versatile, garlic is packed with myriad vitamins and minerals, including calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, and zinc, to name a few. When crushed or chopped, garlic produces a compound called allicin, which has been shown to reduce inflammation and lower blood pressure.
So, this October, don’t forget the garlic. You might not need it to combat The Count and his batty friends, but there are lots of reasons to keep a clove—or three—close at hand!
The best garlic comes from your own garden (or at least we like to think so!), and fall is the best time to plant it. Garlic is really easy to grow, needing just a little preparation.
While many think of spring and summer as the best gardening seasons, there are actually a lot of planting options to consider for the fall.
Speaking of autumn, few fruit are more synonymous with the season than apples. Try our 15 Favorite Apple Recipes for Fall with your favorite variety. If you have extras, we suggest making your own applesauce.
Finally, the full Harvest Moon arrives on October 1. Once in a Blue Moon, we’re treated to two full moons in a single month. Good news!
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 from The Old Farmer’s Almanac |
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