The Old Farmer's Almanac 2020, Trade Edition

by Old Farmer's Almanac

It’s another new year celebrating everything under the Sun, including the Moon, with The Old Farmer’s Almanac, America’s oldest continuously published periodical! Always timely, topical, and distinctively “useful, with a pleasant degree of humor,” the Almanac has been beloved for centuries by people from all walks of life.
 
As the nation’s iconic calendar, the 2020 edition will forecast cultural, culinary, and other life-changing trends; preview notable astronomical events; provide time- and money-saving tips for gardeners of all varieties; set the hook for best fishing days; forecast traditionally 80 percent–accurate weather; and cover a range of related topics, including anniversaries, folklore, husbandry, home remedies, recipes, amusement, contests, and more—too much more to mention—all in the inimitable way it has done since 1792.
 

Genres: Nonfiction, Gardening, Reference

304 pages, Paperback

Published September 3, 2019

About the author

America's best-selling annual publication, with facts, feature articles, and advice that are "useful, with a pleasant degree of humor."

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0⭐

This is the second time I've bought and read the Old Farmers Almanac, after years of staring at it at the supermarket checkout.
Don't ask me to explain, other than that time is transforming me into an old farmer. I think that's the case, as I come to increasingly respect old farmer values, like tradition and optimism. Tradition it has to spare, with its 19th century illustrations on the cover and its hole punched in the upper left corner, so you can hang it off a nail in the barn ( or a hook in the bathroom) and many others. It time travels you back to when North America was mostly rural and when weather and precipitation forecasts, tide tables and planting charts were critical information. All that's still there, along with feature articles and predictions on trends in technology, fashion, lifestyle. And it's inherently optimistic. If you're going to make predictions about the future, you have to assume there's going to be a future.

I mentioned a certain room earlier and it's the perfect reader for that room, with it's short, self contained articles;factoids and (very corny) humour sections. Full disclosure: when I marked it as "read"it means I've read the feature articles, weather overview, the essays etc. I haven't read the monthly forecasts or seasonal gardening information yet (I will, at the appropriate moment).

Even the Old Farmer's Almanac isn't without controversy. In 2008 it declared that the earth was entering a period of global cooling, rather than warming. There doesn't appear to be anything ideological about this other than its based, in part, on it's 228 year old secret forecasting formula. It also uses 30 year weather cycles in its predictions, the last one being 1970- 2000 (according to Wikipedia).

I suppose The Old Farmer's Almanac is the literary equivalent of comfort food, familiar and warming. Works for me.

[ALLEN · Rating 5 out of 5]

This enduring almanac (note light yellow cover) has been around since 1792 and in recent years, at least, it has changed very little: It still has a discussion of edible florals, and planting charts for those who wish to "plant by the moon." There's also a metric converter and a chart for those who wish to figure out their in-laws -- who are the most "removed" genealogically and so on.

Another stand-by is the useful region-by-region weather prognostications. They aren't always all that accurate, but reasonably so. Certainly the regions, based as they are on mountain ranges and bodies of water, make more sense than mere political distinctions, square states and so on. While this book evolves very slowly over the years, I notice one improvement and one change. The improvement: a shinier cover. The change: the drilled hole in the upper cover is gone. How, then, to hang it in that house back there?

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quaint middle of the road sort of read for me. It was fun reading about things like trends predicted for 2020, folklore, gardening and other random info. I sort of glazed over with the detailed astronomical calendar and weather forecast sections. I’ll be interested to see how accurate the weather predictions end up being (they claim to be accurate 80% of the time). I’d give this 3.5 stars if I could but I’m not willing to round up. The judge is out on if this will becomes an annual tradition for me.

[Papaphilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always, both enjoyable and fun. Recipes, planting, weather predictions and general tips, who could ask for more.

[Noah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe this more than the weather guessers on tv.

I believe this more than the weather guessers.

I love the trends section and the best days to plant crops above and below ground. Who knew the day you cut your hair could encourage or discourage hair growth?

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting! My Dad reads it every year, so I gave it a try. Fun, fast read.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I read every year in the new edition; I have editions saved going back to the early 1970's, and I keep the current year's edition where I can look at it in the mornings. What can I say - I love the weather lore, forecasts, useful information, and, yes, even the stuff I have no use for in my life.

This being the beginning of the 2020's, the front and back cover note that one can access the Almanac on the tubes of the World Wide Web. Each edition leads off with what someone, somewhere, thinks is trending; some of the items are downright odd ("edible bar codes"), but it's fun to look at a year like, say, 1980, and see what was allegedly trending that year. This year's edition of the Almanac also gives us articles on raising chickens in the backyard, the history of the game of horseshoes, all about burros, an article about Leap Year and Leap Day, and an article about natural pain relievers. The weather forecasts are given for the United States, a table of what all of the visible planets will be doing during the year is given (Saturn should be good to look at), and a list of eclipses (most of them not visible in SouthWestCentral Louisiana). And the back half of the book is full of tables, in case my Internet is out and I need to know the gestational period for a cat (it's sixty-three days, give or take a few days).

I love the Old Farmer's Almanac, and as long as I am around, I plan to keep buying the new edition each year.

[Rich Farrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first shot at reading an almanac, and I have to say, I’m kind of hooked. I got the e-book for some basic gardening tips, which I found, as well as weather predictions, which were concise and well-explained. In addition, there were fun facts and interesting articles, especially those on farming, which I thought I had no interest in but I guess brought my midwestern-ness out. I need to remember to start reading these annually.

[Jennise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never read one before. Would pick it up every now and then. Interesting facts, but I was disappointed in having no snow. It also didn’t predict COVID-19. Lol.

[John Isles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I buy the Old Farmer's Almanac every year for its astronomy information, and find it to be a useful adjunct to specialized publications such as the annual Observer's Handbook published by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. The data given include details of the year's eclipses, meteor showers, planetary positions, daily times of rising and setting of the Sun and Moon, and in the calendar pages the dates of planetary elongations and conjunctions. The calculations are correct for Boston, Massachusetts, but if I add 54 minutes to the rising and setting times they are near enough correct for my home in Michigan. Tables of time corrections for other locations in the USA and Canada are included in the book. There's much more to read, some of it entertaining, some useless (e.g. astrology, and the long-range weather forecasts), but you can't beat the value. The best edition to buy is this one, the so-called Trade Edition, which has a card cover, a 32-page "Special Bookstore Supplement" of miscellaneous information, and a price of $7.59 on Amazon.com.

[Joanne Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for research on my in-process novel about the California Delta, tentatively titled "Harvest". What a charming book! There are monthly calendars with all sorts of interesting information combined with short stories and astrological information and quotes and history. For a look into the lives of real farmers of all types, this is a gem - who knew that most small farmers in Canada are female? Excellent article on predicting weather and global warming among many others.

[Felix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book if you are interested in gardening, the weather etc. I thought at first the book would be just as listing of dates and seasons on when to plant specific plants but it is more than that. There are other articles in that book such as advantages of raising chickens, explanation of why we have seasons etc. It's an interesting read.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

First time I've ever read this; I've always seen it in retail stores. Slightly mystical and slightly folksy. New Age-y but not quite the Weekly World News. It seems to be familiar and charming.

[Bonnie Fournier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used to read these and the Foxfire series all the time. I guess I wanted to be a farmer in the Lakes of the Ozarks. Would still like that. First frost here will be October 13, although it was 80 here today so I doubt it.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not read an Old Farmer's Almanac in 15 or 20 years, and it was interesting, and at times humorous read. Rapid read. I finished it in less than a day.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classically fun twist on the sun, stars, moon, and weather!

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This classic compendium of useful information and humorous writing is a delight. It was the first time I have read the Old Farmer's Almanac from cover to cover. Well worth my time.

[Ape Bleakney · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of goofy fluff, some interesting trivia and facts - mixed in with the practical garden and weather info (what I came for).

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book for gardening

I've always loved this book. Now I can take it to go without cluttering up my bag with heavy books!

[Siri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thumbed through and read articles, folklore, and gardening tips. Found it quite entertaining. This was my first time reading an Old Farmer’s Almanac, won’t be the last!

[Robert Lewter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun facts to know and tell

[Robert Airhart II · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read. Useful weather information. Calendar with hard to find occurrences.

[Alfonso]

A lot of good information, though it has way too many ads when compared to before. But I guess it is okay since it helps keep them making the books.

[Wanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read it too late! 2021 but it still had some useful info that is timeless

[Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly one of the best books I've read. Well thought out and even predicts the pandemic! The author's use of agricultural metaphor is unparalleled. Gobsmacked.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time I’ve read the almanac in its entirety. Full of useful information! I will definitely purchase again.

[Aaron Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite an interesting reference tool!

I’ve always been intrigued by what’s in a Farmers Almanac and it did not disappoint. I will continue to use it as a reference tool and possibly to win quite a bit of nerd trivia. Lol.

[Lea Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is with joy and wonder and bubbling excitement that every November I read the Old Farmers Almanac from cover to cover. Nothing renews my excitement for a new year like the predictions of the Old Farmers. Peppered with darling stories, hints of poetry, age old wisdom and dots of humor, the Almanac never stops short of a thrill. The sage advice on working with and connecting to land, sea and heavens is second to none.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many reasons to love having this handy guide around...but had to take away a star given its lack of prognosticating punch this year: lots on 2020 being a Leap Year; little awareness pandemic pending.

[Paula Guaraldi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I get the Farmer's Almanac almost every year. I always love it-of course it's not a novel and more of a reference book, but it's always enjoyable to read and browse through and is so informative.