Harris' Farmer's Almanac for 2024 is a comprehensive guide designed for farmers, planters, mechanics, and families. This leap year edition marks the 248th year of American Independence and includes detailed astronomical calculations tailored for Northern, Southern, and Middle States. It offers weather forecasts, planting tables, and a wealth of useful and entertaining information. Published in the lineage of its esteemed 1692 predecessor, this almanac embodies a blend of tradition and modern insights. Emphasizing the importance of memory and the enduring nature of home, it serves as a practical and nostalgic companion for the year ahead.
TO OUR READERS…
GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN THIS BOOK
THE OTHER WASHINGTON MONUMENT • A simple rock structure in a small town was built before the obelisk in our nation’s capital.
NOTABLE DAYS FOR 2024 (Including Church Days and Holidays)
BOTTLE TREES • Originally intended to ward off evil spirits, these colorful creations are now popular garden decor.
RHAPSODY IN BLUE • George Gershwin considered his concerto a “musical kaleidoscope of America.”
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A NAME MAKES • Mintonette was the original moniker of a popular sport designed to be less vigorous than basketball.
VICTORIA WOODHULL, CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT • She was too young to hold the office, but that didn’t stop her from running.
HOW TO USE THE CALENDAR PAGES
Calendar Pages
Farm Dates And Garden Tips
THE CORRUPT BARGAIN • The presidential election of 1824 ended America’s “Era of Good Feeling.”
HOME SWEET OCTAGON • Eight-sided homes were a fad in the 19th century thanks to an eccentric phrenologist.
TWO FOWLER OCTAGON HOUSES
SKYWATCHING IN 2024 • THE MONTHLY SKIES
METEOR SHOWERS
MORNING AND EVENING STARS, 2024
THE TWELVE SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC
PLANETS BRIGHTEST, 2024
ECLIPSES IN 2024 (Eastern Standard Time) • Two solar and two lunar eclipses occur in 2024.
SEASONS IN 2024 (EST)
UNIVERSE BREAKERS • The Webb Space Telescope reveals a surprise near the dawn of time.
STAR STUFF—OUR BUILDING BLOCKS
MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE TURNS 100 • Watching this “marathon of mirth”—in person or on TV—kicks off the day’s festivities nationwide.
THE GREAT GRASSHOPPER PLAGUE • A century ago, locusts created a wasteland in the Midwest.
WEATHER FORECAST FOR NOVEMBER 2023 TO OCTOBER 2024
UNITED STATES WEATHER MAP (Regions 1–10)
HURRICANE NAMES 2024
DROUGHTS, HEAT & FLASH FLOODS • The link between global warming, greenhouse gas emissions and severe weather events.
THE RAIN MAKER AND TAKER • El Niño–Southern Oscillation affects weather across the globe.
THE JEWEL OF THE SIERRA NEVADA • How John Muir and one of his publishers gave us Yosemite National Park.
THE CALIFORNIA GRIZZLY • Most of the state’s residents regret it was hunted to extinction.
FISHING FOR HYBRIDS • Many anglers like the characteristics that crossbreeding and even genetic modification have given non-hybrids.
Fishing Predictions
HAIRY OR DOWNY? • Birdwatchers often have trouble identifying these two lookalike species of woodpeckers.
THE VERSATILE PLUM • A variety of this low-maintenance stone fruit exists for every palate and garden.
Recipes
A HUMBLE SUPERFOOD • Lentils are finally getting the recognition they deserve as a delicious, low-cost source of protein and other nutrients.
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT • Eliminating food waste will significantly lower your food budget.
SHOPPING SMART • Reducing waste and savvy shopping can cut a food budget in half—or more.
THE NEW OVENS • Our resident...
