If you want to waste money for slick advertisements and unuseable information this is the book for you. Made the mistake of buying one, flipping through, asking, "what happened to the "old" information they used to pack into the book?", and proceeding to return it for a refund.

I purchased this to add to my father's birthday gift. He absolutely loved it. I haven't seen him that excited over a gift (especially considering it was an "add-on" gift) in a long time. He is obsessed with the weather, so I figured this was something he would like. I was right.

The Farmers Almanac is one of my favorite books to read. I don't read the whole book at once, but parcel it out over the year. I make family calendars for Christmas presents, and each year I use the quotes for each month as written in Almanac. My son looks forward to receiving the Farmers Almanac every one year for his birthday.
Thank you.

I have bought the Old Farmers Almanac for over 20 years and always have fun with the information and the almost always on track weather predictions. I at least know what to expect. Our local weatherman said they aren't accurate but I disagree. They follow all the natural ways that people have predicted weather for years and are usually really close. They always have interesting articles too.

Good book - have ordered these year after year. Would recommend to anyone who gardens especially.

The farmer's almanac has been an American tradition since the days of Benjamin Franklin. "The Old Farmer's 2009 Almanac" is the latest edition of the yearly work, started in 1792. With predictions for sixteen different regions throughout the country, it gives readers a rough idea of what to expect in coming year. Enhanced with articles on health, livestock, gardening, and more, "The Old Farmer's 2009 Almanac" again proves to be agriculture's best friend.

I've always enjoyed the Almanac -- I find it entertaining to read the weather forecasts. I wouldn't plan any trips around them but there's so much other reference information -- sunset/sunrise time, tides, how to determine the types of clouds in the sky, etc that it's a very enjoyable reference guide.

The Farmer's Almanac has always been and continues to be a publication chocked full of interesting facts, household tips and close to the mark
weather forecasts. I continue to learn something new with each edition.

The Old Farmer's Almanac goes back a long way! On page 206, the 2009 version notes that the weather forecasts go back to a "secret formula" devised by the Almanac's founder, Robert Thomas, in 1792. Now, that's a legacy! I've always found this volume a lot of fun. In fact, it has become an institutionalized Christmas gift to my son each year (he seems to enjoy it, too), so don't spoil the "surprise" by letting him know that I've purchased the 2009 edition!

First, the weather. On page 206, the methodology of predicting weather is discussed (vague). The Almanac's founder, Thomas, thought that sunspots were the key. Now, that metric plus others (more scientific) are the basis for predictions. So, what to expect? I live in central Pennsylvania. According to the Almanac, I (and others living in a corridor from Elmira, NY to Asheville (NC) can expect: a mild November, a cold and snowy December through March. The heaviest snow would be in January, with some snow at about Thanksgiving and frequent snowfall in December and the middle part of February. Mark that on your calendars and see if the old Almanac is right!

Second, there are many other features, such as estimates of frost and the growing season, cataloging the tides, and so on.

Another fun version of this "golden oldie"!

This book has been an invaluable source of data for the casual planter or the fervent gardener. I buy two, one for me and one for my in-laws.

I have a friend who planned his wedding date nine months in advance using this almanac. It rained the two days preceeding and three days after the wedding, but was clear on the wedding day. Lucky? - I'm not so sure. My relatives have always planted according to this almanac. Well worth the $$

I ordered this book for my husband because he wanted one for the new year. He hasn't complained too much...but I don't think it's all that it's cracked up to be. Lots of advertisements and the charts and other stuff like that are more difficult to understand than I had hoped. I guess I'll need to take more time to figure it out..lol