"O hushed October morning mild, Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow's wind, if it be wild, Should waste them all."
Robert Frost (1874-1963)
Mid-Atlantic Weather Watch: Scattered showers, mild (1, 2, 3); breezy, cooler (4, 5) staying dry and milder (6, 7). Showers (8, 9) with a morning freeze far north and west frost in central part of the region then dry and turning warmer (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16); rain (17) then turning mild and dry (18, 19). Few showers, cooler (20, 21) turning dry and dry again (22, 23, 24, 25); windy showers (26, 27, 28, 29) with another morning freeze in the western and central parts of the region (30, 31).
Severe Weather Watch: The Almanack sees hard freezes hitting the region on the 10th to the 12th and from the 30th to the 31st.
Full Moon: October’s Full Moon will occur on October 9th and is the Hunter’s Moon. Many Native Americans named it so because of the extra light it provided, extending their hunt for food well into the early evening. It was also referred to as both Yellow Leaf and Falling Leaves Moon by the Cree Tribe because of the many leaves turning that color and that most of the trees lose the last of their leaves during the month.
Holidays: Columbus Day is observed on Monday, October 10th, United Nations Day is celebrated on Monday, the 24th, and Halloween will fall on Monday, October 31st.
Special Notes: October is Fire Prevention Month. In 1922, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) named the second week of October Fire Prevention Week in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. Today, we celebrate Fire Prevention Week and Month by raising fire safety awareness and educating families, students and communities across the United States. During this month, fire departments provide education to their communities, and encourage parents and loved ones to practice fire safety and whole home safety. Have an evacuation plan ready with your family and check smoke detector batteries often
The Garden: One last effort at weeding will help to improve the appearance of the garden throughout the winter. Any weed that you can eliminate from the garden this Fall will possibly prevent thousands of weed seeds from sprouting in the garden next Spring! Do not prune or fertilize any trees or shrubs anymore this year. They need to go into a resting phase to prepare for the colder winter months ahead. Do cut back perennial foliage and shrubs to discourage winter pests. Leave flowers with seeds for the birds. The longer your house plants are allowed to remain outside in the fall, the more shock they will go through when they are finally moved indoors. If you haven't brought them in yet, do it now!
The Farm: Best for planting root crops (11, 12, 23, 24); weeding and stirring the soil (18, 19, 20); planting above-ground crops (25, 26); harvesting all crops (4, 5, 6, 9, 10); the best days for setting hens and incubators (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18); the slaughtering and butchering of meat (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31); transplanting (1, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31); weening of all small animals and livestock (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31); harvesting and storing grains (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24).
J. Gruber’s Thought For Today’s Living:
"A true fiend offers a helping hand without expecting thanks in return"
