ABOUT THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC•Published every year SINCE 1792, making it the oldest continuously published periodical in North America.

•The 2021 Old Farmer’s Almanac is the 229TH EDITION. This is the 39th consecutive special Canadian Edition.

•2.5 MILLION C OPIES of The Old Farmer’s Almanac are printed and distributed each year.

•The Almanac is best known for its 80 PERCENT–ACCURATE weather forecasts as well as its tried-and-true information and advice on gardening, food, astronomy, and much more.

•The Old Farmer’s Almanac also produces A SERIES OF RELATED TITLES, including, most recently, the Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook (now in its second printing), The 2020 Garden Guide (its 26th year!), The Old Farmer’s Almanac for Kids (Vol. 8), and EXTRA!, its monthly digital magazine.

I N T E R V I E W Q U E S T I O N S A N D T A L K I N G P O I N T S

LET’S TALK!The 2021 Old Farmer’s Almanac Canadian Edition is available starting Tuesday, August 18!

We’re accepting interview requests now for anytime after that date. Our editors are available via phone, email, or video chat. • To streamline the interview process, we’re providing sample questions and

talking points related to The Old Farmer’s Almanac Canadian Edition and our 2021 edition. Feel free to use this information or any of our other press materials to craft questions as best suits your audience.

REMEMBER, ALL OF OUR PRESS

RELEASES, TALKING POINTS, AND

FOUR-COLOR, READY-TO-PRINT JPG

IMAGES OF COVERS AND WEATHER MAPS

ARE AVAILABLE AT ALMANAC.CA/PRESS.

T O S C H E D U L E A N I N T E RV I E W or request a digital or print copy of The 2021 Old Farmer’s Almanac, please contact Ginger Vaughan (ginger@quinnbrein.com) or Sam Jones (sam@quinnbrein.com) via email.

In a pinch, you can also call Ginger at 360-620-9107.

SAMPLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS1. How did The Old Farmer’s Almanac get its start? How does the Almanac continue to stay relevant?

2. When did the Almanac start production its Canadian Edition, and how dies it differ from the book produced for the U.S.?

3. How does the Almanac predict the weather? How accurate are its forecasts?

4. What is the upcoming winter weather prediction from The 2021 Old Farmer’s Almanac Canadian Edition?

5. How does the Almanac select stories for each edition?

6. What trends does the Almanac predict for the coming year?

7. What is your favorite story from The 2021 Old Farmer’s Almanac Canadian Edition?

8. If someone is interested in starting to grow their own food, what is the Almanac’s best advice?

9. The Almanac isn’t just for farmers, but it always includes a section spotlighting modern farmers and showing how they evolve to remain independent and profitable. How have some of the farmers featured in this year’s edition utilized technology to make their farms more efficient and sustainable?

10. Staying healthy is on top of everyone’s mind these days—what tips are there in the 2021 edition to avoid colds, flus, and viruses?

20212021

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WEATHER FORECASTSFOR 18 REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES

THE ORIGINAL FARMER’S ALMANAC “USEFUL, WITH A PLEASANT DEGREE OF HUMOR”

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ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES!

There are other books out there

that call themselves a “farmer’s

almanac,” but The Old Farmer’s Almanac—with

its familiar yellow cover—is the

original and most popular in North America! Accept no substitutes:

BOOK AN INTERVIEW WITH AN EDITOR

today by contacting Ginger Vaughan at ginger@quinnbrein

.com!

Need more background information?

Find lots of useful links about the

Almanac at Almanac.ca/Press.

Daily Almanac wit and wisdom are

available through Almanac.ca,

Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and

the Amazon Echo and Google Home voice assistants.

R O M A N C E

66 Photo, above: The Nancy Rosin Collection. Opposite: Diane Lambombarbe/Getty Images

From the ancient Romans’ mid-February bacchanal called

Lupercalia to the three saints named Valentine once rec-

ognized by the Catholic church, on up through billets-doux

in the Victorian Age and ever since, lovers and admirers have

been sending each other sweet missives on February 14.

We’ve mined the history of these cards for valuable hints on

how to best woo your love—with paper or in person.

When it comes to saying “I love you,” sweet nothings from the past can provide

prescient pointers for the present.

By Lisa Hix

1. PAY ATTENTION TO DETAIL.In the 15th century, nuns in Europe created devotional readings with delicate, knife-cut designs resembling lace. “We later see similar designs in valentines with lace borders,” notes Nancy Rosin, president of the National Valentine Collectors Association.

Lesson: It’s the little things that count.

(continued)

Love Lessons From OLD VALENTINES

T A L K I N G P O I N T S : T R E N D S & F E A T U R E D A R T I C L E S

T O S C H E D U L E A N I N T E RV I E W or request a digital or print copy of The 2021 Old Farmer’s Almanac, please contact Ginger Vaughan (ginger@quinnbrein.com) or Sam Jones (sam@quinnbrein.com) via email.

In a pinch, you can also call Ginger at 360-620-9107.

Here are some highlights from our Trends section and featured stories. Feel free to use them to start or continue the conversation.

TRENDS THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT: •Canadians have strong views on finance: 46 PERCENT say that major credit card debt would end a relationship, while 7 7 PERCENT would accept a smaller paycheck in ex-change for lifestyle benefits, like paid time off and childcare. •New ways to care for PETS: collars that transmit a dog’s vitals to the vet; cat litter that changes color if Kitty is sick.

•Doctors writing prescriptions for OUTDOOR TIME. Plus: the minimum amount of time people need to spend outdoors to feel healthier (120 minutes per week).

•Collecting ANTIQUE CAST IRON SKILLETS, factory-sealed video games, and anything related to space flight.

•Social media accounts for FARM ANIMALS.

•Wearing EC O-FRIENDLY FASHION such as “leather” made from pineapple leaves or t-shirts made from seaweed.

FEATURED ARTICLES:•LOVE LESSONS FROM OLD VALENTINES: What Valentine notes from the past can reveal about romance today. •FROM SEA TO RISING SEA: How rising sea lev-els could impact everyone, no matter where they live or work. •CRA ZY CRIT TERS: Canadians love their (often outsized) creature attractions—a creepy pregnant spider, a shorebound squid, a giant goose, and many others are spread across the provinces. Go on a virtual tour of these landmarks and find out how to see them in person. •WHEN PREDATORS C OME CALLING: How to han-dle (or deter) visits by black bears, coyotes, raccoons, weasels, and raptors.•HOW TO PICK A PET: Dog, cat, bird, or fish? Which is the right choice? The Almanac can help!•A PUCKISH REPORT: the history of the humble hockey puck.•HOW TO PREDICT THE WEATHER WITH A HOLE: Dig and then take the temperature of the soil—it’s that simple … well, almost!

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2 0 1 7 T R E N D S

R E T H I N K I N G R E C Y C L I N G

• Restaurants are using edible tableware (e.g., wheat bran plates, pasta straws).

• Companies are collecting food containers from restaurant customers, cleaning them, and then returning them to restaurants for reuse.

• People are carrying personal cutlery and

containers to avoid using disposables.

G O I N G S O L O Brands are catering to the boom in single-person households with . . .

• packaged food sold in single-serving portions

• bread loaves in half-sizes

F O O D ’ S P A S T“Organic” isn’t enough anymore: “Consumers want to know what else is being done to show that companies care about how their food is grown and produced.” –Laurie Demeritt, CEO, The Hartman Group

Consumers want . . .

• crops grown using practices that are good for soil health

• animals spending time outdoors

• farm/factory workers treated fairly

F O O D ’ S P R E S E N T

• In home fridges, we’re storing foods—especially fruit and vegetables—by color for visual appeal and to inspire healthy choices.

• We’re growing “counter-to-table” food in the kitchen.

F O O D ’ S F U T U R E

• Robot arms will help with cooking by lifting, pouring, and chopping.

• Refrigerators will alert us to spoiled food.

S M A R T M A R K E T S

• “Time-pressed shoppers are demanding quicker and more meaningful experiences.” –Phil Lempert, founder, SupermarketGuru.com

Some supermarkets will be . . .

• stocking plant-based items that promise to improve brain and bone health

• offering customers multiyear agreements to auto-replenish groceries

• giving farmers in-store floor space for growing produce

• selling food produced on farms practicing regenerative agriculture

(continued)

2021 TRENDS F A C T S T O P O N D E R A N D F O R E C A S T S T O W A T C H F O RCompiled by Stacey Kusterbeck

WHAT’S COOKING?

“Plant-based eating will continue to expand. Consumers will have a range of options for protein, from

traditional animal protein to plant-based to cell-based.” –Melanie Zanoza Bartelme, global food analyst, Mintel

BY THE NUMBERS:

15% of U.S. restaurants serve meatless burgers

$3,459: amount average U.S. household spent dining out in 2018

B U Z Z W O R D

Reducetarians

:

people who eat

less meat

F O L L O W U S :

24

F O L L O W U S :

2 0 2 1 T R E N D S

ON THE FARM“Massive rooftop food gardens and farms are showing up around the world, from Thailand to France to Canada.” –Michael Levenston, executive director, City Farmer, Vancouver, Canada

BY THE NUMBERS: U.S. 25% of farmers are beginners (with 10 years of experience or less)133,176 farms and ranches use renewable energy-producing systems (more than double those in 2012)

130,056 farms sell directly to consumers–2017 Census of Agriculture, USDA

1,400: number of urban farms in Detroit, Michigan8.3 million: acres of land certified for organic field crop production

18,155: farms certified to grow organically45% of principal farm operators also have off-farm jobs

441 acres: average farm sizeBY THE NUMBERS:

CANADA 778 acres: average farm size

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F O R W A R D - L O O K I N G F A R M E R S A R E . . .• creating conserva-tion easements to pro-tect agricultural land from development• “rewilding” farmland to reintroduce native plants and attract birds, mammals, and other animals

• relying on GPS to maximize planting and harvesting efficiency

T H E N E W F A R M • Online tools are connecting beginning farmers with like-minded land owners.• Developers are converting vacant commercial buildings into indoor farms.• Investors are buying conventional farmland and converting it to organic.

(continued)

2 0 2 1 T R E N D S

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P E T T E C H

P A W S - I B I L I T I E S

• collars that transmit

a dog’s vital signs to

its vet

• cat litter that

changes color if the

animal is ill

• “more ways to track

pet health, monitor

needs, and stay in

contact”

–Susan Dankert,

communications director,

Pet Industry Joint Advisory

Council of Canada

• pet doors that can

be opened/closed

remotely by owners

when not at home

• onscreen games

for dogs to play, with

treats for prizes

P E T P E R K S A B O U N D

“Pet boarding

continues to set new

standards, while cities

and communities are

converting unused

public spaces into dog

parks and pet-friendly

areas,” says Phillip

Cooper, president, Pet

Industry Expert. Plus,

he reports . . .

12

BY THE NUMBERS

85% of cat

owners say

that their pet

makes them

healthier

92% of dog

owners say

that their pet

makes them

healthier

F O L L O W U S :

OUR ANIMAL FRIENDS

“Nutrient-dense insect- and plant-based pet foods are

growing in popularity. Pet owners are seeking hypoallergenic

diets that are also better for the environment.”

–Glenn A. Polyn, editor in chief, Pet Age

EMERALD ASH BORER — the infamous

killer of ash trees — is found in forests

and city trees across much of the eastern

and central United States. This insect is

notoriously good at hitching rides in infested

fi rewood. Don’t give this tree-killing bug a

ride to a new forest, or a new state!

GYPSY MOTH is a devastati ng pest of

oaks and other trees. Female moths lay

tan patches of eggs on fi rewood, campers,

vehicles, pati o furniture — anything

outside! When these items are moved

to new areas, this pest gets a free ride.

SPOTTED LANTERNFLY sucks sap from dozens

of tree and plant species. This pest loves tree-of-

heaven but will feed on black walnut, white oak,

sycamore, and grape. Like the gypsy moth, this

pest lays clusters of eggs on just about any dry

surface, from landscaping stone to fi rewood!

ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE will

tunnel through, and destroy, over

20 species of trees — especially

maple trees. The larvae of this beetle

bore into tree branches and trunks,

making it an easy pest to accidentally

transport in fi rewood.This graphic is for illustrati ve purposes only. Many of these pests will

only infest certain types of trees, making it very unlikely for a single

log to contain all species as shown.

Visit dontmovefi rewood.org for more informati on.

Buy locally harvested firewood at or

near your destination.

Buy certified heat-treated firewood

ahead of time, if available.

Gather firewood on site when permitted.

You have the power to protect forests and trees!

Pests like the invasive emerald

ash borer can hitchhike in your

firewood. You can prevent

the spread of these damaging

insects and diseases by

following these firewood tips:

FIREWOOD ALERT!

What might be in your firewoodfirewood? ?

to new areas, this pest gets a free ride.

to new areas, this pest gets a free ride.

to new areas, this pest gets a free ride.

to new areas, this pest gets a free ride.

to new areas, this pest gets a free ride.surface, from landscaping stone to fi rewood!

surface, from landscaping stone to fi rewood!

surface, from landscaping stone to fi rewood!

surface, from landscaping stone to fi rewood!

surface, from landscaping stone to fi rewood!

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Photo: Svetlana Monyakova/Getty Images

G A R D E N I N G G A R D E N I N G

3332

SMALL-SPACE

GARDENING101

B y making efficient use of every inch of soil and sun-shine, you can easily grow

plenty of produce in a small garden or proper container. Intensive gardening techniques have been used for centu-ries by many cultures to compensate for limitations of climate, water, labor, and arable land. Today, we can employ these same practical ideas to get a bountiful harvest from a small space. What are you waiting for?

(continued)

All you need to know to grow food in an area of almost any size

Can’t contain yourself over your big results from small spaces? Share your pride with the world on @theoldfarmersalmanac!

W E AT H E R

8180 Photo: Pgiam/Getty Images

Pigeon Point Lighthouse stands sentinel over California’s

rocky shore.

From Sea to Rising Sea

With ocean levels relentlessly increasing, it’s time to understand

why, how, and where.by Brian Fagan

HIGH TIMES?Are you seeing signs of higher

tides or water levels? Share images on @theoldfarmersalmanac